Getting settled

¡Hola! All is well with la familia Forman thus far here in Costa Rica...

Our Spanish improves a tiny bit each day - that rate should increase when we start lessons. We found two schools for Claire - a "big kid/real" school that starts in August and a more daycare-like place (for kids 6 mos - 5 years) similar to her school in KC called Yimboré (sounds like Gymboree...hmm...) to get her through the summer. It's in Belén (Bethlehem in English), which is the neighboring village/neighborhood. The big one is the American International School, which is about two blocks from our condo. Very convenient, a great school, and it will give her more of a U.S.-style education while she still learns Spanish.

For us older kids, we didn't sign up for language classes for us in advance since we didn't know where we would be living, so the school we want is booked through May. It's called Intercultura and is in another neighboring 'burb called Heredia (air-EH-dee-ah) - about a 15 minute drive from us. We think we can start there in June so will take private lessons for a few hours a day until then - there's a school within walking distance where we can do that. For now, people have been very patient with our pidgin Spanish and gestures (especially with our cute companion, who charms everyone she meets).

The big adventures for this week will be getting Claire enrolled at Yimboré and buying a car - we've been renting one but need something more long-term. Driving here is crazy - it's like this:

LA driving + NYC driving - rules - street signs = San Jose driving

NOTHING is labeled, so you kind of have to know where you're going (which we don't). Forget about Google Maps - you get directions like: turn right towards Rte 1, take the first right, then the second left, then the fourth right... A recipe for getting lost. The best thing to do is ask someone for landmark-based directions and pray. Graham has been very brave tackling driving in a new country with our rented stick shift.

A few highlights from our first week here in pictures:

 Claire drew a kitty (out on the balcony of our old condo room) and we thought it was great so took a picture. (The sticker on the forehead is for going potty - she likes to decorate herself with stickers now. Forehead, chin, nose, all up her arms - she's like the tattooed preschooler.)

We're moving into the rainy season, which is as much "winter" as they see in Costa Rica - May to November. There are really only two seasons: wet and dry. Claire loved the opportunity to wear her new rain gear. (She has boots, too, but it wasn't that wet.) She's decided that she loves thunderstorms and hopes for one every day.

Claire's new favorite snack is by far Nutella on cold bread. (Mom & Dad prefer it on toast.) She cries when we say she can't have it for breakfast...that resolve might not last long.

This one's a bit grainy, but the mall near our condo has a carousel ("un carrusel") - Claire has already ridden it on two different occasions and is now an international carousel connoisseur.

 We switched condo units on Friday from a one bedroom to a two bedroom since we decided to stay in Cariari. Claire now has her own room with two twin beds and is VERY excited to finally have a big girl bed!

 One of the perks about our location is that the Cariari Country Club is basically our back yard. We had a day pass on Saturday so went to check it out. Claire loved the playground...

 ...and the pool with a water slide...

...and even tolerated a little swimming practice with Mommy. Graham also gave us a quick tennis lesson - their courts are great so we'll have to go back. 

Claire gets very focused on her art. Coloring is a new favorite. Note the arm stickers...

Oh, and Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! I had a lovely day with my family - we went to see "Winnie the Pooh" (dubbed in Spanish - we tried to see "Rio," but even though we had a ticket, the theater was full), Claire rode the carousel, Graham bought me some requested-and-much-needed new workout clothes, we had dinner at Ichiban, a yummy Japanese restaurant with great teriyaki (Claire downed two orders of eda mame - a favorite), and topped it off with tres conos regulares de helado de mora (three berry ice cream cones). So nice... =) We'll have to go back for "Rio" - movies for kids are a fun way to pick up some Spanish.

We have two mailing addresses if you need them - one physical for packages and things that would be sent via DHL or UPS, and one P.O. Box for regular mail. If you would like them, just let us know.

We're both on Skype, if you would ever like to chat - "mindeeforman" and "grahamlforman." Give us a call sometime!