What are we doing in Costa Rica?

Until yesterday, that is. I went out by myself to meet the director of Birth Without Boundaries at her home in Cocles (more on that later). It’s about a 30-minute bike ride, which is pretty easy going aside from the insane potholes. One can bike over some pretty darn deep craters and large rocks without unseating oneself, thank goodness.

On the way home, my bike’s chain popped off the gears. I pulled it over to the side of the road and started trying to slip it back on. That’s when Roberto arrived on the scene!

Ticos are a friendly and helpful people, and I suppose I pretty much screamed “gringa in distress.” He immediately took charge of the repair, and I got to have my first full conversation in my (pathetic) Spanish. He succeeded in fixing the bike and then invited me to go to the discotech with him. I told him I was married with two children. He reacted with surprise… and then I think he might have suggested that I could still go out with him despite being married… I decided not to try and understand that part.

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The jungle has its ups and downs. I continue to feel like a wilty flower from 11-3 every day. Texas has nothing on this place for humidity. The first thing Graham said this morning was, “I don’t want to stay here!!!!” Dean is somewhat easier to please, but he’s also having a lot of meltdowns. I am covered in bug bites and have been warned to treat even a paper cut with neosporin, etc., so that we don’t get flesh eating bacterial infections, YIKES.

On the other hand, it’s beautiful. The flora is incredible. It feels like plants rule this place and we just try to stay out of their way. There are tons of hummingbirds and butterflies and other pretty creatures. And every day we’re seeing or doing something new. Today is Zach’s 33rd birthday; we shall celebrate with going out for homemade ice cream, dinner at the Loco Natural Restaurant, and perhaps some family bike riding.

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One more note:  This morning I had my first encounter with a scary jungle creature. I unknowingly squished a scorpion under my cutting board when I was making breakfast. EW.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 5th, 2008 at 10:24 am and is filed under Culture Shock, Habla Español, Puerto Viejo.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.