School progress and termales

Third try was a charm, and we found the school director at school today.  After some challenging conversation, Nik was able to understand that we needed to bring 2 copies of each report card and email them as pdf files (again).  Our kids will be starting school tomorrow!  Henry and Sullivan will go to the morning session, and Madeleine will go in the afternoon.  The kids do not need school uniforms and books right away, so we will probably get those next week.  While Nik was trying to understand the school director’s lightening-speed Spanish, I talked briefly with a boy who was waiting outside the office for the director.  He is from Montana and started school here last year.  He was interested to hear that our kids would be starting school here too.  He’s in 5th grade and knew a bit of Spanish when he started.  Alas, I did not have time to pump him for more info.  

We left feeling a little shaky and nervous (at least the kids and I were), but we are excited to be making progress and for the kids to get a couple of days of school under their belts this week.  (Or get the agonizing first day over with!)  We shopped for some snacks afterwards, and I had no problem with Madeleine and Henry picking out some comfort junk food.  

To decompress and celebrate the kids’ last day of freedom, we drove 45 minutes to Termales Los Laureles, near La Fortuna, and spent the afternoon soaking in varying temperature pools, heated by Volcan Arenal that loomed in the near distance.  We met up with some Portland friends of friends, the Murphys, who are spending 2 months in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  Their son Simon, along with Madeleine and Henry and the braver adults among us enjoyed the water slide into the “cold” pool.  Los Laureles is refreshingly non-touristy and relatively inexpensive ($38 for our family for the day).  

Termales Los Laureles with Volcan Arenal in the background

Good news/ bad news

Enjoying the sun with Lori and Christophe.  

Henry demonstrates one of the pools

We spent a lot of time today trying to ease our kids' fears and anxieties about school.  I think that Nik and I had some darn good advice, but I am not sure how much of it sank in.  It is hard to see our children feeling stressed, but we are confident that everything really will be ok.  Still, not easy.  Nothing worthwhile is easy?  

Sullivan did share a secret with Nik and me… (shhh)… he is excited for school.  

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