The El Yaz Elementary School is one of the schools we work with as part of our La Flor project. Because we didn't have enough volunteers this week, Isaac, the Director of our Central Valley projects, went to the 4th grade to teach so we wouldn't miss any classes. While there, he asked them to do an art project explaining to future volunteers why they wanted to learn English.

Click here to see the photo album where you can see adorable pictures of the kids holding up pieces of paper on which they drew pictures and wrote explanations to potential future volunteers the reasons why they really want to learn English.

Answers varied from their wanting to learn English so they could teach their brother's and sister's to their wanting to understand the lyrics of songs. But the most common answer was that they wanted to be able to find a good job when they grew up.

We really find that nearly all the kids we work with are excited about learning and they take their time with us very seriously. As a matter-of-fact, nearly all of the kids continue to attend classes even during their vacations.

Just a little Friday morning bit of useless info: Rabbits cannot vomit, but it was discovered on a space mission that a frog can throw up. The frog throws up it's stomach first, so the stomach is dangling out of it's mouth. Then the frog uses its forearms to dig out all of the stomach's contents and then swallows the stomach back down again. No wonder I like rabbits so much better!

As you already know, there is no separation of Church and State in Costa Rica. The Catholic Church has a lot of say in what happens in this country. This is from the level of school children having to pray in school and being surrounded by religious icons and statues to the hand the Church plays in approving what is taught in schools.

Back in 1993 the Church rejected the sex education textbook that was to be used in the schools here, forcing the removal of photos, diagrams, and info about birth control. God forbid we actually talk about something to help these sexually active kids prevent some of the 19,000 annual teenage pregnancies!

I’ve hear that current president, Oscar Arias criticized the Church’s position on birth control during a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI back in June. Not that it’ll do any good, but I’m glad he was willing to speak his mind anyhow.

To me it’s sad to see any church have such a strong influence over politics and general education. I wonder what Jewish and Muslim parents think about having to follow such guidelines for their children in schools here?

Who doesn’t like orchids? Really, they are just amazing flowers. I wanted to let you know about an Orchid and Tropical Plant Presentation coming up on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 from 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. There will be a Social Hour  from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. The location for this event is Posada El Quijote in Escazu. The best part…it’s free!

The variety of orchids and their care, along with a presentation of other tropical plants. will be discussed. The presentation will be led by Cristiana, owner of the nursery Vivero Floraventura near the Multiplaza in Escazu. Orchids will be on display with some available between 2500 and 4000 colones. Attendees are really encouraged to bring a healthy orchid or orchid in need of care to share in the discussion. Information on care and growing of other tropical plants will be provided.

Furthermore, the National Expo on Orchids will be held in San Jose the second week of March. Our orchid presentation should assist in knowing more about what you will see at the National Expo.

The months of March and April are also when orchids are most on display at Lancaster Gardens, just outside of Cartago. Lancaster also displays hundreds of bromeliads too.  The labyrinthine gardens are run by the biology department of the University of Costa Rica.

Orchids bloom all year and many communities have their own orchid society  and shows. Alajuela this year will be having their show at the Institute of Alajuela between October 6 and 8 from 9-3 p.m. daily.

For further information contact Pat Bliss at 289-8638 or e-mail her. She’ll be able to send you a map and directions for Posada el Quijote.

I ran into a course yesterday that teaches the same principles I do. Basically, the course promises to help you learn to attract money (and anything else you want) into your life. Much of it is based on quantum physics, which says:

• Everything in this Universe - even that which appears to be empty space - is Energy. That includes you, me, the dog, and even (and especially) your thoughts and feelings. You know...atoms, molecules, subatomic particles...that kind of "quantum stuff."

• All Energy vibrates at a certain frequency. Depending on the rate of the frequency, we experience Energy in different ways.

• When something vibrates at a certain frequency, it naturally resonates with and ATTRACTS things with the same frequency.

Therefore, it’s saying that what you believe is true already. The course works in very much the same way I do with my clients on re-programming the limiting beliefs we’ve developed.

The course also teaches us that WE are the cause of everything that does – or does not – happen to us. Our full “happiness potential” lies within each of us.

It’s really worth your checking out here.