Arrived in Monteverde

We arrived three days ago in Monteverde, Costa Rica, to spend the next seven months. We lived here previously in 2001-2005, when our boys attended the Cloud Forest School (CEC), and I was the Director of the school. We still have a house and cabin here, that had been rented through the school in our absence. Two and a half years have passed since our last visit, and we didn't think we would be coming back to live with a toddler, but here we are.

Our son Lev died suddenly of bacterial meningitis four years ago and our older son, Jaal, just graduated with him Master's in Environmental Studies. He and his girlfriend wanted to spend a year here on the mountain, and they invited us along. We figured out a way to make it work, since I wasn't back at work yet, and my husband, Tony's, job is flexible and just relies on good internet. Jaal and his girlfriend Melinda are already connected with a local plant biologist, running a non-profit called Pro-Nativas, which focuses on propagating and planting native plants in landscaping. This is the type of work that they are experienced in, but they are also looking for opportunities to work with bell birds, bird identification, bats, and other nature experiences. They might volunteer at the Cloud Forest School as well, but are currently enjoying not being in school or employed for the first time in their lives.

Tony is working part time, and I plan on volunteering part time at the school. In order to make that work, I'm looking for a part time nanny or day care for Liana, our two year old. I would also like her to learn Spanish and play with other kids, so some sort of care for a few hours a day makes sense.

We have a meeting set up with a nanny on Monday, someone who has cared for the children of three of our friends. A potluck at the Quaker school tomorrow, along with a plan to look at a car for sale, and on Wednesday I'll go to school to talk to the current director about volunteering opportunities. Curriculum and instruction is most likely where I will focus.

Our arrival was smooth, except for Liana's getting motion sickness. It was two four hour flights and a 2.5 hour car ride. A local taxi driver that we are friends with met us at the airport. Since Jaal arrived a few days before us, we had food and some basics in the house. He and Melinda are living in the cabin  next door, which has been fun for Liana and for us. After losing our younger son, we deeply appreciate being so close to Jaal and love watching him and Liana together. This was an opportunity we had to seize.

We have many friends here in Monteverde from the time when we were here before. It's a small town, 4,500 in the greater area and since I was a school director I was pretty well known around town.
We have about ten Costa Rican friends (Ticos) that are here, and five North American friends (Gringos), plus about twenty good acquaintances, so we won't be lonely. A couple of our friends have small children.

In our two days we have been dealing with grocery shopping, restoring internet after our last tenant took the router, and unpacking but have also been fortunate enough to have seen toucans, bell birds, blue morpho butterflies, and lots of interesting bugs and butterflies.

Jaal and Melinda have a Facebook page where they post photos and I will post photos here.