Diversity Abundant Today

Early wake up and the boys were raring to go and out on the patio exploring by 6:30 a.m. They got up close and too personal with a plant with an orange flower and then the itching began. Benedryl was handy, so they both got a healthy swig of that and then into the shower to scrub down. Itching subsided quickly --- needless to say, they will stay clear of that flower surely in the days to come.

7:30 a.m. found us making popsicles – Mike was forward thinking when he packed the popsicle kit. We used fruit we had purchased from the farmer’s market (mangos, papaya and watermelon). The boys had a great time guiding me through the process as Dad spent lots of time back in Chicago making smoothies with them. In the freezer by 8:00 a.m. and we were off and running. There is a decent blender at the house, so no mashing or stirring required. What I did not count on was the novelty of making them – the boys must have opened up the freezer 20 times checking to see if the mush had frozen. Todavia No! – not yet!

By 8:30, Goudy and O’deilla stopped by to say hello and I confirmed with Goudy that I could use her help at 10 this morning after she finishes across the field with our neighbors. Goudy is a very vivacious young gal, full of life and one that likes to talk (which is great, as I got 4 hours of Spanish with her today as she cleaned all the windows in the house (there are many, so I welcomed her help). The boys enjoyed her animation and gentleness and wanted her close as they snuggled in mom and dad’s bed while she was over us reaching high for those windows. I broke into my story telling and by the end of the first one, Michael had asked her to rub his ear and John was clinging tight to her. I had fun recounting scary stories, both in Spanish and then restating in English. Goudy will tackle the outside of the windows tomorrow…I’ll await her visit.

Attention Auntie Beth - Happy to report that the fire pit is now completed. While John napped, Michael and I wandered past Bromelias and gathered the remaining stones to line the fire pit. Mission accomplished, now all we need is the marshmallows!

Shortly after John awoke, two energetic boys poked their heads through our dutch-door (hey there, are your boys up for a game of soccer?) . We quickly got a lesson in the game, as Kyle is quite an expert at only 8 years of age. Unfortunately, John, Michael and I got creamed, but it was great fun. Interrupted by a phone call - I would soon be greeted by another neighbor lady who had baked brownies and would be making the trek through the pasture shortly to deliver them to our doorstep. She is a dear elderly lady which I would like to get to know better. The boys eyes brightened with the site of treats, so in we went for a quick snack before we resumed our game. I am thrilled that the boys are meeting some playmates (some older and some younger, some bi-lingual, some not (solo espanol). Kyle seems wise beyond his years, with confidence oozing out from the inside. He attends the Friends School so likely we will see more of him. As we await sturdy rope from the U.S. to repair our tree swing, Kyle quickly improvised - moving a stump so the boys could still swing (relatively safe for now)

Mike returned from school about 5 p.m. with fresh milk, yogurt and cheeses from the Guindon farm which he ordered at the Quaker meeting yesterday. We enjoyed the cheeses tonight at dinner.

Tomorrow, more of the same? Would we be so lucky?
P.S. - Eddie - the boys enjoyed a lolly pop from the stash you told us to pack away in our luggage...they screamed your name when I presented a choice of green vs. red - Green won out today!
Signed: S

Sleep - Here's hoping it happens tonight

After almost two weeks of no contact with our family back home in the States, we finally put our Skype account to work today with a call home to Mike's mom and my folks. It was wonderful to hear familiar voices and to have the boys huddled around the computer shouting 'we miss you and love you'. Perhaps Sunday will be our day to connect with family and friends.

Today was a tough one...I don't even know what time we awoke...everyone ended up in our bed this morning..totally doable in our king-size mattress back in Chicago, but the full mattress here in MV, leaves little room to even breathe when you have two additional three years olds in it. Needless to say, we all woke up cranky and 'needy'. Looking on the bright side, my arm muscles are getting a work out as both boys want to be held and carried when they are tired and cranky. We had hoped to attend the Catholic service in Santa Elena this morning, but with the lack of sleep, Mike ended up going to the Quaker meeting and I stayed home with the boys. Finally, both went down for a two hour plus nap which afforded Mike and I a chance to clean the kitchen. The contact paper on the shelves have been there no doubt for years and, after asking Mike whether I should peal it off or clean it, he promptly said, 'clean it, as you don't know what you'll find when you peel it off'. YUCK. We were able to salvage some old bins that the previous tenants had stacked up by the laundry area. John helped early in the a.m. to clean them out and we have already put them to use in the kitchen, laundry area and will have some left over to store and organize the boy's crafts. How's that for resourceful.
I actually took 1/2 hour to myself - got reacquainted with my IPOD and took a run/walk up toward the Cloud Forest Reserve. First music I had listened to in two weeks...music to my ears. My eyes were glued to the road and I didn't want to end up with a sprained ankle...the roads are a mix of dirt, mud and rocks, boulders that are embedded - so running may not paint an accurate picture, more like and 'obstacle course workout'. Mike took the boys out for a late afternoon hike while I finished cleaning. A late dinner and then games with the kids....tonight on the game menu - SIMON SAYS and CHARADES. It was great fun. The TV is not missed at all and the pure and minimalistic way of living leaves it open for making your own entertainment - engaging in your relationships rather than disengaging and sitting in front of the box.

Another week is starting...final week for Mike's orientation and then school begins the following. The boys will start then as well. My work back in Chicago is a distant memory...how did I do it? Working long hours, til midnight most nights, on the weekends...the priorities shift and now it is time to focus on my family and my boys. It is late, we all need some sleep so we can have four refreshed and happy creatures, as 5 a.m. wake ups from the roosters come mighty early.
Signed: S

Chores, Chores and more Chores

Today was a beautiful day; no rain until late in the afternoon so any day when we can fold completely dry laundry…is a good day in my book. The most eye opening revelation for me is the amount of time spent on chores, whether it be sweeping the concrete floor, doing dishes by hand or doing/hanging laundry. Yesterday I swept the kitchen and living area at least six times, mostly because the boys are messy eaters and any crumb left unswept is an open invitation for our four, six, eight legged friends. I am still getting use to the little ‘land shrimp’ that visit late in the evening in the kitchen…they are small critters and they hop, they must have a short lifespan as they are expired by the time morning light hits. Part of my morning routine is to just sweep them onto the patio and out onto the grass. The laundry keeps me close to the house as I don’t dare leave it unattended for fear that the rains will come and set me back 24 hours…it really is a game…laundry that is. Early this week I hung and re-hung the same clothes over ½ dozen times in one day (lines out in the sun, vs. lines under the overhang)…It is interesting how my frustrations and hot buttons have shifted…most of my frustrations two months ago centered around missing deadlines at work and stress of client satisfaction--now much of my angst is centered around the exhaustive task of laundry!

I am happy to report that Mike and Michael survived their shower…a little touch and go as we started to smell burning plastic and looked up to see the smoke coming from the half way exposed electrical wires (YIKES). After mentioning this to Risa, she replied “oh ya that happens, you may want to talk to the school about that one). Mental note….everyone to shower in mom and dad’s bathroom from here on out!

We headed to the farmer’s market again today and were lucky to have been offered a ride (early in our journey into Santa Elena) by two American women from Portland who have settled here and now call MV home for the past three years. We stocked up on produce and ran into some other teachers who had transportation, so again, scored a ride home. We enjoyed the mariachi band while surveying the produce and chatting with the local farmers. The boy’s behavior is so much improved (really Auntie B) staying close to mom and dad – we hope we are redeeming ourselves at the local Supermercado after the havoc we wreaked during our first trip (chalk it up to transition)! The Tico kids seem very well behaved, always holding the hand of a parent and just overall very respectful. We then hiked a trail to the Dairy where we enjoyed ice cream and replenished our milk supply. We were eager to show Dad the trail I had hiked with the kids earlier in the week, so we headed to the children’s rainforest where we enjoyed the nature center activities and getting up close and personal with a coati. Home for a quick game of WAR, an early dinner and bedtime for the boys. The biggest surprise/pleasure of the day came when Michael stated he was done with dinner, promptly got up, hung up his bib on the back of his chair (we use old bibs instead of napkins) and took his plate, cup and silverware right to the sink…with no prompting)...AH, YES VIRGINIA THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS.

Chronicles of our first week in Monteverde

Thanks to all for hangin' in there with us….we are struggling to get our 128 KB internet connection hooked up here at the house and hope to have success tomorrow with a visit from the local communications / utility company. Hit or miss connection at Mike’s school and little time to trek the short distance to an internet café down the street is an obvious challenge for us in trying to keep the blog clean and fresh….appreciate your patience.

Now that we have been here over a week, we are trying to establish some semblance of normalcy, routines and family ground rules for the boys. The boys are doing great and show little to no sign of major stress with the move. We continue to talk about family, friends and of course, the little green house on Tuttle Ave.

Here are some of my random thoughts and a ‘brain dump’ (in no particular order) of what has been keeping us busy here south of the border.
Last Saturday, we drove to the market in Santa Elena, assisted by our neighbor Adrienne, purchased 20lbs of produce for ten dollars. The market is held in the gym of the public high school and offers all wares, music and opportunites to practice our Spanish. The boys found their new favorite snack, leche nuts’!

We also set out to hike a trail which started just behind our house that Mike thought would lead us to the Dairy, but the thickly forested winding path led us in the opposite direction, up and down hills and to the home of Anna and her baby and then beyond to Stella’s bakery. Anna was kind enough to guide us back to the trail (As her baby crawled outside on a blanket, Anna continued holding the bowl and stirring whatever it was she was in the middle of cooking while guiding us past her patio, through her neighbors garden, under a trellis and then finally, to the stairs that she had described. Apparently it is not uncommon to have trails wind through private property. We were greeted by hundreds of moss covered stairs that led us through lush forests….very cool!


On Sunday, we all walked to school so Mike could attend the Quaker meeting and after, share in the pot-luck. Everyone brings a dish to share and is responsible for toting their own plates, silver-ware and napkins. Beth and I watched the kids in the school playground until the meeting concluded, then we all ate and mingled with others from the community.

The hike to the school is quite manageable from our home…about 20 minutes with the boys and it is more of an adventure through the woods, over bridges and waterfalls and finally through a spot frequented by bird-watchers, with a last chance to snatch a ripened raspberry before finding yourself at the school entrance. On the walk home, we stopped at the dairy to enjoy ice cream, buy fresh milk and yogurt.

In the afternoon, we drove to the Cloud Forest Reserve and watched the numerous hummingbirds as the boys practiced their photography skills. From there, we went on a very adventurous ride, especially driving stick shift, down to San Luis, a spectacular ride with views unlike no other. We spied a waterfall off in the distance and had ambitions of reaching it….would the rental SUV get us there? We came to a river which had washed out part of the road and after getting out and surveying whether we should carry on, decided to go for it…only to be greeted by a sign “See Miguel to pay for access to the waterfall”. Dusk was upon us, so we decided to head back for the day and save our chat with Miguel for another day. It was another harrowing ride uphill towards home as we smelled the taxed transmission of the rental (yet again).

Monday (Auntie Beth returns to Chicago and we head towards San Jose to meet up with the other new teachers for finger printing and work visas.) Down the mountain we drove, making a day of it…deciding to head for the beach. We drove to Jaco beach, giving a local (Dennis, a deacon from Lindora) a ride part of the way. Oh if I had a dime for each time we got lost – Mike earned his first speeding ticket, but the Officer must have taken pity on us as he waived one of the other ‘violations’ . The kids had a great time at the beach…what a difference in temperature…glad we are in the mountains with the more temperate climate. We finally arrived back in Allejuela where we would spend the night before meeting up with the other new teachers early that next morning. We stayed at a very quaint villa, Villa Pacande which we highly recommend. It is nestled just outside of the village proper and is a great stopping point after a long day of travel before heading up the mountain. Our boys played with little Sebastion (the little nephew of the owner), Bruno the dog, picked limes and oranges and received the loving attention given by so many adults in Costa Rica. Beth and I were grateful to sleep on ‘real’ mattresses, and feel the tile floor beneath our feet rather than the concrete floor we are already accustomed to at our new home. We are grateful for Auntie Beth’s visit and all of her help in easing our transition…we miss her terribly already.

The next morning was a full one, we met the two new teachers who would make the trip back up to the mountain with us after spending half the day in San Jose applying for visas. Virginia and Tedi, both very nice, fluent in Spanish and very patient with our little ones. Our boys did well and asked why they could not get finger-printed as well. Needless to say, they slept the majority of the hike back up the mountain which was a good thing for all.

Mike, me and the boys, along with the other new teachers received a nice orientation on Wednesday by Risa, the school’s Assistant Director. We now know where the hardware store is, how to establish a bank account and her favorite lunch spot.. We had our first experience on the local bus which got us from our house to the center of town in Santa Elena. We took advantage of loading up on groceries while in town and am happy to report that the boys were well behaved as they are getting use to having to hold hands everywhere we go in public…even in the grocery store.


Thursday: Mike’s first full day of school responsibilities….will Sally survive a full day with the kids? Happily the answer is YES. Mike had a great day and said that all the meetings were conducted in Spanish which will afford him the chance to tune his ear and become a better communicator. I took the boys down through the pasture, across the street and into the Eternal Rainforest for Children and for a hike on the Bajos de Tigre trail. We spent three hours there…they have a great little nature center with activities for the kids. The boys were consumed with catching butterflies for the first hour at the entrance to the trail. All types of butterflies…any color, shape, size…simply amazing. The boys are certainly appreciating the wildlife and I continue to stress respect, not only for human kind, but also all creatures within the forest. I spied a family of white faced monkeys up in the trees only minutes into our hike, the kids were amazed and we considered ourselves lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. I, myself, am grateful that I did not get the family lost as I’ve always relied on Mike to navigate the trail maps. The afternoon was spent doing crafts (we are decorating the house with the kid’s artwork – which is certainly a cheaper décor option than what had adorned our walls in Chicago). Finally, our neighbor introduced us to a local gal (Goudy and her 5 year old son) who will assist them with their little one. We will also have Goudy come in a couple of times a week to help us. It will give me a chance to practice my Spanish, learn more about the Costa Rican culture, allow me to run out to do errands, etc. and have help with the laundry which is all consuming.

Each day begins between five and six in the morning and ends while we all fall asleep reading bedtime stories in the evening. Living close to the equator, there is not as much variation in time of sunrise and sunset as we experience in the States. Daylight wakes us at 5:30 and darkness occurs quickly about 6:00 PM allowing a couple of hours for dinner, evening chores of dishes and sweeping, card games and family stories. Speaking of chores….the boys have taken real ownership in cleaning and sweeping. Much to the amazement of Mike and me, we have to laugh under our breath when they bicker as to who will wash the dinner dishes and who will sweep…what a delight!

UPDATE: Finally, we have connection to the outside world...so I am writing this from our new home, in a not so well lit master bedroom. YAY
Signed: S

Finally arriving at our new home

Luckily we found a rental SUV that would accommodate all of our luggage and off we went up the mountain…well aside from a small detour, we got on the right course and headed arriba! The ride was rainy, foggy and hardly an opportunity for a vista view. We certainly know why this is called the Cloud Forest! I’d heard the trek was a four hour ride up the mountain, however After an hour and a half up the road, we saw a sign saying Monteverde, 25 kilometers…I thought “WOW, we’ve made great time, little did I know the next 25 K would be harrowing stair climbs, hairpin turns, dropaways, ruts that jarred the bones for the next two hours. While it afforded spectacular views, the drive was rather harrowing, most of my focus was on the road rather than the vistas unfolding before us. After gasping up the final hill in Santa Elena, we made the last two mile drive up to what we affectionately now call the ‘little brown house’.

The Eleventh Hour – Can we postpone a day?

The movers showed up around 9:30 Monday morning and we were all surprised at how smooth the day went. I kept the boys occupied at the neighbors while Chris and I relaxed on their back deck (thanks Laheta’s),! The boys enjoyed jumping on their trampoline. The storage unit was full to capacity; however the house still had ‘stuff’ in every room which then went to my sisters for further inspection and disposition. (Take, Leave or Ask her to Store). We had hoped to be out of the house by 1 PM, but did not give our final wave to the little green house until 5 pm. With a toot of the horn…off we went to my sisters for our last evening on US turf. We then spent from 6 PM to 2:30 a.m. deciding on what HAD to go and what could be left behind as “decoration” in Beth’s house ☺.

A wake up call at 3:30 a.m. to ready for the taxi driver at 4:30…dreading getting the boys out of deep sleeps, much to my amazement, they awoke in excellent moods, ready to meet the day head on…would it last the next two plane rides? By the time we reached Charlotte for our connecting flight to Costa Rica, things turned ugly…and
the rest, I will leave to your imagination. (5 tired passengers, another four hour plane ride, kicking seats in front of us, missing the toilet seats in the lavoratory, temper tantrums (not just from the boys) and then finally hearing the call for a mechanic to open the plane door as we wait to repair the jet-way.) Through immigration, unexpected swine flu papers to fill out and then finding a vehicle large enough to transport our ‘world’ to Allejuela for a night before heading up the mountain. First wake up call that we were in foreign country…no car seats. The boys were free to roam much to Mommy’s dismay. Finally we reach the hotel and had we known, we would have sent out a warning “The Schaefers have arrived…there will be no sleeping tonight!” Flush toilets, YES, toilet paper down them…NO WAY JOSE! We ventured out to a local market for dinner and sat down at the Parque Central so the kids could release some pent-up energy. They frolicked in the courtyard and enjoyed chasing pigeons and playing in the fountain.

Toads, Taranula’s and Horses…..OH MY!

My first thought upon arriving at the “little brown house” was ….Whoa… this is truly paradise. An enormous front yard to run and play in, a pasture below to climb trees, and stand of tall pines beyond that and views to take the breath away. Once we surveyed the yard it was time to check out the little brown house and I must say I had a deju vu moment of being 11 years old again and shipped off to summer camp to survive with my plastic holder for my soap, my one towel, that would never quite dry, the feeling of sand, dirt and squished bugs ever present in my bed, and the memory stirring scent of damp blankets and wood! In a word….rustic. Now I know how Dorothy felt…..I don’t think I’m in Clarendon Hills anymore. To tag onto an earlier blog YES there is running water but only cold in the sink to wash dishes. Yes there is hot water in the shower but only on odd days when there is a crescent moon and the temperature reached 26 degrees celsious. To be sure there will be challenges in living in Monte Verde. The closest grocery store is a good half hour walk up steep hills and down even sharper drops. Which side of the road to walk on was determined by which upcoming turn (and there are many) afforded me the best view to on coming traffic. Oh that’s another thing. Traffic is taxis, horses, or the ubiquitous four wheelers or dirt bikes which seem the preferred mode of travel by the locals and the one best suited for the steep hills and rutted roads.

I learned quickly how to say “café con leche por favor, as the machine at the house never heated the water enough to deliver enough caffeine to truly wake me up. No matter though, as I found a lovely little bakery with hot java a stones through from the house. I saw a tarantula as we were clearing some logs to make a fire pit, heard the thundering of hooves in the front yard one evening at dusk as 3 horses appeared out of no where, and mistook a Cane toad for a squirrel! I saw hummingbirds, and beetles, and mist, and clouds….and I didn’t even have to leave the front porch of the house! Imagine the wildlife and animals beyond the front door. I met people of all nationalities that had moved their families here for a chance to live a more full and authentic life leaving behind the trappings we all think we cannot do without. After only a few days ….I realize how possible it is to do more with less. I saw surreal mountains with waterfalls, tranquil pastures and felt a peace of the outdoors, and release from the to do list, no need to no what time it was and an exhaustion at the end of the day, not from frayed nerves and stress of my normal day but from being outdoors each day and taking in all that a country life has to offer.

As I sit outdoors today near San Jose waiting for my flight home I have a new appreciation and admiration for what my family is doing. The courage and faith in one another to take this leap and embrace this new adventure is inspiring. While I will miss them all terribly I know they have found and been welcomed into a community that has already embraced them and will help them on their way. Until I see the “green mountain” again, Adios and muchas gracias for a most breathtaking and grounding experience. Signed Auntie B.