I'm makin a list, checkin it twice.

Today is November 18, 2008.  I am ready to come home.  I have had it up to here with Costa Rican food.  Today for lunch I had rice and beans and hard-boiled egg.  I had to come home for a snack of Special K just to get me through the day.  On the other hand, I am done teaching.  I have given the vast majority of my exams and the kids are running free—so to speak.  Today my first grade class got cancelled, which is always a relief.  I was supposed to make up an exam for my fourth graders, but I kind of forgot.  And by kind of, I mean I just didn’t want to.  Luckily, I only have 27 days left.  I don’t know how that happened exactly.  My kids think that it’s terrible that I am going home so soon, but I think that by February, they will have forgotten all about me.  I am not entirely sure that I have been a positive influence on them, but I don’t know that it is going to last. 

Last night there was an earthquake!  I didn’t even realize that Costa Rica was susceptible to earth quakes, but last night I woke up at midnight to my bed shaking—well it was more rolling but, you know the feeling.  It was apparently a 6.2!  My host sister Melissa says that the epicenter was in Panama but I don’t really believe her.  She just talks a lot. I don’t think that there is a lot of validity to it, but you know, she's only nine.  No aftershocks to speak of.  During the earthquake, I thought about getting up to hide under something, but then decided against it and just covered up my head. 

I read One Mississippi this weekend.  It was tragic.  But it was also humorous and smart.  I really didn’t see the ending coming.  There was a paragraph towards the end that is actually haunting me.  Every time I think about it I get chills.  It’s strange, when I finish a really good book, I often feel the need to hug it, as if I’m hugging the characters inside instead of just a bunch of bound pages.  It’s weird, I get that, but I can’t help it.  You know how Holden Caufield said that there are certain authors who you read and then feel like you know?  That even after you finish the book you wish you could call up the author?  I don’t get that way about authors, but I certainly get attached to the characters. 

My list of things to do when I get home is getting longer.

1. Meet Me in St. Louis with Katie Perkins (also baking cookies)
2. In-N-Out
3. South Coast with Alison
4. See the Christmas Lights in Naples
5. Really Decent Mexican Food—Chips and Guacamole, fajitas, tacos, who cares, so long as there’s flavor. 
6. Pick up Reid at the Airport
7. See Adam’s dorm room
8. Seven Grand
9. CELL PHONE
10. Taix for French Food
11. Cobras and Matadors
12. Them Terribles concert
13. Gossip Girls Marathon (as well as all other Television I have missed this year.)

So friends and family, the countdown is underway and I am taking requests of things to bring back to the Estados Unidos.  Much Love. Pura Vida.

Parent Teacher Conference

You may not believe the following story, but I swear that it all happened this afternoon. 

As so often happens, I was informed, on Wednesday, that there was a meeting with the parents of the school after classes finished.  I was supposed to go to town to make copies of exams, but I just assumed that the meeting would end after an hour or two and I would go to town later.  I didn’t have anything to contribute, but in case the parents had questions about grades or exams, I wanted to be able to answer them. 

Sure enough, the meeting didn’t start until 40 minutes after it was supposed to.  Everything was going along well until a certain mother, snapped at my host mom.  She argued that her son was being treated unfairly and that it was somehow the fault of my director, who coincidentally does not ever teach him.  The woman only moved down here a few months ago and her youngest son got kicked out his first week for fighting.  I don’t think that she’s a particularly good role model for any of her children, but I don’t see them at home, so I can’t really say. 

A lot more accusations started to circle the room.  Voices rose and people started taking sides.  Then, before I knew it, my host mom was choking back the tears.  I was pretty upset, but my Spanish still isn’t good enough to debate the way I would like.  Luckily, some of the mothers in the community came to her aid and made it clear to this “new” mother, that my host Mom goes above and beyond the call of duty for these kids. 

It was at this point, my host mom invited all of the parents present to come and teach for a day. To see what she deals with and to see how little respect the children have for all of the teachers at the school.  I chimed in and said that the kids have no respect for  each other, no respect for us and no respect for animals.  This brought up a sensitive issue because one day some of the kids had found a birds nest with two baby birds and had run around with the babies and the nest, sending the mother bird and the babies into a frenzy. 

Then after we got off of that subject, a little girl named Patricia, who should still be in elementary school but isn’t, was accused of doing stealing paper and calling one of the kindergartener’s dads a cranky old man.  Both the cranky old man, Patricia and Patricia’s mother were there, which led to another yelling match. 

Suddenly, from the corner, came a crash and my student’s VERY pregnant mother went into a seizure.  I was sure that she was going into labor except that she was shaking.  (The woman has looked ready to pop since August, to be perfectly honest: every time I see her still pregnant I’m surprised.)  Her 3^rd grade daughter started crying in the corner while the woman’s sister and Mother-in-law (both parents at the school) tried to bring her back.  The seizure stopped but she was still unconscious.  However, the most amazing thing is that, after the seizure stopped, the meeting carried on as if nothing was happening in the corner.

If it was up to me, I would have send someone to call for an ambulance immediately, but as we remember, there is no cell phone service and the phones haven’t been installed yet.  So after the woman had been unconscious for about 15 minutes, it was finally decided that she needed to be taken to a hospital.  Of course, no one had a car and we couldn’t call an ambulance, so 3 of the town fathers had to carry her up to the highway, where they had to flag a truck to take the woman into town.  She is still in the hospital, but I am under the impression that she is okay now. 

I had to remind myself that I was in a Parents meeting in Costa Rica as opposed to an episode of the Jerry Springer show.  It was a scary and unforgettable afternoon, but I’m very glad it’s over.  The parents seemed concerned that I was leaving before graduation and several have invited me over for birthdays, special dinners, coffee and most surprisingly, whiskey.  I can’t believe I’ll be home in a month. 

I went to Buenos Aires (a city just north of me) on Tuesday and ran into Mikki Jean on the bus.  We spent most of the afternoon making copies, sending mail and waiting in lines.  It was a pretty splendid afternoon.  She inspired me to make Rice Krispies treats with my family and we have decided to have a barbeque with our families before we go. 

The Rice Krispies treats were a huge hit.  I am going to make them again in a couple of days.  I think I’ll make macaroni and cheese next, but I kind of want to make Tacos.  I feel like that would be a fun thing for my family.  They always ask me what typical American food is and I never have a real answer for them.  That’s as close to real Californian food as one will get. 

In other news, I have confirmed for the World Teach Chile Program next year.  It seems like the right thing for me to do.  I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.  It’s only a 9-month program, so I won’t leave until some time in March.  I’m probably going to be placed in Santiago because that’s where most of the other volunteers are.  To the best of my understanding, I’ll probably lead a couple of the orientation meetings for the group, which should be an interesting experience, considering I’ve been teaching to Children and will now have to teach a group of my peers.  (Yikes.)

I’m very afraid of the cold, but I’m sure I’ll adapt somehow.  Luckily, mail and phones both work in Chile.  Now that’s my idea of a developing nation.  All this really means for you is that we have to cram in our time together. 

If you didn’t come to see me in Costa Rica, you are going to be highly pressured to visit me in Chile.  Sure, it’s not the jungle, but I’m sure we’ll find something worthwhile to keep ourselves entertained.   That’s all for now.  See you in a month.  

Flaming Liberals and Eternal Hope

On Happiness

Today, my hope has been renewed.  I am proud to be an American.  Today, I believe that change will come.  Today, I believe that anything is possible.  Today, I believe that Americans care about the Constitution and their rights as citizens.  I know that it’s naïve to put such faith into a politician, but don’t rain on my parade just yet. 

Last night, as I sat in my living room alone watching CNN, I was less anxious than I had been four years ago.  I knew that even if McCain were elected, he couldn’t possibly be as awful as Bush.  I watched the Electoral votes tally up as polling sites closed across the nation and found myself hoping against hope that it would happen; that Barack Obama would win. As the clock ticked down to 10 PM, I waited for the America map to turn Blue.

I remember being in Germany when I was 16 and going out to lunch with some other kids in my group.  Somehow, the conversation turned to politics and whether or not America would ever have a president of a so-called minority.  One kid, named Axel from Chicago, turned to me and said, “There will be a gay president and a woman before there is a black president.  Sorry.”  He wasn’t particularly apologetic, but I thought that he was right.  It was a matter of fact.  It’s not as if there were any particularly strong Black candidates.  I didn’t want to agree with him but I did.  I accepted it as true.  But then, last night, to my great surprise and joy, Barack Obama proved me wrong. 

And I wept. 

I was glad that my host family had all gone to bed, because they couldn’t have known how important it was.  It’s not just that he’s a half-rican.  It’s not just that his father was Kenyan and that he in turn was the son of immigrants at a time when it is so important that our country was established as a haven for immigrants.  It’s more.  It’s the civil rights movement.  It’s been the uniting of my generation.  It’s the fact that we can do anything and that odds don’t matter anymore. 

I am astonished that Barack Obama was able to win Virginia and Ohio.  I am amazed by the campaign that started so long ago, I struggle to remember a time before hand.  I believe that America is back on the upswing.  I know that the stock market opened down this morning, but that in the long run, we can rebuild and regain some of our former standing in the rest of the world.  It’s almost enough to convince me to move back to America, but I can do more help abroad than I can at home. 

So, there you have it.  Remember Remember the fourth of November and change the world as you can.  I'm sure that some day I'll vote republican, but today, I am young, optimistic and ecstatic to be a liberal and possibly self-righteous American citizen.  

 

A Note on Fairies, The glittery kind.

I’m a little confused as to how Disney decided to make an entire movie about Tinkerbell.  Tinkerbell has always been one of my least favorite characters, if not the absolute bottom of the list and now, there is a major motion picture dedicated to her, story.  Do we not remember how horrible Tink was to Wendy?  I specifically remember being six years old and thinking to myself, “Why does Peter Pan hang out with Tink?  She’s mean and jealous, he should know better.”  Apparently, we all should. 

How is it possible to celebrate such a mean little fairy?  The girls here are going bananas and are offering me bribes in exchange for copies of the new Tinkerbell movie.  I have told them that they are out of luck.  My real question is this:  How is it possible that adults, could want to be a part of a project that glorifies a mean, selfish and inconsiderate fairy, who has already been in two movies and is the face of the magical world of Disney?  I just don’t get it. 

I also find it very interesting that Michael Bay, the director of The Day After Tomorrow, also directed Transformers.  One film exaggerates the dangers of global warming, while the other had a million dollars of prototype cars and trucks: none of which, were hybrids.  

To the US and back in a New York Minute

Yes, it’s true, I went to the United States last weekend.  If we were not in contact, I apologize profusely, but I didn’t have a phone and so I was limited in my communication.  It’s not that I didn’t want to talk to you, it’s that I ran out of time. 

I arrived on Thursday at midnight and passed through JFK without any trouble.  Then I hailed a Taxi and headed to my new home away from home on Bleecker Street.  Which is really just Chris Anderson’s apartment.  He met me on the street, took me up into his new Studio and I unloaded my things.  I had assumed that I would be too tired to think at 1 AM, but I found that I was strangely recharged at the sight of my dear friend.  He sensed my eagerness to explore the city and took me out.  We went for a drink and I helped myself to a Jameson and Cranberry, which I had been craving for some time now.  (A girl can only take so much cheap Costa Rican Beer.)  We went dancing and stayed out much too late, but what good is sleep in Manhattan?

The next day was spent roaming New York.  Coffee for breakfast, a leisurely stroll around the city and a detour for a haircut.  Then to Balthazaar for lunch and out to JFK airport to pick up the one and only Nancy Jane Lathan at the airport. 

Mama Lathan and I made the drive up to Gun Wavin’ New Haven in about 2 hours, where we met Auntie Carolyn, Reid and his roommate Sean.  We spent another couple of hours trying to decide what we wanted to eat for dinner, at which point we were all ready to kill each other.  Luckily, Reid kept his cool and suggested his favorite local pizza place, which shut us up quickly.  Nothing can dilute a Lathan fight like a good meal. 

After dinner, I went back to Reid’s dorm, which is muy tuanis (very cool).  I have to admit, I was a little jealous that his room is bigger than mine was Senior year.  Some kids get all the luck.  Reid and I stayed in and I tried to catch up on episodes of The Office.  (The Office coincidentally is back to its Season 2 glory if I may say so.  I was a particular fan of the part filmed on my old Pardee Tower floor in Episode one.)  The next morning I tried to catch up on Heroes, but ran out of time as I had to hurry to breakfast and the Yale-Penn game.

I bundled up in long pants, a turtleneck, a sweater and a scarf, which was a welcome change to the constant heat and humidity that has been my life these past 10 months.  Unfortunately Reid was injured and so couldn’t play or suit up.  The game was not as exciting as I would have hoped and unfortunately, the Bulldogs lost, but I was still glad to have been able to see a game for the season.  Uncle David, Cousin Ben, Auntie Carolyn and some of my Mom’s oldest and dearest friends made it out for the game.  It was a pretty great reunion, even if it wasn’t quite the outcome we had hoped for. 

That evening we all went to dinner and my Aunt Carolyn decided to help me drive the Rental car back to the airport.  I got up at 4:30 the next morning to go the airport, however when I got there at five, I couldn’t do automatic check-in.  So I got into another line to check my reservation.  At which point the woman checking me in (a gray haired woman with a bitter voice, bad attitude, outdated wardrobe and mean eyes) told me that My reservation didn’t exist and that I wasn’t booked for the day.  So I hightailed to a payphone and called my Mom who pulled up my reservation on her iPhone only to realize that we had booked the flight for the 23^rd of November instead of the 26^th of October. 

Oops. 

So I changed my flight for the next morning and headed back to the Hotel.  Then Mom and Auntie Carolyn drove me into the city where I spent the rest of the day with Chris.  We brunched and wandered and lived the dream.  I was a little overwhelmed by the end of the day because I hadn’t seen that many people in who knows how long, but I still had a great time.  I felt a little bit lost without a cell phone, but now that I am back on the reservation I realize it probably wouldn’t have been good for me to get used to it.  We went out to Indian Food for dinner in Hell’s Kitchen and then headed back early because I had to leave at 330 in the morning. 

So, a car came to get me at 3:30, I slept on the way to the airport, and then on the plane and then in the next plane and the next taxi and finally on the bus.  I arrived in El Vergel at 8 pm to find that my host family had cleaned my room and done all of my laundry.  SWEET!

  Tuesday Morning I had to tell all of my kids where I had gone for the weekend and why I had missed Monday classes, which was actually a little bit uncomfortable, because they already think that I have more money than god.  My fourth graders are working on writing and I brought back a bunch of magazines so that they could describe the pictures, which I think they enjoyed.  My first graders are learning the body which is fun to watch because they all go around singing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” all day.  My third graders are still a nightmare, but at least it’s almost over.  Melissa, my host sister, made me an amazing Halloween card this week complete with pumpkins and a cut out vampire.  She also spelled Halloween “jalowin” which is phonetic in Costa Rica I suppose.  Maybe next year’s volunteer will have time to teach them spelling. 

I submitted my absentee ballot and have dreamt about the election for the last 5 nights in a row, which is simultaneously concerning and sad.  I can’t wait until it’s over, just so that I can sleep again, one way or another.  Unfortunately, I’ve had to watch Fox News, because that’s the only channel that we get that is covering the election non-stop.  It makes me angry more than anything else, but it’s still better than nothing I guess. 

My host mom bough me a new pair of earrings yesterday that matches the Necklace they bought me in the Spring.  My host brother Pablo has promised to teach me how to make my favorite food (Patacones).  Yesterday my host brother Quito (1^st grade) put together a whole sentence on his own.  Well it was basically a sentence.  He asked me, how to say ‘laying’ and then             I told him and he said, “Entonces hay un Chicken laying eggs.”  I jumped for joy, well it was more of a leap, but still, I was airborne.  I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal considering that he has had English with me for a year, but it really shows progress and I was extremely proud of him. 

I finally got a couple of care packages that had been sent to me ages ago. I would like to send a big shout out to the one and only Lindsay Dencker, who sent me an incredible supply of “fall” goodies like pumpkin lip gloss, Pilgrim hats, leaf decorations and spooky music for Halloween.  I have decided to make Halloween a 4-5 class celebration, just because.  I am considering having a haunted house on Friday.  Maybe I’ll make the kids bob for apples.  I also can’t wait to do some of the Thanksgiving activities that I have planned.  Making pilgrim and Indian caps, decorating turkeys and building cornucopias.  Oh what fun. I was also delighted to get a big package from my Mom, complete with flashcards, paper plates and other excellent teaching supplies.  I can’t believe it’s November. 

Okay then, that’s all from this end.  I have no travel plans for this fin de semana and am looking forward to some time at home reading and planning my life for the next year.  I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that there are only 44 days left until my return to America and that you had better start revving your engines, because it’s going to be epic.  Thanks for reading, stay tuned for More Radventures, same rad time, same rad channel.