Hola is Over

At the airport of Dallas and Fort Worth while re-entering the United States from Costa Rica, I greeted the customs officer with a cheery "¡Hola!" After seven weeks of depending on my knowledge of Spanish as a matter of survival, I am not sure of the reason I said it if not to prolong the immersion experience.

"Hola is over," the officer responded, and then informing me of my mistake he states: "you just said "hola" when you came up to the counter. There is no more of that here." It was rather funny to hear a statement like that from a United States customs officer with a thick Texas drawl.

So, now that hola is over...

I am recovering from a urinary infection (contracted in Costa Rica and worsened by the long international flight where only terrorists have liquids). The water in our home faucet is foreign to me - it tastes of putrid minerals and I don't want to drink it. I miss drinking the water in Costa Rica, soft and smooth. I'm sure I will get accustomed to our water here in no time.

I am enjoying the quietness of our peaceful mountain home and taking some time to catch up on my life here in Colorado. Our cats, Toss and Bell, are in good spirits. They are running about in the yard eating grass and chasing chipmunks.

Dusty was promoted to manager within Sam's Club and will report to Idaho Falls this weekend to begin training. When the training is over, in about 10 weeks, he will probably be working at a club somewhere in Utah for 18 months. I have decided to stay here in Colorado and continue classes at the university, since I am so close to completing my B.A. in Anthropology. We are not happy about the separation, but we are looking at the future and all the opportunities there.

I am starting fall classes this Monday, studying: basic archaeology, emergence of agriculture and urban society, climate and vegetation, world geography, and my first advanced Spanish class. I've received some scholarships and grants, and I will continue my work with the Heller Center.

I plan to post pictures and stories of my recent experiences in Central America, so until then, ¡adiós!