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.