Lessons before school starts

Wow! Hard to believe that we arrived two weeks ago yesterday! We are very much enjoying it here. Life is very calm compared to our time in the Dominican Republic. But then our classes haven't started yet.
We've had four days of orientation that we have enjoyed very much.
Other than the basics about school and classes, we've had interviews with various members of the staff so they can get to know us more personally...we're not just a student at their school. There have also been sessions on security, cultural awareness, if you're going to have a maid, and sexual and moral purity among others. The last one covered an entire morning and was very well done. Both joint session and small groups with married men, married women, single men and single ladies. pitfalls, warning signs, cultural, etc. The #2 reason missionaries leave the field is because of sexual immorality! Alot to think and pray about.
We have discovered that the school is very concerned that we do well with learning Spanish, but they are very concerned also that we *succeed* in other areas as well...both here and in our host country. The cultural training was very informative. First there was a skit done by the staff....funny and yet...! Then they had a panel of four Costa Ricans that are not teachers but have been involved with the school. One of the questions asked was "What do we do that you think is the most offensive?" Three answers given "That is not how we do it in the States"
and "We're Americans." --as if they aren't. Yes, they are from Costa Rica, but it is still part of the Americas...we are not the only ones who can call ourselves Americans. Third one was not to tell a native what is wrong with his country or make fun of his country. They may make fun or complain about their country, but it is their country...for us to complain or make fun of it is offensive. Sort of like, when you're little..you may call your brother all sorts of names and think nothing of it, but let someone else call him a name and you're ready to defend your brother to the death! Bob and I know we've been guilty of that in the DR, so we want to be much more careful of that.
Saturday we walked to the farmer's market with John and Katie, newlyweds (3 weeks) that live in our 3rd apartment (Tim and Evelyn in the 1st). After getting our fresh items, including homebaked corn bread for us! We walked to a restaurant and had breakfast...yummy! We will definitely be returning. Bob and I each ordered toast, as we weren't very hungry. Oh my! 8 slices per order of what I think was an egg bread..slices about the size of an English muffin, toasted with butter melted in....we brought almost a whole order home to reheat and enjoy!
That afternoon Sheila, who with her husband Dick are the Student Life Cor-ordinators at the school, dropped off a sewing machine in a cabinet for me to use while here!!!! YES!!!! Okay, so it hadn't been used in atleast 10 years, was dry as a desert, and missing bobbins. I have a sewing machine to use. I walked to the nearby fabric shop bought 3 bobbins, two half yard pieces of fabric and 3 spools of thread for less than $3. But nobody including the hardware store or auto store had any type of oil for a sewing machine 3-in-1 would have been nice to find.
So Bob suggested I call a cab and go to Hypermas (owned by Walmart!). Never having ventured out alone in a cab I was a little nervous. But he called the cab, I had my written instructions for our address (no one here has a street address...it's all by direction and location to other bldgs or landmarks. Ours is San Franciso dos Rios de Lys (antigua Unisys) 100 sur y 50 oeste, mano derecho, palmera al frente. Our 100 sur y 50 oeste refers to a Burger King that is now closed!)
Anyway, cab arrives I get in and proudly state, Hypermas, por favor. and then I realize he is asking "which one?" uh???? All I know is I it is nearby and I don't want to go to the Guadalupe location. So he takes off, but the route is NOT what I am used to...now we're by old facotry bldgs, back roads, etc. getting a little nervous and increasing my prayer life! Turns out I got to go to a Hypermas that Bob's never been to! I went to the Sebastian location. Since then I found out there are a total of 4 locations! who knew? But I made it there, enjoyed my time out, got what I needed to clean, disassemble parts of the sewing machine, oil, etc, hailed a taxi at the front door and gave him the first part of our directions home. When it got closer I just handed him my handwritten directions (I wasn't taking any chances of saying it wrong!)
Tim and Evelyn arrived yesterday and after a very heavy rainstorm, we hailed a taxi and went to a restaurant, we could have walked but it was a little far for my ankles, which decided to act up yesterday and start aching. A total of two tables in this little restaurant...but the food!!!! huge plate of barbq chops, rice, black beans, salad, red cabbage with diced apples, broccoli and fresh mango nectar for $3!
I'm giving up cooking...restaurants are too inexpensive and they're all great cooks!
Better go...first day of classes start in 45 minutes. Please pray for us and write...would love to hear from YOU!