A "typical" day - part 1

Can I say that after only a few days here?  I'll try to summarize what our day typically looks like. 

The sun is up at 6am, and so are the Costa Ricans.  There's no use fighting it, so that's our wake up time. After breakfast (fried "toast" [because we have no toaster] and PB, which is a North American treat out here, and fruit), Vern's been heading off to the field station (Quetzal Education Research Centre).  The university students (from the U.S.) have arrived and begun their semester here.  Vern is mostly using the field station as a place to write up his research papers, but will also serve as a student project mentor and will be teaching a one-week course in March.  It's a beautiful half hour hike each way to the field station down the gravel road through the town of San Gerardo de Dota.  This is also where I have been coming to check emails; we're hoping to have internet access at our cabin soon.

The mornings and evenings are cool (long pants and sweater) because we are at high elevation, and houses here are far from air tight!  During the day, the sun is very hot, and being closer to the sun the UV is strong, so we have to be diligent in using lots of sunscreen.   The Savegre River runs right through town, so water is fresh, plentiful and cold -- we can drink it straight from the tap, thankfully!   Speaking of water, water for showers here are heated with electricity.....dangerous?!?  

Our cabin is comfortable and small (~400 sq. ft).  Caleb's told us that he loves his Costa Rican bed, which is completely shocking, because it's a hammock!  But we won't say anything.  Our bed is fine, but way too short (Vern is "muy alto" as they say out here), so our cabin owner is planning on getting us a new bed. 

The people in San Gerardo are very friendly and often try to help us with our spanish (we need it!).  We feel very safe here, which is great.  Claire had her first "playdate" yesterday with 2 local girls, and loved it.  She was nervous at first, because she just couldn't figure out how she'd have fun with kids who don't talk english.  Within minutes, she said they were playing hide and seek. 

Caleb hasn't had quite as much fun, since he had a stomach ache one day (no surprise, since he's not a fan of hand washing) and today he ran into a wall and ended up with a headache all day. 

I see the time, and better walk back before it's completely dark!  Before I forget, I'll pass on our mailing address for anyone who wants it:
Quetzal Education Research Centre
Vernon and Susan Peters
7050-1913
Cartago
Costa Rica



Stay tuned -- I'll finish my description of a typical day soon.  I didn't get very far today!