Feliz Navidad!

Well, it is finally that time of year. Everyone is hustling and bustling around town, making their last minute Christmas purchases. I am happy to say that I just finished buying all that I am going to buy as far as gifts go. Today's purchases included a few photo albums, a Strawberry Shortcake picture frame for my Tica niece in San Jose and modeling clay for my Tico nephew here in Santa Cruz. I even bought myself a Christmas present. A Winnie the Pooh 2006 agenda book...because I have oh so much to fill it with!

The houses here in Costa Rica have been adorned with Christmas lights and artificial trees since mid-October. The holiday music followed soon after. I insisted that my family wait until both Halloween and Thanksgiving passed before we got into the Christmas spirit. Little did I know, there was little Christmas spirit to be had at the house where I live. After the first week in December passed, I asked if I could help put out the Christmas decorations. So we headed out to the shed to get the box with the artificial Christmas tree inside. A box that obviously hadn't been touched in the past 5 years. I broomed off all the dust and dirt on the outside of the box before attempting the inside where I was greeted by a few dead lizards. 10 minutes later, once the tree was put together, the one strand of half lit lights was strung, and the handful of ornaments adorned the tree with care, we were finished. I should mention that there is also a miniature Nativity scene sitting on top of the TV. Since that day two weeks ago, no one in my house has mentioned Christmas.

I do know that we will be traveling on a two hour bus on Christmas day to visit my Tico mom's family for three days. Everyone but my dad who must stay behind to maintain the pulperia. I am anxiously awaiting for this holiday season to be over. In the meantime, I have been holding sessions in my neighborhood for the kids to make cards for their families. Also, we have been playing lots of informal soccer games (called majenga in Spanish) since the children are on a two month vacation between school years.

Merry Christmas to all! It will be over with the blink of an eye...or at least I hope!

Where is she and what is she doing?

A lot of people are probably thinking, what happened to Amy? Well, the good news is, I'm still here....soaking up life, sun and culture in Costa Rica. I didn't write for a while because nothing interesting was going on in my life. Now, so much stuff has happened I don't know what to include and what to leave out. I spent Thanksgiving without my immediate family for probably the second time in my 25 years. The first time was right after I was born when I was in the hospital for the first 4 months of my life. Both times now, I know I missed my mom's famous cooking. But truth be told, I was on a 3 day retreat with about 65 other Peace Corps Costa Rica Volunteers at a Boy Scout and Girl Scout Camp in the mountains near San Jose. Who would have ever thought that long underwear, wool socks and a sweatshirt would be needed in the tropics? At least I had access to the last of those aforementioned items. A fun time was had by all and I got to meet lots of the PCVs who have been in country longer than me. We all shared a really nice Thanksgiving dinner together which PCCR had catered as a going away dinner for the volunteers who are on their way out this month (they've completed their two years of service). So, I actually did have turkey and stuffing...and a pumpkin pie knock-off to boot.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, I spent reviving my face painting skills while PCVs put on an all day event for the public in San Jose called Arte por la Paz (Art for Peace). This was an effort to showcase art work made by students throughout the country with a theme to promote peace. During the year, students learned about different types of violence and then made works of art to promote peace. At the Arte por la Paz event, there was an award ceremony, live music, hands on art stations, and booths for the public to pick up info about abuse and other types of public help services.

That afternoon at the event, my friend Dave Reichbaum, who I met during my years at JMU with Alternative Spring Break, met up with me. Dave had most recently been serving as a PCV in El Salvador. He made the 5 hour trip back to Santa Cruz with me where we spent the next 4 days together exploring the western coast of CR. I saw my first two snakes here in CR during my time with Dave. I now feel ready to host any family and friends who wish to come visit me (hint, hint!).

During the time while Dave was visitng me, I was also juggling my last hours with my dear friend and local PCV, Dearing Davis, who has now completed her two years of PC service here in CR. We attended lots of parties in her honor this past week. She was a great person to have living near me to show me the ropes as I adjusted to my first two months of life as an official PCV. She is going to be greatly missed as she returns to Nashville, but I know she is someone who I will know for the rest of my life. Best of luck in the future D!

With all that being said, I am now visitorless and friendless in my site in CR. I am not going to know how to act now. Perhaps I will have to start doing some actual work!