Fitness class at night
Pacayitas CR:)
Wonders of nature
Fit class
Another wonder of nature
Monday, February 14, 2011
Work Work Play
I have a longer post in the works but since it has been a while I wanted to give a quick update of what I have been up to these days.
I am now the official english teacher for a school of 7 kids in a small town called San Vicente a 35-40 minute trek from my house where I will be teaching 3 mornings a week starting tomorrow.
Have been working with an association called Asociacion de agricultores, industriales y turisticos who want to start a business together and who also each have their own individual projects that I am working with them on. So far this includes teaching what a good goals and objectives look like (measurable, specific, defined timeframe, executable, and realistic) and working together to create them for their group business and their individual projects, teaching how to do a FODA (or SWOT in english- an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, & threats), and then in the future meeting teaching how to take this information and use it to make a Plan de Trabajo (work plan)...This will of course eventually progress to feasibility studies and business plans, and eventually actually starting their businesses and project, but we are working our way there step by step. For this same group I am trying to work with a Costa Rican organization called INA to get a class here for them to learn how to grow these specific types of plants that they want to produce in an invernadero (greenhouse), this also is their business idea to eventually create this greenhouse and grow veggies to sell to the community.
I still have my fitness going in full swing 3 days a week at 6pm ranging in participation from 30-40 people per class. It really is a ton of fun and although it started with them just wanting me to teach the class I am slowly training a couple of them to be able to teach it, not just for time times I am out of the area for various other work reasons but for the sustainability factor. There is also a group of us that go hiking together on Friday mornings just for the fun of it, although no matter how steep it is and fast we walk I still feel like it serves more or a social purpose than it does a fitness purpose ;).
As far as the progression of my CAT (community analysis tool), which by tool it really means its just a huge research report that I work and put together, which is supposed to be the only thing new volunteers do for the first 3 months but as many of us have come to find out, it doesn't always work that way. So for the moment I have been struggling to find time to get back to working on it. However last week I did hold a community meeting where community members (men women and children) created maps of how they saw their community, its resources (natural and infrastructure), businesses (formal and informal), farms, houses, schools, etc. The objective was for to identify what they have available already and possible opportunities to address in the future with various projects from all perspectives. It ended up being a great success with a lot of positive feedback and great networking with the community. Plus I got to share my sugar cookies with the community and they loved them;).
Occasionally I also work with the towns ECC (community credit enterprise), last week teaching out how to do the FODA process and in the next meeting creating a Plan de Trabajo. Also meetings with the comite de deportes (2 guys) to hopefully get someone committed to collaborating with me to start a Scouts group here. Thats the catch to sustainability, a million people can say they want it but they actually have to make the commitment and work with you for it to last, just doing it myself doesn't help anyone in the long run. Tomorrow is also the first meeting we are having to possibly for a womens group for the community. This sounds very vague I know but eventually it is actually a legal formal group that can start a business, receive govt classes, plus the inherent benefit of the camaraderie and fun that comes from their time together. So we will see where this first info meeting is going to lead tomorrow.
Then Friday I have a meeting with the Asociacion de Turismo Rural de San Vicente (rural tourism association) to see what their objectives are and with what I might be able to give support or help with. And another similar situation with a group of farmers that have formed a formal group as well on Wednesday. Besides these things I have been busy visiting community members farms and houses, getting to know the people and their situations, as well as ideas and dreams. With both them and myself getting more excited every visit about what could be possible.
I have a training coming up the end of March, but after that somewhere in my schedule I will be starting computer classes and after school english classes (adults and kids separate). I really am grateful for the opportunity to work side by side with such incredible people and am thankful for the support that I have from home that keeps me going. Well I'll leave it here for now so I can get some picture up of the things I have been telling you about. :)
I am now the official english teacher for a school of 7 kids in a small town called San Vicente a 35-40 minute trek from my house where I will be teaching 3 mornings a week starting tomorrow.
Have been working with an association called Asociacion de agricultores, industriales y turisticos who want to start a business together and who also each have their own individual projects that I am working with them on. So far this includes teaching what a good goals and objectives look like (measurable, specific, defined timeframe, executable, and realistic) and working together to create them for their group business and their individual projects, teaching how to do a FODA (or SWOT in english- an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, & threats), and then in the future meeting teaching how to take this information and use it to make a Plan de Trabajo (work plan)...This will of course eventually progress to feasibility studies and business plans, and eventually actually starting their businesses and project, but we are working our way there step by step. For this same group I am trying to work with a Costa Rican organization called INA to get a class here for them to learn how to grow these specific types of plants that they want to produce in an invernadero (greenhouse), this also is their business idea to eventually create this greenhouse and grow veggies to sell to the community.
I still have my fitness going in full swing 3 days a week at 6pm ranging in participation from 30-40 people per class. It really is a ton of fun and although it started with them just wanting me to teach the class I am slowly training a couple of them to be able to teach it, not just for time times I am out of the area for various other work reasons but for the sustainability factor. There is also a group of us that go hiking together on Friday mornings just for the fun of it, although no matter how steep it is and fast we walk I still feel like it serves more or a social purpose than it does a fitness purpose ;).
As far as the progression of my CAT (community analysis tool), which by tool it really means its just a huge research report that I work and put together, which is supposed to be the only thing new volunteers do for the first 3 months but as many of us have come to find out, it doesn't always work that way. So for the moment I have been struggling to find time to get back to working on it. However last week I did hold a community meeting where community members (men women and children) created maps of how they saw their community, its resources (natural and infrastructure), businesses (formal and informal), farms, houses, schools, etc. The objective was for to identify what they have available already and possible opportunities to address in the future with various projects from all perspectives. It ended up being a great success with a lot of positive feedback and great networking with the community. Plus I got to share my sugar cookies with the community and they loved them;).
Occasionally I also work with the towns ECC (community credit enterprise), last week teaching out how to do the FODA process and in the next meeting creating a Plan de Trabajo. Also meetings with the comite de deportes (2 guys) to hopefully get someone committed to collaborating with me to start a Scouts group here. Thats the catch to sustainability, a million people can say they want it but they actually have to make the commitment and work with you for it to last, just doing it myself doesn't help anyone in the long run. Tomorrow is also the first meeting we are having to possibly for a womens group for the community. This sounds very vague I know but eventually it is actually a legal formal group that can start a business, receive govt classes, plus the inherent benefit of the camaraderie and fun that comes from their time together. So we will see where this first info meeting is going to lead tomorrow.
Then Friday I have a meeting with the Asociacion de Turismo Rural de San Vicente (rural tourism association) to see what their objectives are and with what I might be able to give support or help with. And another similar situation with a group of farmers that have formed a formal group as well on Wednesday. Besides these things I have been busy visiting community members farms and houses, getting to know the people and their situations, as well as ideas and dreams. With both them and myself getting more excited every visit about what could be possible.
I have a training coming up the end of March, but after that somewhere in my schedule I will be starting computer classes and after school english classes (adults and kids separate). I really am grateful for the opportunity to work side by side with such incredible people and am thankful for the support that I have from home that keeps me going. Well I'll leave it here for now so I can get some picture up of the things I have been telling you about. :)
Map makers:)
Kids map
Womens map
Guys map
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Pacayitas
Pacayitas
Smoking lead to soften it
My picture wallin my room
Cows (vacas) at the cheese plant that provide the milk
Friday, January 14, 2011
New beginnings with the new year
Where to begin. It has been quite some time since I posted last and so much has gone on, so I'll just start with the basics and see where it leads. I have been living in my new site now since December 20th. It was quite an experience to move to a new community and live with a brand new family during Christmas week, and although apprehensive at first, it turned out quite awesome. Ill sum it up in 4 words...tamales, chicharones, dulces, tamales. Yes I realize I listed tamales twice, well thats because they are HUGE here. And I don't mean the size, but rather their importance. In my community and most communities here, this is something that can define the holiday. We started by cutting the banana leafs from the tree, smoked them over the fire to soften them, cut the leafs off the branches, cleaned them, then cut them into squares. Next was gathering all the ingredients that would go into the pot that the meat would be boiled in over night, everything natural, from different kinds of sticks to leafs to other things I can't identify but came from outside the house. Then to shorten this process up a little, that same water, when the meat was removed was then used to add to the miaz for the tamales (secret flavor adding step:). And the pics explain the rest. Most of this process of course was done at 3:00am over several hours, making around 130. At first I just assumed it was because they were going to be sold at the families Super, but to my surprise, they were all for the fam. Thank god I love them because I ate them at least twice a day for the next two weeks:). Now on to chicharones. Or what can formerly be called a pig or chancho. I don't think I will ever forget what it sounds like to hear a pig killed small town style, it seems to go on forever in a slow painful almost human like scream. And I don't even know which house it came from. Im going to leave the rest of the process to your imagination and please check out the attached pictures to see the last couple steps.
Now on to some more generals, I was able to bring the dog I adopted from the street in Vuelta de Jorco to my new town and she is happy as could be. I take her walking/running/hiking every day (excluding those of course with torrential downpour) and am happy to have a companion that just wants to enjoy my company and explore alongside me. Which is another important bit of info about my community, it is absolutely gorgeous and I am quickly getting identified as the gringa that is always walking/hiking/running somewhere which is not quite common for a local to do unless they are heading to work on their finca (farm). The great thing about this is by being so visual I have made a lot of friends here who have started coming out with me to explore and for exercise. Also now on Monday I will be starting my official workout class, as requested by a large group of women in the community. I am beyond excited for this!
Since I'm on the project subject now, things are progressing. Secondary projects such as English & tech classes are in great desire here and I get asked every day when I will start them. Through meetings and lots of cafecito there is also potential for other projects that the community wants, such as creating a womens group, sports teams for kids and adults, Scouts, and Junior Achievement. As far as the business aspect, that part is coming along a little slower, many meetings to be had before anything really gets started. But I have a calendar full of them. I have already had 2 with the ECC (Empresario Credito Comunitario), 1 with the Asociacion Desarollo, Comite de Deportes, Comite de Agricultura, Comite de la Quesera, etc, with several in the near future that I have a lot to prep for. But all in all with the down and ups that come with this process, things are going well.
Now for the random bits of info.....tall rubber boots are the best investment I have ever made, there are little gnat looking bugs here that if allowed I am convinced would eat me alive (never remember their name but it is something similar to bruja, which I remember because it means witch and these little buggers are!), there is no such thing as to much coffee in Costa Rica, people actually like me more when they find out I'm an addict, I love plantano maduro, I may not live at the beach but if I combined all the lakes and creeks close to me I could easily make one, if you visit someones house you will be eating and having coffee..every time (cafecito), I have already had allergy colds (to many), gripe, foot infections, cuts, bruises, stomach problems, forced insomnia (stupid gallo..lol), so many bug bites it looked like I had chicken pocks, and geez so many more and more to come I'm sure. But without it wouldn't be a real adventure now would it:).
Now on to some more generals, I was able to bring the dog I adopted from the street in Vuelta de Jorco to my new town and she is happy as could be. I take her walking/running/hiking every day (excluding those of course with torrential downpour) and am happy to have a companion that just wants to enjoy my company and explore alongside me. Which is another important bit of info about my community, it is absolutely gorgeous and I am quickly getting identified as the gringa that is always walking/hiking/running somewhere which is not quite common for a local to do unless they are heading to work on their finca (farm). The great thing about this is by being so visual I have made a lot of friends here who have started coming out with me to explore and for exercise. Also now on Monday I will be starting my official workout class, as requested by a large group of women in the community. I am beyond excited for this!
Since I'm on the project subject now, things are progressing. Secondary projects such as English & tech classes are in great desire here and I get asked every day when I will start them. Through meetings and lots of cafecito there is also potential for other projects that the community wants, such as creating a womens group, sports teams for kids and adults, Scouts, and Junior Achievement. As far as the business aspect, that part is coming along a little slower, many meetings to be had before anything really gets started. But I have a calendar full of them. I have already had 2 with the ECC (Empresario Credito Comunitario), 1 with the Asociacion Desarollo, Comite de Deportes, Comite de Agricultura, Comite de la Quesera, etc, with several in the near future that I have a lot to prep for. But all in all with the down and ups that come with this process, things are going well.
Now for the random bits of info.....tall rubber boots are the best investment I have ever made, there are little gnat looking bugs here that if allowed I am convinced would eat me alive (never remember their name but it is something similar to bruja, which I remember because it means witch and these little buggers are!), there is no such thing as to much coffee in Costa Rica, people actually like me more when they find out I'm an addict, I love plantano maduro, I may not live at the beach but if I combined all the lakes and creeks close to me I could easily make one, if you visit someones house you will be eating and having coffee..every time (cafecito), I have already had allergy colds (to many), gripe, foot infections, cuts, bruises, stomach problems, forced insomnia (stupid gallo..lol), so many bug bites it looked like I had chicken pocks, and geez so many more and more to come I'm sure. But without it wouldn't be a real adventure now would it:).
Thursday, November 25, 2010
New home for the next two years!
Its crazy how fast time has gone by! Yesterday I found out the site I will be living and working in for the next two years. Pacayitas, it is in the Cartago Province, the closest major town is Turrialba. Turrialba is known for their cheese, its a special Costa Rican cheese that tastes like nothing else I have had before. Near my town there are two cheese factories, a Guanabana marmalade making place, coffee farms, rural tourism opportunities and a ton more. I am in the mountains and have been told that there is some great white water rafting areas around and a TON of awesome hiking opportunities (I am pretty close to Chirripo as well so that will be one of the first things that I will be checking off my list) so I cant wait! The community size is around 1,100 but that includes the the closest towns around as well so it is actually quite small. I am the second volunteer to work in my site but the first one was there around 20 years ago so for a lot of them it will be the first time working with Peace Corps:) Oh and just on a side note, we had a mini mock Thanksgiving yesterday during our site assignment celebration and about 75% of us got food poisoning :/ Happy Thanksgiving lol!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
So today I met the President of Costa Rica:)
President Laura Chinchilla and the Mayor of Acosta
Thats my hair on the left..lol, I shook her hand after this photo was taken:)
Me and friends in Acosta
Can you see that brown dog with the policia? Because that is the security for the President of Costa Rica, different much?
Friday, October 22, 2010
Update
Things are going great! Lots of things going on and lots to study and do. I am communicating easier and easier with my family and community every day which is really nice. Its hard to be patient with myself some days because I already want to be fluent but know that it is going to take time and dedication. It is a really big help being as active as I have been here for a stress reliever. We hike several miles almost every day all over the place, having a community in the mountains is actually pretty great. Plus of course a river goes by here which is just amazing to hike by and even swim in, although not very sanitary though I imagine because of all the rain we get that washed all the dirty things from the street down into the water. Well I have to get going but will try to update again soon. :) Pura Vida!
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