It’s been oddly cold here. Super windy. Obviously nowhere near as cold as in the States but when you move to Central America you don’t plan on wearing layers. Granted I do live pretty high on a mountain but usually this time of year it’s a lot warmer and sunnier. Some people are saying it’s a result of the tsunami in Japan. Who knows? All I know is that I talk about the weather WAY TOO MUCH. I am becoming a Tica.
Last weekend was another busy one spent in and around town. Saturday morning some of the jovenes got together to pick up trash. Unfortunately only 5 people showed up but we still picked up 4 sacks packed with trash so it was a success. Then later in the day I went to Zapote (in San Jose) to the Correo de Torros. I went last year and it was a lot of fun. Technically it’s “running with the bulls” but there’s also some bull riding and other “antics” involved. For example, cross dressing bull runners who dance cumbia (a type of latin American swing dancing). Needless to say the whole thing is much more interesting in person than watching on TV and it was fun to spend time with my host mom and sister from last year as well as one of my students and his mom.
On Sunday I visited my host grandmother’s house where they were having a rosary to honor her mother’s death 6 months ago. This of course involved cooking massive amounts of food (i.e. at least 5 gallons of soup) to feed all the people who came. I went to eat and ended up helping out and serving people. A few people asked Seidy (my host mom) who I was (obviously people who do not living in La Violeta because everyone who know’s anything calls me Teacher even if we’ve never actually met). She introduced me as her “hija” or her “daughter” which was just about the sweetest thing. Makes all the home sickness I talked about last time I post pretty much disappear. Like I said, things here are a roller coaster ride. But then again, isn't that sort of just how life is?
Meanwhile time is flying by. I know I try to be all about the present moment but the truth is the future and all the inevitable change that’s coming (that’s always happening really) lurks anxiously in my present. It kills me that I won’t always live here, waking up to roosters and motorcycles and children shouting. I won’t always teach these children that I love more everyday. And while December feels light years away, it’s coming and I don’t know how I’m going to leave. But I guess I don’t really need to know that right now. All I need to know right now is that there are tortillas for breakfast, lessons to plan and a 24 hour a day supply of coffee.
3.18.2011
family love
It’s been a pretty good week. Balanced, peaceful and productive. Had a successful meeting with the youth group and a good meeting with my girls group as well. We made Irish Potato Candies and then we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with some fun games in class the next day. Then on Thursday I visited with the religion teacher who lives in Frailes and comes to give classes once a week. His daughter is in high school and needed some help with her English homework. Unfortunately she's enrolled in a technical highschool and is taking something like accounting in English and needed help on how to say and understand really big numbers. Like 18 digits. Does anyone even know what this number is: 100,000,000,000,000,000? Because I do not.
Although things are going well homesickness is definitely more of an issue, more on my mind this year. Maybe I’m still sort of settling in to this new year. I’m not homesick for food or anything, not for the lifestyle I have in the US. In fact I barely remember what it’s like to cook and eat my own food, drive a car or flush my toilet paper. I’m homesick for my family. I’m missing out on time with people I love and who love me. Maybe its just homesickness or maybe distance really does make the heart grow fonder. Maybe we just want what we don’t have. Or maybe being away, alone, surrounded by the unknown, has planted new seeds of gratitude for the unconditional love of friends and family who know you and love you anyways. As Anne Lamott says about families in her book “Traveling Mercies”:
So while I’ve certainly grown in many ways and am experiencing new freedoms and having adventures, I miss home. There’s something to be said for spending time with people who already love you despite yourself, who you don’t have to prove anything to, who understand you and know where you’re coming from because they were there with you.
Although things are going well homesickness is definitely more of an issue, more on my mind this year. Maybe I’m still sort of settling in to this new year. I’m not homesick for food or anything, not for the lifestyle I have in the US. In fact I barely remember what it’s like to cook and eat my own food, drive a car or flush my toilet paper. I’m homesick for my family. I’m missing out on time with people I love and who love me. Maybe its just homesickness or maybe distance really does make the heart grow fonder. Maybe we just want what we don’t have. Or maybe being away, alone, surrounded by the unknown, has planted new seeds of gratitude for the unconditional love of friends and family who know you and love you anyways. As Anne Lamott says about families in her book “Traveling Mercies”:
…when people have seen you at your worst, you don’t have to put on the mask as much. And that gives us license to try on that radical hat of liberation, the hat of self-acceptance; we’re allowed to escape from underneath from one of the fatwas.
So while I’ve certainly grown in many ways and am experiencing new freedoms and having adventures, I miss home. There’s something to be said for spending time with people who already love you despite yourself, who you don’t have to prove anything to, who understand you and know where you’re coming from because they were there with you.
3.13.2011
two weddings and a nap
It’s been a month now since classes stared – and what a roller coaster it’s been. Feeling better lately since I’ve slept a bit better. Despite the amazing new mattress I’m still having trouble sleeping some and I’m just not my full self without a good nights sleep.
I stayed in town this weekend and went to two weddings on Saturday. The first one was better because at least I knew people and we could talk. Got to see Veronica (my friend/jewelry maker) and Kimberly (former-host-sister/friend) and obviously saw a lot of my students too. That’s always a bit weird. Imagine your teacher showing up at your cousin’s wedding. Haha but then again pretty much everyone is someone’s cousin so I think they’re used to family and friends and school and home kind of being all mixed up. The mass was sweet, a pretty typical Catholic wedding. I think. It’s hard to focus though when a) everything is in Spanish b) you’re standing in the back surrounded by fellow late-comers trying not to sweat c) there are least 20 babies/children crying/talking/banging etc. There’s no crying room (is that really what it’s called?) like at the church where I grew. We threw rice when they walked out the door and then went to the parent’s house (and by we I mean at least half the town) to eat and socialize. Unlike typical U.S. weddings that are at least ¾ theatrics (professional videographers and catering companies, hired bands and preplanned seating?) this wedding was a big more “tranquilo.” All homemade food (made by my host mom!) served by the family and barely enough seating around every possible edge of the house to fit everyone. The second wedding I went to was a bit more “typical.” The reception was at the “salon” (kind of like a hall that you can rent) with a DJ, pre-decorated tables and a special head table for the wedding party. This one had ridiculously loud music, mediocre food and uncomfortable seats and I didn’t know anyone except my family (it was my host-brother’s girlfriend’s sister’s wedding). Unfortunately I did not get to eat any wedding cake or drink anything other than a few thimbles full of “rompompe” which is basically just eggnog with rum. And I’m not kidding when I say thimbles either… they were the little plastic shot glass that were a ¼ the size of a normal shot class. Who knows?
Needless to say I was pretty exhausted on Sunday and fully enjoyed my day of rest with napping, eating and watching "Community" on my computer. Somethings aren't so different here and I almost forget I'm not home... or am I?
I stayed in town this weekend and went to two weddings on Saturday. The first one was better because at least I knew people and we could talk. Got to see Veronica (my friend/jewelry maker) and Kimberly (former-host-sister/friend) and obviously saw a lot of my students too. That’s always a bit weird. Imagine your teacher showing up at your cousin’s wedding. Haha but then again pretty much everyone is someone’s cousin so I think they’re used to family and friends and school and home kind of being all mixed up. The mass was sweet, a pretty typical Catholic wedding. I think. It’s hard to focus though when a) everything is in Spanish b) you’re standing in the back surrounded by fellow late-comers trying not to sweat c) there are least 20 babies/children crying/talking/banging etc. There’s no crying room (is that really what it’s called?) like at the church where I grew. We threw rice when they walked out the door and then went to the parent’s house (and by we I mean at least half the town) to eat and socialize. Unlike typical U.S. weddings that are at least ¾ theatrics (professional videographers and catering companies, hired bands and preplanned seating?) this wedding was a big more “tranquilo.” All homemade food (made by my host mom!) served by the family and barely enough seating around every possible edge of the house to fit everyone. The second wedding I went to was a bit more “typical.” The reception was at the “salon” (kind of like a hall that you can rent) with a DJ, pre-decorated tables and a special head table for the wedding party. This one had ridiculously loud music, mediocre food and uncomfortable seats and I didn’t know anyone except my family (it was my host-brother’s girlfriend’s sister’s wedding). Unfortunately I did not get to eat any wedding cake or drink anything other than a few thimbles full of “rompompe” which is basically just eggnog with rum. And I’m not kidding when I say thimbles either… they were the little plastic shot glass that were a ¼ the size of a normal shot class. Who knows?
Needless to say I was pretty exhausted on Sunday and fully enjoyed my day of rest with napping, eating and watching "Community" on my computer. Somethings aren't so different here and I almost forget I'm not home... or am I?
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