Many apologies to those who may be reading this little blog, for you've been left in suspense. Many apologies too, to you, blog, for my blatant neglect. Sometimes I really enjoy writing and sometimes, well sometimes i get lazy.
Goodness, so much has happened these past few weeks! Semana Santa was lovely. That's really the best way to describe it. Despite a few stressful traveling situations and many a bug bite (bug bites that still itch 2 weeks later!), I really loved it so much. I spend about 5 days in Progreso, a small village in a Guyamí indigenous reservation on the Panamanian border, staying with Anne and Parviz Ighani, two wonderful Baha'is wo have lived there for around 15 years. It was truly unbelievable and indescribably beautiful. I wish I could have taken a photo of every single view I saw for the whole five days I was there. Really. Incredibly. Beautiful. Life is simple there, with running water piped in from a nearby stream, a little bit of electricity at night from solar panels, all cooking done over a fire, and lots and lots of rice and beans. From the Ighani's house it's about a 30 minute walk/hike down the mountain to the Baha'i center. I was so lucky to be in Progreso for the Baha'i community's annual summer school; we all spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday together listening to talks, having discussions, helping with childrens classes, laughing, singing, socializing, etc. It was wonderful to get to know the community. They're very special, quite hilarious, and dedicated.
Wednesday I traveled back to San Jose to participate Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in a study circle of book 8. In the Baha'i community, study circles are gatherings in which we get together and study a workbook type thing with writings from the Baha'i faith. Together, we deepen our understating, share ideas, and gain skills for service. One of the quotations from the book, for example, is:
"The principle of the Oneness of Mankind — the pivot round which all the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh revolve — is no mere outburst of ignorant emotionalism or an expression of vague and pious hope. Its appeal is not to be merely identified with a reawakening of the spirit of brotherhood and good-will among men, nor does it aim solely at the fostering of harmonious cooperation among individual peoples and nations. Its implications are deeper, its claims greater than any which the Prophets of old were allowed to advance. Its message is applicable not only to the individual, but concerns itself primarily with the nature of those essential relationships that must bind all the states and nations as members of one human family. ... It implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society, a change such as the world has not yet experienced. ... It calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world" (except, you know, in spanish. eek.)
Saturday I came back from the study circle and rested from my wonderful week. These weeks after Semana Santa have been a little challenging. Often I feel like I really would rather be here serving than having to study. After 15 years as a student, I'm ready to not have to do homework and stress about grades anymore. School has been getting more demanding, with lots of reading (don quixote!!) and many group projects (i think right now I'm working on 4), but I'm trying to stay focused and find a good balance. Last weekend there was a women's devotional at a young Baha'i couple's home in San Jose which truly was an uplifting, tranquil oasis in my week. Between the Persian food (yay!), the amazing company, the laughter, the singing, and the prayers, it turned out to be a spiritually reenergizing night. This weekend I have a few group project meetings and tomorrow I'm going to the huge farmer's market here. Next weekend I have field trips both Saturday and Sunday, one to a coffee farm and the other to a volcano and a zip line. Theeeeeeeeeen the next weekend (drumroll por favor) I'm going to visit amy noodle/noodle/lamey/my-blood-sugar-is-dopping-give-me-chocolate-now in puerto rico!!!!!!!! I can't wait. By that time, 2 out of the 4 of these projects will be turned in and I'll be able to relax a bit.
Pues, I'll stop myself from writing more. Ciao!
