19/1/2011

9:04am

After finishing breakfast, I decided I'd do what I usually do when I have nothing to do at home: write. About nothing in particular, just some observations...

The coffee here is incredible. I've gone from only drinking mocha's from an espresso machine to drinking black coffee straight from the pot, with only one and a half sugars at most. It's just so smooth and delicious, not at all bitter like some of the coffee back home. I think I'm either going to have to stop drinking coffee, or start importing my own beans from Costa Rica. I've been having 3 or 4 cups a day here, on average, so quitting may not be a viable option.

The second day of working with kids was also a great experience. Personally, I wouldn't ever say I was great with kids. Most of the time my life is anything but PG rated, and I'm not the first to say that kids these days just aren't as nice and cute and they used to be. They grow up so fast. Half of them are at where I am (in various ways of life experience), at 19, when they're barely 13.

But these kids, for the most part, are different. Maybe it's the foreign culture, or maybe it's the isolation of the town, but these kids really appreciate your time and effort, and the simple act of drawing a lion mask on cardboard for them to paint and decorate brings a smile to their faces that I wouldn't believe if I didn't see it myself. Maybe there are kids like that at home and I've just never taken the time to interact with them, but it still feels different for me.

Judging form that, and my entry last night, I can see my thoughts are getting all sappy and sentimental (I blame this on the fact that I'm reading Dear John in my spare time). And I don't mean to sound like a walking billboard for any volunteer company, but I'm starting to see the effect our presence has on these people, and it's become quite the experience I'll never forget. Sure, I did have about 7 dreams last night, all of scenarios about home (and I'll admit, each time I felt a little disappointed they were only dreams) but in the bigger picture, I'm glad I'm here, because it really is turning out to be an unforgettable experience.