My last Week

I've just had my last full weekend in Monteverde. It's interesting how my life has settled into a routine in only six weeks.  Fridays are full. Busy school day and then I leave at 2pm so I can play Scrabble with the older Quakers in the community.  There is a core group of mostly women who have been playing scrabble together for 52 years, along with some "newer" members in the community and occasional visitors who are vouched for (I was introduced by my friend Liz) and are included.  As an aside, they play with eight letters instead of seven to speed things up, they have sheets printed out with two and three letter words, they use scrabble dictionaries and in true Quaker fashion, they help each other to find high scoring words. It's a delightful way to spend the afternoon.  Oh, and they serve tea and alwys the ever present coffee and great snacks. 

After that I walk home as the sun is setting which is always a treat and make my spirits sing as I watch the big orange ball sink behind the Nicoya Peninsula (sunsets around 6 here in the tropics).  When I get home Its also become a tradition that Marisella and I split a bottle of Chilean wine, get slightly tipsy, laugh about the week, gossip about the teachers and generally   relax.  We generally don't drink during the week because of the kids homework and the business of the household so Fridays are the night for the girls to let our hair down because Paco usually arrives home later in the evening. I glossed over the gossiping part but let me state that it is difficult but not impossible for women who don't really speak each other's language to gossip.  It helps that Annalisse is usually around to interpret those words neither Marisella or I know but we get down none the less. 

Saturday mornings are house cleaning and endless loads of laundry (3 kids who change at least once a day).  Yesterday I went with Annalisse to Bajo del Tigre Reserve to help her with her native ornamental plant project.  It  was a great adventure. The head native plant specialist took the time to explain to Annalisse about the prpogation, care and maintence of native plants.  We also helped prune and clean out brush.  It was the first time in three months I had pruning shears in my hands and I realized that I am so ready to play in my garden....spring lust is upon me.  Willow (perfect name of a plant specialist) and I nattered away about gardening and propagation.  She'd like me to come back and volunteer there next year but between the Institute and School I will have my time spoken for.

Here are some of my favourites from the nursery.

This what I call a fairy orchid.  I emits a lovely smell at night and attracts bats to pollinate.

This is called Tabacon in Spanish.  The Latin  name is Anthurium spp. araceae.

Gorgeous  green leaves.,

Annalisse and her partner planted these seeds a few weeks ago in th germination bed, nothing has come up yet but we expect something in the next several weeks. 

This beauty is another plant that bats pollinate.  There is a big Do Not Touch sign because the seed pods look so interesting and are very pretty but they have sharp spiny hairs that cause a rash when touched.  

Walking out from the Reserva  Annalisse took this photo of me walking down the lane.  It reminds me of rural roads in France, so lovely and green.

Last night was a bit unusual in that we girls went out because it is my last Saturday night so they wanted to show me the city life of St Elena.  We went to the coffee feria but we were too late and it was closing down so we went to th local bar.  Loud music, college students, strobe lights.  Not my thing anymore but they did play a couple of slsa tunes so we danced and drank more than we should have.  I neglected to take a photo of the bar but readers you have all seen more of them than you care to remember.  The food was good though. 

Well, now it is Sunday.  Quaker Meeting was at 10:30 am for which I needed some aspirin before heading off to find spiritual communion.   Usually I have no trouble slipping into a deep comfortable place but today  I simply couldn't settle.  Oh well, came home to have lunch cooked for me, took a nap and read another chapter of the Hobbit to the kids, gotta finish it before I leave in 5 days.   

There is much to do before I leave, the garden I started at the school has taken off and I want to make a salad wth the kids so they can taste their handiwork.  Then there are the science projects that the grade 9/10's are undertaking.  Some of them will be pretty difficult for the kids to implement (rainwater capture) and some are more realistic as is Annalisse's native ornamentals.  This is the week for the proposals to be turned in so to least I will be able to see how developed the thinking is behind the projects. These kids are pretty serious so I expect the proposals to be interesting to review.  

And so my last week starts.  I know the teachers at planning a goodbye party for me  tomorrow and I suspect some of the classes I have worked in will probably send me off with something to make me laugh.