My Birthday Day

Hey everyone! Thanks to all for the birthday wishes - it's always so nice to remember friends and family on special days. I just found out that my mother and two sisters will come to visit me in March - Yay!! What a good present. Oh, the other present I gave myself was an amazing farmer's tan.. you guys wouldn't believe it. And I've always one - usually from soccer - but I assure you, this one takes the cake. We went to the beach with some friends on Wednesday, but it's a local beach and not one for tourists so actual swimsuits are not acceptable.. so we go in with our scrub pants and t-shirts.

By the way, Adrian, from my last post, seems like he will, with time, be fine. He has started walking again and so hopefully there will not even be a lasting limp.

Linda, sitting next to me, is quite excited with a certain possibility for her future and would like to share with everyone that she could be going back, instead of to Iceland, to Denmark. Oh, the possibilities.

Speaking of possibilities, the date I set for when I would start thinking of my future is coming up in about a week and a half. Oh, scary. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. I think at the moment that I want to find a job before I go back to get a masters... but that's thinking about it all too much. I still have a week and a half to simply enjoy the present.. so that's what I'm going to do! Love to all!

Long past time

Here in Costa Rica it is starting to be summer. It rains only once in every few days and even then usually only for a short time and not in large quantities.. usually. I actually walked down the mountain today without sinking into any mud (which is also good because I didn't wear my boots). And we started at 4:30 this morning walking by the light of the moon (and some flashlights) - just thought I'd throw that in, too.

We are gearing up for a busy next few months. Every day it seems we get more and more demands on our time and services - which is soo great. We have started another 3 English class and quite a few more pre-youth and children's classes. And our Enrichment Center building is almost completed! Just a few more walls to put up and we will have a great place a little apart to study and have classes and keep all of our materials together. And it's on such a beautiful hill with a great view. In addition to proper classes, I have somehow been unofficially designated the math tutor (it's great but also soo frustrating! and not to mention trying to figure out math in spanish!) as well as for other subjects and for Ruhi books (often there are people who need to finish a few sections of a book or need to catch up to a point where they can continue with someone else). So, in large part, this is how I have spent my time the last few weeks - especially with the tutoring as the term of the school came to an end and everyone was studying for their exams. It was a successful term here in these schools - everyone in the colegio (high school) passed and all of the students in the 6th grade are graduating on the 20th!

A few days later (23rd or something) we are having visitors from El Salvador and while they are here we are having a "capacitacion" an intensive weekend of Ruhi. That will be an interesting experience - hosting 20 people to sleep and then cooking for more like 60+ for two meals a day. As a matter of fact, I'm bring up a large (large) load of groceries up with me in an effort to lighten the load a little bit for our trip up with everyone.

Unfortunately I do have some very sad news. A very very dear boy, Adrian, got bitten by a terciopelo (fer-de-lance) snake a few weeks ago. He was rushed as quickly as possible down the mountain to the nearest hospital but even going with all speed it took many many hours to reach any antivenom - much too long. He has been in the hospital for weeks now and we have had little news. He has been stable ever since we heard of the bite (it happened while we were in San Jose last time and didn't learn of it till days later when we returned) and a few days ago we learned that he has had an operation... though we don't know what kind. We heard that Don Jesus (the father) and Adrian were in good spirits so I hope that it wasn't an amputation. He should be coming back from the hospital soon. I have missed having him around - he was one of my very first friends here.

How to Describe Perfection?

So, our trip to Panama exceeded all expectations. By a lot. To be honest, I did not have high hopes. I thought trying to find all transportation would be a huge hassel, we would all be tired, it would rain, we would stay in dingy places - I thought all the worst was coming. Wrong. It turns out it couldn't be easier - somehow it was all a piece of cake. Buses and taxis right there when we needed them - and when they weren't the people at where we were staying (Both the Purple House in David and Boca Brava) called taxis and arranged everything for us. People are so nice!

The Purple House was fun - internet! and talking to people from all around and shower and sleep. And everything Purple down to my (complimentary) coffee cup in the morning. Best of all, of course, was getting to our destination - the island of Boca Brava (don't ask me why it's called that). Soooo beautiful!! We take a water taxi to the island and go up the steps from the dock to our home for a day. None of us had exact change for the boat taxi, so the man working there said he would pay the man for us and just put it on our tab. We then had breakfast and amazing fruit drinks with milk (my favorite was papaya!). Then we decide to go on a day trip with snorkling. Lets just fill up the day right? Well, our boat taxi friend takes us to an amazingly beautiful beach on an island - it's only us and a couple from England and a girl from Germany who decided to join us. It's absolutely stunning. I can't wait for Laura and Komron to share their pictures!! So, we spend all day on this beach, in the water, climbing the rocks, exploring the forest - eating our packed lunch! Everything just so relaxed and wonderful.

Then we come back to our island and shower and have dinner. After a very tastey dinner with the breeze blowing, the music gets louder and they start dancing.. and we join in!! Oh, I haven't danced for such a long time. Then we all went out and sat on the dock for some good old bonding time. This morning was even more relaxed. We woke up, had some breakfast, and walked to another empty beach. This time, instead of playing with each other, we all chose our own spot - I read, others listened to music or explored. And we headed back to the boarder. And, this may not really be important, but to stay on this Island - room and all meals (5), less than $30.

Okay, time to go - I'll try and put up pictures sometime soon.

Life is good :)

Para Didi

Rachel, I don't know how I did this but I omitted a part of my story that would give you particular pleasure: In David, I am staying at a hostel called - guess what - The Purple House. And yes the house is actually purple, inside and out. Just about everything inside it is purple as well. Down to the fans and the bunkbeds. Cups, towels, all knick-knacks. Purple. :).

A Holy Day in Progresso

We celebrated the Holy Day last night at our house. There were about 40 people from the community who came up to observe it. That meant, since Anne had not yet arrived back from her trip to the states, we had to make all the preparations. And we were short on food. Really - like we didn't even have rice and beans. So, we had to walk down the hill yesterday morning to get the beans on the fire so that they could be ready by dinner time. Plus, one can't have only rice and beans to celebrate a holy day, so we killed two of our chickens. Actually, funny story. The standard procedure is to actually catch the chicken the night before you plan to eat it. You see, it is much easier to catch when they go up into their tree at night. Then, you "simply" shine a flashlight on them and hook them with your home-made noose contraption. Then, tie them up for the night and there they are when you want them. Unfortunately, yesterday, the one chicken chosen to be the perfect one (the one that has been laying eggs in the house for the past month and then jumping on your head when she wants to get out from behind the couch) actually escaped at the moment of her death. So, what to do. One chicken isn't enough to feed forty people - even if it is only arroz con pollo. Well, we had to catch another chicken so we got the dogs to help. And within five minutes they had caught the chicken. We were all so surprised that the dog got the one we wanted. But actually, it turned out it wasn't - it was a smaller version of the old one we wanted. Oh well. So, then we had to clean the chicken. None of us wanted to defeather it, so we skinned it. We got started well enough, but then were unsure of how to continue so we had to call in the assistance of Parviz, who apparently grew up skinning chickens - no, I'm making that up.. but he does know how to do it. Anyways, then we served over 40 people dinner and coffee, said some prayers, told some of the stories of Baha'u'llah's life and then sang some of the favorite songs. And, to finish the night off, we brought out the old laptop, gathered around it and watched the March of the Penguins. Not completely connected with the holy day, but on short notice quite good enough. Except, the night wasn't over yet. During the show, we hear from up the hill "Culebra!!" for those who don't know that means "SNAKE!!" Three men run up the hill and a short time later come back down with a 4 foot long ferdelance spiked through the back of it's neck. So the gringos can take pictures :). Which they did. And, today, us youth cleaned up the house and yard for the homecoming of Anne, and packed our own things to leave the country. So, at 2 we taught an English class at the school and at about 3 we started down for our 3 day rompe in Panama. So, here I am. In David for the night. Tomorrow we head for an Island called Boca Chica (I think).

(by the way, Mom, Nathan and Rachel, if this seems a bit familiar, yes, it is exactly what is in the email - I replied to you first, then decided it was a good enough story to share with all)

Love always!

I actually have time.. this might be long

I am, for the first time in months, on a high speed internet connection and have all the time I want to take on it! As we increase in the number of children's classes we are giving, we have had to make a schedule of who goes where when and all that so, as we were making that schedule, it was decided that, generally speaking, Fridays will be our day off. A prediction of what an average day off might be: wake up at 5 to head down the mountain by 5:30 to catch the 8:00 bus from Conte. That bus stops in Laurel from where we catch another bus or take a taxi to our final destination of Paso Canoas. Paso Canoas is the main boarder town between Costa Rica and Panama. Some people love it because it's sort of a funky place with lots of shops and street vendors and lots of people; there are others, though, that have noted that no one ever smiles here. Sad to say, I've found it's kinda true. But here I am. The main attraction is the fast and cheap internet. Also in Paso Canoas, is a bread shop called Musmani. Yummy. Every time we go to or come back from San Jose I get some new yummy bread (usually a danish or some other sweet yummy thing). Other than that, we'll eat lunch, do some shopping (I should probably get a new flashlight - very important item in the land of little or no electricity) and head back to Conte where we will spend the night in order to be available to teach an English class and children's class in Conte. So, that was the now.

In the upcoming future: On Wednesday, after our afternoon English classes at the primary school, we will be heading to Panama for a few days. Reason? because some of us have to leave the country (Laura y yo) before the 20th. After that... we think we will have Thanksgiving Dinner with some friends of the Ighanis in Panama. December, who knows. There are so many people coming and so many different plans that I really can't keep track. January, though I know we are going to the conference in Managua (sp?) Nicaragua. Apparently there are almost 1000 people coming. After that... nothing with specifics.. but it would be a great time for friends and family to visit! hint hint hint! ;)

That leaves the past right? Well, since last time, Anne has been in the states visiting family, so we've all had to take on more responsibility around the place. Mainly that means cooking. Laura does the most for a couple reasons: firstly, she doesn't like to be idle, but secondly because everything she makes comes out amazing. For weeks I've been meaning to write down the crazy things she does with nothing - a Progresso cookbook. Ok, put that on my list of shopping - a notebook. The rest of us also cook but in my opinion the most I can do is start a fire. Although I am competent at making rice and beans.. and bread. and spaghetti. Well, I try.
Oh, there was a birthday last week - Elias Moctezuma, the husband of a good friend, Besigo. Laura and I went down for the party (to be honest, mainly just a normal night of talking and laughing - but they did turn on the light for us) and good food. And, we stayed the night at their house. Yesterday I dug a ditch along the side of our dormitory because the old ditch had filled up and water was running under our house. Not good on several accounts. One, mosquitos. Two, the posts rot and the building falls down. We've also been working on a floor for the enrichment center.. don't know if I've mentioned that before.

Well, love to all.

Time for some pictures!!

Below are some pictures of where I've been recently. And some of the scenery I see almost daily - and it is still always breathtaking. Even as I get accustomed to the landscape, the colors somehow never fail to amaze me. Blues and Greens and Grays have never been so beautiful (and these were always my favorite colors! .. well, maybe not always gray - but now it is!)

This first picture is the view of the Gulf of Dulce on the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica - it is taken from "Paul's place" one of the buildings on the Ighani farm. This is where we often have Ruhi classes (which we are taking to help practice our spanish - and because it is quite probable we will tutor this book at some point and it's good to be familiar with it)


These are the people I live with (minus Anne who is taking the picture). Left to right: Parviz, Laura (from Greece), yours truly, Komron (from TN), and Linda (from Iceland).




This spot is about midway through the walk from Conte to the farm. I love the mist!

Below is a view of the sunrise. I've made the walk down to Conte starting at dawn many times now. And it is always a beautiful morning (.. likely because if it wasn't we wouldn't head down - partly because who would want to walk in bad weather but mostly because that usually means the rivers are high and either dangerous or impassable)

One day we walked about two hours in the opposite direction from Conte - heading further into the mountains. We visited the old Chief and his family. This man has an amazing garden and this woman makes the traditional crafts of the Guaymi people. She asked us to put on the dresses - and I am also wearing a hat the Chief made (though usually only the men wear those). And, by the way, the woman in pink is lovely Anne.

And this beautiful place is the beach, Zancudo. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite places on earth. Beautiful soft sand, waves that are fun but not too powerful or dangerous and comfortable lodgings with great food. Whoever comes to visit me definitely deserves a stop here.

My Day

This morning was an interesting morning. I woke up at my usual time (around 5:15) to the sound of the cat rustling my tent. For some reason I wanted to sleep in... so I tried... and failed. I got up - and I'm always glad when I do because I love my mornings before the others get up. I washed my face and brushed my teeth and then sat in the hammock with my new novel. I have two books that I am reading. One I keep down at the main house - The Prophet's Daughter, and the other I read only in the mornings in my hammock - at the moment it's The Memory Keeper's Daughter. I don't have a watch anymore (my new Guaymi friends like to tease me about it because I wore it into the ocean.. and water proof does not mean saltwater proof) but I am usually exactly on time in the mornings because I have discovered that when the sun tops the tree and the rays begin to shine brightly into my eyes it's 7:00 and time to start the day. But this morning it was very cloudy.. still bright, but very cloudy. So I guessed. I think I was very close to the right time, but when I got up I noticed what the cat must have been occupied with the night before... I found a rat skin and some of the insides left outside my tent. So, I had to clean up that mess. I wonder what happens to the bones because there are never any left there. Strange. So, I made it down to breakfast - I was still first, but I was 13 minutes late (not that we really have such a strict schedule.. we just like to have some bit of order).

Then, a rather spur of the moment idea (at least to me) we decided to take a trip down to Conte to spend some time on the internet. So, we took off right away and spent 2 hours walking down. Near the end of the walk we met Don Freddy who I've heard much about (though, to be honest, I don't really remember who he is) but I was glad to meet him. He said that he has been good friends with Parviz for about 10 years and that we are welcome to visit him at his house anytime. This past week I feel like I'm finally getting to know the people in the community. I'm starting to really remember people's names and their relationships to each other. Before it always felt a little like a blur. Now I just wish my spanish would come faster. I talk with people, but still, at times I'm not really sure I am responding correctly to their questions or if I really understand them or I just think I do. All I can do is keep up what I am doing - continue to read Harry Potter ;) and study with Anne (the youth are doing Ruhi 1 in spanish to improve our language skills) and most of all continue to talk with people.

But back to my narrative: the little cafe only had two computers. So, Laura and I waited at a bar while Linda and Komron used the computers for 1 1/2. And now I'm here, using it myself. I've been trying to follow up with my ideas for the enrichment center of using some of the old Montessori materials for math and reading that I used as a kid to use with the kids up in Progresso. I think I can make a lot of the things - right now I just really need to remember how to get them to use it. What do I have them do? Eh, I'll figure it out. I guess I'm actually getting ahead of myself. I should be figuring out how to make the materials because they don't even have a chance to use them until I make them! So, besides the garden (which we've gotten the first batch of plants in the earth) my other main project will be to get some of these materials ready.

Here we go again

I'm back in San Jose and leaving again for Progresso in the morning. For some reason I cannot get used to using the extremely slow internet connection that is available at the Ighani house... I guess I just don't have enough patience. So, I write when I'm here. It's not a good system because I haven't felt like posting all weekend - and to be honest, I'm still not sure I do. But this is me trying to keep in touch.

So, a (relatively) quick update on some of my activities, and then perhaps a nod to news from the US. In Progresso it's always an interesting mix of not much going on, nothing to do, and completely occupied. The year of service youth, along with the help of one special neighbor, has started a garden. We have planted seedlings of cucumber, tomato, okra, red pepper, and one or two other things in little containers we made out of paper which we will, once they have grown a little, plant into one of the two plots we've dug up. We are hoping to have a successful little vegtable garden - but it's a hope because it's in the middle of the rainy season and it may be a lot of work to keep all the plants and the soil from washing away. We've dug trenches around the plots in an effort to ward off erosion, but we'll see how it all works.

Also, last Wednesday we started teaching English classes at the local school. Laura and I are teaching the 5th grade class, Anne is teaching the 6th grade, and Komron and Linda will be teaching the 4th grade. I was a bit nervous going in because our spanish is not really all there yet and I'm not sure I've ever really taught a class in the same type of setting - proper chalkboard, students in desks... I mean, it's the whole nine yards. But I think the kids enjoyed it and I know I really did. I am looking forward to planning class and teaching it.

Another project we're hoping to get up and running soon is the, well, to be honest I just forgot the name. But basically it is going to be an enrichment center of sorts. A big part of the culture and of everyday life in Progresso is visiting. Lots of people stop by every day and rather than simply sitting and doing nothing we will be doing something while we visit. Also, it will be the base of operations (there is another building being built where we house supplies or simply be a station for this) for our tutoring. For instance, three of our top priorities at the moment is teaching one little girl to read and helping two boys with their math skills. But it's for everyone. At the moment it's still more of an idea than a plan - but that's one thing we will focus on when we get back.

Other things that take up my time: dishes - somehow there is a never ending stream (ok, I can tell you... we have to cook each meal - there is no refrigerator, so three meals a day; plus, we have visitors - and for each visitor, even the tiny little kids, we serve them either coffee or juice, depending on the time of day, and if they are there during lunch or dinner, or sometimes even breakfast time, we also serve them a meal, so dishes can be, and are done all day long); laundry has to be done at least every other day just in case we have a bad week of rain and clothes don't dry; Laura and I run quite regularly, almost every day; for my downtime I read - I have read Reading Lolita in Tehran, which is a great book about a woman who lived and taught in Iran before and after the revolution, The Alchemist, a great book about a boy finding his path in life, finding his purpose and joy, Anna Karennina, a classic Russian novel about a few aristocrats trying to find happiness, Angela's Ashes, a heartbreaking story of a boy's life growing up in Ireland in the mid-20th century. But perhaps the hardest read - It's the first one I started in July and I am still only halfway through - is the 3rd book of Harry Potter. I kid you not. Of course, it is in spanish. And, to clarify, my downtime is usually between 6 and 7 in the morning, after I wake up, but before it is time to go down to breakfast - and that's on the mornings that Laura and I don't run (sometimes we go in the afternoon). At night, after dinner, Anne and Parviz and us youth have a devotional. At the moment we are reading A Century of Light. So, there you have it.

Bonus: one morning, Laura and I gave poor Puppy a bath. She was filthy and tick and flea infested. I showered directly afterwards.

And I came here to San Jose and whenever I have the remote for the TV I turn on CNN. I saw the first Presidential Debate, and I wish I could be in a position to catch the rest. And I found out about the slight difficulties Wall Street is having - it's crazy how separated I am from that down here. I had no idea. It's funny, when I'm in Progresso I do not miss movies, TV, radio, or even the internet, except at times to be able to keep in touch a bit more. But I come here and it is overload on CNN and the internet.

Well, I need to pack for tomorrow... and think about calling a cab for 4:30, or 5? better make it 4:45 in the morning... hmm.. ok, hasta luego.

I'm a bit behind

I always feel I'm a bit behind and I keep writing only long narratives - and this one is no different. I plan to briefly describe the last ten days since my last post; but first, I have news to share: the Ighanis have spoken (apparently for five hours) with the counselor and they have decided not to rush the move away from Progresso. A pioneer family from Panama is coming on the 20th of September and we thought we'd leave for Guanacaste a few days after but it has been decided to wait and see. Therefore, for an undefined amount of time I get to stay in the lovely Progresso.


Okay, for the long, but hopefully not boring, sequence of events. Last week, when we all still thought we would be moving at the end of September, Jason came with the hope of helping his parents make the move. So, he came and we headed out on the long bus ride the next morning - but instead of going directly to Progresso we went to a beautiful quiet beach - the beach we see from one of the views from the Ighani's house (hopefully someday I'll insert some pictures because it's absolutely stunning). We had a nice long walk on the beach that night and the next morning we played in the great waves of the pacific ocean.

Then we headed up to Progresso. In Progresso we continued helping Anne go through things - cleaning and organizing and just generally trying to be helpful. But we also had some fun... of sorts. A few times Laura, Jason and I ran down the mountain and back up - I described that beach walk right? Well, yes, we took that path - not the whole hike... just the hardest part - barefoot. Fun, right? But to make up for it we did make chocolate. First we roast the cocoa beans, then rub the roasted beans between our hands to take off the shell. Then we grind them and then we add milk and sugar over the fire. I say we - mostly it was Jason and Laura (there's a picture on facebook - note what I am holding... not exactly helpful). Jason also cut down some coconuts for us to drink one day - yum. Oh, and I would just like to share, Laura made the most amazing Spaghetti. I am constantly amazed at the food here - yes, often we have the rice and beans that I expected, but also, quite often we have amazing tasting food! There was talk of killing a chicken (Laura really wants to pluck the chicken!) but that didn't end up happening - maybe it we'll do that in the upcoming weeks.

Then, all too soon, we left for San Jose once more. For some reason, that particular ride seemed extremely long to me - but we made it to San Jose. Our days here have also been quite eventful. One night we stayed at Saba's (a good friend - she served at the Ighani's a few years ago and decided to return to Costa Rica to study), one night we stayed at Julie's (a pioneer to Costa Rica and good friend of Anne), and a couple nights now we're back at Hesh and Zarrin's. We spent one day at the mall - no shopping, just sitting and talking. We've gone on errands, met friends for lunch (so tasty!), farewell party - that, for a few of us, lasted until 3:30 when they headed for the airport to send Jason away, other party.. well, the one that's always here the the house (for instance, Zar cooked dinner last night and about 7 people just walked in and sat down with us - good times).

So, we leave for Progresso in the morning and we don't know when we'll be back. The internet sitiation (hopefully family members catch that and don't just think I can't spell) is also undefined so I don't know when I'll be writing again - but don't let that deter you from communicating with me - eventually I will read and respond to everything. Nos vemos!

Before we go..

Well, our week in the San Jose area is almost at an end. We came up to San Jose for a doctor's appointment for Parviz, then we stayed to the weekend because Anne and Parviz had an NSA meeting, and then we were waiting for today because Jason (the oldest Ighani child) is flying in from the states. So, tomorrow we will be heading back down to Progresso. So... what we did in San Jose:

Well, Laura and I have been staying at a young couple's house - and it's been great. Hesh and Zarrin are good friends of the Ighanis and it's not hard to see why. Their house is always open to their friends and almost every night there were people over - whether it was just a night to hang out, or there was a devotional or dinner. Also, lucky for Laura and I, they both speak English and most of their friends do as well. So, we've been having a good time meeting new people and hanging out - at least at night. During the day, when everyone is at work, we've had to think of things to fill up our time. One day we went into downtown San Jose with Anne - we saw the open market and the craft markets and just walked around. One day we went out to a nearby Volcano - apparently it has one of the largest craters formed by a Volcanic eruption. One day we just went to downtown Heredia (the town/subdivision where we have been living) looked around and then when it started raining found a little "Cafeteria" - a coffee shop - and studied spanish. Other days we just hung out here and watched some movies. Unfortunately, Laura and I both got sick two nights ago and we spent yesterday recuperating. But we're better now and all ready for the party we're throwing for Jason's return. We've also been to a few friend's houses for devotionals, dinner and hanging out. Oh, and on a spur of the moment thing - we gave an improvised children's class... with no materials, not even a story in spanish, and little language. Laura has been taking lots of good pictures and has been putting them up on Facebook, so if you want to see some pictures I'm afraid you'll have to check it all out there.

Back in Costa Rica...

... but we're not settled yet. At the moment we are all sort of floating in Costa Rica. The first week we returned we stayed in Progresso. Anne started going through her things, trying to decide what she should and could take with her when we move. Parviz visited with neighbors and tried to fix some of the solar panel units that either weren't working or weren't working very well. Laura and I did whatever we could that would help them. We've done some cleaning, organizing, cooking and visiting neighbors. One day we walked down to the bay to buy fish (and swim in the ocean). That was a fun day - Anne had warned us that it was a rather difficult hike, especially on the way back. Well, going down Laura and I thought "this isn't too bad." On the way back we decided never to doubt anything Anne says. The walk back is pretty much straight up without stopping - for about 2 1/2 hours. And it didn't help that we walked back in the middle of the day without much water. Another day, Laura and I went to a friend's house to ask her to make Guaymi dresses for us. I don't know when they'll be ready - but I can't wait!

But I'm ahead of myself - Laura is from Greece, but has German parents, and has been working in England for the past few years. She will be staying with us for about 6 months - until she decides where or whether to do her doctorate. She's great... actually we're going for a run at the moment so I'll finish the stories of our adventures another time.

But very quickly, at the moment we're in San Jose and will be for a few more days yet.

Hola Todos!

Well, it's been about three more weeks and my time in Colombia is almost at an end.  I have met some wonderful people, had some wonderful times, and have really learned a lot.  The first week here at the institute in Cartegena, Colombia was spent learning about the process - especially the importance of keeping detailed and accurate notes and information about what has been done and who you've spoken to.  In addition, we studied Conozcamos (basically the Spanish version of Anna's Presentation) and some other deepening themes to help us prepare for going out to the towns.  Which is what we did for most of the second and third weeks.  Last week, on Tuesday we went out to the villages, mine was called Santa Rosa, where we stayed until Friday.  This was the teaching part of our trip.  Our goal was 50 new Baha'is - and we reached that goal in two days.  Mind blowing, right?  The people are simply ready.  The people we shared Conozcamos with were people who already knew a little bit about the faith - they had kids in childrens classes or they were or someone in their family had started Ruhi books - but we simply shared with them some of the main beliefs and a little history of the faith and at the end we ask "so, do you believe in Baha'u'llah" and almost every time they said yes.  I think four people total in Santa Rosa said no, they didn't want to sign a card... but everyone that I saw simply said yes.  The other two days were spend starting the consolidation process, the deepening the new believers.  One of the main things that struck me was the confidence that the other members of my group had in the process.  For instance, they pushed me to give part of the presentation, even though I have very bad spanish - they trusted that the message is so powerful that my broken spanish can't mask the truth.  This past week was the other part of the consolidation process.  We took the bus every day to the village and tutored Ruhi books or deepened new believers.  I gave my first Ruhi class in spanish.  And now, I have had three different Ruhi classes - alone.  Yesterday, I spent an entire day with one family.  In the morning I continued Book 2 with a girl, Cindy, who I had tutored the week before.  They had invited me to eat lunch with them - so I ate soup with cow stomach.. it was actually quite tasty but I had to not think about what it was.  And for the rest of the day, when Cindy had to go to colegio (high school) I sort of tutored Book 1 with an uncle of hers who is not a Baha'i.  It was interesting because he kept saying "There's not enough time!"  so he wanted to skip the reading (which is my favorite part because that's easy - no thinking, just reading!) and go straight to answering all of the questions.  Plus, he wanted to discuss all sorts different topics - especially politics (he is a fan of Obama).  It was a good day, but by 4 o'clock, about the time we needed to leave to catch the bus back to Cartegena, I could barely understand him any more.  I was so tired - everything he said I would have to ask him to repeat it.  That was my first entire day of only spanish.  All the other days I would have short conversations in English, or at least know that I could ask someone else to tell me what was said.. but yesterday I was alone with only spanish speakers and no English at all.  Good day, but hard.

This afternoon we are supposed to get together with the other members of our countries and begin our teaching and consolidation plans for our respective areas.  I don't know how that is going to go for us Costa Ricans, since none of us know exactly where we will be, what it will be like, or who we'll have to work with.  But I know that once we get there we'll be doing all sorts of good things for the Baha'is in that area.  

A Quick Hello

Hey everyone! I have been in Costa Rica for... well, I don't know exactly - what day is it? - maybe about 3 weeks. I spent the first two weeks with the Lynda Godwin Road Warriors youth service project (the same one I went on two years ago to Costa Rica and that Rachel went with last summer to Uganda) in Progresso, Costa Rica at the Ighani's farm. We successfully installed 25 solar panels to 25 homes - meaning that we gave light to 25 families where they had never had light previously - it was absolutely great. We did have some interesting adventures in the process, however. I hope that I will have a chance to go into it in a little more detail sometime but this needs to be a quick posting so I'm just going to continue. I am now in San Jose with Ann and Parviz but tomorrow we head down to Panama City to fly to Colombia for our training seminar. We will be there for about three weeks. Hopefully I'll get another chance to write soon! bye!

A New Beginning - but first:

Hey everyone! It's been a long time since my last blog - what can I say, I've been really busy (and I've loved it!). First as we all know I went to visit Nathan in Israel with my immediate family. It was an amazing three weeks that I'll never forget. There are tons of pictures on facebook that I'm sure most of you have already seen so I don't need to post a lot of them here... just a few of my favorites.


We spent our first two weeks seeing the sites of Haifa and Akka, where we saw some beautiful places, ate some amazing food and spent time with wonderful people.




Then we toured Israel where we had some more amazing experiences: camel riding, ruins sitings, and dead sea swimming (or, more accurately, floating).







Then we were back in Huntsville preparing for a family reunion! It was great seeing everyone again. We had a great weekend together. Here are some pictures from that: the easier to come accross family portrait and the much harder to get picture with everyone (except Nathan, obviously, and Uncle Dave, who is taking the picture)!















And tomorrow I begin one more exciting adventure: my year of service in Costa Rica. I'm not completely sure how often I'll be able to access the internet but I'm going to try to keep in touch with everyone. Hasta luego!

Yay! No more classes!

Today was my final day of class at Maryville College!! I still have a few papers due next week - and two performances - so I'm not quite done yet, but yay! no more class!

Things I hate

A while ago I posted about some little things that I like. Well, it's time for us all to get to know me a little better but this time it's about things I really don't like. Mainly it's just one thing, and that one thing mainly because it's been happening for a few days now. Here it is: I hate hearing little rather random beeps - especially when I can't do anything to stop them. For instance, last night someone was watching a dvd of The Office upstairs but when they stopped they left it on the menue screne that replays the same noises over and over. Now, I love The Office (and it comes on tonight - yay!) but as I was downstairs writing a paper I kept hearing these soft strange noises (turns out it was the sound of a phone ringing and then a fax machine). That one I fixed easily - I just muted the TV. This morning a roommate's room phone kept ringing when she wasn't here to answer it. And at the moment a different roommate's cell phone is beeping. Every few minutes there will be this little high pitched beep and every time I hear it it brings me out of what I'm concentrating on. And she's not here and I can't do anything about it! So, a little rant about an insignificant little thing - that I hate.

All Done!

Yay! Comps are over! They weren't too bad - but don't be surprised if next time you see me I am missing my right arm as I'm pretty sure it's about to fall off.

Now all that's left is about 5 papers and a few more exams. And only one more month!!

One Down

Day one of comprehensive exams is completed.

Also, I picked up my graduation gown yesterday. It looks something like this (except imagine the tassel color as garnet):

It's April already?

Wow, I can't believe it's April already. Time seems to be flying past. Let's see, a short update since the last post and then we can get to tonight's slight news.

Well, a few weeks ago was spring break and I spent it all with my family (while some of my roommate took a road trip out west to the Grand Canyon, among other places. See family how much I love you because I chose you over a road trip... or maybe I was just afraid of being pushed over the edge...) Anyways, I went home. Half of it was spent at home and the other half was spent at Grandpa's farm where we got to see the Detweilers again. In short, it was a lot of just relaxing and hanging out with loved ones. Priceless.


Since then I've been back at school, doing the normal school routine with the slight added stress of studying for my dreaded Comprehensive Exams (that will be Thursday and Friday of next week) and practicing quite a bit of piano in preparation for my little part in the student recital the college held this evening. Yes, that is tonight's news - I played 3 movements of a little Sonatina by Kuhlau. It wasn't flawless but it also wasn't terrible - and three of my roommates came to support me so it was nice. Another ten years and no one will cringe when I step on stage - no, I'm just kidding.. it'll take 20. ;) And my other accomplishment of the past few weeks: I finally started book 7 - I'm on my way to becoming a tutor!

Breakfast during the Fast

As we all know I am not and, unfortunately, never will be a morning person. But even though I do not actually like the getting up early part, I've pretty much always enjoyed breakfasting the mornings of the fast. At home it was quite a production - we'd all get up and have a nice cooked meal. Daddy and Mommy would cook, Nathan would be hanging around, in later years Rachel would be up and sooo tired and I would have to laugh. Someone would set the table; someone else would be cutting up grapefruits. Good family time. And of course, we would all pray together afterwards.

Then I went to college and had to do it all by myself. I had to wake myself up (oh yeah, one of my parents would always come get me - and that's a better way to wake up) if I wanted to eat. But I had no access to a kitchen. I had a microwave but not so much as a toaster to cook anything in. And, worst of all - I was alone. Fasting is no fun alone.

But then the next year Gabe came to Maryville - yay Gabe! And he would cross campus on some mornings and we'd cook a small breakfast in the common room kitchen. And the next year was even better - we actually lived in the same building and I had my own kitchen - much more convenient.

This year was even better because Pooneh, Kamran, and Arianna came over quite a few mornings and I cooked for them (Gabe, of course, is studying abroad). I made all sorts of things - scrambled eggs, cinnaman apple toast, ham, pancakes, omelets, bacon, french toast, bannanas and cream - lots of my favorite things. Today was the best of all (even though it definitely also took the longest): I made crepes! Yum. But I switched it up a little - instead of cherries we had blueberries on our crepes (you see, Danielle does not like cherries). Like I said though - it took a long time... I don't have a griddle where I can cook 8 or 10 at a time. Instead, I cooked them two at a time in a smallish skillet and they all turned out looking like steaks (the shape, I mean) because of the curve the skillet and because the eyes on the stove are crooked. But they were still tasty; at least, I thought so.

In other news, I agreed to play a (piano) sonata at the next Maryville College student recital. Why?

I love real Professors

I love professors who are the epitomy of the word "professor." The stereotypical crazy-haired, slightly absent minded, just professors. Like there's nothing else that they could ever be. There are some professors who are just teachers; others, like my instructor for my bollywood class, are almost friends you could talk to about, well, movies (for instance, like I did today - I'd mentioned that I'd seen that movie before - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai for anyone who remembers those old times.. the one when they were best friends at college but he loves the other girl who then dies and her daughter finds his old best friend at a summer camp and gets them together in the end - sorry if that's a bit confusing, but it's hard to summarize a 3 hour movie in one coherent sentence. Back to the main topic: good ol' professors.) There are those who make you frantic trying to copy the insane amount of notes down, but then also discuss. Then there are those who can somehow always engage the class completely and who just make the class feel like a college course. I guess, to put it simply, those who make you want to go to class - you don't want to miss the tiny but hysterical comments, or the stories he will tell when he goes off on his little tangents... but that aren't tangents really because he can pull them back and make them fit into anything we were talking about. When you regret not going to class instead of leaving class and wishing you hadn't wasted your time. Oh, I'll miss learning from professors. (ps. look closely, I just described my course schedule... that's my life right now) I'm glad I've had a few professors in my college career.


Actually, here is a picture of the current "Professor" I have. It's a shame he doesn't have the longer and grayer messy hair that he has now - it adds so much to the whole professor thing. Anyways, thanks Dr. Klingensmith (and, of course, to the others I've had over the years).

(I don't know why I came back and added these pictures -- I guess I just thought I needed more pictures)

Traps and Distractions

I have been introduced to the iGoogle home page - and I am now hooked. I have spent hours creating my new home page. You can choose a background - and they've got some really cute ones (mine is a little cartoon tiger and he's in his little home and we can see out into his yard where he has a garden - and, as the day goes on, the scene changes. Last night he took a bath, then went to bed, this morning he was working in his garden and at lunch time he was sitting at the table eating lunch. Cute!) - and you get to choose other features to put on it as well. I've got quotes of the day, a word of the day so as to improve my vocabulary, the weather, news - all sorts of things. So much fun. So, those hours where I should have been writing a paper that's due next week I instead got pulled into designing this new homepage. I started last night and today I have been rearranging things whenever I want a break from homework - which is way too often. Oh well, I'll really enjoy it - and hey, at least my vocabulary will improve, right?

A new talent!

Today I had my first guitar lesson! I think I am really going to enjoy playing. He asked me if I listened to any guitar players and I said yes (doesn't everybody?) then he asked who... and I went blank.. I had no idea who to say - so I said I grew up listening to Eric Clapton. So he took that and ran with it and now I'm learning to play some blues! How exciting. This is not just learning to play the guitar - I'm learning some music theory (which I desperately need) and I'm learning to be a bit creative -- he gave me a set of notes (a pentatonic scale, to be exact) and told me to play around with those. I'm gonna be a rockstar! ok, not really, but I am so happy that I will enjoy these lessons.

p.s. - Thanks to Mom and Nathan for teaching me a few chords - he was totally impressed with how quickly I picked up the chords.. but also I hate you because he skipped the 'easy' F chord and went straight to the bar chord - my biggest fear.

I am going to Costa Rica!!!!

I have been saying for many years that I would be going to Costa Rica for my year of service, but it was always a "hopefully." Today, however, I received an email from Parvis (Mr. Ighani) and it is for sure that I am welcome there!! I am so very excited. I am alone in my appartment at the moment, and it's probably a good thing because I am just bouncing from room to room with a huge grin on my face - you know how I can be. I'm so excited! They want me to come as soon as possible... so it looks like I graduate, travel to Haifa, family reunion in Huntsville, and then Costa Rica!!!

What? I need to go to bed.

I'm back in the land of the living. For the past few weeks I've been reading a fantasy series but this morning I finished the last of the books I have (there is one more out, but I don't have access to it at the moment, plus she is writing another one so I may as well stop here rather than go to the trouble of obtaining the next book, reading it, and yet still be left hanging). It's been glorious and frustrating at the same time (as always) - I love having another world to immerse myself in.. especially fiction because I know it's not real and completely frivolous (somehow the fact that I know it's frivolous makes it less so... my thought process is something like "this is my unproductive act for the day" so, knowing that, the rest of the day is spent attempting to be useful). Now when I read it will almost always be for academics - which is, of course, just as stimulating and actually more interesting - but it's so much harder. When reading fiction I just skip the parts I don't want to read... when the description of the landscape goes on to long I skip to the dialogue... if a battle goes on for pages I skip to the end and just find out who won. When I'm reading about Plato's vision of a functioning political society (of beauty) I cannot skip a word or else I'm floundering in a sea of incomprehensible terminology. Philosophy just takes so much focus! It's easy enough paragraph by paragraph but pages upon pages continuous dense material is certainly challenging Oh well, it's what's good for me - and why I came to college. That's what learning is right? and there's hardly a greater blessing than that opportunity. But just like the above, knowing that this (this meaning learning/scholarship/erudition - gaining not only knowledge but the ability to think... and the second part is the hard part) is important makes it hard. Eh, I'm just complaining - having books to retreat into is beatific (new word learned at least, so that's good) while they last but then the end inevitably comes and you're left wanting it to continue. Luckily (well, mostly luckily) I know it can and will continue in the future, so I know it's not the end. Plus, since I've been constantly reading for a month I'm a bit tired of it (almost 6,000 pages would get anyone right?). And I actually like (well, I think I like) all of my classes and will enjoy, or at least appreciate spending the time studying. Plus all friends are back in place and I need to spend time with them all.

Wow talk about your rambling. I debate actually posting this.. but why not? It's only other people's opinions of me and my craziness that I'm putting on the line right? Let's see if I can find a picture that equals the above strange bundle of words.

Perfect. I have no idea what that is. Yet it's almost calming too. How interesting.

Black Violin

It's late, but I have time for one short post:

Tonight Maryville College hosted a group called Black Violin and they were amazing! They mix their classically trained violinist selves with hip-hop beats and songs. They are awesome - I love seeing truly talented people. Anyways, check out their website (blackviolin.net) so you can see what I'm talking about: greatness. Good-night!

A Good Day

Today was a good day. I woke up this morning, finished my homework before class. Stepped outside to go to class - and found that the sidewalks were frozen! Dangerous, but funny as we slid to class on the ice. Contributed in class (always a triumph for quiet little me). Ate lunch with friends discussing class and a bit about the Bible. Came back and actually began my homework, cleaned my room and just took care of business in general. I began practicing a piano piece I will be playing this semester - and I love it! it's going to be a lot of fun to play. Later, Sarah cooked us all spaghetti and cookies. Then more friends came over and we played rock band together (Rachel, I can now play the drums on medium). A good productive day with plenty of friends and fun. And, though most people would say the weather today was dreary - for it was gray and wet and rainy all day - I loved it. It was cold but not freezing and tonight it is sprinkling so lightly that it's almost mist and it is just a bit foggy accross campus. Beautiful. Just the kind of atmosphere to spur one's imagination.

(Something like this - only imagine it's dark and the lamp post is giving off a soft yellow glow)

Africa overview

Once I heard someone say that once you experience Africa it gets in your blood and you always want to go back. Not having ever been particularly interested in Africa, I really didn't expect that to happen to me. Interestingly enough, I think it has. All of my stray thoughts seem to turn back to my visit there. And I keep doing little things that they do in Africa - like walking on the left side of the sidewalk instead of the right and I've said things like "even me" or "for me" before a sentence. Needless to say, I am very thankful to have had this opportunity to go to a place I may not otherwise have ever visited. Thanks Rachel!

Still I don't have many pictures to share yet but here we are on our way to the Temple in a matatu - a taxi (and taxis in Africa are small 15 passenger vans that you cram into and they are more like a bus system than taxis that take you anywhere you want to go). Even though both of us look quite tired in this picture I think we both look happy so that's good enough for me.

We didn't actually do a whole lot... like tour Africa and see elephants or gorillas and all that... but we had a lot of fun together. I think I probably preferred it this way - it was a completely relaxed trip for me rather than focusing on getting a lot of things done. The first few days were spent going to the office where Rachel finished up some reports - and we went to parliament to drop off some materials for their library - and then heading to the Temple afterwards to see it and hang out with the youth there. Later days were spent touring Kampala and seeing the local sights and going to some of the markets to buy Ayyam-i-Ha presents for the family. And the final days were spent at an international youth conference held in a town called Mbale that is about 3 1/2 hours away from Kampala. Hows that for a skeleton of an outline?

Meanwhile, we visited the Temple almost everyday - amazing. The House of Worship is absolutely beautiful. The pictures do not do it justice. The colors of the outside are specatular and the sound, the way it echoes, on the inside is just awesome. It is so simple and so wonderful. Plus, I didn't realize this, but the Baha'is own the entire hill, so there is so much land! The grounds are really quite expansive. So, in short, amazing.

In addition to the temple, we went paintballing (unfortunately my team lost, but I did "kill" three people who almost reached our flag and so saved our team from losing that much more quickly), we saw the source of the nile, we participated in some traditional wedding events - the introduction and the engagement ceremony, I learned some drumming (can't remember it now, of course), once tried the traditional ugandan dance.. but gave up very quickly, had choir practice and subsequently sang in the Temple during the Sunday service (wow is all I can say about that), rode boda's (motorcycle taxis), drank tea!!, had a birthday, beat some boys at pool, lost at table tennis (Aqsan, really you are great and I'm impressed), watched fireworks on New Year's eve, but the best part was meeting all the amazing people in Africa. I genuinly loved all of Rachel's friends. Oh, and of course, sharing all of these experiences with Rachel - truly a blessing.

I'm back for the final time

I'm certainly in a rather melancholy mood at the moment. I have arrived back to the Maryville College Campus to begin my last semester in college. (how and when did that happen?) None of my roommates are back yet... soon it will be loud and fun and we'll all be sharing stories from our different breaks... but at the moment I am just thinking about all the people I'm missing and in a few short months even more people I will be missing.

I miss my family in Huntsville who I saw for a total of 3 days this winter break - so totally not enough time with them. But I will see them soon enough.

I miss Rachel. I had such a wonderful time in Uganda - I loved spending almost every minute with my sister. We had plenty of fun adventures... and one or two rather frightening ones ;)... and some simply annoying experiences... some completely African... some closely resembling an outing here in the states -- and they were all spent with amazing people. I'll expand on these stories another day... soon, I'm sure, but another day.

I miss my brother in Haifa, who I haven't seen in way over a year. I miss my other friends who have been in Haifa even longer.

How much I am missing. And yet, honestly, how could I change my life? I wouldn't want to keep from living my life; and I wouldn't want to keep others from living their life just so I could have them always with me. Oh, "if wishes were wings."

I had a rather different new year's evening this year, and thought about making a resolution but since there was no one to share it with I passed it off to be done at another time. I have just thought of it -- because I am missing so much, and will soon be missing more as my undergrad experience ends, my new year's resolution is to learn how to keep in touch with everyone I care about. I am notoriously bad at correspondence.. but that is what I will work on this year. I have enough people to practice with. Of course, this is one everyone can help me with :).