Work Update
This week at Centeno was quick; there were no classes on Wednesday so I went to work with Margie at the daycare in San Jose. I had a blast working with her little kids and dynamic staff. The day flew by because we were so busy! At my own site, I realized just how fast the rest of the school year will go. Next week is another short one, and the kids are done at the end of November. In fact, we started making Christmas ornaments this week...it's way early! Usually at home I hold off on the decorations until after Thanksgiving, but that's not exactly on the calendar here. Oh well.  Otherwise, I'm learning more and more about my students every day.  For example, I learned the hard way that Marco Diego is very protective of his desk area; if he moves stuff out of his space, don't mess with it. I made the mistake of trying to get him back to work, which ended up making him angry and landed me with a nice bruise from his very strong grip on my wrist. I've also proved my good reflexes with Joselyn who loves to eat paper and grab other students glasses;  you'd be impressed how quickly I jump up to intervene!

¿Como se llama usted?
I've officially given up resisting being called Carolina. Since 8th grade, when we were able to choose our Spanish names (I chose Chela and it stuck through high school), I have resisted the name Carolina because I think everyone will want to call me Caroline in English. Silly, I know, but after a lifetime of confusion, I like to clarify when I can. Even in Ecuador, I was donned "Caro" and it stuck. But after trying to introduce myself in vain as Carolyn, I've given in. Everyone here will call me Caroline anyway. I've tried to get Caro to stick again, but I think people at school think I'm saying Carol. Oy vey. I guess they can call me anything they want, as long as they don't call me late for dinner :)

Grammar Corner: In Costa Rica, the "usted" form is much more common than the less formal "tu" form that most of us learned in school. Like most of Central America, they also use the rare "vos" form; ever the grammar nerd, I'm determined to learn the conjugations for this new pronoun, but it's proving tricky because it's used so sporadically. Sometimes I just give up at "tutear" (use the tu form) anyway.

Bananas, anyone?
Well, the time has come. Our first batch of bananas has ripened! With the endless rain this week, we forgot to go out back to check on them daily so we probably let them go a day or two too long. But on Thursday night, we probably brought over 100 ready-to-eat bananas into our house. We froze about 5 dozen, portioned off a bunch to take to coworkers, and are enjoying the rest at home. If anyone has any good banana recipes, please send them my way!

Friday night in CR: chocolate, wine, and Gilmore Girls!