community circles

Monteverde is a community of different overlapping circles. Quaker families settled here more than fifty years ago and new Friends continue to arrive. Native Costa Rican families helped to teach the newcomers about local foods and welcomed their new neighbors. Some families still work on the surrounding farms, blending Tico and North American cultures. The school circle includes generations attending and teaching, residents, and seasonal visitors. There are artists circles. I joined the community choir.

Everyone has been kind and welcoming. I want to improve my Spanish and I am finding that most of my time is working at the school and preparing lessons. I make some effort in the evenings to read Spanish lessons.

The school pot-luck supper began with a teacher-parent meeting. All introductions and business was conducted in Spanish. I am able to understand most of the conversations. The parents and teachers have very warm relationships. We work together on committees and chat in the grocery store.

Younger children hold town meeting on Fridays and the older students have their own town meeting. I was very impressed by the maturity of two girls who conducted the town meeting I attended with my students. The girls who were clerking the meeting presented business items in Spanish and English. They clarified points and helped the group use consensus to reach a minute on the care and lending of playground balls. (soccer, basketball, football, etc.)

Last night I went to Heather and Annika´s house for supper. Their eldest son is in my class and his brother is in the 1st/2nd grade. Another family with two boys came for supper and play. The two older boys (both in my class) and the two younger boys (together in the 1st/2nd grade class) all played cheerfully before and after our meal. Their joyful noise flowing from the room by the kitchen reminded me of when my sons were young and happy to have friends visiting. I enjoyed the food and conversation and was happy to be invited. And I was happy to return to the peaceful quiet of my cabina pequeña.