amrita and i inside the soup kitchen
this is maximo nivel, the volunteer organization office that i go to daily for spanish classes, using the computer, planning trips with other volunteers, etc



i don't know if it's because i didn't go to my volunteer project on monday, but this week flew by! i find myself getting more and more attached to these kids the more time i spend with them! how can you not? whether i'm here or working in schools at home, i constantly find myself get easily connected and attached to kids! i guess that means i chose the right profession, right?!

before i came here, people would tell me costa ricans have such a happy, laid back attitude towards life, and now being here i am seeing it first hand. it amazes me how nice everyone is! people are constantly saying "hola", "buenas", "pura vida", usually to complete strangers that pass them on the street. you may think it sounds a little crazy but to me, its been really welcoming. just this morning was the perfect instance of how genuinely kind people here are. the project director's friend came to the soup kitchen to put on a little puppet show for the kids. after, she had them draw pictures of the story and then she had some prizes for the "best pictures". (the kids absolutely loved it and were so excited for the "audience participation" and of course, the coloring!) well this woman spoke, obviously, fluent spanish and when she realized i only knew a little bit, she kept trying to explain herself in english and asked me for my dictionary so she could at least show me in print what word she was trying to say. she even invited me to come visit her at her house with our project coordinator at the soup kitchen! this made me realize how accomodating the people are...the language barrier has been a struggle for me but i realize more and more that when people see i'm struggling to understand, they slow down their conversation and some even throw in some english words here and there. it's really kind of cool.

along these same lines, i've learned a few things about life in costa rica...
- rice and beans are a part of virtually every mean
- pedistrians don't have the right of way on the streets. costa rican drivers not only are obsessed with using their horns but they also think they own the road and that no one should get in their way
- don't flush the toilet paper...the septic systems can't handle all the excess paper so that's why you'll find a little trash can next to every toilet
- it's "normal" to have 2 or 3 locks to unlock before entering your house
- hot water comes in small amounts---use sparingly.
- many houses aren't up to date with the times...many don't have computers, dishwashers, dryers...hence why my clothes were hung over the porch balcony to dry
- the water is safe to drink
- cross your fingers when taking the bus that a. it's the right bus b. you'll make it home alive in the hands of your road-rage-driven bus driver and c. you recognize where to get off the bus (since there's no street signs or addresses)

i'm sure there will be more to add as time passes but that's what i have so far...this weekend takes me on an adventure to the nicoya peninsula where 2 friends and i will board a 70 ft catamaran and cruise around 7 small islands for the day tomorrow (check it out.... calypsocruises.com) hasta luego :)