Some of the thrills and wonders of living in my own home:
-When I find a tarantula in the shower it is my job to find a broom and either sweep it outside or kill it. Ok...well when I find a spider or bug I have that choice. When I find a tarantula I have to kill it, because have you seen how HUGE they are?
-Oficios! Sweeping, mopping, sanitizing, washing dishes, laundry, etc. I know that at some point in time I will disagree with the following statement, but in this moment I LOVE chores! They give needed structure and purpose to my days and downtime.
-There is no one watching me and judging how I spend my time. Even though I am living next door to the escuela, and the minute I open my blinds the kids are peaking their eyes in or knocking on my door. Its actually more endearing than annoying. This morning a little girl offered to help me mop the floor. Other endearing things about living next to the school, I am awoken in the morning by childrens' laughter. So much better than the damn roosters.
-Community members are inviting to their houses, teaching me cook and just stopping by to chat! On Saturday morning I was invited for sopa de gallina at a neighbors house, and on Sunday afternoon a community member stopped by in the afternoon to see how I am doing. I love have a space to invite people into and to be able to offer cafecito.
-The kids have been bringing me fruit, which is probably the way to my heart in Costa Rica. In the past 4 days I have received mandarins, oranges, mamones (lychees) and bananas. In return when they are playing soccer in my backyard I always keep the back door open and some plastic cups by the sink. So when they are thirsty they can come in and help themselves to water.
-I can cook for myself! This weekend my fellow volunteer and friend Biiftu came and spent the weekend with me, and we made so many wonderful foods- pancakes, french toast, spaghetti and cheese-less pizza. Also I am learning all about cooking arroz y frijoles and how to live and cook without a fridge.
-I am actively working on making friends with the bats. They are fruit bats and they do not bite, they also eat bugs, which is wonderful. So far I just talk to them when they are flying circles around the room. I think we will make great amigos as long as they never fly into me.
-When it rains my bathroom roof drips, which means that their is a small flood in the bathroom and the toilet gets soaked. I choose to find that entertaining. Kind of like when you move into a old house that is 'charming' which really just means that it has odd quirks that you can either interpret as malfunctions or as unique. I choose unique.
- I am composting, which is a beautiful thing. It makes me feel better about burning my trash, which I feel awful about. So far I am storing up recyclables in hopes that before I have an unmanageable amount of recyclables, my recycling program will have taken off.
-I am going to try to start a garden project for selfish purposes. Because I want more veggies. Of course I will share with the escuela, and can incorporate a garden into a workshop with the kids on nutrition and on the environment.
-Sugar lives inside of the house with me. And sometimes, when I am watching movies in bed at night, I put a special shirt on the bed and let him snuggle with me! Don't tell the Tico's, they will vote me off the island. I also have a kitten on the way, once he is done breastfeeding he is going to come live with me and Sugar. What a family!
Off to make lunch and then write out some invitations for a community meeting to introduce my work plan :-)
Sending loves!
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