Thursday, March 26, 2015
Fun Run at Country Day School
Feel free to play the soundtrack from "Chariots of Fire" as you read this blog post.
Phew! We ran like the wind in Saturday's 5K, along with nearly 600 other teachers, students and parents. It was exhausting fun. Of course, to our competitive family, "Fun Run" is just a starting point....we must WIN!
Truly, we ran hard and ran fast. Benji placed third in his age group, Marina second, and Steve first among the teachers. I came in 11th in my age group, but they don't have a medal for that, if you can believe it! Those darn, fit, 40-50 year old woman. I should have tried to trip a few of 'em.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Vamos Morados: Saprissa Soccer Match
By Benji Blatt
This Sunday, March 23, 2015 we
attended a local soccer game at the national stadium. The stadium was actually a gift from the
Chinese. In Costa Rica there are two
major soccer teams, la Liga and Saprissa.
We went to this game rooting for
Saprissa. The game was against Santos
de Guapiles. The game started at 4:00pm
but since it was “Costa Rica time”, the real match started at 4:30. The game ended at 6pm and it was already
dark.
Saprissa ended up winning 4 to 0
with several chants such as “Vamos Morados”.
Ariel Rodriguez scored an amazing hat-trick: three goals in one
game!
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Exploding Volcan Turrialba and What to Do When a Bull Rushes the SUV
It was a weekend replete with an erupting volcano, hilarious Spanish malapropisms, and an angry bull charging the car.
We almost canceled our visit to Tres Equis, located right at the foot of the volcano Turrialba, because on Thursday the volcano spewed a layer of ash that shut down the San Jose airport and rained down on us in our distant suburbia of Escazu. But, we were eagerly reassured by our friends who live there that the eruption isn't affecting them at all and that our visit will be perfectly safe. So, we decided to proceed with our visit unbeknownst to us that on Friday night the volcano erupted again, coughing up
"incandescent" materials like a massive Chinese new year celebration. But, ignorant and blissfully naive, we headed out to visit Maricela, Johnnie, Jason and Julisa who live in a charming village at the base of an actively erupting volcano.
Our visit was heartwarming. We ate freshly fried empanadas stuffed with cheese straight from
Maricela's mom's dairy farm. The kids ran around the village in a pack of kids playing everything from tag to soccer. Bunny rabbits hopped around like a scene from Teletubbies. And, we were constantly surrounded by the Maricela and Johnnie's kind, generous and gregarious extended family and neighbors. With them, we spoke a lot of Spanish.
Of course our Spanish is not perfect, and malapropisms abounded. When Ilana was asked how old she will be on her upcoming birthday, she replied, quinientos. Five hundred. She really meant 50 (cinquenta). A few minutes later Ilana complimented Maricela on her earrings (arretes) only Ilana actually said, pointing at Maricela's neck, I like your fins (aletas). Ilana, are you hungry? Ilana nodded emphatically. "Tengo mucho hombre". She has a lot of man. She meant hambre. To top out the malapropisms for the week, Ilana let Maricela know that for the sleeping arrangements, we brought inflamable mattresses. To her defense, inflable (inflatable) seems like it's missing a syllable or two.
On Sunday, we gathered together a group of eleven and ventured to the rafting mecca of the Paquari river. To get there, we had to cross a little creek in our SUV. It took a lot of coaxing before I would cross the creek and even then, my heart was pounding in my chest. Let's just say we've had our share of river issues. Then, we had to wind our way past cows and bulls down the steepest road you can imagine. All the way down, with eleven people in one 4 cylinder SUV, I kept thinking about how and if we are going to make it back up the mountain.
Down on the river, we watched the hordes of tourists depart on their rafting adventures. Then, when the buses, vans, rafts and guides all left, the beautiful river and surrounding jungle was ours. We jumped in the refreshing water, picnicked on chicken and Caribbean rice and beans cooked with chunks of coconut and coconut milk, and tried to catch fish. All the while tadpoles motored around in the shallows, fish zipped up and down the river, and giant hawks circled above.
At last, we had to leave. All eleven of us got into the front seat, the backseat, and the trunk, and started our slow ascent up the hill. I was in my lowest gear and taking it slowly as to not overwhelm my sensitive vehicle. As I rounded a corner, a angry bull (not a gentle cow) was on the side of the road. "What do I do?" I asked my 10 passengers. "Take it slowly." I approached the bull ever so slowly, but he did not think that my rolling forward toward him was a friendly gesture. As we were right next to the glaring beast, it
lowered it's head and pointed it's massive horns toward the passenger door. "Jale rapido, Jale, Jale!" Johnnie shouted. I wasn't sure what he meant, but I guessed correctly. I floored it and we raced by the angry bull before it could put a massive dent in the door. Seconds afterward the car erupted in nervous laughter. Only in Costa Rica do you almost get your SUV gored by a bull, all the while driving up a hill with 10 other passengers sardined together.
Our visit was heartwarming. We ate freshly fried empanadas stuffed with cheese straight from
Maricela's mom's dairy farm. The kids ran around the village in a pack of kids playing everything from tag to soccer. Bunny rabbits hopped around like a scene from Teletubbies. And, we were constantly surrounded by the Maricela and Johnnie's kind, generous and gregarious extended family and neighbors. With them, we spoke a lot of Spanish.
On Sunday, we gathered together a group of eleven and ventured to the rafting mecca of the Paquari river. To get there, we had to cross a little creek in our SUV. It took a lot of coaxing before I would cross the creek and even then, my heart was pounding in my chest. Let's just say we've had our share of river issues. Then, we had to wind our way past cows and bulls down the steepest road you can imagine. All the way down, with eleven people in one 4 cylinder SUV, I kept thinking about how and if we are going to make it back up the mountain.
Down on the river, we watched the hordes of tourists depart on their rafting adventures. Then, when the buses, vans, rafts and guides all left, the beautiful river and surrounding jungle was ours. We jumped in the refreshing water, picnicked on chicken and Caribbean rice and beans cooked with chunks of coconut and coconut milk, and tried to catch fish. All the while tadpoles motored around in the shallows, fish zipped up and down the river, and giant hawks circled above.
At last, we had to leave. All eleven of us got into the front seat, the backseat, and the trunk, and started our slow ascent up the hill. I was in my lowest gear and taking it slowly as to not overwhelm my sensitive vehicle. As I rounded a corner, a angry bull (not a gentle cow) was on the side of the road. "What do I do?" I asked my 10 passengers. "Take it slowly." I approached the bull ever so slowly, but he did not think that my rolling forward toward him was a friendly gesture. As we were right next to the glaring beast, it
A similar, non-threatening bull... |
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Dia Nacional del Boyero OXCART FESTIVAL
More than a hundred oxcarts and
drivers arrived in the streets of Escazu today in a traditional parade of oxen,
carts and community. We wandered up and
down the streets, as the parade wound its way up the hill to the San Antonio
church.
Steve got a
pre-birthday cowboy hat, and he fit right in!
We really enjoyed the traveling band, the gigantic, dancing costumed
creatures with the giant heads, and
the beautiful, gentle, incredible oxen.
the beautiful, gentle, incredible oxen.
Mostly, it was cool
to be a part of this meaningful, annual, cultural event.
The inevitable conclusion to every oxcart festival.... |
Chag Purim Party!
Costumes, felafel, magic and dancing adds up to a fun Purim party. Today we threw on some costumes and joined our friends from Congregacion B'nei Israel here in Escazu. About 50 of us celebrated together, including a costume contest (With Carmen pulling the most votes for a third year in a row --this time as Effie Trinket.)
Marina got to be the assistant to Max el Magico as she helped him to levitate a table!
Soon after, one of the guys led us in a rousing round of Israeli dances. We really had a great time, and feel so fortunate to have found such a welcoming and amiable Jewish community right here in Costa Rica.
Marina got to be the assistant to Max el Magico as she helped him to levitate a table!
Soon after, one of the guys led us in a rousing round of Israeli dances. We really had a great time, and feel so fortunate to have found such a welcoming and amiable Jewish community right here in Costa Rica.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
CDS Goes Surfing at Playa Uvita/Ballena
What do you get when you pack forty eighth graders into tents, tell 'em to cook their own meals and clean up after themselves. Well, if you're on the beach in Costa Rica, you get a surprisingly good time!
Sure, we had to be in charge of large groups of Cards Against Humanity playin' 14 year olds, but the trip had its perks. Steve and I took our first couple of surfing lessons, and both of us managed to ride the curls (well, really, the foam) with confidence. What a rush. Totally radical, dudes. Hang 10!
When we weren't surfing or chaperoning adolescents for kitchen duty, we did some ocean kayaking and snorkeling in the Ballena National Park.
On the last day, we rafted on the Savegre River, normally a class 3, but during this dry period, a slow class 2. We spent quite a bit of time getting stuck on the rocks, but overall, a great time in a lovely cool river.
So much fun! More pictures to come...
Sure, we had to be in charge of large groups of Cards Against Humanity playin' 14 year olds, but the trip had its perks. Steve and I took our first couple of surfing lessons, and both of us managed to ride the curls (well, really, the foam) with confidence. What a rush. Totally radical, dudes. Hang 10!
When we weren't surfing or chaperoning adolescents for kitchen duty, we did some ocean kayaking and snorkeling in the Ballena National Park.
On the last day, we rafted on the Savegre River, normally a class 3, but during this dry period, a slow class 2. We spent quite a bit of time getting stuck on the rocks, but overall, a great time in a lovely cool river.
So much fun! More pictures to come...
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