Reality Check



Caño Island

All the photos in this post were taken a few weeks ago when we visited the southern part of Costa Rica.  We had the opportunity to go with a group to the little fishing village of Sierpe.  I chose these pictures that display the beauty of God's creation in contrast with the ugliness we sometimes see & experience.  The uninhabited island we visited is part of a national preserve, and the beauty was unbelieveable!  I've also included a couple of pictures that I hope will bring a smile to your face.



The Local Sierpe Ferry


Reality check:  We have recently been reminded of the fact that we need to be careful.  We need not be fearful for we are in the hands of God, but neither can we be careless.  As with any big city around the world, there are always people looking to gain at expense of others.  Whether in the halls of the politicians or on the streets, it is the same everywhere. 


A couple in my grammar class fell prey to a scam on the city bus, and the gentleman was pickpocketed.  A lady dropped some magazines as they were exiting the bus, and as the couple helped her retrieve the magazines the thieves struck silently and effortlessly.  Within the hour it took for them to get home and call the credit card companies, over $8000+ had been charged to their cards.



I had a experience that hopefully will fulfill my quota for the rest of the time we are here. J   Thankfully I was not the target, and I was not involved in any way except as a witness to an assault.  While walking home from school one afternoon, I stopped at the intersection in front of our apartment to wait for traffic to pass.  I waited and waved to friends across the street while one car pulled up to the stop sign and another car pulled quickly in front of the first car.  As I started across the street, a man jumped out of the second car with a gun and ran to the passenger's side of the first car.  At that moment I was only inches away from the guy with the gun.  Talk about a heart attack!!!  I took off running, and I'm sure it is the fastest I have ever run in my entire life.  The friends across the street took off running at the same time, and we all ran inside our gate.  The guys from the second car robbed the first car, and they were already gone by the time we got inside the gate.  Our Tico (what Costa Ricans call themselves) neighbor called the police, and we later learned that the guys in the second car had been following the first car since it had left the bank.  We are thankful no one was hurt in the incident!  This scare reminded us that we always need to be aware and watchful.  We had become a bit too comfortable with our surroundings, and we weren't as watchful as we should have been.  We now take much more care when out and about.  We are also grateful that this isn't a regular occurence in our neighborhood! 

And finally . . .

You never know when you will find English - this is on the Sierpe River.

 Next week I'll share some more beauty of Costa Rica.

Melanie





Saturday Mornings

Every Saturday morning, I walk to the Feria (Farmer's Market) here in San Fransisco. Usually the sun is bright and warm, and the rows of fresh produce line both sides of the walkway. Even if I don't buy a thing, it is a delightful experience. People are buying fresh produce for the week, visiting with acquaintances, and enjoying the beautiful morning. The Feria takes place in a local park, so the sound of children playing provides background music.  

The vendors are helpful and patient with me and my poor Spanish.   The first week I took off to the Feria  by myself, I had to ask for the price of items at least three times before I could understand  the cost.  One vendor finally gave up and asked me to hold out my money so he could take the proper amount. After he took the right amount and said it again, I finally understood. (Well, duh!)   After a month of Saturdays, it now only takes one repetition for me to get the right amount, and if it is an even amount I might even get it on the first try.  It's the cincuenta (50) added to the end of something that always messes with me! 

Fresh vegetables for the week are purchased and taken home to be cleaned.  Here is this week's supply:
papaya (la papaya) (for a friend)
bananas  (los bananos)
Clementines (las mandarinas)
watermelon (la sandia)
cilantro (el culantro)
new potatoes (las papas)
pineapple (la piña)
lettuce (la lechuga)
carrots (las zanahorias)
oranges (las naranjas)
broccoli (el brocoli)
cauliflower (la coliflor)
honey (miel)

After getting everything home, the fruits with peels get a good washing.  Then the veggies get a special bath to kill little organisms that might make us sick.  After an hour or two of soaking, everything is washed thoroughly.  Needless to say, it is an all morning affair to purchase and clean the week's produce.  Although it takes quite a bit of time, it is well worthwhile.  Everything is so fresh and tasty, and hopefully the pesticides are mostly gone!  Generally, food is quite expensive in Costa Rica, but most of the things purchased at the Feria are reasonable.  Just to make you jealous, the pineapples are usually about $1.25-1.50 each.  However if it isn't grown here, the price is at least double the price in Texas or Alabama. 

If you ever visit, I'm sure you will enjoy a trip to the Feria! 

Have a wonderful week!

(Next weekend we will be out of town, so check back late Monday for pictures of our trip.)

Until next week,

Melanie

Multicultural Day

Jim, Samuel, Hae Su



Friday was a relaxing holiday from class at the Instituto Lengua de Español (the Spanish Language Institute).  We spent the day seeing sites around San Jose with our new Korean friends, Samuel and Hae Su.  Let us introduce you to these gentlemen.  Samuel is originally from Korea, and he has been a missionary in Argentina for the past 13 years.  He doesn't speak any English.  Hae Su is a 23 year-old young man from Korea, and he has been in Costa Rica for about 2 months.  He speaks a tiny bit of English and he knows only a few words in Spanish. 

Cafe Brit Coffee Tour

Samuel and Jim have struck up a friendship because of the bond between their pastor hearts. They have enjoyed getting to know one another by communicating in Spanish. Although neither is quite fluent in Spanish, they manage to talk and share with each other.

Hae Su is living with his uncle here in Costa Rica while he studies Spanish for his future international job in Korea. He is one of my classes where the teacher mothers him and is always calling him, "Little Chiquito."

Hae Su, Mel, Jim, Samuel

Picutre this - two Korean gringos accompanied by two U.S. gringos sightseeing in a Latin American country with a bit of Spanish, Korean, and English being spoken throughout the day.  We caught ourselves laughing at the conversations that were a mix of Spanish (Jim-Samuel), Korean (Samuel-Hae Su), and English (Jim-Melanie). 

Bouganvilla at Cafe Brit (it's so beautiful in person)

However, as the day came to a close we were touched by the kindness, love, and frienship we experienced.  The love we share through the bond of Christ is overwhelming and amazing no matter where we are or what language we speak.  We are so thankful that God has allowed us to have many brothers and sisters in Christ.  As we begin this journey to work in Latin America, we are reminded that no matter where we or how far apart we may be, we are united with bonds of love that are strong and deep.