And the story continues....

I thought the Coffee Story was over in January with the Coffee Fair and all, but I recently learned that what we've been experiencing since we've been in Tarrazu, has only been the end of the story.  So now I'm going to tell what I think is the last, but really the beginning of the coffee story.  And that is....that the coffee bean starts with the flower--of course!  And those flowers are starting to bloom now!  So, we had to hurry with Vilma this past weekend, and pick the rest of her coffee beans, being careful not to knock off the flowers which have already bloomed--in order to protect next year's crop!  Now I know what the white color is from, that is beginning to turn our green hills to white!

Little white flowers are the new coffee beans.

We spent another morning picking the last of Vilma's coffee.

Below is a picture of the women from Panama.  The Panamanians who came to 'recoger' cafe, are starting to leave, as they finish their jobs around the coffee growing regions of CR.  I will miss their colorful dress and beautiful children!

   
Things were kind of slow around here during Jan-Feb. as far as PC activity, but we managed to find ways to use our time effectively, regardless.  After all, we are Norte Americanos, and that's one of the things that makes us different from Latin Americans.  We tend to have that drive to be very productive and get things done.  I always prided myself on how many things I could do at the same time. The more I had to do, the more efficient I was.  We continue to find ways to keep ourselves busy(thanks to the many Peace Corps paperwork 'reglas', but it also includes finding new adventures in parts of Costa Rica.
   During the last week of January, Francis and I helped other PCVs with their Jumpstart Camp in Tarcoles, on the Pacific Coast, where we spent a few days back in July.  Jumpstart is a month-long, English camp for 6th graders, which we wanted to be a part of in order to learn the process and determine if we want to have our own camp next January.
 
So we enjoyed more walks on the beach and more ocean sunsets and this cute but deceivingly grande set of oxen that hang out at their beachside home, when they weren't busy carting things around town.

 Francis, participated in a "Restaurant" activity at the Jumpstart Camp.

 We helped some other PCVs one day with their mural project on the wall of the Learning Center in El Empalme, in Los Santos, where they teach English.

 We enjoyed watching some of the 300 horses parade down main street in Santa Maria.  They were part of the "Tope", a beautiful display of the region's proud cowboys, prancing their well-trained horses through town.  Again, this fair reminded me a lot of our Ft. Collins festivals, although this time, it did include the beerfest, which the fairs in San Marcos didn't!

 School finally started the 2nd week of February.  The kids got to enjoy some of the school's talent, by listening to some profes sing: "Knock knock knockin' on heaven's doors" by Bob Dylan, in English, no less!

 They also watched 2 highschoolers performing some really cool feats hanging from fabric, known as "acróbatas del aire", which many of you are aware of and/or have participated in (Allison Faris and Sara Hayden, to name the 2 that I know)!  I wouldn't say they are 'high tech' here in Costa Rica, by any means (the highschool is just now installing an internet cable); but this Air Acrobats act truly impressed me in terms of the advances in the performing arts, esp. in the highschool!

 We actually got some classroom time with the kids recently, introducing ourselves again and talking to the 10th graders about one of our projects that we'll start the 1st week of March.  We are going to train 2 classes of 10th graders to be Mentor Guias (guides) for 7th graders (that's their first year of highschool; there are no Jr. Highs or Middle Schools in CR).  They will spend 1 hr/wk. w/ 2-3, 7th graders  throughout the year(those who have been identified as benefitting from the extra attention and/or help w/ studies).  After a lot of research and preparation for this program, we are anxious to get started.

During one of our monthly mini excursions (we get 3 days/month OOC, 'out of community'), we explored a new gem, not far from us.  It is the country's newest national park, though there isn't a single sign designating it as such, and we never actually knew when we were in the park or just walking on a public or private road. Parque Nacional de Los Quetzales is only 1 1/2 hrs. from us and easy to get to by bus.  The problem that we had is that there is no public transportation once you get off the bus at the hwy, down to the town at the bottom of the park where the lodging is.  We walked the 12 kms downhill, and found a beautiful waterfall at the end of the road, but Francis ended up w/ a sore and swollen knee from the impact.  The area is higher than San Marcos, so therefore, sits in the clouds and naturally what appears, are frequent and always beautiful rainbows (arco iris).
  
 Unfortunately, what we didn't see that weekend, was a Quetzal, but we did see some beautiful flame tanagers and acorn woodpeckers.  I don't know if these are common in other parts of N.America, but I was impressed with the beautiful colors!

This woodpecker reminds me of a Costa Rican teenager, because mohawks are all the rage!

I visited another nearby park this past week with a stateside visitor, Jen, from Asheville, who is bringing a group of 8th graders to San Marcos in May (whom Francis and I are arranging homestays and activities for).  Lucky for us, Jen brought along with her, some much craved for goodies from Hannah and Chad as well as some unexpected treats.  And, just in case you are wondering about our dearly missed children these days, Hannah and Chad are enjoying their new home in Asheville, while Emilee, just completed yet another cross-country trip back to Worcester, MA, where she will begin a 1 year law fellowship with the Legal Aid Society, partially sponsored by Americorps.  Noah is enjoying Chicago even more now that he's found Allie, and is looking for a new job where he can work with other engineers. 

 We enjoyed a nice hike in another moist, cloud forest viewing las cataratas or cascadas like this appropriately named: "La Corbata" (the tie).  

                                                                                                            

This is Jen, from Asheville's, French Broad River Academy,  and our 2 guides at Madre Selva. 

On another note, one of the things that I enjoy most about the language, which at times, I also dread, are the Costa Ricanismos  or' costarricenses dichos', which they are also known as; phrases that are known commonly by Ticos, and can't be translated literally. Since I'm a newcomer to the language, I wouldn't know a 'dicho' if I heard one, but once you learn them, you start to recognize how frequently they are used.  Here are some frequently used Tico dichos:  Instead of asking the store clerk to give you something, you ask them to 'gift' you the item....ie, "Regalame un taza de cafe, por favor".   "What's up?"="Que me cuenta?" (What can you tell me?).    

Always, when you ask someone 'how are you', you get the response, "Bien, por dicha"  (Good, 'thank goodness, or luckily').   

Costa Ricans love to refer to others as "Mi Amor", not only their children; but bus drivers refer to passengers as 'mi amor', store clerks refer to clients, etc.  

 Of course, there's the common "Si Dios quiere"= 'if God wants'.  It's a good reasoning/excuse to explain why something happens -or not.

  Raquel Chanto from the Tico Times, writes that she feels these phrases are more than idioms, but actually communicate a world view, or a country view in this case.  "Gracias a dios" is also commonly heard from someone answering the question "¿Como estas"?  She states that Costa Ricans, who are fairly entrenched in the Catholic tradition, are only reminding themselves that they have something to be thankful for.  We find this a lot when we talk to people about their work.  Costa Ricans tend to be very thankful that they have jobs, good health, children, a beautiful sunrise, sunset or food on the table.  It's a marvelous attitude to have, to be appreciative and not take things for granted, which I've read also adds years onto people's lives.  Maybe that's another reason why Costa Rica has some high density pockets of centenarians, people who live to be 100 yrs. or more.

And so, while the coffee story may be over for now, there will be other stories to tell as we get busy with our projects and flowers continue to bloom (si Dios quiere)!