Colors and Vowels

Hola todos!

Just finished my Spanish class a few minutes ago and thought I would give an update as I probably won't be logging in until Monday. I am going to be going to Manuel Antonio this weekend with a bunch of other volunteers. Manuel Antonio is a beach and national park on the pacific coast, and while I'm very excited for the adventure and experience, I am also ready for some down time, and this will probably not be that. But I know if I just hung around the house all weekend, I would hate myself for that, so I guess I will rest later. :)

I haven't been taking many pictures yet (hence the lack of pics posted here), but I will probably start taking more pictures as I get more comfortable with my routine (or lack there of). But as I ride busses to and fro throughout the day, I am constantly amazed at how colorful the buildings are, how crowded together buildings are, and I feel like there is constantly a flow of vowels surrounding me as people talk on the bus. Also, my host mother so generously cooks these amazing, hot meals for me and the other girls every day...I told her today that I was sorry I haven't been eating all of my breakfast (rice and beans, eggs, sausage, fruit, and bread), because I'm not that hungry in the mornings...I'm used to a bowl of cereal or yogurt 6 days a week. But she was so gracious and told me not to worry about it and relax. Last night as we were all eating dinner, she told us that while we are here, we are her daughters and she hopes that we will remember her and want to come back to Costa Rica. She is so wonderful!

Yesterday in Carpio, we arrived an hour earlier than normal so that we could help prepare and serve a comedor or soup kitchen for the children. This consisted of building a campfire in the road, and cooking black beans, white rice, and frying something ham-ish looking. They also made up some drink - I think they called it fresa. While some of the volunteers cooked, the rest of us played with the kids who were there. Then we loaded the rice in a cooler and the beans and "ham" in some other plastic containers and walked a good quarter mile into the "bad" part of the area down by the river. It was sprinkling, so the road was pretty muddy and slippery and steep. As we made our way down, the pastor, don Felipe, went on ahead to tell the children to come if they wanted food. Soon a line of 40+ kids from ages 2-15 were lined up the hill, holding their plate or bowl and cup (if they had one).

It's hard to take it all in - I know in my head that these are the conditions that these kids live in, but at the same time, it's hard to believe that this is life for these kids. This is their normal. I have a hard time wrapping my head around that.

Today we met the kids at a huge park, called a sabana, which means it's a wide open space. Some of the volunteers that have been working in Carpio for a few weeks arranged for Maximo Nivel (the organization I'm working for right now) to pay for about 30 or so kids to ride the bus to and from the park and for their lunch. So we played soccer and frisbee and jump rope for a while and then served them lunch. Lunch was a sandwhich with a slice or two of balogne and maybe cheese? and a package of four small cookies and some soda. We played for another couple hours after lunch.

I talked to the pastor for a little while and he was telling me about Carpio. Basically all of the people there are Nicaraguan refugees. And Nicaraguans are discriminated against by Costa Ricans...kind of how Mexicans are unfortuantely often thought of in the United States - that they bring their problems with them and they pull down our safety and way of living, etc. I asked why they were refugees, and he said that there is even more poverty in Nicaragua than in Costa Rica and a lot of crime and fighting, so that's why they come to Costa Rica - because even though the conditions are poor, they're better than in Nicaragua. It was a very interesting conversation.

After we were done at the park, we had to walk the 30+ kids back to a bus stop that I'm pretty sure was about 2 miles away. Some of the girls asked me on the way if my feet or shoes were hurting...I said no, but when I asked them, they said yes. :( I don't think they necessarily wear shoes that fit. Plus, they had all dressed up for this - they were all in their "best" clothes. Anyway, we were quite a sight walking down the street.

Well, I think I'm going to head back home now. I need to pack for the weekend, and I don't want my "mother" to worry about me. It's been raining at least once every day for an hour or so, and I think it will be a wet walk home. But thank you, Anna, for letting me borrow your rain jacket, and Linsea, for your umbrella! :) A couple nights ago, I let a guy I was riding the bus home with borrow my umbrella since he didn't have anything, and my pants were completely soaked through by the time I got home. It's way different than Portland rain.

I really appreciate your prayers for me. I have my highs and lows throughout the day...some moments I am loving the adventure, and others I want nothing more than to be back at home with what's comfortable and familiar. But God is faithful and always with me and promises to be what I need. I know I can rest in that.

Love you all!
Alisa