Sunday, Dec. 6. 2009
Today I have a bit of a hangover. Another birthday party last night and my new hosts were very successful in never allowing my glass to be empty. I told them I like Pilsen and they made sure I had many. Felt like college again! I don’t usually drink that much (beer that is!)
We arrived here yesterday afternoon. I really do not even know where we are, except to say we are between Aguas Zarcas and Quesada and our house is on the same street as the prison. The accommodations are not bad, but certainly a different standard than most Americans would find acceptable. My threadbare sheets on my single mattress are a combination of floral and 101 Dalmations with a VERY pink satin Asian theme comforter with pagodas. We have separate entrances from the house and a Jack and Jill bathroom that connects this rooms, so it is comfortable. I miss having a little kitchenette and certainly will go a little crazy without wifi, but that I s part of the adventure!
What a different way of living! I am not allowing Jaxon to use his iPod touch because we cannot charge it and I need the translator on it for emergencies. We do not have a TV and there is no internet service. This should be a reality TV show for Americans and their kids! Maybe I should pitch that idea? Like a Wife Swap, but instead have whole families swap lives in a different culture for a week. It would be a hit. Anyone have any connections in Hollywood? I want to do this!
We begin working at the zoo on Monday.. We had a chance to go and walk through it yesterday. Some of it is nice and some of it is very sad. Many of the big cats do not have adequate accommodations – small cinder block cages maybe 10’ x 10’. And neither do the spider monkeys and the parrots. How do I tell them that without sounding judgmental or rude? What could be done to fix it? Throughout the zoo are messages in Spanish and English about conservation and environmentalism, which I think are good. I think most of the animals they have here were obtained from a bad situation (so rescued) and I think they release some that are able to be released, but not many. I think! Again I need to clarify that.
Well, today is Sunday and it is raining (surprise!), but I am sure will pass. I need to get up and shower and make an appearance in the main house for breakfast, lest my hosts think I am dead in here. Feeling a bit fuzzy, like I stubbed my head. Today we do not work, so we may go to the local pool and maybe up to the hot springs that are pretty near by.
Oh - last night Jaxon was hilarious at the party. The lights went out for about a half and hour (no one knows why!) This was a big party with loud music, tons of food about 50 people, etc. We were sitting in the kitchen making strained conversation and Jaxon suggested that there was a guy upstairs that was riding a bike to make the electricity for the lights and that maybe he fell off or had one to many cervesas! I almost fell off my stool laughing. Funny boy!
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I have visited zoos in a few different countries, and with the exception of Austrailia, they were all pretty sad. You ask what could be done? Money, and that is something many of these countries do not have. What money they do have needs to be spent elsewhere. It is sad, but you are pro'ly right when you said most of these animals were rescued. The alternative to the zoo would pro'ly be worse. Sounds like you guys are having another great adventure!!
ReplyDeleteLove ya