Fabi's first week in Costa Rica

(Click on the map for a larger version)

Many of you have been asking: 'How is Fabi doing?', 'Has he adjusted to everyone?', 'How's the weather?', 'Who do you think will be this year's World Cup Champion?' :)

So...at last, here's the update:

It's been over a week since Fabi and I reached CR. The day we landed we stopped by a couple of houses to greet some family members on our way home from the airport. It was an absolute joyous experience as nobody expected to see us! Fabi had slept for almost 3 hours before our arrival, so he was quite rested when it was time to meet my family. He was quiet, but cheerful; allowing people to hold him.

That first night we went to bed feeling really tired and both of us woke up at 3 am - feeling hungry and ready for action. The following days we woke up at around 4 or 5 am. Now we're adjusted to the new schedule and we wake up at around 6 am. Our mealtimes have become regular and Fabi's appetite is quite good. (He's no longer a vegetarian, btw...)

During this first week all I've done is unpack, buy a light sweater with a hood for Fabi and a new pair of shoes (for him and for me!). I have spoken to a few friends over the phone, but not yet met anyone except most of my family members and neighbours. Fabi's been really friendly. I started to notice it during our trip: initiating games of 'hide and seek' with the people close to our seats on the plane; waiting to make eye contact with people in the waiting rooms at the airport so he could exchange funny faces; waving 'good-bye' to everyone who was passing bye.

He has established a close relationship with his grandparents. He gets really excited when he sees them and loves to exchange hugs and kisses with them all day long. Fabi also loves to catch his maternal uncles' (Alonso and Fernando) attention and likes to play with them, although he needed a warm-up period before he got so playful.

Since I've been speaking Spanish to Fabi since he was born, I think that he finds familiar the way people here speak to him. He still does not speak, but he has called me 'mama' several times and he has surprised us by making sounds that are very similiar to words in Spanish, for example, 'gracias' (thank you), 'carro' (car), 'muchacha' (girl), 'dos' (two).

In this first week, Fabi already has a complete set of 'baby necessities' like a car seat, a crib, a pram, a playpen, toys. My family and friends have lend him most of these things, but if he keeps accumulating things at this pace, he will have more stuff than he has ever used.

We are in the city called Heredia, which is surrounded by beautiful green mountains. The weather is awesome: sunny mornings, (not so) rainy afternoons; sometimes warm, sometimes windy. The weather here is absolutely wonderful - especially when compared to the heat and humidity of Mumbai. This has been a great advantage because it has certainly made our adjustment here a lot easier.

Costa Ricans are closely following the World Cup. Yesterday I went to a bank and didn't even get a chance to get bored while I waited in line because a t.v screen was showing a game. Quarter-finals are going on. The way things are progressing, I wouldn't be surprised if we got to see the final game between Germany and Brazil...but then again, who knows? anything could happen!

So far, the thing that I've enjoyed the most of my stay here (besides the weather), has been a visit to the hair salon and the fact that I've been able to speak on the phone with a couple of close friends.

I will leave you with this story in pictures.

What else would you like to know?

Estoy deseando poder hablar por teléfono con Uds. Ya tengo sus números, así que como ya terminé de desempacar, cuando Fabi se ponga a dormir alguna siesta aprovecharé para llamarlos. Si quieres el no. de mi celular, envíame un correo!