Day 9

Just a few of the rabbits

Holding the young rabbits while we cleaned the cages

Nursing kid

One of the two pet guinea pigs

All the animal stalls were cleaned today: goat, rabbits, chicks, sheep, more sheep, chickens and more chickens.  It went much more quickly this time because we already knew what to do.  Working as a team of rakers, shovelers, scrapers, wheel barrowers, we even had time to learn more about the resident worker and his son.  I always think that being able to speak with a child in his native tongue in another language is a step towards learning that language.  This boy was very helpful and patient with me as we discussed soccer (futball) and tools in the work shed.  I feel like my mind is reaching a saturation point.  I'm not sure if I can learn anymore this trip, but it's been a long day.

Rose loves the goats

Bamboo truck

Today was also the day we worked on Samuel's truck.  It is ready for use, and Samuel is delighted with it.  Jacob and Rose enjoyed using a grinding wheel to polish and shape the wheels and I finally developed enough courage to use the table saw to cut axles from a scrap piece of some type of dark brown wood.

I guess that means he likes it!

The Finale for the day was a Communal Dinner, something which occurs weekly here.  Despite the downpour, people came to the potluck dinner for the socializing as well as eating.  It shouldn't surprise me that the guests were primarily of European, United States or Australian origin.  Germany, England, Spain, Utah, California, New Hampshire (us), and Australia were all represented.  All told, about 15 adults and 12 children.  The children all played hide-and-seek, and card games, and the adults all talked about a range of topics.  The evening was begun with a circle of gratitude lasting about one minute.  The food was all local and varied:  beans, squash, yucca, potatoes, salad, rice pudding, string beans, chickens from the farm, sprouts, pineapple.  Conversation topics included elements important to consider when choosing property here in Costa Rica such as 2 water sources, 2 roads in, elevation variations, considering what was on the higher pieces of elevation that might lead to contamination of the lower pieces, the condition of the earth for planting, etc. Another topic which seemed to be the hot topic was the varying levels of awareness people have for the real meaning of life, and the recognition that this "is all an illusion. and things will be drastically changing in the near future.  It's all Love.  Don't feed the Fear. "

The reasons for vegetarianism were also discussed and the general concensus was that people should be part of the killing process in some way.  The slaughtering of a bull at a nearby settlement was described in detail from the shamanic journey to the animal, and the love the meat has bestowed upon them.  It all reminded me of a scene from the movie Apocalypse Now.  Very fitting for this setting.

We were also invited to go on a walk at 5AM in a couple of days.  I'm looking forward to that.