Bioluminescence and Loosing my Connection to my Local World

Friday, I lost my connection to my local world - my cell phone. 

I went to the beach at night with some friends and left my shorts on the beach to swim in the ocean at night.  I thought that since I just had my phone and key and a little money in my pockets it was fine.  There was nobody around and I thought we could see our stuff the whole time. 

When we returned to our pile of clothes a few minutes later and I put on my shorts, I noticed that the lump in my pocket was no longer there.  The air caught in my chest as I realized one of my most guarded possessions was missing. 

I must have dropped my things in the sand while I was carrying my shorts, I thought.  My friend found a guy with an ipad and we used that as a light, searching up and down the beach.  Finally, I gave up... assuming that I had dropped the things and that the tide had already come in enough to make them gifts to the ocean. 

It was only the next day when another friend recounted her story of the night that I put the pieces together.  She told us that her friends had decided to go skinny dipping and made a pile of their clothes on the beach.  When they got back, all of their clothes were missing.... as were their wallets.  They thought they would have to take a taxi home - naked, but some other people on the beach gave them shirts to wear and plastic bags for the boys to wear as diapers. Later, luckily, they found a pile of their clothes somewhere else on the beach. 

After hearing this story, I realized that my things had in fact been stolen.  I did an experiment where I put the same things in my pockets and held the shorts upside down.  Nothing fell out.  I remembered that it was weird that the other girl's clothes were on top of mine... when I left them next to hers.  I remembered that we had trouble finding our clothes and that I thought I just lost our palm tree reference point on the horizon that I had planned.  It all made sense. 

While it still freaks me out a little that all this happened while I thought I could see the beach, I learned some valuable lessons. 
1.  Don't leave anything on the beach - especially at night.
2. The connections I have here are real.... and are more than just phone numbers that you can loose - the people that belong to those numbers still exist.
3. It is pretty easy to recollect numbers as this town is so small. 
4. I can get through something as upsetting and unsettling as loosing my students' numbers and having to change my own.... twice in two days. 
5. Ticos are very understanding of things like this and don't seem surprised at all when you tell them the story of why you have a new number. 
6. At least with all that I lost this night (I was ok and my friend had money and a key to get us home), I still got to splash in the bioluminescence and that might have made the whole thing worth it. 

In my mind...

Have you ever had to have a difficult conversation with someone and built it up to be this big scary thing? But then when you had it the other person or people were not upset at all... in fact they supported you?

I have.  Several times.

I think I'm seeing a pattern here.  Maybe these conversations are only difficult for me and not the people I am talking to.

A lot has happened this week and all very fast.  Yesterday I decided that I was going to move out of my host family's house and into an apartment in a part of town with chickens instead of cars.

When I finally decided I was ready to talk to my host mom she was so supportive.  She was happy for me and told me that I could continue to be a part of the family and that if I ever got sick or anything she would be a phone call away.  She told me that a part of her wishes she could live alone and leave her bras all over the house and have nobody to tell her not to.

So, Saturday I take another step out into the world.
Another stretch of the good old comfort zone.

My New Neighborhood

Weirdness of the Week - Episode 42

This morning in my HS English class I asked a girl to work instead of cutting her hair and then on the way home, a homeless man asked me if I wanted some of his alcohol.... All before 9 am.

Yesterday, in my class we were making timelines of our lives and we had an example in the book.  One girl, instead of choosing her own dates, copied the dates in the example.  Her timeline read the following: When I was 5 I learned to swim, When I was 7 I went to San Jose, In 1999 I was born..... I asked her how she did all of that before she was born and she laughed uncontrollably for 5 minutes.  

I am sitting in a cafe and they are playing "I Have My Love to Keep Me Warm."  Is it already Christmas again, here?

The bus driver never showed up for the 11:30 bus... when everyone had boarded the 12:00 bus, the other driver came over and wanted everyone to get off and get on his bus.   Our bus driver just shrugged and left anyway.

Yesterday, I was walking down the street and I saw a new polleria painting their sign.  They had used stencils to cut out the letters in poster board and were taping the poster-board up to spray-paint the sign.  I don't think I would have thought of that.  I also don't think that is something you would see in the US; They would have had to have some fancier method. 

I did it!!!

I did it! I did it! I did it! I started an improv group for teenagers in Quepos! In Spanish!!!!!!!!!! After handing out 160 flyers, 10 people came Estoy tan orgullosa.

*And just so I remember later, this was a vague idea of a goal that I had before even moving to CR and it took almost 8 months of being here to feel at least almost ready to do this.  I was scared and didn't know if I could do it.... but it was amazing.  It was a feeling that I want to remember forever - doing something I love so much in another country with another language that I wasn't sure I could do.  In that moment, watching them do exercises to build their improv skills, I realized just how far I have come from where I started and how much support I have to make it happen.  

**Also, I'm still laughing about how I made CROW into PROD.  I wonder if that is what Latin American improv troupes use, or if it is just me.  

Water

We, as people, don't always appreciate the things we have until we don't have them.  Take water, for example.  Each day this week, the water in town has been turned of for at least 4 hours.  I don't know why...  All I know is that nobody makes a fuss about it and life goes on as normal.  Well, except you can't wash anything, shower, or cook if you weren't prepared with a pre-filled bucket. 

You'd think that today, the 5th day, I would have thought of that... but I thought it was supposed to be on today. 

I guess I missed the announcement from the drive-by-car with the giant speakers yesterday.  I must say, even when I do hear the car it is difficult to distinguish if it is advertising for a store or disseminating important information to people who live on the street.  Oh, Quepos and your odd means of communication. 

Handing out Flyers Like a Rockstar

Place: El Colegio de Quepos

Time: La Hora del Almuerzo

Event: Alexis from the theatre and I handed out flyers to eager clusters of chatting teenagers like rockstars inviting fans to an after-party.

The excitement was definitely there.  Their eyes would light up when I told them I was inviting them to join an improv group on Saturdays that was totally free. Some of them even started waiving their hands around and jumping.

While I was a little nervous at first to insert myself into their little clicks... with the modeling of my outgoing partner, I quickly got over that.  Honestly, I had never imagined this means of advertising.  I was planning on either hanging up flyers on the walls (which would probably never get read) or talking in each class (which would have taken forever and have been disruptive).  This way was like real, on the street, connecting with people... sparking their interest like it was exclusive and hush hush.  Apparently, active in your face advertising like this is the way to go here.  That's how Alexis advertises for the plays... everyone he sees on the street, in the copy store, at the food counter, gets a little flyer.  Well, then there's the mimes that walk around town with a theatre flat of a sign....

This experience was really cool - I really felt like I was a rock-star walking around a high school campus. Something I'll remember for sure. 

We passed out 100 flyers.  Now I have to make more.

Tomorrow, another HS. 

Then, we wait.

I hope only about 15 of the hundred actually come.

The next day I went to a private school and passed out flyers to each classroom all by myself :]

Rubber Self Destructs in this Climate

Four of my rubber items had enough of life yesterday.  The watch band snapped into three pieces, the chaco shoe soles finally detached from the shoes, my swim suit strap snapped, and the rubber of my headphones literally melted off the ear-buds.

I never knew that a hot humid climate, such as this one, would eat rubber. No wonder we have so many skin issues...

When I went to the shoe repair guy (who for this reason has plenty of work here) we argued for five minutes over whether or not the chaco straps were supposed to be able to move. When I tried to move them, they were cemented stuck by the sand, ocean water, and whatever else was in there.  I tried explaining to him in Spanish that he couldn't glue them down.  He ripped off the entire sole to show me the inside.  There was no turning back, now.  If I wanted working shoes, now they really needed fixing.  So, I thought - well, what do I have to loose?  Ok, glue the straps down then.  Better to have shoes that work than straps that move. 

I know the Chaco company would not agree, but I also doubt they would ship the repair to me here.  Besides, he only charges $5.

Weird things you get accustomed to...

My current housemate and I were just laughing about how one gets accustomed to weird things like ants being everywhere - crawling on you and the possibility of eating them without even knowing it.

We laughed as we remembered showering with a half-alive-zombie-cockroach for three days... neither of us doing anything about it... but taking bets on how long it would live lying on its back in the middle of the shower. 

These are things normal people in the US are just not ok with. 

Weirdness of the Week - Like a Fish Needs a Bicycle

Teatro Copaza - THE THEATRE

The theatre – my new welcome home.  At several critical points in my life, I have turned to the theatre as a home for my imagination, my creativity, and really – my community.

In high school: the theatre gave me a place to grow, learn, and not feel so alone.  The local theatre in Tucson gave me a purpose outside of school and opportunities to develop my skills as a teacher.  In college, the theatre was literally my home – staying there at all hours of the night painting zingers, listing props in every scene for stage management, or drafting a miniature set.  I was even in charge of a floor of the fine arts dorm!  Haha. 

Now, here I am in Quepos, Costa Rica… super far away from my home and all of the people and activities I love.  Some days, this feels super depressing – like I have nothing happy to look forward to in the day...nothing that really makes me feel like ME. 

Then, there’s the theatre.  Sometimes when I think about it, I find it hard to believe that this place exists in this little town that at first glance seems the opposite of culturally rich.  But, that’s why it’s so cool.  It’s not one of many theatres, it is THE THEATRE.  And thank God we have one.  In fact, last week, there was a touring play that came from San Jose and the theatre was PACKED!!! It is a big space, too.  There were at least 15 people standing in the back squished against the wall as we pulled in as many seats as possible.  It was amazing to see what seemed like the whole town come out and pay to see theatre.  I was very impressed. 

I also, somehow, am now in the theatre group.  We are devising a play of monologues  - kind of like the Vagina Monologues.  The theme is sexual education and it is a comedy that is meant to bring awareness to the issues.   I am super proud that I am doing this and in Spanish!  Yesterday we started playing improv games to bond as a group and I felt so at home. 

Next Saturday I start my improv class for adolescents in the area.  Build it and they will come, right?  I hope that is true.  I have been holding this vision since November (with the original idea in my head since I decided to move here); I went to the theatre, told the director my idea, got his help and support, wrote a business proposal to the board (in Spanish), got help making flyers, and planned the first class.  This week, the director and I are visiting the local high schools to advertise and then I just wait, hope teenagers come, and that I can actually teach improv in Spanish. 

To be completely honest, the thought of it really scares me…. But isn’t one of the main reasons I left my home in the first place to take risks like this? I have come this far – each step of the way being another leap, some bigger than others.  What do I have to loose?  When I think about it this way there is really no pressure and I am excited to try. 

I am ready for this jump.  I have the knowledge and skills I need to do the best I can.  And that, is good enough.    

HAHAH... PROD instead of CROW

Voting Here is Like Supporting Your Favorite Soccer Team

Blown up balloons, painted faces, waving flags, cars with five flags blowing in the wind, food, children passing out papers and stickers to cars driving by, roads blocked off by police, and cheering. 

Did I just describe a soccer game or an election?  I guess you have to decide. 

Papalomoyo

So… I thought I had this crazy disease called Papalomoyo where you get a bite from a sand fly and then bacteria it deposits start eating your skin… lovely, huh?  Someone told me it was after they bite sloths and then bite you soon after - :[  But, I love sloths. 

Luckily, it was not that.  I still don’t know what it was but the important thing is that it is healed now.  It is scary when wounds appear out of nowhere or when they grow and you have no idea where they came from.  Oh, the tropics…..  This is not an aspect of living here that you will see on a postcard. 

Me Duelen los Ovarios

I have noticed that “cramps,” as we call them, and having your period are not taboo subjects in this country. The menstrual cycle seems to be as normal to Ticos as is having to go to the bathroom.

Working at the high school, I have heard about cramps more in the last two weeks than in my whole life.  At the staff meeting we talked about them; at the parent meeting the director told the parents that they need to send their daughters to school even if they have them… that at the cafeteria (soda – they call it) the woman would make them a ginger lemon honey tea. In my class, three students refused to play a name game because their ovaries hurt; they weren’t embarrassed to say it in front of the class like a girl would be in the US.  Whether or not all three friends' ovaries actually hurt is another story… I don’t think their ovaries can hurt all year long ;]

Como Sobre Vivir:

You may remember me telling about the “choco bananos” and other various items people sell from their houses.  I now have a story to top all of those, I believe.  The other day, an old man sat on our front porch selling underwear and bras to my host mother.  Yep, I walk up and he is showing her his selection which he carries around in a duffle bag.  Don’t you wish Victoria Secret would travel door to door in a duffle bag and that the salesperson were an old man?  You know you do.  

 

Pink is the New White… or any other color really. Another Exercise in Feeling Out of Control.

It all started with some red towels in the family’s laundry.  And ended with this…. 

You can't really tell what is going on in this picture, but everything that was white is now pink and that blue shirt used to be green.  The brown shirt has a random pink belly button :] 

Balance

Quote from Vanessa, the Yoga Teacher – “Balance isn’t about whether or not you are falling, but about what is happening in your mind while you are staying balanced or falling.”

How Quickly Life Changes Here…

Monday, I started teaching a new student that is so awesome.  His English is really good and he really wanted to learn.  It was so much fun that we hung out in the bar we had class in (yes, you read right… we had class in a bar) for an extra hour after we were finished. 

Today, Wednesday, was his second class.  As I walked up the stairs to the bar, I saw him talking to a woman.  I thought it weird that he didn’t introduce me, but greeted him and went to a table to sit down.  After about 5 minutes, he came and plopped down at the table and said, “I have a notice for you.  I am laid off.”  We had just practiced the difference in “laid off” versus “fired” the class before.  I told him that laid off sounded more like they didn’t need you than that you did something wrong.  It had just been a random vocabulary word from a story from his past and now, just two days later, it was happening again. 

So, I asked him if he was sad and he said that he was just surprised.  He thinks he is going to move to another part of the country to study at a university really soon… maybe even next week.  I asked him if he still wanted to do class and he did.  We talked about the tourism industry here and how volatile it makes life.  One moment you have a job and the next moment you don’t.  One moment I have an awesome student and the next moment the slot is free.  I really will miss this new friend :[ 

I constantly marvel at the rapid way life can change here and how the people don’t seem to even let it faze them. 

I guess it is just another reminder to appreciate the time I have with people, doing the things we are doing and sharing our love for life along the way.