Trip to my rural family and Sunday con La Abuela Interesante

February 25, 2007
I finally arrived at the bus stop. I’m sure I prayed for God to spare my life a little longer at least 3 times on the way over here in the taxi. I’ve got two big duffel bags to stress and worry about where there will be space for them and if anyone will try to nick them, until I meet up with my new host mother Doña Maria Eugenia at the bus stop.
Restaurant Fuxing, Chinese I assume, stares ate me from across the parada, mockingly as I sit here trying to calm the rapids that seem to be coursing through my veins. I am lucky though. My bus stop is separate from the main bus stop, cleverly named the Coca Cola, where transvestites cart around strollers full of trick dogs that will pray a rosary, tourists are constantly dodging red flashes called taxis and anyone with any sense is guarding their possessions with the vigilance of a British Knight.
By some miracle, or the grace of God, where I planted myself on the sidewalk with my load happened to be the front of the line for the 9:00 bus. It could have been fear that persuaded the Ticos to let me on the bus first, or maybe sheer awe at the mass that I was carting with me to this tiny mountain town called Grecia. I stored my stuff securely in the storage beneath the bus ( I was the only one storing stuff) and boarded.
As the bus began to move my heart lightened a little, a vendor climbed on the bus, selling his wares: hand-crafted wooden bracelets and leather wallets that had the Nike swoosh engraved on them. The fresh air that brushes past my face through the open window soothes me. And so begins my next two months in Costa Rica.
I met up with my host mother at the bus stop and she tells me we’re going to her mother’s house in Sarchí. She wanted to know if it was okay if I brought my stuff to her house and then take it to our house in San Luis later. I think the look I gave her must have been pathetic, even though I agreed to take the stuff over there, because after we waited at the bus stop for a while, she offered that we could take a taxi to her house. I was mightily relieved.
Later at her moms house: Boring and crazy at the same time. I thought at first it might be rude to journal about her mother but she’s quite the character! The “grandma” made it clear that I was not something she saw normally in her life or ever for that matter. When I was first introduced to her she was napping, her leg detached and propped up next to the bed. We all ended up napping in one place or another, because it was too hot to do anything else. Me out on the porch, where at least the breeze could cool me off a little. Later when she got up and came out, she decided to keep an eye on me in case I tried anything funny, and though she didn’t talk much anyway, definitely would not talk to me! But every once in a while she’d slam her hand on the table, or pop her dentures out at me or tap my nalgene with her spoon. I thought I might be a little crazy too if I lived by myself and had nothing to do but watch telenovelas (soap operas).

I had a dream last night about school next year, living with Paul, Jacob, and Sean. I dreamed our house had a large auditorium in it and we could invite a ton of people over to watch movies. The boys were leaving and Jacob handed me his beer, saying hey do you want this, I don’t want to take it with, and Megan, make sure you don’t go anywhere k? I can’t remember the rest.