July 2, 2010; different things

Hola, All!
Update on Mom: the last I heard she is moving into a retirement center, not sure when. In the meantime, my sisters have continued the process of cleaning out her home. It is a BIG job! We are starting to divy things up because she does have some nice things.

I thought today I would talk about how some things are different here in Monteverde than home. For instance, the shower head in Virginia´s house is directly overhead, so every day that I don´t wash my hair, I am doing the limbo trying to keep my hair from getting wet! (slight exaggeration!) Also, the way the shower works is that the hot water comes out first with the least amt of pressure. As you turn up the pressure, the water gets colder! Very intersting system, it makes you use less water if you want a hot shower.
On my bed there are 4 really thin blankets plus a sheet. It was different at first but now it makes sense because if I am only a little warm, then I just throw off one blanket.
Yesterday was the first day since I´ve been here that it didn´t rain in the afternoon. Today is another story. It is raining now and rains almost everyday this time of yr. Everything is so beautiful with lots of colors.
The food here is good but I don´t know how many times I can eat rice with beans without getting tired of it. For breakfast, instead of cereal, I have eaten rice with beans, fruit, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal. For lunch I go out with my friends and eat at a different restaurant everyday. It´s really amazing how many restaurants there are here for the number of people. For dinner, I have had fruit, salad, r & b, chicken once, and various vegetables. Virginia has been so kind to me. She makes me a cup of hot tea every morning, then something for breakfast that always includes fruit. For dinner she asks me everyday what time I want to eat, then has it ready. The second day I was here she asked me if I had any laundry. Of course I did- then she said to just drop it on the floor in my room everyday (I´m loving this!). On top of this, even though I have told her not to, she irons my clothes!!! Now I know what it feels like to have a maid! Thanks for all the comments and emails; it makes me feel like I am not so far from home.

Love you, chao for now,
Dawnie