Mi Familia Tica

Here in Costa Rica I live with a host family. The family situation is very different than that which I expected... but it is great! I was told that I would be living with a single mom and a two-year-old. However, I in fact live with a mom and a dad with two kids and the sister of the wife. The mom and dad's names are Lucy and Walner. They have a 13 year old son named Christopher and a 2 year old son named Walner Jr. Lucy's sister's name is Flor.
Lucy and Walner own a used car sales business in San Jose (about 1 hour away from our town - Atenas). They work at the shop all day and then Lucy goes to class in San Jose in the evenings. They are gone every week day from about 7am to 10pm. Flor stays home with the kids all day and takes care of business around the house. It seems like a very good system... and everyone seems very happy.
I usually eat breakfast and dinner with my host family... but I usually eat alone in the mornings because everyone else has either already left for work or is still in bed. The food is very good! Breakfast typically consists of pinto (rice, black beans, and seasonings) and either some type of meat or an egg. I am enjoying the food and haven't found anything that I don't like, but I can see the beans and rice getting a little old.
I really enjoy the kids. Christopher is really nice and fun to hang out with. He is learning english and loves to ask me questions about life in America. I am also really enjoying spending time with the little one. He is so cute... and only screams when he is really tired. He loves to show me all of his toys and we have lots of fun playing with dinosaurs and cars.
After work I return to the house and hang out with Flor and the boys. We typically watch TV and play with Jr's toys. When mom and dad get home they eat dinner, watch TV, and we usually all go to bed around 11pm.
Living with a Tico family is good, especially to practice spanish. However, it is a little difficult since I am so shy. I want to do my part around the house but I don't know how to go about it. Flor is very gracious and always doing so much for me. She will never ask me to do any kind of chores, but I might just have to start doing some soon. I do think that she appreciated me playing with Jr even though I don't really do much to help take care of him.
Life is good. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I learn to love my family and as my team and I prepare to head to Guatemala in a couple days.