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.