Peaceful week in San Jose

The last few days have been very peaceful (thank goodness). The students have settled in very well and are excited by their classes and internships, and are enjoying their homestays. Anthony and Amy have graduated to past tense and a new book in their Spanish class. Molly and Ruthie had a half day of school on Wednesday to the delight of all. Molly visited a friend's home for lunch, ping pong, and touring the compound; Ruthie came home for a well-deserved and entirely relaxing afternoon of reading on the couch. Anthony traipsed around San Jose looking for painting journals and what not for the family. His class has started now; it is called "Magic in the Land", and they are beginning by drawing and painting the beauty all around them. So in his usual way, he is integrating many senses and experiences and incorporating all of this with reading and thinking. Amy has discovered that she does not have to go to La Paz waterfalls to see hummingbirds on demand; the feeder at the institute turns out to be a favorite haunt, and so she likes to sit for a few minutes before class to watch them have almuerzo (lunch).

We also have been very interested in the goings on of the McCain-Palin ticket, and the Republican National Convention. What an interesting contrast between the two conventions!

Tomorrow Anthony and the students head out in the morning for the national park at Manuel Antonio; Amy, Ruthie, and Molly take the public bus there after school. The Lincoln School does not have the same attitude toward absences as Carolina Friends, and we had to write an extensive justification for every day our children would be away from school. Because there is public bus available in the evening, we did not have a good justification for missing the school day and spending one more day in the jungle and/or beach, alas. Watch for many photos early next week!