June 10

Thursday, June 10
So it’s been 3 days since we landed. The boys were tired and scared when we arrived in San Jose. We had a female cab driver. She took us to MUSCO directly and we had great conversation. It was very crowded for 6 am. We made it through customs and immigration easily.

The bus ride to San Isidro was long and we mostly slept. I tried to call at our only stop and didn’t know how towork the phone. I needed to buy a card. Juan helped me. Finally called Tiffany. She was very surprised that we were here. She expected us in another week. Had lunch at a soda, the boys split a casado of chicken and rice. Tiff picked us up. We shopped at the open air market (yum) which had the biggest fruit and vegetables I’ve ever seen. Next we shopped at the super mercado . Went to cafe for Internet and café.

Arriving at the house, we were warm and sweaty and pretty tired.

We unpacked and learned the rules of the house and had a mini tour of the property. We didn’t have chores on our first day. It was a bit overwhelming all the large green leaves—banana trees, sugar cane and so much other foliage that blended all together. Everyone treated us like family. I have a double bed private room and the boys are in bunk beds that belong to Gabe the boy who lives in the house. We met some of the other volunteers who are young and gregarious and eager to share stories.

The boys played making paper airplanes, running around and a dip in the river that is 100 yds from the house was the most refreshing moment. We had a group dinner of pasta and salad. While talking outside with someone, a toucan flew by and landed in a nearby tree. I was told that they are considered a pest on some level because of their eating habits. The locals used to eat them like many of us each chickens (not me of course). The sun sets before six pm and by 8 we were ready to go to bed.