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 ;]