A moment with the fam.

The other day I shared a moment with a member of my tica family. This woman and I are on very superficial terms that include: "Buenos dias, hasta luego, como amenecio, and buenas noches." I actually don't know her name or her relation to the family. I think she's my "dad's" sister and her name is Virginia but I wouldn't swear on that. Anyway, sidenote - I love her style. She always wears cute headbands, great sweaters and mustard-colored shirts with grandma frills.

So one night I was sitting at the dinner table by myself and there was a huge platano (big banana) on the table. "Virginia" picked it up to move it and it fell out of her hands and banged the table with the most ferocious noise. For some reason it struck me as hilarious and decided to tell her it was like her weapon. Virginia, in turn, thought that was great and we both died laughing. Like a real laugh. I'm laughing just thinking about it. So she started pretending like she was shooting her brother with it and told the whole family that I called it a weapon.

So, I experienced my first inside joke with the "great aunt" and my first real joke in Spanish that even I appreciated.

Finally an aguacero.

I am currently enjoying the beautiful sound of an aguacero. It's chilly but cozy because of my cup of coffee and the fact that I feel like "all's well in the world" right now. I find myself wanting to use Spanish phrases with English speakers and English phrases with Spanish speakers but I think that's the nature of learning a language.

One month is over and I feel like it has been a hard one. It's hard to get to know people for a month knowing that they will leave to go back to the U.S. or Europe after their stint at language school. It's hard to know what to focus on and how to prioritize my time with people. My "family" from last year is so far away, but it is in my heart to see them at least once a week. I went to Los Anonos last weekend and was able to connect with some people from last year. That made my heart happy. As did how well Biscuit remembered me.

My daily routine:
-Wake up around 5:45 a.m....lay in bed until 6:15.
-Get ready.
-Read my Bible.
-Eat breakfast (usually it's a plate of pineapple, a banana and a small amount of watermelon because my tica family knows I like pineapple more than watermelon).
-Take the bus to school.
-Get on the computers and catch up on emails.
-Class from 9-12.
-Eat lunch, usually with Christina, Kirk or Sandro.
-Class from 1-2.
-Advanced (yes, advanced!) dance class at 3 p.m. SALSA!
-Hang around school and then take the bus home...
-Dinner around 6 p.m., using the Spanish phrases for "No, I'm too full - thank you, though! No, no more soup, thank you! Mmmm, I don't know why I didn't eat the rice. I am full."
-Go out to get a drink with classmates OR watch TV with house siblings, listen to my new Bright Eyes mix CD and read Atlas Shrugged.