Sarah & Claire in Costa Rica - Entry #3

Last week presented a host of new opportunities as we began to find a routine, and a balance between helping in any way we can and avoiding encroaching on the lives of the La Carpio locals. We are also working on our tans in the hope that we will appear less like really pale “gringas.” Although we are with the kids in the Montessori School on a daily basis, we also find ourselves doing odd jobs in the community, since Gail reaches out to help anyone who needs it.

There is 8 year-old Angie who just completed her chemotherapy after losing her right arm to a cancerous tumour 2 months ago. Although it has been a short time since her operation, she is already doing very well, and appears to be managing to have a relatively normal childhood. Times ahead will remain challenging for her psychologically, as the entire experience has left her prone to periods in which she struggles to stay positive now that the adrenaline of basic survival has receded. We have attempted to brighten her surroundings, painting the walls of her backyard sky-blue with big white clouds. Angie’s resilience, honed at such a young age, is truly uplifting to both Claire and me – we hope that by giving her fluffy white clouds, bright colors, a playground in your backyard, and two new best friends we can help brighten even her toughest of days. Angie is now looking forward to her new prosthetic arm and being able to finally play with her siblings (who will move to La Carpio from Nicaragua as soon as Gail is able to send money to have their papers processed). Every day in La Carpio, Claire and I witness the powerful effects of the simplest of gestures.

Today, one of the teachers in the Montessori School named Estella (a single mother of five young children) was noticeably upset when she arrived at our door. At the first measure of circle time, the head teacher explained to the kids that some days we wake up and feel sad, and that is what had happened to Estella. Then she had all the children blow a small kiss (un besito) into a little box and give it to Estella while all 17 kids literally dog-piled her with hugs. The effect on everyone in the room, not the last of which on Estella, was incredibly emotional. It was an expression of love in its purest form, untainted by cynicism or mistrust.

We are slowly learning to live in Costa Rican style - “pura vida”; anything goes, and it’s all good!