Little Highlights in an otherwise still difficult everyday life

A highlight was the FaceTime with our children and grandchildren in Germany and Switzerland on Sunday. It always feels good. Fin (4 years old) is still fascinated that it is day here while it is already dark there when we call.

The evening service was also very nice. The German ambassador was there with his wife, and afterwards we sat together and exchanged views. He had also been an ambassador in Santiago de Chile before.

On Monday, the second choir rehearsal took place, which was a lot of fun again. A few more people joined us.

Wednesday, 5.11.: I'm enjoying the sun after a completely rainy day. And on that very day (yesterday), we went to Cartago (former capital, 1500 m high). An hour's drive, a lot of traffic (the roads are usually always full), bad roads, a lot of rain. In Cartago, we first went to a café to warm up, and then we looked at the famous cathedral. Then it was back into the dense traffic. We could have saved ourselves the whole trip.

On Tuesday evening, we were at the Museo de Arte for a song evening with two soloists who performed German Romantic songs. This evening was organized by the German Embassy.

Martin met in the morning with a young pastor who works here in the local church. They prepared the devotion that is supposed to take place at the Intercontinental Hotel at the end of November, in connection with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

We have been enjoying the sun for two days. Before that, it was cold, rainy, and dark. We also had to organize blankets since the thin ones were not sufficient. I keep reaching my limits, as the extreme traffic, the honking, and the driving with revving engines, especially at night – it seems like the motorcyclists have a race at night because the traffic is less dense then – is hardly bearable. Lima was nothing compared to this. While I write here, the dogs on the street have been barking for at least half an hour.

We have had workers in the house for hours because there are leaks in the community hall that is under my bathroom. I asked one, who also works as a taxi driver, how far it is to the coast. It takes between 1.5 and 4.5 hours to get there.

Thursday, 6.11.: Today, a lot of sunshine. In the morning, I crafted with two women for the Advent bazaar; you also learn a lot about life here, the customs. One is from Colombia/Bogotá and married to a German, the other is German and married to a Tico (Costa Rican). We have just returned from a visit to a church member; she has also lived here for over 20 years and is married to a Tico as well. Her children went to the German school here, and her daughter just graduated from high school. The monthly school fee at the Humboldt School is 1000 euros per student. Additionally, there are costs for meals and possibly the school bus. She took her children to school and had to leave by 6:00 AM (due to heavy traffic), as school starts here at 7:30 AM. And in the afternoon, the same thing happened again. By the way, the American school costs 2000 $ per month.

Yesterday was the first church council meeting, where we were also asked how we have settled in here. I reported on the constant stress from the extreme noise, but there isn't really a solution. If necessary, I will have to move to the empty dining room, as it is a bit quieter there. Now I nailed a blanket in front of the window and will set up a fan as well. I only know that I would never have committed to this time here if I had known that beforehand. But I still have hope that I will get more accustomed to it. During the day, I can somewhat cope with it, even with all the provisional things we are living in. And the contacts with the people are simply very good. I am amazed at how many I am already in (WhatsApp) contact with here.