Settling In

Yesterday, our landlord stopped by as we were getting ready to head out on a day trip. “You might see monkeys soon,” he said. “Those bananas are getting ripe!” Moments later, just as Ethan had finished cutting down the big bunch of yellow bananas hanging in our carport and taking them inside, we saw movement in the trees. About a half dozen white faced monkeys arrived just a few minutes too late. They were not shy at all. One even leapt onto the roof of the carport and made its way up to the balcony off of our bedroom. The rest of the group hung out in the trees, playing, climbing, swinging. This was my second monkey sighting (though the boys seem to see them everyday), the first having taken place on the first Friday during dismissal on the high school campus. Howlers tarzanned above us through the trees. This doesn’t get old.

Regular wildlife interruptions are a key element of life here in Monteverde. We’ve been trying to keep tally with a little point system, but I think I’ve finally lost count: iguanas, pizotes, iguanas, agutis, armadillos; and Jude swears up and down that a quetzal has been regularly visiting the MFS campus. During homeroom last week, we heard the telltale sound of a window thump outside our cabina, so we hurried onto the balcony to tend to the stunned toucanet (thankfully, it eventually flew away on its own). Windows are dangerous here for birds. We’ll be adding some drawings or string to our windows to prevent any more accidents. This week outside the library, a white bat joined us while students browsed.

Back to school 

School started last Wednesday on August 18th and although we are only eight days into the school year, we are mostly settled into this new routine with only a few manageable bumps. Most every day, the boys walk to school with Ethan via the forest path that borders the Curi Cancha and Crandell Reserves; they clamber up the embankment next to our house and bush whack for about 50 yards until they get to the trail. I’ve been taking the car at least three days a week to the high school campus which is a little farther on towards Santa Elena. The wall-like, sweat-inducing final hill aside, the walk to school is beautiful and takes me through town, past the benches where people often gather to enjoy the sunset in the early evening, and over several pretty streams. Adjusting to school life has been mostly easy and joyful for everyone. I am loving getting to know my new students.

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I teach 4 sections of 7th through 12th grade students and they have all been remarkably adaptable to the protocols of in-person learning. Hand washing is prioritized here, as well as hand sanitizer, so each day the students make their way to their homerooms after washing up. at the cabina pila. We try to avoid any sharing of materials, but this first week for me has been full of book browsing, so in between perusing the giant piles of books I set out at a distance in our library cabina, students gelled up for safety. In the elementary school classrooms, Jude in 3rd/4th and Sol in Prepa (Kindergarten), the boys are spread out in their classroom with their own books and supplies to use. At recess, which is the most reported on, the boys play games of tag with pool noodles and “Pulpo” or “Octopus” using hula hoops (Jude let us know that here they are called “hula hulas”). The biggest play disappointment is that students are not allowed to play soccer due to social distancing, although they can have a pass or juggle the ball.

We’ve been lucky to find care for Sol, who only attends school for half days, as well as for Jude during after school hours while Ethan and I are still working. Sol’s wonderful teacher, who is also the former art teacher, along with her husband, have been caring for Jude and Sol after school Monday through Thursday. The boys take part in projects with Mariano’s tools using the wood from the downed cypress trees across the street; they also paint, cook, and climb the guayaba trees in the yard.

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Adventuring round up

On the weekend, we have begun to explore this incredible place. Between the past two weekends we have: visited local hot springs by foot and returning up the steep terrain on horse back; clambered down to a gorgeous 250 foot falls, la catarata arco de iris; explored the river behind our house in the Crandell Reserve; gotten to know a few more community members through the Saturday ultimate frisbee game; and zip-lined through the Cloud Forest canopy. Even Sol! Here are some highlights:

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