Rain, Rain, and More Rain....

I realize that it’s been ten days since I published my last post… I think the rain definitely brings down energy levels… It’s official- we are in the rainy season. Rob has turned to me frequently over the past few days and said, “It just doesn’t stop, does it?” We’re all coping but I am starting to think that I need to check Rob’s computer at the end of the day to make sure that it’s not filled with, “All work and no play makes Rob a dull boy.” I know I promised I wouldn’t talk about just the rain, so I’ll try to make this the last posting obsessing over it, but, for those of you who have never experienced a tropical rainy season, it’s pretty intense. Basically, we’re into the home stretch we’ve lost the warm, sunny mornings that fade into afternoon storms. For the next six weeks we will live in a world of gloomy grey where the sun will remain hidden behind the clouds. On lucky days, there will be a few hours without rain, but usually it’s always raining- somewhere on the spectrum between drizzle and monsoon with lightening. Similarly, our towels are never dry, just varying degrees of “less wet,” there’s mold on everything, creating an omnipresent aroma of mildew, and we’re usually cold.

So, the rain brings on reflection and I’ve been reminiscing about times past and missing both Berkeley and New York and our families and friends, while also having a great time here. On Friday night, what was supposed to be a few drinks after work turned into a marathon game of Pop Cranium with a massive amount of laughter and screaming. As the rain pelted down, I realized that there is something special about being with a group of friends who, while different in many ways, all share the rather unique fact of deciding to leave the states and teach in Central America. I definitely thought of my favorite quote of all time, from Mrs. Dalloway, “You want to say to each moment, stay, stay.” So, I guess I’m lucky that my biggest problem is that I’ve enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, my life so much that I want each moment to stay.

On Saturday night we went to a huge party at a board member’s house. Her husband is the president of the Monteverde Cheese Factory so we gorged on the cheese and pork products they produced. Then, on Sunday, we had some friends over for dinner and everyone was very impressed by Rob’s delicious recreation of New York Chinese Food (peanut noodles and sesame chicken and broccoli). Apparently, when it rains, we eat ☺