new group, new week, new year...

Note about the "tamal mudo"... it is called "mute" because it does not contain meat! I will post a picture later.

On Saturday I arrived to Heredia after taking a very full bus. There was a light rain, and it seems that winter is coming a little earlier than usual with the wet weekend we just had. Before my group arrived at the airport I visited a friend in Llorente and then went to the school to double check the flight status and pick up a few items...then it was off to the airport with my chauffer, in in just 40 minutes of waiting my group had exited and we were on our way to dinner and then our hotel. Sunday we arrived to Monteverde and after testing, orientation and lunch, the students left to spend the evening with their new Familia Tica.

This group is from California, and are an average of 14 years old. They are full of energy but are very well behaved, thank goodness! I think that the attitude of the professor accompanying them might have something to do with it...she is quite the authoritarian figure! Right now I am still working out how to not step on her toes, as she likes to be the one to explain activities or plans to the group (which is typically my job!). But she means well and is very invested in the overall experience, which is a plus.
Luckily she knows all the students pretty well, so when I got a call about a homesick kid last night it was something she dealt with, not me!
Mondays are always pretty busy, and today is no exception. I have my hands full with orienting my group, in addition to other little details like making student IDs, confirming tomorrow's activities, and updating the school's online database.

Tonight some friends are meeting up at the sushi place in town for a little celebration...today is my birthday.
I feel very blessed and very loved having received calls and messages from people all day!
Start of another year, full of mystery and possibility...

Pura Vida.