This weekend we all had our homestays with various families in Atenas. I lucked out and got to stay with a good friend of ours we'd seen a time or two down at Don Yayo's, Edwin. Expecting some kind of culture shock, it was different, sure, but in no way shocking.
It was practical. It was relaxing. It made sense.
Time was passed peacefully en el corredor (the porch), chatting with passerby's, 90% of whom were cousins. Life here is lived simply, but that is all that is needed for happiness. The afternoon was filled with lunch and then family time. Nieces, nephews, sisters and brothers filled the tiny green house. They were all very warm and accepting of me, letting the strange gringa muchacha hold the 10 day old Kimbley who was at Grandma's house for the first time. It was the youngest baby I've ever held, and with the most cameras on me in the process.
The evening included a trip to the horse parade, in which there is a rodeo, bar, dance floor, games and food. All of this is centered around the "parade" which entails a walk or march of los caballos por la calle. Horeses trot through the streets, cars still weaving through them and then back again, most of their owners drunk on their backs. All in all, great for people watching, seeing friends, and passing the time.
The night was flashy, full of neon lights and loud music, the discoteque in San Ramon called our names. We met up with Ronulfo and Allison and danced the night away. The best part about this discoteque? Soccer was on every tv, both games, Saprissa and La Liga, back to back. Costa Ricans know what's important.
Sunday included a nice sleep in after a long night. The morning was filled with spanglish and soccer with the neighbors. Then at 12:30 we headed to San Jose with some friends to catch a movie. The bus takes an hour but costs $1 each way. New York subways should take note. With no English Alice in Wonderland, we tried a different movie, "desde mi cielo" despite not knowing what it was about. It ended up being "The Lovely Bones" and it was a harsh lesson in language barriers, to say the least.
Returning to Edwin's house, I gave my parting gifts from home (Seattle Sounders gear) to his family. His mother said goodbye and gave me a long and warm hug, as if I was welcome any time, for the rest of my life.
Despite the heavy movie, the weekend ended with me comforted, knowing I had made a friend for life here in Costa Rica, and a family I can always come back to.
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