Why are we entertaining the thought of staying in Monteverde for another year? Of course, there are family and friends in the States that I dearly miss and with whom I want to spend time. For our loved ones, please do not take our hesitation to return to Chicago this year personally. We are not acting foolishly or throwing in the towel to reality. Each person’s life at this moment is their reality. You move to a new town, get a different job, lose a job, play basketball with friends, adopt a child and that is all real. Living in a culture other than urban U.S. culture (not necessarily ethnically different) we have experienced a new reality that in some ways is similar to our former yet in many ways is noticeably different. We consider how we live, what we want for our children and know that there will be sacrifices made either direction we choose.
I will provide some thoughts on what pulls us here in Monteverde.
Community: The small population (600 or so) of Monteverde and our school connection with many families who live in neighboring towns has led to us knowing people wherever we go. Our first time to the grocery store, a woman greeted us knowing that I was the new science teacher based solely on matching us with a description of my family that she had heard. It also means that we have received countless rides, shared many taxis and that walking to the store or hanging out by the road at the edge of the pasture can be a social event.
Weather: If the weather isn’t absolutely beautiful, it is at least tolerable and never extremely hot nor cold. The worst weather here calls for rubber boots and a fleece or rain jacket. Air conditioning and heating are not needed and windows and doors can be kept open almost everyday. The boys just run outside whenever they want to and I think they’ve worn long pants twice in six months. Its the end of January and they are learning to ride their bike on the front lawn and will be planting our garden this afternoon. The cool season (highs 68-75, lows 57-62) should be ending soon and we will welcome air a few degrees warmer.
Investigating Nature: In the past hour we watched a scorpion on our wall eat a winged insect, a Capuchin monkey in our tree looking for fruit and listened to a flock of green parrots squawking in the trees; I was In the pasture at 4:30 this morning collecting data to add to our leaf cutter ant investigation in 7/8 grade; Had an intriguing conversation last night with an ornithologist who is writing a bird guide for the 1152 known species that live in Central America; Entertained by the troop of monkeys at school yesterday. This nature category can go on forever!
Stay tuned for upcoming topic. Tomorrow: Local Food
Signed M
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