We woke up early this morning and worked hard, so hard that we were able to leave the job site at three instead of four. It was a slow, but exciting day. We did a lot of concrete, which Buck was excited about because earlier this week everyone painted. Around ten or eleven, all the children started arriving. We made bracelets and colored. We had to set a limit for how many beads they could use, because some would use about twenty for only one bracelet, it was a very big deal for them when we told them they could only have nine. Once the bracelet excitement was over, all the boys came walking towards us all excited, and one had something in his hand. It was a baby parrot, and they explained how it had fallen from its nest and they didn’t want it to get eaten. We told them to put the baby back in the tree so that it wouldn’t die, and one boy climbed up the tree and put it back. The same child threw rocks at a dog earlier, so it was interesting to see him so sweet and gentle towards an animal.

Soccer seems to be the kid’s favorite game here; we have a “world cup” everyday, Costa Rica vs. the Americans. I hate to say it, but they seem to be much better than us, even the five year olds. There was always laughter going on today, from some children starting a paint war with Kelsey or Joseph swinging the younger kids on his arms. They always seemed to have cute little smiles on their faces. Even we were laughing, because even with a language barrier the kids are really funny and precious.

Once we got back to Earth University, it was pouring down rain. So instead of rushing inside to get dry, we played outside for a little while. We slid around in the mud and splashed in the puddles; I was even picked up by Ryan and Nick and dropped in a giant puddle. During the rain, I stopped and realized that even though I really miss my family and friends at home, we are also a family here and how nice it is to be together.

-Maddie D.