It’s 9:33 a.m. I’ve already walked 7695 steps and heard an oropendola today. I also spotted a centipede (or millipede?) that might be venemous.  It was being harassed by an ant and was trying to get away from it.

 

ENGLISH LESSONS

 

This afternoon Jon and I will be in Sarchi’ helping advanced Tico students practice their English language verbal communication and listening skills.  Next week we’ll be doing the same with first year English students, but not on the same weekday. I’m very much looking forward to both sessions.

 

MY THIRD SOLO BUS RIDE

 

At noon I need to be at the bus stop on Calle Los Angeles to catch a ride to the pulperia de virgencita where Jon and Franscisco will collect me to take me the rest of the way to Sarchi’.  I want to be sure to get to their pickup spot by 1:15 so I’m leaving an hour early because I don’t know exactly when the bus will arrive at my bus stop.  (I could have Marianela drive me to the rendezvous point, but I need to get used to riding the bus. It’s considerably less expensive.)

 

During my walk this morning, it rained briefly. It wasn’t a problem because I had brought my unbrella along.

 

Luz and Noellia walked some of the route with me again, too 

 

When I inquired, Luz reminded me of her next door neighbors’ names again — Homer, one of her cousins — and Javier. I want to remember everybody’s name on this calle so I can greet them personally whenever I see them.

 

Luz and I were able to have a more extensive conversation today because I know more Spanish now. I asked if there are venemous snakes here in this neighborhood (I know there are boa constrictors, although I haven’t seen any).  She said yes, but they are in the “bosque” (forest/jungle) and usually higher up in the trees.  They don’t hang around on the calle where people routinely walk and drive.

 

I showed Luz a photo of Charli and told her that I keep her indoors at night, when the predators (snakes, pumas, ocelots, margays, oncillas, jaguarundis, coyotes, etc) are hunting. There are a lot of domestic cats around here that I see during the day, none the worse for wear for having lived here a lot longer than Charli and I have.

 

Magnificent Malinois Meeting

 

I also spotted a gorgeous Belgian Malinois at the end of Calle Esteban Salas.  He waited for me as I approched the driveway on which he was standing, wagging his tail slowly.

 

When I got closer, I stopped entirely and said hello. He approached me, tail still wagging, and checked me out — waist to toes — with his nose. Then he circled me a couple times and then nosed my hand, so I petted him and said, “You are a beautiful baby!”  (NOT a baby!)  I has seen him in his owner’s vehicle — and briefly met the owner — on an earlier date, so I knew they are English speaking folks. That’s why I spoke English to the dog.

 

Usually when I see dogs, I say, “Hola,  perro!” , “Venga!”” or something else in Spanish. I’m intent on thinking and speaking Spanish routinely. That’s why I’m having an easier time of it when I actually need to interact with Ticos. I want it to become habitual to speak Spanish.  In fact, I do it even when I know the person I’m interacting with speaks English.  This way, if/when I mess up in any way, they can correct me on the spot.

 

For example, this morning when I asked Luz about poisonous snakes at this altitude, I used the term “serpientes tóxico”. She corrected me with “serpientes venemosa.”  The term “venomous” had evaded me at the moment, but I knew that tóxico was close enough that she would know what I meant. So, I can usually find another word that hints at what I mean so the person I’m chatting with can correct me by offering the most appropriate word.

 

It’s a process!

 

Update

 

The afternoon outing was wonderful.  Jon and I interviewed Tico and Tica students (in English) and then rated them on their skills in their developing second language.  They did very well for the most part. One or two of them froze up due to nerves, but that was to be expected. The teacher, Mauricio, told me that those who did are better than they appeared to be today.

 

After we interviewed them (Jon took seven or eight and I took seven or eight), the tables were turned and the students asked us questions, which was a lot of fun. I look forward to doing this with less advanced students next week and any other time Mauricio needs volunteers to do this again for his future classes.

 

Here are a few images from the event:

Jon, Mauricio

Jon and me with the class…

Jon and me being questioned by the students

Background: Mauricio and Jon

Students on both sides of the table

Jon interviewing a student

 

Before the event started, Jon stopped at a store in Sarchi so I could buy a huge 44-pound bag of cat litter.  He bought me a 12-pack of toilet paper earlier in the day, too, so I won’t have to try to get them on a bus, thankfully.

 

BIG SURPRISE FROM FRANCISCO

 

The big surprise today was that Francisco painted a portrait of a motmot bird just for me, which Jon delivered the moment I entered his vehicle.  I was floored.

 

It is splendid.  This image doesn’t do it justice…

 

 

Jon and Francisco are absolute treasures.

I feel so blessed — and beyond fortunate — to know them.