Sunday, September 17, 2006

Birthday Girls


My host mom, Geisel, and me on our birthdays.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

It's Party Time

This entire week has been one big party and we're just getting started. I had just arrived back from an extended weekend in the capital where we had a big dinner for all PCVs, when it was time to start thinking about all of the parties the upcoming weeks would bring. Not only was it my host mom's 46th birthday and I was planning a small dinner party to celebrate, but it was also "Children's Day" which entailed three days of parties. I'm almost through it all at this point. And we haven't even gotten to the 13th yet.

So the dinner party went off rather nicely with few setbacks. I spent the day baking an "American" birthday cake (thank you Pillsbury!) with a Tico flair, preparing the dinner, cleaning and decorating the house. There were 8 of us and the American style taco dinner was a big hit. The cake was an even bigger success. My host mom was really appreciative and said no one had ever done that much for her birthday before. I started to feel guilty as I realized I had probably never even done that much for my own mother for her birthday. One day soon mom, I promise. ;-)

We had an all day party in the school yesterday with hamburgers, cake, relay races, music, games, and a clown. I was the face painter, go figure. It was a lot of fun though and all the kids really enjoyed every aspect of the day. All of the children came in their Sunday best as they normally have to wear uniforms to school. They all looked so precious with their matching clothing sets, cute hair barrettess and shiny shoes.

Last evening it was another party for my baseball team. It was really a simple affair with hot dogs, ice cream and a piƱata, but the children had no idea as they all had arrived ready to play ball. I even taught them Red Rover.

Today was day 1 of fiestas with the children at the orphanage. A Best Western hotel at the beach sponsored the Children's Day with a pizza/pool party at their hotel. The albergue children rarely get to leave the orphanage so this day was really special for them. We spent about 4 hours there. Tomorrow is day 2 and we are going to be doing more of the same thing as today but only at a place farther away with thermal waters. Apparently this trip had been planned before the other outing that took place today but since today, the 9th of September is actually Children's Day, we had to do two special trips. Most of the children are under 6. They are going to be wiped out by the end of the weekend.

That sums up all the parties thus far, leaving next week's party schedule unknown. But since next week is leading up to Costa Rica's Independence Day, there will be plenty of fiestas taking place. Not to mention a few others to honor a special PCV.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Wish List

Now this was my brother's idea over a year ago that I make a "wish list". I wasn't so keen on the idea but now I thought, it couldn't hurt. So here it goes.

Just go to www.amazon.com and search for my name under wish lists.