going to la Tabla

Today has been difficult, I am having my first moments of culture shock. However, it has to to more with where I am working and less to do with Coasta Rican culture. I went to La Tabla for the first time and it really is a very poor neighborhood. It is based on the side of a creek that is just full of trash and it smells bad. It's really run down. There is a lot of drugs and one of the first people I saw when I entered the neighborhood was the guard who who works for the drug dealer and keeps watch for cops. The first person I actually said hi to in La Tabla was this guy named Harrison who we ran into on the way to Bella Flor's Church. I am told that he always has a gun on him and that he might protect me. I am staying with Bella Flor, her husband, and her daughter. There house is pretty run down and is very different from US standards. I am struggling right now- I hope I have the strength to get through these first few weeks.