Semana Santa

So what have I been up to? After having had to spend several weeks out of my town for various reasons I am happy to finally be back in the groove of things here in Pacayitas. I was a little rocky at first because my first day back I ended up in the hospital with a nasty intestinal bacterial. Needless to say I was out for the count for a week. The following week was semana santa. Rather then just celebrating Easter on Sunday like most do in the states, this is a entire week observed with special traditions. Primarily there was mass 2 times a day for much longer then usual. It was neat because at different times there was a bonfire, candle ceremony, party music with clapping in church, a walking of the 13 stations that were set up in the street, and much more. Much of the typical food that is special for the week includes shrimp, tuna, sardines, tilapia, soups, honey from coconut and the treats made from it, and of course arroz con leche. I do think my favorite part however was when asked how we celebrate in the states, talking about the Easter bunny, hiding and searching for hidden eggs, Easter baskets, chocolate rabbits etc. The facial expressions of pure confusion really were priceless. Thanks to my dad, I was able to explain a little bit about historically where these traditions came from so they did not seem that nuts in the endJ.

On the work front, my projects are coming along steadily. Still have the fitness class 3 nights a week, teaching English in the neighboring towns elementary school, working with high schools community service project, progressing with bridge project meeting by meeting, and soon, starting my adult English night class, and much more. I have learned that a lot of my job involves just figuring out how. With most often no guidelines or format, when approached about a project idea or community need, the first step involves hours and hours of reaching out to any resource I can find to gather info and create plan of action. Not a single day is the same as the next and that’s something I have learned to love. For example tomorrow morning I have a meeting in a place called Catie in between my town and Turrialba, I cant get there but do I have a way to get home, of course not, because my bus only comes to my town twice a day at best (minus the two days it doesn’t run at all), so today some time will be allotted to creating a plan on how to get back to my town. Do I hike the 3.5+ hours it will take me, try and hitch a ride etc.

Now having been here almost 7 months, I have definitely reached the point where I miss my family and friends every day. I think about the important things in their lives that I am missing that I will never get back. With that being said I am so grateful for the constant support that I receive without fail that reassures me that I should be here doing what I am doing. For this I am truly blessed. 

Elementary English

Learning family members and creating family trees.

Kendy my youngest

Merlin

Ruben

Yiemy

                                   
                                                          Yeimy, Elyeen and Ruben