Settling In

Hola! Not sure who's reading this but time for an update anyways! As always, I hope everyone is doing well and I think of y'all often.

Things are pretty bueno here! I still feel like I'm in the adjustment period getting used to everything now that I've been here a couple weeks. It's definitely chillier here temperature wise than I expected. Weather.com is just wrong in every way. But I'm likin' it!

Yesterday we had a big 7 hour rainstorm that started around noon. Unfortunately, I made the rookie mistake of leaving out my clothes (they use washing machines but no dryers since they make the electric bill sky-high). Needless to say, everything is still drying out on my porch hillbilly style.

It's always scary moving somewhere alone no matter how many times I do it, and I do feel a little jealous of people who make that move with a significant other, but (so far at least) it feels like a really good fit. The town here is small enough to walk around although it's still a work-out going up and down the hills. People are very friendly, and in general it feels very safe. My stomach has been a little upset, which I'm stilly trying to figure out, but it's nothing compared to the battle my body was fighting in Nicaragua.

This week, one of the US staff members (Molly) had a big june-bug fly in her ear and get stuck in the canal. She made to make an emergency visit (at night) to the private clinic in town. Apparently it was really painful and she's much better now- and I'm also so glad this is not a regular thing!

I had a nice week visiting the butterfly garden in town and walking through part of the cloud reserve with a visiting high school group from San Diego. Normally, I won't be going on all these excursions with visiting groups, but because I'm just starting, I'm tagging along to know the area better. I also get to go with them this Thursday to La Fortuna (about 3 hours away), where the Volcano Arenal is and the area is famous for hot springs. It'll be lovely to go on a free trip (just for an overnight) and see the area! This is actually one of only a few places I've been to in Costa Rica about 11 years ago in high school and I remember it being beautiful, so I'm excited to go back.

Graduation for the school was this week. There was a ceremony for the prepa (kindergarten), 6th, 9th and 11th grades. High school here ends in 11th grade and wow are they a fan of graduations. I guess there are so many for different years because the government issues an official diploma, and some kids do not pass on to the next level (in the country).

The place I'm living now has about 6 dogs, and while I love dogs, when they all bark at once it's a bit much. I'm enjoying my little urban cabin and living and cooking on my own, but I've also been looking at what else is out there just for perspective and in case I can't find a roommate or decide to change locations.

Friday night, there was a mini-concert at a cute rustic lodge called La Collina. Michelle Rodriguez was the singer and you can listen to her music here: https://soundcloud.com/micha_rodriguez
My favorite song is Muy Sinceramente; (the only Spanish language song on there).

Yesterday, a 4th grade student Olivia put on a fundraiser for the bellbirds; (a bird here that lives in the cloud forest), which was very adorable. At one point, there were so many kiddos on the trampoline that I was worried it would burst and we'd have a mass tragedy on our hands. Olivia's mom is also the only other gluten-free person here. GFers UNITE. She has been working with a local bakery to make a few items- one is an oatmeal cookie and the other is corn bread.

A lot of teachers are leaving for the summer because they only have 10 month contracts and are not working for the summer program, so it should be pretty quiet around here in a few weeks. We are currently hiring for a (bilingual) high school math teacher, 3rd/4th grade teacher and ESL teacher. Applicants can be from anywhere (not just the US or CR). If anyone knows interested parties- please give them my email! Hiring is a big part of my job, so I hope to fill these positions soon- yay!

Lots of amor to you all!