mi casa

my bed

close up of the blanket. fashion models. crazy! :)

my desk. notice the pink and purple striped walls. super girly. love it.

So here's a quick look at my new home. I have my own bedroom complete with desk, bed, and dresser. It's perfect. My family is wonderful. I live with Laudema and Amalia Madrigal Gonzalez. Laudema (she's a grandmother) is the mother of Amalia (she's 40 years old). It's a very small house but very cozy. Behind our gate (as most homes here have fences for safety) is also three other "houses." They're all super tiny, just a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen/livingroom combo. The families are so content and the doors are always unlocked. Everyone walks from house to house whenever they like and eats the food or takes a nap wherever they wish. It's so communal. Also, a blessing for me is that there are kids!!! So I have gotten to play a little bit with them. Over the weekend I taught Paulena (we just call her Pao) how to make headbands. Hooray for crafts! Also, my host parents, Laudema and Amalia are seamstresses, so they make blouses and other clothing which are sold in Costa Rica as well as other countries. Amalia actually made the bedspread in the picture above.
 I am so very loved here.  They are so hospitable and are willing to give me anything I ask for an more, even though they don't have much.  It is such an example to me of God's love, and what sacrifice is. It is amazing to me that they are willing to give to me all that they have, and I really don't deserve it at all, they don't even know me, yet they call me their "hija" or daughter. It is such a testimony to me. There is no hot water, so showers are freezing, but I can live with that. The food is wonderful. I won't deny, sometimes I have absolutely no idea what I am eating as far as the vegetables go. Some of of them I don't think exist in the U.S., but they taste fine and hopefully are nutritious.  They are very patient with my spanish, though I falter a lot. Although they tell me all the time that I speak very well.
We have two pets that live in and outside the house: Lorenzo (the cat), and Tobias (the dog). The other day I was working on my homework and there was a crazy clatter and lots meowing and hissing on the roof. An intruder cat got into a fight with Lorenzo on the roof. Lorenzo actually makes a lot more noise then Tobias. Tobias rarely barks, but Lorenzo meows all day long.
This week is the fist week of classes. We have several written assignments, most of which will require us to go at least 2 times a week into the capital, and speak with people and visit historical sights. It's very hands-on, which is wonderful!
Well, I suppose that's all for now.