Costa Rica thus far

Costa Rica, a new life.  Since my arrival on the 3rd of November, I feel like I am begining to gain some balance.  At first I was very disoriented from the visual inconsistencies of a Central American city.  I craved familiarity for a few days.  The language, sights, and people were all fascinating, but unfamiliar. Not knowing the language has been challenging.  I want to communicate verbally with mi host familia or the children at the sites, but am forced to find other avenues of communication.  I think this is good though.  I rely so much on words to communicate and not having that option has forced me to express myself in other ways.  The kids and I seem to get along just fine though. 
When I talk, they stare at me kind of wide eyed and waiting.  They probably look like I do when I´m trying to figure out what they´re saying, but with a little more patience.  It´s not a ¨your weird, leave me alone¨ kind of stare though.  It´s more like a, ¨will you still play with me?¨ kind of stare.  I love playing with them.  Its fun.
We played this game a few times called picturesk or something like that.  I´ve played it before in the states.  These kids dominated me.  I didn´t have a chance.  The goal is to find the picture on the card on the playing board before anyone else.  I think they have the items memorized, which is pretty impresive in and of itself.  I told lets armwrestle just so I can maintain my leadership role.

The SI staff has been awesome as well.  I feel very welcome in their lives.  My life since my arrival in CR has been more social than it is on a good weekend back home.  Funny how that works.  We went down town San Jose one night this weekend.  Dustin or Krysta had found this french movie playing at an art studio there.  The movie was originally french and had spanish subtitles.  I dont think I could write a critique on the movie, but it was a good experience all the same.  We then walked to this restaurant called...ahh I cant remember.  On the way there we walked through a park thick with plantlife and trees with different colored lights in them.  It felt like we were walking through a jungle with a colored sun setting behind each of the tree tops. I hope I get to visit the park again at night before I leave.  The restaraunt we ate at was similar to the ¨jungle park¨ in that it had a very lush atmosphere.  As you walked through the gate, thick bamboo enclosed the area, protecting the restaraunt from the noisy streets of San Jose.  There was a coi ponde that seemed to be under the floor.  The rock edges hung over the water like ice might hang over the edge of a creek.  It had rebar and wire bent inconsistantly so that you wouldn´t accidently step in it.  It looked kool.  We then sat and ate; talked and laughed.  It was good getting to know Krysta, Dustin, and Leah better.