Here we go

I've been in Costa Rica for over a week now and the initial culture shock has worn off.  I know the town a lot better now, although I still have plenty of places to explore.  My Spanish, while still miserable, has improved tenfold from the Friday we arrived.  And the food is still amazing -- lucky I live with a bunch of great cooks.  I cooked fried plantains the other night, which might become a staple of ours, along with the standard rice and beans, which I can't get enough of.  If I had gallo pinto with tico cheese and avocado for every meal for the rest of my life, I'd be a happy girl.

Also, between the five of us, I bet we could write a whole book of short stories about our house's plumbing system. Like when showers turn on by themselves.  But those are stories for another day.

I toured my site last Thursday.  I will begin tomorrow, on Monday the 13, working as a mentor/tutor/??? at Casa Maria Auxiliadora (Mary, Help of Christians), at a school for at-risk high school-aged girls that come from bad situations and such.  I'm not sure yet what my role with these girls will be, and that is where I am most nervous.  There is some line I am going to have to toe between friend and authority figure and that will be the biggest challenge in the long run, I think.

I am going to be challenged a lot this week, even outside of my job.  Whether it is understanding Spanish and being understood, not tripping on the sidewalks, attempting to unlock our front door (impossible), or dodging monster cockroaches during Mass, this week and the coming weeks are going to be difficult and mentally exhausting.  Please keep me in your prayers.  Skyping with my family and friends and my boyfriend has been uplifting for me, so thank you all for being there for me.

I know I am going to be having a lot of fun at the same time. Some days I will be walking/bus riding with some of my FrancisCorps roommates to and from work, which will be an adventure every day.  I love our daily dinner making parties and nightly prayer sessions.  Each of them manages to surprise me somehow every single day, whether it is a story about themselves or through something they do.  I am lucky to have met them and I know that this year will be a blast with them.  Thank you guys!  Good luck at your sites tomorrow!