More Family

It has surprised me how similar my new family in Costa Rica is to mine at home. I have a mother and father (Esperanza and Melvin) who married each other after previously being divorced with 2 kids from Melvin and 3 from Espe. So now, there are 5 kids (Natalie, Melany, Beatriz, Eduardo, Alonso) and me. And actually, both of the boys have the same name, but when the parents got married, they had to call one of them by their middle name... It is a cozy house, but everyone has their own room (about the size of Stine´s room) in a two story house right across from Lou. I can see everything that goes on in Lou´s house right from my window. And I watch. All day. All night... when he is not around. just kidding... All of the kids go to school with me except Melany who attends public school. Esperanza also joins us on the bus and is a kindergarden teacher at CEC. Melvin is a carpenter/ construction worker. TOBY is my favorite part of my new home. He is the little puppy who lives right outside and occasionally gets brought in to chew up the furniture and snap at our ankles. Today he tried to eat my book. and both my legs. So I am finally getting comfortable, and learning to use my excellent Spanish skills (thank you señora)... But it is much more difficult than I would have hoped, especially with English speaking kids in the house.

Miss you all! We will try to update once a week at least.

love,
rachel