Cutting cake and hair

We have finished week 2 of being PCVs and I am glad it is the weekend!  This weekend we are celebrating our Host Dad's 66th birthday in style...going to the beach!  Then cena complete with arroz con  pollo and of course que que (cake)!  This man does not look or act almost 66.  He still rides his bike everywhere, climbs on cars to put the TV in our room, and creates wonderful pieces of art.

This weekend the Hubs and I celebrated a first...the first hair cut done by me.  My lovely husband trusted me to remember what our precious hairdresser at home (M) said about trimming his hair.  It has been 3 months since his last one and he needed it.  Trust me M, we were desperate...

So there we were, the Hubs sitting in the shower, me cutting and combing every which way.  Even sacrificed a knuckle in the process.  But I think the Hubs sacrificed more than I did.  He has to walk around with the hair I cut.  I only cringe when I look at his left side burn.  The side burn that has a line of no hair because I got trimmer happy.  

(I made him hide the left sideburn)

But the Hubs is a wonderful man.  He laughs and smiles when I stare at the left side of his head.  As I apologize and cry he holds my face in his hands and tells me he LOVES his haircut.  If the roles were switched I would be throwing a fit and refusing to leave the room.  But no, the man I married smiles his big, beautiful smile and assures me he doesn't care.  

We are beginning our third week and getting comfortable with our family and roles in the community.  (I am even learning my way around town!)  This week is going to bring fiestas, time with friends, a new town to explore, the completion of another workshop, and more teaching.  Can't wait!

PS  Check this out...http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/News-Briefs/Costa-Rica-welcomes-new-Peace-Corps-volunteers-_Monday-May-14-2012#.T7LIc2wHhKg.facebook 

It's an article about Tico 23 in the English version of one of the biggest newspapers. 

Volunteering

We are official.  After a surprise party thrown by our first host families, a long hike, dinner at Flavors, and saying good bye one more time-we are real volunteers. The Hubs and I swore in to the Peace Corps 1 1/2 weeks ago, moved to our site, and began our work.

(Tico 23 with the US Ambassador to Costa Rica)

Things are falling into place and becoming routine.  My Spanish is slowly (I mean very slowly) improving.  We are living with a wonderful host family.  They love to talk, help with my Spanish "homework", and include us in things.  The Hubs and I live in a bedroom with a bathroom above their patio.  It is a pretty sweet set up and almost makes me feel independent.

(Our room after our FIRST load of stuff-there is more now)

The Hubs is working at a bi-lingual high school in Santa Cruz.  He plans with the English teachers, teaches, hand out fruit during Health week, creates activities for his students, makes copies, and whatever else needs to be done.  He is wanting to create a Bachillerato course and maybe do a sports project for his students.  

(The Hubs helping with the English departments part of Health week in the schools)

I am working at the regional assessors' office in Santa Cruz.  The regional assessors supervise over all the teachers of their area (in my case-English).  The regional assessors observe/provide feedback to individual teachers, design/facilitate workshops, aid in festivals regarding their area, design content specific curriculum, and support their teachers any way they can.  In my first week, I observed one workshop about listening in English using songs, co-created/facilitated the first of a five day workshop about utilizing different materials in their classrooms, and began the editing process of a province wide English curriculum based on Guanacaste.  

(The teachers creating materials to use in their classroom)

I already love what I do.  I love training the teachers and hearing how they will use or have used what was presented to them.  If I continue to enjoy the training aspect, I may try to proceed with a similar career after Peace Corps (yes, we are already thinking of that future).  Even though I am enjoying my work, there are still MOMENTS (just moments now) when I forget why we decided to come here and feel down trodden.  That is when I put in my iPod and listen to two of my go to songs- 

"Some Nights" (Fun.) 

"I Won't Give Up" (Jason Mraz)

These songs help remind me that I didn't come here to find comfort, but to push myself, to better myself and those around me.  I came here to learn another language; work with people who have different traditions, expectations, lifestyles, and goals than me; I came here to change.