esperanza

I love some of the spanish noun endings. For example: esperanza (hope), belleza (beauty), naturaleza (natue). It's that "eza" sound that is so pretty. And I love the "be" (it's not pronouced "bee", it's more like "bay") sound. It's a beautiful language.

And today I have learned a lot about it. Almost all of the ISA students and ELAP participants are in Monte Verde for the weekend. I'm glad that I didn't plan on going, because I don't think I could have considering what happened this week. I'm assuming everyone who reads this blog knows what happened so I won't go into detail. I'll just say that I was robbed at gunpoint and it was very scarey. I was very lucky and blessed in that he did not hurt me or touch me at all. What he took were just things, and he could have done more.

But it has been hard to heal. I would not begin to say that I have healed from the incident. It happened on Thursday, and is still so fresh in my mind. But today, for the first time, I had conviction. I woke up with a sense of strength and purpose. I do not think that I should leave Costa Rica. It's going to be hard to stay--hard and lonely, but I think it will be worth it. There is still so much to see and so much to do in Costa Rica. What happened opened my eyes to the fact that I AM in a different country, and more, in that country's capital! I feel like I am more alert now.

But with the alertness comes fear. I am very afraid of any men I see passing. I am blessed in that I no longer am going to be walking anywhere by myself. It is very easy to take a taxi here, so I plan on doing that for everywhere I go. My Mama Tica has also offered to walk with me, which I appreciate.

And my friends and family have been wonderfully supportive as well. Ty and Glen owned the internet in trying to figure out who robbed me...and though I don't think they had much success, it was the thought. Terri e-mailed and called me whenever I needed it (which I needed a lot), and I was surpised by how much other people have cared as well. All of which I couldn't be more grateful for.

My tica family has been amazing. I spent a good part of this afternoon with Angie. She gave me a manicure.

I don't think you can really see it very well in this picture. Oh well. My hand is facing the small garden in the back of the house.

Both Angie and Wendy invited me to go with them to watch the game. I decided to go with Wendy, because I had met the people she was hanging out with before, and really liked them. And Angy was going to a bar, and I didn't really want to do that.

So I went with Wendy and had a great time. We went to her choir practice (OMG they sounded amazing!) and then over to one of her friend's house to watch the game. So far, it seems like futbol is an excuse for people to come together. Don't get me wrong, the men watched the game, but the women sat in the kitchen and talked. I had my first cup of Costa Rican coffee...which was good with milk and sugar. One of the girls there I had met before when I went with Wendy to her bible study last monday. Her name is Maricela, and she is so awesome! She and her husband both know english, so I am able to help them with their english as they help me with their spanish. But they were very welcoming and friendly to me. Maricela bought me ice cream when we went to the mall. She's so nice...because I feel like she takes care of me, but at the same time, is my friend. Oh man the mall. Well--it was big and full of stupid american clothing stores. It's frustrating because I want to get people things from Costa Rica that they couldn't get from a mall back home. I am also beginning to realize how even if Americans rose up against these comercial chains, it wouldn't matter since they are all over the world.

A sad thought.

BUT probably the most exciting thing of the day is that I found out that Maricela and Allen (her husband) offered to take me to see one of the Volcanos in Costa Rica! Let for a whole weekend! Evidently Maricela told me this directly, but I did not understand. OMG! I am so excited!

I can not express how blessed I have been. What happened was horrible, but people I do not really know have come together to support me. So, do not let what happened to me trouble you, because for this one bad act, several people have made good out of it.

Here is a picture of the mountains. The clouds around them are always changing.