Favorite Tico Words

Jale(ha-le)...Suave(su-a-beh)...Meto (meh-toh) This last one was born and is only used in my community. I never noticed it until a few months ago after it was pointed out to me. Now I hear it all the time! So these words mean the following, in order of appearance: hurry up/let's go...hold on/one second...negation of what was previously said. Word of caution: don't say you feel "excitada" when you want to express excitement in Spanish. It's "emocionada" or full of emotion. The former has a sexual meaning, as I had to find out the hard way. I just wanted to highlight how, despite my Spanish fluency and Latin American heritage, there was a lot to learn once I arrived in Costa Rica. And what is called one thing in one country, may be something totally different in another. Take the word "torta". In Colombia, this means cake. In Mexico, it's a small sandwich. In Costa Rica, it refers to eggs or groundmeat that is prepared in a round shape (like a patty). There is also the phrase "jalarse una torta" which means that you made a huge mistake.

Back to my updates, these past two weeks have been intense. What with beginning a workshop called "Youth Entrepeneurs" in the local high school, a friend's serious car accident here in Boruca, and other personal matters, I'm glad that things have calmed down. In no way could I have relaxed in Guanacaste this past weekend where most Volunteers are vacationing.

Continuing from my last update, the months of December and January were pretty much impossible to organize, continue, and/or begin projects. Students are on vacation and most people in my community are only thinking about and preparing for the annual cultural festivities. I was really worried about the content of my upcoming work report but there were some accomplishments. For one, I was happy to have begun an Enivronmental Education project, despite having only 8 people, mostly youth, attend. I'm looking now to continue where we left off with the help of the Boy and Girl Scouts (known as Guia Scouts since the groups are mixed and determined by age) since the next step is to conduct a community-wide survey to identify present knowledge, opinions, and behaviors regarding the environment, with special emphasis on waste management, the water supply, and cultural values. The idea is to use a participatory process to find alternative solutions to key environmental concerns. Here are some pictures of what we're dealing with: This stream ends up in the river, carrying with it waste and residual water.
Most trash is thrown and burnt in an open dump, 500 meters from the center of town.
Here's a shot of the dump, where you can see the burning of plastics and other garbage that goes unseparated.
This is a few hundred meters behind my house. I had no idea about this small dump until my host mother told me about it.

In addition to this first meeting, a good friend of mine offered to help with the need for waste bins in the community. The local government has tried to place them in the past only to have them ruined, by youth supposedly. If there's one thing I would like to help accomplish before my service ends is to help the youth in my community prove that they can contribute to positive community development, if given the chance. So far, the local youth group with whom I work is meeting regularly and planning exciting projects. I'll describe these as they progress.

Back to the garbage bins...so my friend got the idea of recycling discarded laundry receptacles into the garbage bins we wanted to see. And these would be classified according to material: plastic, metal (aluminum cans), paper, and glass. One morning, he and I walked to the dump and carried as many as we could back to town. (Note: this is not exactly sustainable as more volunteers could have joined us but due to my friend's stubborn and pessimistic attitude at the time, I conceded) He's a very busy guy so I didn't want to lose this opportunity. After cutting, washing, mending, and other creative final touches, we had garbage bins that are still found in the town center. Several volunteers, my sister, and other young people in my community helped paint them so we could have them up during the cultural festival when hundreds of nationals and foreign tourists visit. Here are a few before and after pictures:





Lessons learned (I saw this coming but like I said, you can't let an opportunity pass you by): people were definitely intrigued by the final product, and we saw that the separation was followed for the most part but we needed an informational campaign to explain why and how to separate trash. We jumped important steps in the process of education, which was good in that my friend and others now or will understand the need for careful planning with this experience. Also as important to highlight are the poor and unsustainable results of garbage clean-ups that groups have and continue to do. Without a comprehensive plan, these efforts will yield nothing but disillusionment. I'm hoping to continue this effort in the upcoming months, hopefully before Earth Day. I'll stop here for now...

VERY long update

It's been too long I know. But here I am with much to write so I hope this will make up for my delayed updates. Since returning from the U.S. after about a month in October(also the rainiest month in Costa Rica), I've had slow but increasing work progress. My English for Tourism course culminated before I left and until last month, it was my sole pride and joy. Looking back now, I think there's several things I would've done differently to have made better use of my time in the first few months. But I guess it's all part of the experience: recognizing mistakes and striving to avoid them in the future. A new group of Volunteers arrive today from Washington D.C. and I remember how exciting it was, how eager I was to acquire technical skills and start several youth and income-generating projects. The other night in San Jose, four of us celebrated our one-year mark in Pizza Hut, which feels more like you're in Applebee's. It's quite fancy. This was after a Junior Achievement course training, which I'll go into later. So we were talking about how fast time passed and I was really happy and proud to see how much their Spanish skills have improved. While we're all typically closer to the volunteers in our program area or region, I admire each and every one of the volunteers as we face different challenges but are still united by the frustrations and accomplishments we experience as PCVs. I wish I could spend more quality time with each and every one of them but I know that we'll always have a special bond and something to laugh and talk about. I'm ready to share my advice with the new volunteers, and I encourage my friends back home to consider this type of work and life experience. Everyday you learn something new, about your community, about yourself, and there really isn't ever a dull moment (unless you choose to stay in your house, which can happen from time to time). Some of us are "Super Volunteers", others don't want to be... from what I gather, this first category applies to those who never take a break from their work. I think we all need balance and if that's what makes you happy, good for you. I strive to be the best volunteer I can be. For new or potential volunteers, it's easy but wrong to compare yourself with others. I remember feeling all upset with myself during the All Volunteer Conference (AVC) in November when we shared our current projects at the time with one another. Now I understand that each community allows for and needs different plans. Of course, we need to make the effort to find out what those are. I'm not completely satisfied with my final Community Analysis Assessment (CAT) Report but I'm working on it. It's funny how sometimes I look back and perfect something that will no longer count or be reviewed again but I do it as a way to fix what I did. A sense of closure and peace. Hopefully, I won't have to do that anymore. I'm writing a proposal to create a multi-use bulletin board where residents and visitors can find out about community resources, activities, announcements, submit their own information, and offer their suggestions to improve this communication tool. I figure this is a good way to share the information collected in my CAT.

In November, I had the opportunity to participate in a three day Project Design & Management (PDM) Workshop given by trained Peace Corps staff. Each selected volunteer invited someone from their community, and I couldn't have chosen a better candidate. Ashly is 17 years old, and a natural leader. She has so many great ideas but with school and family responsibilities, she has been unable to realize or prioritize her goals. She was eager from the very beginning to learn how to organize and implement her project ideas. Before the workshop dates, we had to organize a community mapping activity that would help identify community resources, needs, and wants from a representative population. Although the group was not exactly representative of the community, Ashly and I were happy with the discussion that took place. (Another side note: this activity, which is one of many that help gather and analyze community characteristics, is underestimated. There's also seasonal calendars, daily activity schedules, and needs assessments.) We divided the group into two, males and females, and asked them to draw a map of the community, including all important places. Then, using three different colored pieces of paper, each member had to mark where they spend their time: each color meant everyday, once a week, or rarely. Then using circles and triangles, they had to mark places they liked and disliked. Finally, they had to answer the following on post-its: What do you want to see in your community? What does your community need? After presenting their map to the other group, everyone sat in a circle to compare and discuss the activity. Here are the maps, women and men, right to left:

We observed gender roles, differences between ages and use or awareness of resources, and, most importantly, how similar their concerns were despite their limited interactions. The workshop was invaluable and it left us super motivated to offer a similar taller in the community.

On February 13-15, we offered our own PDM Workshop with 10 participants, two of whom traveled by horse from a community an hour away. That's ganas. It was an overall success, and what I consider my second major accomplishment. I know this after speaking with and hearing feedback from the participants. Especially, from the campesino who told us that he's never received this type of capacitacion and now feels more confident and eager to share and use this knowledge in the organized groups to which he belongs. Here he is alongside a retired teacher and young college student who worked together to formulate a shared vision, a corresponding goal and objective, and a time frame with tasks and responsibilities. Below are more photos taken during the workshop.




Other people have asked me for materials of which I still have and am considering offering another workshop in the near future. To be continued...

Side note: Does anyone else feel that Facebook stresses you out? Mostly for those of us living abroad. I can't keep up with everyone and it makes me sad :(

Lights Out

I apologize in advance for random information thrown here and there. I give up on trying to organize my thoughts. It takes too long to edit and given that I’ll never be satisfied with what I do (I’m a perfectionist) and that I usually go off on tangents anyway, why bother?

So, I’m taking a break right now from my English lesson planning because it’s making my head hurt. The thing is that as I plan what I want to teach, new words and rules pop into the picture and before I know it, I’ve included WAY too much information to teach in one lesson. It’s definitely a learning experience, this whole teaching business, especially since I’m creating my own lesson plans (with the help of several teaching manuals, of course). And teaching adults is a whole other process in which I have been training myself (I highly recommend Peter Renner´s The Art of Teaching Adults). So sometimes I feel myself getting overwhelmed with this and everything else going on as a volunteer. A month ago I was begging to be busy, almost like I felt after a long summer vacation during college, and now I find myself stressed sometimes and longing for peace of mind. I’ve even stopped watching the two soaps that were part of my quality time with Doña Susana (my host mom). I’d like to mention that these novelas are original and hilarious, not Univision junk. Then again, they do take up two hours of my evening but even the great book I’ve been reading has been sitting on my shelf and I glance at it often wondering when I can continue with it without feeling like I should be doing something else. Ok, so what am I so busy with? (I’m laughing at myself right now because I really wanted to fix that last sentence. I will try to ignore the grammar rules that were so heavily engrained by an unforgettable high school English teacher…in case you’re wondering: ending a sentence with a preposition is a no-no). Anyway, so I’ve committed myself to helping several people and projects that are now either taking up most of my time or making me feel guilty because I haven’t dedicated as much time as I promised I would. As a CED Volunteer, we have three main objectives: supporting micro entrepreneurs, teaching English and computer skills, and working with youth in business and life skills development. In the beginning, I really did NOT want to teach English. My reasoning was pretty selfish since I didn’t think I would be gaining much from it as opposed to working in business-related projects. But now my first real project is teaching practical English for people working in tourism (I’m all about practicality). And so far, it’s been a rather enjoyable and enriching experience. I’ve never taught adults, much less English. Thankfully, a World Teach volunteer is helping me facilitate the class. Before I steer away from the title of this blog, I chose it as a reason to finally write a new blog (I know it’s been a while). Last night, an hour into the class, the lights went out. Four out of twenty people had flashlights, and I was ready to call it a night thinking few people wanted to continue. To my surprise, and Kevin’s assurance, the class adjusted their seats to share the flashlights and continue correcting their homework. Someone went out to buy some candles, and we managed to cover nouns, articles and continue practicing the use of the verb ‘to be’ until the end of class. Despite the long hours of preparation (probably more than needed but nonetheless), the satisfaction I get with a successful class is worth it. I just need to try not to teach too many things at once. It doesn’t help that I have several teaching manuals from which to choose. I just want to make sure I don’t miss anything important. Even when I go shopping or out to eat, I have to walk through every aisle and read everything on the menu before I leave or make a decision. That’s if I do (85% of the time I ask for recommendations). Sorry…

On another note, I’m coordinator for a group that is supposed to analyze markets relevant to the solid waste management initiative that will affect all communities within the municipality. This is supposed to be a community-driven project but there is some skepticism about its potential, at least from my group members. I’m really happy to have met Ramiro, who created his own recycling center in his backyard. Unfortunately, he has received more problems than support from local officials. For the past four years, he’s dedicated himself to recycling, waking up early every morning to collect everything from plastics, metals, glass, and paper. He recently received intensive training in Guatemala, is a member of a nation-wide recycling network, and was named Protector of the Environment by PINDECO, a large pineapple-producing company in Costa Rica. Ironically, pineapples are horrible for the soil. Anyway, this man makes a living by selling these items to various buyers, and he knows what its worth. I admire his perseverance and my goal is to invite him to my community to educate and inspire others to take up this practice, if only to protect the environment. Residual water is another issue in my community but I would need to find experts and appropriate information as I am not familiar with this topic. My dilemma at the moment is finding the time to meet with my group and complete a diagnostic study of how the future action plan should incorporate and support micro entrepreneurs like Ramiro. The municipal building is an hour and a half from my community, and there’s one study that I need to read and share with my group before we present our information at the end of the month.

My third realized effort is working with a group of artisan women that wish to regroup after years of separation due to some disgusto (quarrel, I guess). The other two groups in my community are fairly organized, so I’ve decided to focus on the former as I feel I can be more useful to them. My group has the luxury of owning their own building and machinery that were donated to them in the past. It has been closed and sitting in the dust until now. Yesterday afternoon, I facilitated the first half of a very important meeting. My objectives: Explore and analyze motivation, leadership, and the qualities of a successful entrepreneur. An ambitious plan but the information was well received and understood. As I was taking down the newsprint with the objectives written on it, a woman asked if I could leave it up so they could have and see it alongside the ground rules and the list of a successful entrepreneur’s behaviors that I had printed for them to see. I stayed for a while after, and it was nice to hear a few of them refer to the suggestions offered during my presentation. Of course, I couldn’t have done this without a Peace Corps resource manual and careful preparation. Next meeting: creating an action plan. Apart from these commitments, I am finding the time to learn how to make masks and play the guitar. At least I’m not bored. And nothing has me happier than knowing that my dad is visiting in three weeks. Life is good. I just need to take a deep breath and take things one at a time.

Settling In

It's been a month since I arrived in my site and it feels like so much longer. In fact, I've been worried that people are beginning to wonder "What exactly IS she doing here?" Not that I haven't presented myself hundreds of times (I deliberately change my explanation so as not to drive myself crazy hearing myself repeat the same thing over and over). Anyway, I know that this concern stems from my eagerness to "hit the ground running" and already have projects started. But I am happy to say that I’ve met many motivated and influential people with whom I hope to work for the next two years. I’ve also gathered most of the information I need to write up my community analysis report. That's actually what we're supposed to be focusing on during the first three months. The idea is to get to know our community first through interviews, focus groups, and observation before starting any serious projects. The list of possible project ideas is already long, and I’ve decided to start with an English course for people working in tourism. I've also joined a committee that will meet for the next few months to organize a solid waste management plan for the municipality. There have been failed attempts in the past to start a recycling program in my community so I'm hoping that I can make it happen by working alongside youth and children in the schools, Guias y Scouts (Boy & Girl Scouts), and the local radio station. I'm also planning to work with a World Teach volunteer on improving the appearance and promoting the use of an abandoned building in the center of town, with the help of local artists and the local development association. The neighboring salon comunal needs a makeover, as well.

On another note, my host mom is wonderful and we're secret novela buddies. I kind of live in her daughter's home next door, too. It's actually a house full of women, and they're great. I'm beginning to learn a lot about myself, like how much I hate feeling bored so I'm definitely keeping busy, whether it's visiting neighbors, going for long walks, or learning more about things I should know, like how to use Excel and waste management.

Many people question whether I'm really from the U.S. I'm not really a gringa, they say. It's funny because when I visit my parents' country, I tell them that I identity myself as Colombian-American. But then I'm told that I'm a gringa. Go figure.. I'll try to post more often.

Attitude

Thought I would share some words that we received during training.

ATTITUDE by Charles Swindoll

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important then the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make and break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it."

Site Assignment Day

Friday was the long-awaited day for Tico 18. PCCR staff took us to a recreational facility for the day to relax after announcing our site assignments. After breakfast, we went to a room with a huge map of Costa Rica. Three PCTs volunteered to find out first, blindfolded. Think pin-the-tail-on-the donkey. Then, after brief descriptions of each site, we were called one by one to label our location on the map. From my interview, I was given little hints about where I would go but I really didn’t set myself up for any specific place. All I knew was that I wanted to work with youth and ecotourism. I had mentioned interest in immigration and indigenous issues but I didn't want to be too picky. I was sure that the staff would know best. So when I heard Luis mention the only indigenous site for the CED Program, I broke out a huge smile as he looked at me and said my name. I’ll be working in the “Dirty South” as some call it, a few hours from Panama and the Osa Peninsula. Next weekend, our counterparts will take us to our sites for the first time. From what I know, there are about 2500+ people in my community, who are mainly indigenous. It should take me four and a half hours to get to San Jose from my site. We were all given folders with detailed information about our communities and possible projects. Among the challenges I’m interested in addressing are problems with youth, improving business practices, English for tourism, and recollection of trash. Luckily, there are many organizations with which I can work, including a radio station and artisan groups. I’ll be living with a woman, her dog and cat, which is perfect. I’m so ready to go!

PCV Visits

This weekend, we all had a chance to meet and observe volunteers in various sites around the country. My group did so much, it felt like a week. The first community was my ideal site: semi-rural, pleasant and stable weather, beautiful views, and a laid-back atmosphere. Here, we met Emily who has been in her site for six months. After a game of soccer with local kids, Emily invited us to her home where her host mom showed us how to make empanadas de chiverre and cheese. During cafecito, Emily explained her projects and gave us some great ideas, such as organizing a community newsletter. After this, we went to the Feria Ambiental, where local artisans sold their work, among other venues and activities, including a bull ring attraction, in which people would ride and/or avoid getting attacked by angry bulls. Thankfully, no bulls are killed in the process. There was also outdoor karaoke and disco moviles, which was a fun way to spend the evening.

The next day, we went on a tour with the president of the community's Chamber of Tourism. In our tour, we visited a butterfly farm, a water-powered sugar cane mill, and hiked to see some springs, indigenous artifacts (known only to a few for protective reasons), and views of the valley. The sun was fierce, or as they say here, “Que luna!” After our tour, we walked to a nearby waterfall where we swam and ate our lunch. It was a long but worthwhile day. And my host family was great. I had two twin sisters who were always at my side, along with their cousins. Throughout my stay, the radio was always on a Catholic radio station. I heard a Christian reggaeton song for the first time, which was pretty amusing. During dinner, I would hear my host parents respond or sing to the radio programs. The girls also sang a really cute song thanking God for the food they were about to eat (with their dad’s request). Very different from my training host family.

For our next Volunteer visit, we drove to a small town similar to my training community. Instead of a main square, the town was long and centered on a main road. We met Rachel, who is leaving PC in six months. She invited us to a women’s group meeting, where we learned more about her efforts in the community. During this visit, our Program Director and PC Volunteer Coordinator interviewed each of us regarding our future site preferences. If possible, I would love to work with youth and indigenous peoples, with an emphasis in ecotourism and business education.

Behind my host family’s house is a waterfall and cabin, which my host dad built. On a break, I went with two other trainees to read there. My dream site definitely has a waterfall. All of us are anxious to know even just a clue about where they are planning to assign us. Two more weeks before we find out.

In the evening, I went with my host mother to a folkloric dance rehearsal for an upcoming presentation. I was excited to hear a song that my Spanish class had listened to one day: “Soy Tico”. The next day, Rachel invited us to her biweekly aerobics class. After a 45-minute walk uphill, we reached the salon comunal where five other ladies joined us. I would love to incorporate this activity in my future site. My arms are sore but no regrets.

In the afternoon, we had a tour of a local cheese finca. We divided into two teams for a series of fun activities to test our knowledge or to try something new. These included, identifying types of grass and supplemental diet for milking cows, extracting as much milk as possible from a cow, and making the best cheese. At the end of the day, we helped our tour guide plant some trees given to her by a government institution. Speaking of resources, I, among many, am truly impressed with the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA). INA is an autonomous institution, created to prepare workers in a wide variety of areas, both independent workers and those needed by private companies. 1.5 percent of every worker’s salary is taken to fund INA, leaving it with a budget of approximately 40 million dollars. INA offers free courses and programs of study that include: agriculture, commerce & services, tourism, graphic industry, auto mechanics, metal mechanics, electric, fishing & sailing, textiles, food, technology of materials, and handicrafts processes. I hope I get a chance to work with INA while I’m here.

Overcoming my Fear of Cooking

I cooked my very first soup yesterday, and I am thrilled to say that it was a success (especially, with some jalapeño). It was a fish and root stew recipe I found online, a slight variation of the traditional olla de carne. My list of ingredients included tiquisque (which I needed to prepare for Spanish class), yucca, camote, carrot, potato, green plantain, onion, celery, garlic, cilantro, thyme, leek, chives, milk, butter, and fish. And I came out of this with only one cut on my finger. This may seem trivial but this really is an accomplishment for me. My parents would know. Anyway, we had a barbecue last night with a few other Volunteers. It was fun and the food was amazing. My host parents are really awesome and I'm really beginning to feel at home. I wasn't feeling too great last week but I thank God for listening to my prayers. Today, I went with the other Volunteers in my community to observe an English class in the local high school. We made observations, for future teaching reference. I also had the chance to interview some students about their educational and job opportunities, which were limited from their point of view. The best jobs require English and computer skills. In my community, the only jobs available are in construction and picking coffee. The other Volunteers and I have decided to ask youth that hang out by the park at night to be our focus group for our next non-formal education activity. If and when we get their consent and topic ideas, we'll plan a charla.

Semana Santa

I'm stuck in an internet cafe waiting for the downpour to subside. Entering our third week of training, I'm anxious to know more about our assignments. We practiced our first non-formal education activity last week, and I'm beginning to realize how patient and well-prepared Volunteers need to be. Different learning styles, maintaining participant interest, preparation...there's lots of things to consider when facilitating or co-training people, let alone cultural norms and individual circumstances.

On Wednesday, my Spanish class and I went to the Feria del Agricultor in Desamparados, where we bought fruits and vegetables we've never heard of. Each of us chose one or two, which we have to prepare (depending on the fruit or vegetable) and bring to share in class on Monday. I chose tiquisque. It looks like yucca, which I love. But now I have to cook it. Not my forté. And online recipes are scarce. We'll see how that goes. Here's a list of other fruits and vegetables that made me wonder: jocote, mamón, anona, zapote, nances, pejibaye, tacaco, ñame, zapallo, vainica (This was my second selection but it turned out to be green beans...names!), camote, ayote, chayote, elote, ñampi. So yea, there's a lot.
My host mom did make me cas and carambola (star fruit) juices, which I tried for the first time. I highly recommend them. I also tried dulce de chiverre, which is traditionally made during Holy Week. I hear it takes hours of preparation.

Speaking of first', I went to see my first Motor Cross event last Saturday. My host parents want to see Monster Trucks soon, too. Good times.

First Impressions

My training community is a small, peaceful town up in the mountains, near San Jose. With a population of approximately 7,000 people (it seems like less), a main road splits the town down the middle with houses and fincas stretching out on both sides. Most people work in San Jose, and many women stay at home to care for their children. Some of them have side businesses, as well.

My host family challenges most of what we were told to expect: machismo, strong religious values, and conservative thinking. Consequently, they stand out from the rest of the community. This is especially true for my host mom, who has always felt like she doesn’t belong. Light-skinned, blond-haired, with blue eyes, she looks different from most people here, including her immediate family. In school, girls would call her “gringa tonta” and reject her company. She would spend most of her time playing with boys and has always found it difficult to deal with other women. At home, my host mom’s parents discouraged her free spiritedness. Independent and nonconformist, she left for San Jose at an early age. Here she met another oveja negra, my host dad. Today, they live in union libre with their six-year-old son. (Despite the disapproval of the Catholic Church, more and more couples are opting to forgo marriage, probably given the high rate of divorces in the country.)

My host mom is not your typical ama de casa in Costa Rica. She does not spend most of her day cleaning the house or cooking. When her son is in school, she helps my host dad run his truck business. He restores used trucks, mostly parts from the U.S., and sells them in Costa Rica. When he’s working away from home, my host mom is in charge of the (male) employees. This makes some of them uncomfortable, she told me.

In our conversations, I’ve learned a great deal about Costa Rica that I probably wouldn’t have heard otherwise from other people in my community. According to my host parents, Costa Ricans are generally apathetic about politics and dislike confrontation. I’ve definitely been witness to the latter. In an essay assigned for Spanish class, “Costa Rica (Des)dibujada”, Jacqueline Murillo writes that free speech in Costa Rica is actually limited to inoffensive speech. She adds that people who insist on emphasizing real differences and recognizing problems are censured (8). My host mom confirmed that denial is part of the culture of avoiding conflict. And, as in my family’s case, it’s frowned upon to deviate from societal norms.

I was also surprised to learn about the gravity of internal issues facing Costa Rica. These include a high incidence of vehicle-related accidents, drug trafficking, and commercial child exploitation. My host mom is very critical about the country’s educational system, which has a high percentage of dropouts after grade school. Apparently, the high school curriculum is very boring and students prefer to find jobs and make money.

There is also a striking similarity between the U.S. and Costa Rica. Costa Rica has always welcomed waves of migrants seeking refuge or a new life, and it's now struggling with immigration issues, especially from Nicaragua. There are arguments however, that Nicaraguans take jobs that Ticos wouldn't (sound familiar?). There is also a growing population of Colombians who, thanks to the drug business, face some discrimination. Identity is also unclear given the country's "confluencia de culturas" (Murillo 1). High numbers of immigrants also put a strain on Costa Rica’s welfare system. In Costa Rica, healthcare is cheap and available to anyone. When my host mom got sick in Florida, they were shocked at the cost of treating her in a nearby hospital. “I could have flown to Costa Rica and back with that amount of money,” my host dad joked.

Training Begins

After a four day retreat, Tico 18, as we are called, will now move in with our host families for the next three months of training. It's been pretty overwhelming since we arrived but I am impressed with the quality of planning and organization demonstrated these past few days. Tico 18 is the largest group since Peace Corps arrived in Costa Rica 45 years ago. PC had graduated from Costa Rica in the mid-1990s but was asked to return with a new emphasis on micro-entreprise development. We are divided into three main projects: children, youth, and families; rural community development; and community economic development. Tomorrow, I will meet my new family: mom, dad, and son. I've never had a little brother so this should be fun.

Day One

I arrived in D.C. this morning for Peace Corps orientation. There are about 50 Volunteers in my cohort, including two couples, and it's amazing how diverse our group is. From our introductions, I would have to say that at least half of the states are represented. Everyone seems great, and I can already sense the beginning of life-long friendships. As I learn more about the Peace Corps mission and experience, I feel much more confident about my decision. And I am especially happy to learn that we aim to become effective development facilitators, as opposed to outside "experts", via a participatory process. In this way, we are hoping to promote sustainability and empowerment.
I already feel like I am part of a family, and I can't wait to begin my service. It's been a long but worthwhile day.

Traveling

Traveling to me is like reading a widely recommended book that catches my interest. Whether it's the scenery or the culture, I have traveled to see and experience new things that have been recommended. And just like I rarely read a book more than once, I am always thinking about what novel place I will visit next. But now I will be returning to Costa Rica to work as a Peace Corps volunteer. I'll admit that I was a bit hesitant at first, and I was glad to read that the PC acknowledged my first reactions: Why there? Will people take me seriously when I tell them? I guess I had romanticized the idea of working in extremely harsh and isolated conditions, in a totally foreign culture. But as I read my welcome packet, I am considering the opportunities of returning to this beautiful country, knowing the language, and living in a community that is rarely seen by tourists, a role I played not too long ago.

3 days until the Constituent Assembly is finally ready to begin their work. Goodbye Congress! As for me, I have 2 weeks left. It'e been quite a busy month. For two weeks, NDI Ecuador organized strategic planning sessions with 9 major political parties and movements. Not one was the same and despite the four hours allotted, we extended into the night. It was great to see so much enthusiasm, or was it desperation? Acuerdo Pais has 80 assemblymen. Next comes PSP, with 16 seats, PRIAN 7, PSC 4, and you get the picture. It's been an interesting experience but I'm feeling restless. I think the Peace Corps is exactly what I need right now. Minus the time away from the people I love.

Children on the streets

I am appalled at how many children there are living on the streets, begging for money with their toddler siblings, or selling cigarettes way past midnight. In the U.S., this would be an outrage. Of course, this is not to say that Ecuadorians do not care but there is a serious problem here. I think this is why I see myself working abroad. I'm looking into organizations that work with these kids, and I remember my research on MANTHOC, a child-worker's organization in Peru. Something has always told me that what I learned from them would influence my life. Here's an article about who they are and what they do:
http://www.shinealight.org/MANTHOC.html

My friend said that there's so much in this world to make you feel guilty. This is something I've struggled with but I think this is the battle I will choose.

All hope on Alianza Pais

Correa's movement Alianza Pais (AP) obtained more than 64% of seats in the Constituent Assembly, surpassing the minimum amount of votes needed to pass a resolution. Therefore, AP doesn't need to create alliances with minority representatives. The election results are a huge blow to traditional parties. But they indicate that Ecuadorians want change and they're placing their hope on a new movement, mainly on President Correa who talks about socialism of the 21st century. I've attended several forums regarding constitutional reform and feelings about the future are mixed. At NDI, we're working to help traditional parties who seek advise on internal reform by inviting international experts who can share their experiences. As for promoting democratic practices and institutions in and for the Constituent Assembly, we're hoping that AP will agree to work with us as we can offer comparative information on the theme of dissolving a national Congress and including public input for the new constitution.

Exploring Quito

Quito is surrounded by mountains. In the morning, before the clouds roll in, I can see the snow-covered summit of Volcan Cayambe outside of my room. On a clear day, you can also see the Volcan Cotopaxi (furthest point from the center of the earth) and others whose names I can’t remember. Because Quito’s airport is located in the middle of the city, there are few tall buildings. I hope it stays that way after the new airport is constructed outside of Quito. There are several breath-taking views of the city and the first I had is known as the deadliest, according to my Lonely Planet guidebook. I finally visited the historic center of Quito, which is a treasure of colonial architecture. It takes more than a day to see all the sites, which are mainly churches and museums. Looking at my map, I decided to check out the Basilica del Voto Nacional first. Gothic and imposing, I was surprised to learn that it was built within the last century. A 15-minute uphill walk from the Grand Plaza, I fell in love with the colors and balconies surrounding me. Once inside the Basilica, I had an awesome view of the Centro, with the statue of La Virgen de Quito in front of me. Inside the main roof, across from the glass-stained window, was a rickety wooden footbridge that led to some upstairs outside. From there, were more (unsafe and very steep) stairs leading to a tower. I almost chickened out. I had to talk to myself out loud to calm my nerves. No joke. I already had a 360-degree view at the base of the tower but I wanted to climb to the top. Somehow, I made it up there. I was so proud I made a video. It really is a deadly ascent. Anyway, it was totally worth it. Afterwards, I climbed into the clock tower. Heading back towards the Grand Plaza, I stopped for a vegetarian buffet lunch (soup, main dish, and drink), which cost me a total of $1.50. Very cheap. On the topic of food, I have yet to try cuy (guinea pig) but I have definitely savored fritada (fried chunks of pork and hominy), all kinds of corn (popped and toasted). My host mom recently sent me ubre (cow’s breast) and lengua (cow’s tongue) for lunch. It was…different. But hey, it’s always good to try new things. Caldo de tronquit, anyone?

A Chance Encounter

My host family lost a loved one yesterday. His name was Fernando Teran, one of the Diablito Teran Brothers famous for their music some thirty years back. Today I learned that most of my host dad’s siblings took part at some point in a musical ensemble that evolved from the Diablito Brothers. During the funeral mass, Miguel and the rest of his siblings sang 3 of Fernando’s favorite songs from the group. It was beautiful. And I’m a fan.

I left after paying my respects, and walked towards the NDI office to inquire about bus fares to Lima, Peru. On my way back, I passed by a small crowd of people and several police cars waiting outside a restaurant. I found out President Correa was having lunch inside. Excited, I decided to wait with everyone else. Ten minutes later, Mr. Correa walks out the door and everyone kind of pounces on him, me included. Most people were expressing their support for him and his movement in the election. I don’t have anything against the man; expect maybe his tendency to react inappropriately to criticism. Unfortunately, my camera battery died before I could take a picture with him. And for the man who said people just voted for a pretty smile, (post-election) it might just be.

Political Encounters

I spent the whole day reading political news from the online archives of the major Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio. I have to summarize the political developments of August and September for NDI’s monthly political reports. As exhausting as it was, I have fewer questions to ask my coworkers. Things are starting to make sense.

I finally met someone who is not going to vote pro-government in the upcoming election. He was my taxi driver on the way home. It was nice to hear a different perspective but I felt a little uneasy with his ideas. He lamented that the majority of Ecuadorians are lazy and prefer free promises. According to him, Correa has done nothing since he took office in January except hand out housing bonds and subsidies. My driver did agree, however, with Correa´s proposal for free education but under strict conditions. He said that only those students who work hard deserve free tuition. I found a parallel thought with affirmative action and programs that aid students from low-income families. I have my reservations. I mean it’s great that there are so many opportunities for minorities but not everyone deserves free resources. Especially when it goes to waste. I´ll end here.

Political Chaos

I arrived at a time of significant change in Ecuadorian politics. On Sunday, September 30, Ecuador will elect a Constituent Assembly, consisting of 24 national, 100 provincial, and 6 international representatives, responsible for creating a new constitution (mind you, the 20th in the history of the republic). In a referendum held this past April, 85 percent of the population supported President Correa’s proposal for a Constituent Assembly with said task. Once the new constitution is written, another referendum will take place to approve it.

The number of candidates running in this campaign is overwhelming. Every party, movement, or alliance has a designated list number. In total, there are 3,229 candidates, distributed in 26 national lists, 428 provincial lists, and 44 lists from the exterior (6 international representatives will be elected to represent emigrants). And out of these 3,229 candidates, only 130 will be elected! The voting sheet itself is “like a blanket,” my host sister commented. On Election Day, each person must (voting is obligatory) select 24 national candidates on one sheet, and x number of candidates for their respective province (this number depends on the population of each province). There are 23 provinces in the country. People con vote “a la plancha” (drawing a vertical line down one party list) or across party lines. This is a very complicated and inefficient election process because of the system being used and because there is little information on the candidates and proposals of each party. Add existing clientalism and now my head hurts. NDI has been in Ecuador for the past year trying to help improve political dialogue and promote democratic practices within political parties (NDI also had a presence in 2002 when it helped create Participacion Cuidadania “Citizen Participation,” a citizen-formed group that helps monitor elections). NDI recently organized five forums in five cities around the country, in which citizens expressed their opinions of political parties and their representatives. The results were distressing. Frustration and resignation. NDI, in turn, has advised different political parties on how to become more transparent and thereby gain the trust and support of the populace. For my first task, I listened to a couple of these forums and summarized candidates’ key proposals. A comparative table will be published to better inform the citizenry of the reforms and ideas considered by the major parties. I hope this new Assembly will help Ecuador in the long run. On a final note, I’m glad to be an American.