Cultural Stuff

We just had a small party to celebrate the completion of the water tank. I love how Costa Rica functions. I get woken up at 6:45am to be informed that there is a meeting the same day at 2pm. I have to change my entire day around. It literally throws me into an all day jam packed schedule, which I like, just wasn’t expecting. I get to the meeting at 2 and of course it’s not a real meeting. It’s a party with Johnny Walker Red Label, boiled green bananas, yucca, salad, chicharron, and of course Coke. It’s not a party unless you have coke. We are celebrating the completion of the new water tank and the Vice President of the local water maintenance agency will be here soon with the guy who helped over see the builders. I love how small town groups work. Then, after two hours my mind starts drifting, as it often does at parties. I start to wonder… How on earth can the VP just take 3-4hours out of her work day to come hang out and eat with us, a small town group of 7 members? Does this happen in the states at all? I am not educated on business in the U.S, but I like that is happens here. It made me smile.
Then, I leave the “meeting” to go have “coffee” at an elderly couple’s house who I know very well. I show up 20 minutes late and have to leave within 15 minutes to get to English class. That just illustrates the type of day it is. I also had to call that morning to say I couldn’t make it at 3 but more like 5. Well, two things culturally interesting happen here. First, I don’t drink coffee and the entire population of my two towns knows this. However, it is there cultural duty, no matter where I go, to joke about this for a good 5-10 minutes. No lie. While we are joking about my disgust of coffee they are also calling me an ugly little girl. A normal person may get upset but I understand the culture and am very flattered. You see, only pretty girls get called ugly to their faces. Maybe it’s a way to knock them down a few notches. In case you don’t believe me the old grandpa reassured me as I was leaving that he was just joking. Now my favorite part about this is that it was their first time joking about me being “ugly.” It is also the first time they have seen me in two months, with make-up on, and much heavier. To them, heavier is healthier, and healthy is pretty. Now don’t think I got out of there without eating and drinking something, that would be rude.
Next I walk down to English. I get there on time but the woman’s group calls an emergency meeting. For 20 minutes (I was checking my watch) of class time mind you, we made five major decisions. I am very proud of the woman’s group and how they have been working to better educate themselves. So the decisions… The second class of the candle making course was postponed, as well as English class, for two weeks in order to make way for the 44 hour government certified small business course. I am going to have a busy two weeks. I was about to start my class when the president of the community group shows up and gives me an announcement to read and then directions for a meeting Friday night and what I need to say, insane. I was then able to start English class.
Finally class is over and I go to my rides house. Yes, I finally have a ride home. You know a town cares about you when they hold a meeting in one group to solicit another group to figure out the transportation of the volunteer. They don’t want me walking home alone on the highway at night. I am truly touched and grateful they are looking out for me. Also, this makes the family at home happy as well. I know it is the best thing for my safety and this is why I have not fought it. The truth is that is makes me feel a little uncomfortable. I like to arrive home safe and quick but who knows what these poor people are paying my chauffeur. I used to walk up the hill with my students. Now I feel silly to tell them, “You go ahead, I have a ride.” Also, I am missing some much needed exercise. Even though it is awkward and I miss out on conversation it is definitely for the best. It also brings me to the last cultural points of the day. One is small and cute and the other just so simple.
First, the man who drives me home never, ever, drives me home alone. His son’s take turns riding with him. That way, a married man is not seen alone with a woman who is not his wife. I also sit in the back to make it perfectly clear.
Second, culturally it is expected to start a conversation discussing the weather. Believe me, I tried to skip that step and I was greeted with silence. The old schoolers will hear nothing else.