Back Porch BBQ

Where there's a will there's a way. You've heard that more times than I have I'm sure. Well...the weather here is so beautiful, it has that BBQ feel written all over it! But what is a missionary to do when you don't have one? Can't buy one because you can't take it with you, and your choices are few?! Well...I happened to be in one of our local grocery stores, when my eyes caught this "table top BBQ" for $5.00! Think hibachi grill, but really cheap, with coals that made it even more interesting. The coals that were affordable were "natural coals" - now remember back when after your camp fire was burned up - all the embers in the bottom of the campfire - think those all nicely packaged into a bag and sold for $1.50. Sounds like a BBQ to me! So - we managed to (after an hour and a half) grill up some fish for dinner! It was really good! Don't know that this will be a frequent event, but good to know that it's available if we want/need it :-) It's just a shame that this country doesn't have ANY good red meat ! :-(

We climbed a mountain today

Here is a 3 minute 30 second video of our hike up the mountain:

Our starting elevation (4th line down)



Our elevation at the top of the mountain! (4th line down)



The cross at the top of Cerro San Miguel (St. Michael hill). La Cruz de Alajuelita overlooks Alajuelita valley.



Today our family and 9 other people from our school, and our friends Antonio and Lapiz all climbed up this huge, very trying, very tiring, huge mountain. The cross on the top of this mountain can be seen from all over the valley of San Jose -it's that high up - 6,722 feet to be exact! The ascent took us about 2 hours, and once at the top we took this "victory" picture, and walked a short way to a grassy area for a much needed, well deserved lunch! We stayed at the top of the hill for about an hour, enjoying the accomplishment, each others company, and the sheer beauty of God's creation! Check out the video above for more pictures. All in all we ascended 2,856 feet during our trip. Most everyone took a tumble at one time or another. Some of the paths we climbed up were over 45 degree angle tiny, rocky paths! No paved roads around here. We were all trying to figure out how they got the material for the cross. There are three crosses in all, more elaborate the higher you go. Incredible trip! One we have wanted to make since we have been here. We are hoping for at least one more chance to climb up, sometime before we leave Costa Rica.

How does that translate?

So, we all know that some things just DON'T translate (see lettuce blog below) - here is another for everyone to enjoy.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, which can be written a number of ways, is a children's counting rhyme, used to select "it" for games and similar purposes. The rhyme has been around in various forms since the 1850s or earlier, and is common today in many countries. Since many similar counting rhymes existed earlier, it is difficult to ascertain its exact origin. (from Wikepedia)

Examples:

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a baby by the toe
If it squeals let it go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

British version:

Eeny, meeny, miney, mo,
Put the baby on the po,
When he's done
Wipe his bum
Shove the paper up the lum

American version:

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

Well...here is Costa Rica's version (maybe all of Latin America?! - anyone who knows feel free to let me know!)

De Tín Marín
de dos pingüé
Cúcara Mácara
Títere fue

Not much translates - first line - only word that really translates is "of"
The second line, "of two rich" - huh?!
Third line - nothing
Fourth line - "puppet was"

Basically, our teacher says it really is a nonsensical rhyme to pick "it" and nothing more. Hope you enjoyed your lesson :-)

Honduras school search

So imagine, if you will, you live in a foreign country, and are trying to decide where your child will go to school in a DIFFERENT foreign country, and the only resource you really have is the Internet. Now suppose, that the country you are looking into is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, and no one has a web site. Sigh...

So the search has begun. We are only 5 months away from being in Honduras, and we need to start looking into and applying for a school for Madison to attend, and you guessed it - of the 6 bilingual schools, only ONE has a web site. And, of course, the one that has the web site is so expensive, it is more expensive then it would be if we sent her to a private school in the states. Go figure. So - I've been able to contact a few people who used to live in Honduras and had children go to school there to try and narrow things down. It's been daunting! This is a difficult prospect. Mike is going to try and get a trip to Honduras in April after our trimester ends to secure housing. I'm hoping to have a decision about Madison's schooling by then so he can also go and register her for classes. Please pray for that to happen!

You are as fresh as lettuce

lettuce = me?!

I have been called many things, but this one is a new one! This morning my teacher told me, "¡Su es una lechuga!" (you are a lettuce). HUH?! I said! Apparently when you have newly washed hair, you look as "fresh as a head of lettuce" - and they just shorten it to you are a lettuce. Still trying to roll that one around in my mind - but it's a compliment, and I'll take it for what it is :-)

Tomorrow I guess I'll be a lechuga again! :-)

Class mix-up

Two weeks into each semester the teachers (primarily) and the students have input with the academic advisor as to the classes the students are currently in. It is then that the teachers decide if students need to be moved to different classes based on their current level of understanding, or their teaching style/needs. We were informed today that our class and another class will be re-organized. Four members of my current class will be moved in with three members of another class to form a new class. The pace of this "new" class will be quickened from the current speed. Sigh...I was just getting used to the pace, coming to expect what was coming next, and enjoying how well I was comprehending the new material. However, I really don't think the teacher would move me unless she really feels like I will succeed in this new class. So, I was going to take a picture of my class and class mates, but as that will be changing on Monday, I only took a picture my language teacher because she will be the same teacher, it is my grammar class that is changing. So, here is Yadira, a VERY sweet, awesome teacher!

Tests again (already!)

Well...it's been a week-and-a-half into the new trimester, and the tests have begun already! Madison has 3 this week, I have one tomorrow on past-tense, and Mike has a grammar test on Friday! Sigh...but...it keeps us on our toes - that's for sure! I keep thinking - do they REALLY need to test us - can't they just teach us, and we will keep up?! But - of course they know best - they know human nature - and the motive (or lack there of) if a test is present or not. So...pray for good absorption of all our material!

Walking update (see previous post) - well...only one week into it, but I've been faithful to my walking. If nothing else, it feels good to get out of the confines of our house, and see the neighborhood! Madison starts track tomorrow - practice from 3:00pm to 5:00! She is very excited to do this!