Note: So these keyboards here are really weird, so I havent figured out how to use some figures... Just a warning if you see typos!
It didnt strike me till this morning. Saying goodbye for real. Yesterday, when some of the families said some farewells, Orlando didnt say much. But Louisa started tearing up this morning at our final breakfast, and I couldnt hold them in either. Kristal and I wrote a short letter in Spanish to them, what we could. They read that aloud. I wrote a longer one in English but theyd have to wait for Jon to translate it. I dont remember what Louisa said. I dont really think I know or understood what she said. But thats when she teared up. And again after we loaded our bags. They told us, "Me casa-Su casa." or My house is our house. We{re welcome back anytime. I gave her a final hug and Louis a hug. Then Orlando said he{s driving with us to drop us off at the village center. Awkward-not-goodbye-hug! That{s okay. We picked up Amber and Jackie along the way. Louis sat on top of the spare tire hanging outside the trunk of the car. I took some final pictures. It{s so funny, these people are always so happy but can never smile in pictures. When I took a picture with Louis, the town mayor made a joke that I could carry him with me in my bag if I wanted since hes so small for 17. But Orlando said he{d miss him too much so I couldnt. Oh well! I still cant believe Im out of Providencia. I miss it there already.
Back in Heredia...
On our way to Heredia where wed rendez-vous with the rest of ISV adventure tour groups, we stopped at the same road restaurant I mentioned before. So our bus wouldnt start for quite some time... We had to push the huge bus for some momentum and there it went down the hill... for awhile... we waited... no return... So Hannah, Amber, and I trotted down the road and there it was sitting on the side again. But our driver fixed it. Not sure what he did. Rigged something by connecting something to the stereo...
We got to the hotel for tonight. Walked to get some lunch at Pizza Hut but the walk was not the same... Not like in Providencia where saying hi is a friendly gesture and not a pickup line. Oh, I miss you already!
About Me
- Kim
- Born in the year of the goat; I am like a goat, and I travel through life towards a journey that'll one day bring me home. Towards an unknown place of innate comfortability and peace.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Costa Rica: Last day in Providencia
Our last day in Providencia...
280 ecobricks
50 meters or road
over 600 coffee plants on their way to being organic
and a fresh batch of bucashi
This is also our last day of work. This is the day where we finally leave our mark in this community, literally. We hand mixed cement and lined the road with our ecobottles. This prevents the road from erosion. Afterwards we got to imprint our signature! I put Chinita, since thats really the only way the town will remember me. But I put my name next to it and a hand print too. So if you ever do visit beautiful Providencia... you know who that is if you see it. :)
It feels so great to be done but theres also a feeling of incompletion. My heart isnt content on leaving this place... I want to see this road done. I want to see it lined with ecobricks, however terrible of a job it was working with wreaking trash. I want to see all the farms organic. Even though I was sick and didnt get a wink of sleep, I could not miss this last day. My host mom was so sweet, too. I was going to sleep in and skip dinner last night but she came to bring me some lemon and honey and an unknown pill. I can proudly say that I worked my best and put in a lot of effort to this project. Im definitely going to visit this place again.
Coming into this trip, I was really worried about the language barrier. Usually when I dont understand someone, I just become stand offish and not really worry about interacting with them. But this town is so amazing. I find myself more motivated to learn from them and try to understand what they say. I actually teared up explaining this to the group, which was embarrassing. But this language barrier really made me grow as a person. I really feel like I{ve taken away so much from the people of Providencia.
When we got home, Louisa asked if we'd go with her to a friends house. We really didnt understand but went anyway. Actually it was Orland's other brother's house up the hill. I think it was his wife there but she weaves strips of newspaper into baskets, figures, wallets, etc. It was pretty neat. She brought us there to give us a present that we could pick out ourselves. Kristal and I picked out a cute mini wallet. Plus, I saw the only cat in Providencia! I've noticed - Costa Rica is really a dog town. When we returned home I gave her two of my jeans, t-shirts, a hat, a little needle/thread set, and a little hand soccer video game. Surprisingly, I think she is small enough to fit them. Later that night, the town prepared us a farewell celebration. We all dressed up NOT in work clothes. They prepared dinner and a couple skits, a slideshow of our past two weeks, and some final last words.
Now the skits... They were interesting... How would I describe it? Masked cross dressing doctor - pregnancy delivery role play using farmhand tools to deliver a bunny from the town whore. That was just one. The 2nd was a kid band with cross dressing back up dancers. One of the really promiscuous ones with his bra exposed to black boobie balloons is from Vietnam apparently, as Jon introduced. Keep in mind, this small community and most of Costa Rica are heavily Catholic so this behavior in seriousness is frowned upon but a reason for comic relief.
The mouse.
We got home and changed, tidyed up, then something shoots across the floor near Kristal's bed. It was a cute little mouse but we both kinda freaked... So Louis comes by our door cracking up laughing. I don't think I've ever seen him laugh that much. Probably the closest bonding moment we have had, sadly. Orlando comes in with a broom. Louisa comes in with a mop. We tear the room up but of no prevail. Ok - off to bed. But as Kristal goes to close the door, the mouse climbs down the frame and she screams! Louisa comes back with a broom and just starts smashing! Oh my... my mom would freak out. (She is Buddhist) So the mouse is dead and she just sweeps it out the door. Probably the most exciting thing to happen amongst us.
280 ecobricks
50 meters or road
over 600 coffee plants on their way to being organic
and a fresh batch of bucashi
This is also our last day of work. This is the day where we finally leave our mark in this community, literally. We hand mixed cement and lined the road with our ecobottles. This prevents the road from erosion. Afterwards we got to imprint our signature! I put Chinita, since thats really the only way the town will remember me. But I put my name next to it and a hand print too. So if you ever do visit beautiful Providencia... you know who that is if you see it. :)
It feels so great to be done but theres also a feeling of incompletion. My heart isnt content on leaving this place... I want to see this road done. I want to see it lined with ecobricks, however terrible of a job it was working with wreaking trash. I want to see all the farms organic. Even though I was sick and didnt get a wink of sleep, I could not miss this last day. My host mom was so sweet, too. I was going to sleep in and skip dinner last night but she came to bring me some lemon and honey and an unknown pill. I can proudly say that I worked my best and put in a lot of effort to this project. Im definitely going to visit this place again.
Coming into this trip, I was really worried about the language barrier. Usually when I dont understand someone, I just become stand offish and not really worry about interacting with them. But this town is so amazing. I find myself more motivated to learn from them and try to understand what they say. I actually teared up explaining this to the group, which was embarrassing. But this language barrier really made me grow as a person. I really feel like I{ve taken away so much from the people of Providencia.
When we got home, Louisa asked if we'd go with her to a friends house. We really didnt understand but went anyway. Actually it was Orland's other brother's house up the hill. I think it was his wife there but she weaves strips of newspaper into baskets, figures, wallets, etc. It was pretty neat. She brought us there to give us a present that we could pick out ourselves. Kristal and I picked out a cute mini wallet. Plus, I saw the only cat in Providencia! I've noticed - Costa Rica is really a dog town. When we returned home I gave her two of my jeans, t-shirts, a hat, a little needle/thread set, and a little hand soccer video game. Surprisingly, I think she is small enough to fit them. Later that night, the town prepared us a farewell celebration. We all dressed up NOT in work clothes. They prepared dinner and a couple skits, a slideshow of our past two weeks, and some final last words.
Now the skits... They were interesting... How would I describe it? Masked cross dressing doctor - pregnancy delivery role play using farmhand tools to deliver a bunny from the town whore. That was just one. The 2nd was a kid band with cross dressing back up dancers. One of the really promiscuous ones with his bra exposed to black boobie balloons is from Vietnam apparently, as Jon introduced. Keep in mind, this small community and most of Costa Rica are heavily Catholic so this behavior in seriousness is frowned upon but a reason for comic relief.
The mouse.
We got home and changed, tidyed up, then something shoots across the floor near Kristal's bed. It was a cute little mouse but we both kinda freaked... So Louis comes by our door cracking up laughing. I don't think I've ever seen him laugh that much. Probably the closest bonding moment we have had, sadly. Orlando comes in with a broom. Louisa comes in with a mop. We tear the room up but of no prevail. Ok - off to bed. But as Kristal goes to close the door, the mouse climbs down the frame and she screams! Louisa comes back with a broom and just starts smashing! Oh my... my mom would freak out. (She is Buddhist) So the mouse is dead and she just sweeps it out the door. Probably the most exciting thing to happen amongst us.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Costa Rica: Bonding time
Free day #2! Most of the group went to Jonathan's adventure park where they ziplined, climbed up inside the a hollow tree, got sling shot up, did a tarzan swing, and some other neat things. You can learn more about little tours he leads at www.santostour.net. Katrina, Hannah, and I decided to stay behind. I still haven't found my 50,000 colones so I'm a little shorter on cash. Instead, Orlando took us to the Rio Savagre (i finally found out its name).
I went fishing with him while the other 2 went swimming. He took us through a different trail and we actually saw the big boulder cave where Orlando's father (the very first person of Providencia) stayed. He also took us to different parts of the river, too. I really felt like Indiana Jones for a bit. Unfortunately, no fish for dinner. There were no trout anywhere!! After that, I finally got to see his little beehinve. I dressed up in the whole ensembleñ overalls, jean long sleeved jacket, a netted hat cover. I looked kind of like someone that might sneak into your farmhouse and murder you in your sleep though. Just saying... Oh, and I also got pricked by this crazy looking caterpillar. It stung like heck but Orlando said its not poisonous and should be fine by tomorrow. Then he grabbed it with his gloves on and stepped on it. Green goo exploded everywhere...
At about 2 we had to meet the rest of the group back at the restaurant for the "extreme lunch" that was part of the "extreme adventure park." Overall I'm pretty satisfied with my free day. I definitely appreciated spending time with my host dad, instead.
I went fishing with him while the other 2 went swimming. He took us through a different trail and we actually saw the big boulder cave where Orlando's father (the very first person of Providencia) stayed. He also took us to different parts of the river, too. I really felt like Indiana Jones for a bit. Unfortunately, no fish for dinner. There were no trout anywhere!! After that, I finally got to see his little beehinve. I dressed up in the whole ensembleñ overalls, jean long sleeved jacket, a netted hat cover. I looked kind of like someone that might sneak into your farmhouse and murder you in your sleep though. Just saying... Oh, and I also got pricked by this crazy looking caterpillar. It stung like heck but Orlando said its not poisonous and should be fine by tomorrow. Then he grabbed it with his gloves on and stepped on it. Green goo exploded everywhere...
At about 2 we had to meet the rest of the group back at the restaurant for the "extreme lunch" that was part of the "extreme adventure park." Overall I'm pretty satisfied with my free day. I definitely appreciated spending time with my host dad, instead.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Costa Rica: Some History
Some interesting facts compiled about Providencia!
Population 200 people
only 3 different families
The first people of Providencia came only 50 years ago
Amongst one of those was Orlando's father
There are 12 coffee farms
4 are going organic! only 8 to go :)
Finally figured out the name of Juan's restaurant - Cascada de la Savagre, named after the river that runs through Providencia
Quite interesting, I thought. The short period explains a lot of how this place is so small and conserved. Hopefully, it stays this way.
For work, we put the organic fertilizer on Juan's farm first. He wasn't there because his son fell ill and they had to rush to Santa Maria. I separated 2 kg per bucket to be put under each of his approximate 500 coffee plants. After his farm, we went to work on Orlando's farm prepping the same way we did Juan's before applying the bucashi. I pretty much sweated my butt off. Heaving and huffing and puffing the whole time. So after lunch Jon told me to go home and rest instead of doing ecobricks...
I hope I'll be okay for tomorrow's free day. Tonight, we're all meeting at the restaurant and having a sleep over. We all broke into groups and made dinner. We started cooking at 7:30 and finished at 10:30pm. it was pretty good though... almost worth the wait. We made avocado dip, potato chips, potato and eggs, and cauliflower and eggs. We watched the movie Into The Wild based on the book. I've seen it before but now I remember how much I dislike the main character. That'd be another long tangent. In the morning, everyone will leave for Jon's adventure park. Hannah, Katrina and I are going with Orlando to fish and see his beehive!
Population 200 people
only 3 different families
The first people of Providencia came only 50 years ago
Amongst one of those was Orlando's father
There are 12 coffee farms
4 are going organic! only 8 to go :)
Finally figured out the name of Juan's restaurant - Cascada de la Savagre, named after the river that runs through Providencia
Quite interesting, I thought. The short period explains a lot of how this place is so small and conserved. Hopefully, it stays this way.
For work, we put the organic fertilizer on Juan's farm first. He wasn't there because his son fell ill and they had to rush to Santa Maria. I separated 2 kg per bucket to be put under each of his approximate 500 coffee plants. After his farm, we went to work on Orlando's farm prepping the same way we did Juan's before applying the bucashi. I pretty much sweated my butt off. Heaving and huffing and puffing the whole time. So after lunch Jon told me to go home and rest instead of doing ecobricks...
I hope I'll be okay for tomorrow's free day. Tonight, we're all meeting at the restaurant and having a sleep over. We all broke into groups and made dinner. We started cooking at 7:30 and finished at 10:30pm. it was pretty good though... almost worth the wait. We made avocado dip, potato chips, potato and eggs, and cauliflower and eggs. We watched the movie Into The Wild based on the book. I've seen it before but now I remember how much I dislike the main character. That'd be another long tangent. In the morning, everyone will leave for Jon's adventure park. Hannah, Katrina and I are going with Orlando to fish and see his beehive!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Costa Rica: Getting Sick
Not the best day for my health. I'm definitely getting sick. My throat is closing up, hard to swallow, chills, pooped 4 times today already, and can barely keep my head up. But I'll go to bed after I finish writing this. Plus, I have splinters on the right toe next to my pinky toe, and tons of bug bites from work today. My whole body is sore from the soccer match yesterday. I lost an earplug on my earphone. But I took a histamine and vitamin c pill. Okay, so I was supposed to take vitamins everyday but haven't. I'm just really bad about taking pills. I want to be able to work tomorrow though. I hate missing days off of anything. I want to work; I paid to make a different, gosh darn it!
Not everything was bad though. We worked at Kylie's host family's farm making a natural barrier of trees around the farm property and digging holes to prevent erosions on the hill. I didn't realize we were going through such high grass to dig these holes so I wore shorts. We had to dig the holes, in Katrina's words, "the size of a big hug." Or a grave big enough for a dog (my comparison, though morbid, is a little easier to keep in perspective, I think). Katrina and I dug about 2.5 pits and a planted a bunch of bamboo shoots 10 inches into the ground. I found tomatoes that grow on trees. I was pretty astonished, but it had a thicker bitter skin. There are actually quite a few plants here that resemble the tomato. So interesting...
Not everything was bad though. We worked at Kylie's host family's farm making a natural barrier of trees around the farm property and digging holes to prevent erosions on the hill. I didn't realize we were going through such high grass to dig these holes so I wore shorts. We had to dig the holes, in Katrina's words, "the size of a big hug." Or a grave big enough for a dog (my comparison, though morbid, is a little easier to keep in perspective, I think). Katrina and I dug about 2.5 pits and a planted a bunch of bamboo shoots 10 inches into the ground. I found tomatoes that grow on trees. I was pretty astonished, but it had a thicker bitter skin. There are actually quite a few plants here that resemble the tomato. So interesting...
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Costa Rica: Always Something New
The bst part of this trip is that there´s always something new to learn or do. Our set schedule is as follows:
6am wake up
6:30 breakfast
7 walk to the work site
7:30 start work
9:45 to 10 break and snack time
12pm lunch time
1 to 3pm ecobricks
7:30pm dinner
Even with such long days, there is never a dull moment. Today, we were supposed to go to the waterfall after ending work on the roads project early but the weather was a little clowdy. We might go tomorrow if weather permits. So we worked until 12 for lunch back at the local restaurant, a little hang out in the town. Then stuffed ecobricks for 2 hours which usually would be 3 but today was a discussion day. Our exercise was to pitch a tourist lodge in Providencia to the "locals." We dicussed some issues surrounding community development and tourism, and watched a film about exactly how big hotels and tourist attractions destroy the community instead of reinforcing it. I definitely have always thought that there was no point to traveling if all your money is wasted on isolating yourself on just an expensive luxury hotel. There is no cultural gain from that... This film showed how the government ignored the local protests to stop these constructions. Lots of things are wrong with foreign owned hotel branches.
1. None of the profit really goes back to the people
2. Huge amounts of land are destroyed to build these hotels
3. Unnecessary and wasted water usage for the property, golf fields, etc that could have been used for the locals
4. The locals are alienated
5. Most hotel products are imported from elsewhere since they usually offer a variety of international cuisine
6. The locals protest it, so shouldn´t that say something? If they didn´t mind, then go straight for it, I say.
Anyways, after the discussion we went tot eh community center where we helped cook a community soup with all the families. It was a big big pot... We also played this game of pyramids. If you can imagine there´s not much to do in an isolated village... you tend to make up some crazy games. We arrived at the center and there was this pole maybe 20 feet tall just stuck in teh grount. Jon said we had to climbt to the top and grab the balloon while the pole was oiled up. We all said that is impossible! No one could climb that. But then they demonstrated... you had to build a human pyramid to get to the top. So there are 2 asians in our group. I´m Vietnamese, and Lisa is Japanese. But in Spanish, all asians are really considered Chinas (Chinese). So everytime they were so close to reaching the top, everyone screams "China China, hurry!!!" I ended up topping the pyramid every time and got to the top twice. Jonathan announced to everyone how I should change my career to circus monkey. I guess I didn´t even use the pole but just climbed over everybody to get to the top!!! But man, was that fun... I can´t wait for all the videos to be uploaded. I only got the first time I climbed up, but we didn´t get high enough before we fell.
6am wake up
6:30 breakfast
7 walk to the work site
7:30 start work
9:45 to 10 break and snack time
12pm lunch time
1 to 3pm ecobricks
7:30pm dinner
Even with such long days, there is never a dull moment. Today, we were supposed to go to the waterfall after ending work on the roads project early but the weather was a little clowdy. We might go tomorrow if weather permits. So we worked until 12 for lunch back at the local restaurant, a little hang out in the town. Then stuffed ecobricks for 2 hours which usually would be 3 but today was a discussion day. Our exercise was to pitch a tourist lodge in Providencia to the "locals." We dicussed some issues surrounding community development and tourism, and watched a film about exactly how big hotels and tourist attractions destroy the community instead of reinforcing it. I definitely have always thought that there was no point to traveling if all your money is wasted on isolating yourself on just an expensive luxury hotel. There is no cultural gain from that... This film showed how the government ignored the local protests to stop these constructions. Lots of things are wrong with foreign owned hotel branches.
1. None of the profit really goes back to the people
2. Huge amounts of land are destroyed to build these hotels
3. Unnecessary and wasted water usage for the property, golf fields, etc that could have been used for the locals
4. The locals are alienated
5. Most hotel products are imported from elsewhere since they usually offer a variety of international cuisine
6. The locals protest it, so shouldn´t that say something? If they didn´t mind, then go straight for it, I say.
Anyways, after the discussion we went tot eh community center where we helped cook a community soup with all the families. It was a big big pot... We also played this game of pyramids. If you can imagine there´s not much to do in an isolated village... you tend to make up some crazy games. We arrived at the center and there was this pole maybe 20 feet tall just stuck in teh grount. Jon said we had to climbt to the top and grab the balloon while the pole was oiled up. We all said that is impossible! No one could climb that. But then they demonstrated... you had to build a human pyramid to get to the top. So there are 2 asians in our group. I´m Vietnamese, and Lisa is Japanese. But in Spanish, all asians are really considered Chinas (Chinese). So everytime they were so close to reaching the top, everyone screams "China China, hurry!!!" I ended up topping the pyramid every time and got to the top twice. Jonathan announced to everyone how I should change my career to circus monkey. I guess I didn´t even use the pole but just climbed over everybody to get to the top!!! But man, was that fun... I can´t wait for all the videos to be uploaded. I only got the first time I climbed up, but we didn´t get high enough before we fell.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Costa Rica: Family time
Today was a good day of work. Everyone switched roles so I shoveled some cement as well as dig up the walls of the mountain. I am really enjoying things here. I feel like I´ve been here and known everyone for so much longer than 3 days.... at least a week. All the girls are great. Two of the girls had to go to the hospital in Santa Maria for constipation problems... If I had constipation problems, I´d be happy. Such a time saver. Just kidding. But I guess their symptoms must be much worse and serious than I´ve ever had to experience.
Not to switch from constipation to food... But I stasnd by the belief that food brings people togethere. There is something quite intimate about the interactions through food. You learn, you teach, you find out details of each other´s lives that wouldn´t have been brought up otherwise... Tonight, we helped our parents prepared dinner for the first time. We prepared fried fish, rice, salad, and french fries. So Kristen and I don´t like beans. In Costa Rica, people normally eat it breakfast, lunch and dinner. So as you can imagine, coming here I expected rice and beans 3 times a day but I really lucked out on some amazing parents... that also happen to not really like beans. Orlando likes to fish, so I asked if we could go fishing some time. Hopefully on a sunny day he says, and if I could get some of his honey. Asking all these question has not only improved my Spanish but brought me closer to my host family since none of them really know any English. All of this occurs over meals.
This language barrier is tough, but it´s also a bonding tool if you devote yourself to making an effort. If I had known Spanish prior to coming here, I wouldn´t gain the same experience and leave this place with as much personal growth. It´s crazy how attached I am already only after 3 days. Everything here is better than in the states. Air is cleaner, food is better and natural, real fruit juice every day, people are kinder, dogs are friendlier, water is cleaner. Everything is better. I am so lucky to know these people.
Not to switch from constipation to food... But I stasnd by the belief that food brings people togethere. There is something quite intimate about the interactions through food. You learn, you teach, you find out details of each other´s lives that wouldn´t have been brought up otherwise... Tonight, we helped our parents prepared dinner for the first time. We prepared fried fish, rice, salad, and french fries. So Kristen and I don´t like beans. In Costa Rica, people normally eat it breakfast, lunch and dinner. So as you can imagine, coming here I expected rice and beans 3 times a day but I really lucked out on some amazing parents... that also happen to not really like beans. Orlando likes to fish, so I asked if we could go fishing some time. Hopefully on a sunny day he says, and if I could get some of his honey. Asking all these question has not only improved my Spanish but brought me closer to my host family since none of them really know any English. All of this occurs over meals.
This language barrier is tough, but it´s also a bonding tool if you devote yourself to making an effort. If I had known Spanish prior to coming here, I wouldn´t gain the same experience and leave this place with as much personal growth. It´s crazy how attached I am already only after 3 days. Everything here is better than in the states. Air is cleaner, food is better and natural, real fruit juice every day, people are kinder, dogs are friendlier, water is cleaner. Everything is better. I am so lucky to know these people.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Costa Rica: First day of work
Our first day at work started with a discussion and some work on the hill paving cement. Amber, Ashlee, and I dug up the side of the mountain to get rid of all the weeds. The others shoveled cement and mixed it with water. This hill... I swear. This hill is honestly maybe 20 to 30 degrees steep. Kristal, Orlando and I walked to the construction site up this treacherous hill. Not more than ten yards, Kristal and I are panting like dogs from exhaustion. Orlando was completely fine. He´s been walking these roads for years. It´s quite amazing and humbling, actually. I also found out he likes to keep a bee farm for fun.I´m definitely going to see about getting in on that. Anyways, we finished around 12pm and went to a lunch celebration with our families. Each brought food out for their volunteers. Louisa brought carne, arroz, tortillas and salsa... yum! It was so good. After that, we made ecobricks. It was a terrible task: wet, stinky, dirty... we were handling trash. So we did that until 3pm.
Jon took all of us to this beautiful waterfall. It was like a lagoon! There was a pool and though tempting to jump into, was too cold without the sun out. Everyone departed after a bit of chatting, taking pictures, and goofing around. Amber, Jacky, Kristal, and I walked back together on the way, stepped onto some vacant properties on our own little adventure. At first I was a little skeptic... I said, "I don´t know about this... I´m not a trouble maker...!" But I went in. The feeling of adventure was exhilirating... haha. They turned me into a monster!! I wanted to pass onto another vacant and overgrown property, but they were too scared. They turn me and then abandon me... :(. So we went towards home after that.
I unpackeda bitwhenI gothomeandrealized Ic o u ldn´t find my fanny pack! It had my house keys in them. I looked everywhere! Our mom couldn´t understand us so we went to Jon´s place to translate. On the way there, our little dog was being silly and following us. He fell over on the ground and rolled over to lure us into petting him. Kristal felll into the trap... As she went in to pet him... he squirted a stream of urine at her arm!!! It was the best thing to happen that day. Besides watching Louisa attempting to use our cameras to take a picture, but was confued and held it backwards. It was so adorable... Anyways, she found my fanny pack. I guess she accidentally grabbed it while cleaning out the drawer for us in our room.
Jon took all of us to this beautiful waterfall. It was like a lagoon! There was a pool and though tempting to jump into, was too cold without the sun out. Everyone departed after a bit of chatting, taking pictures, and goofing around. Amber, Jacky, Kristal, and I walked back together on the way, stepped onto some vacant properties on our own little adventure. At first I was a little skeptic... I said, "I don´t know about this... I´m not a trouble maker...!" But I went in. The feeling of adventure was exhilirating... haha. They turned me into a monster!! I wanted to pass onto another vacant and overgrown property, but they were too scared. They turn me and then abandon me... :(. So we went towards home after that.
I unpackeda bitwhenI gothomeandrealized Ic o u ldn´t find my fanny pack! It had my house keys in them. I looked everywhere! Our mom couldn´t understand us so we went to Jon´s place to translate. On the way there, our little dog was being silly and following us. He fell over on the ground and rolled over to lure us into petting him. Kristal felll into the trap... As she went in to pet him... he squirted a stream of urine at her arm!!! It was the best thing to happen that day. Besides watching Louisa attempting to use our cameras to take a picture, but was confued and held it backwards. It was so adorable... Anyways, she found my fanny pack. I guess she accidentally grabbed it while cleaning out the drawer for us in our room.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Costa Rica: First day in Providencia
I´m here in La Providencia in Santos. It is a small farming community of just 200 people. The drive down was so beautiful! We drove through a nationally protected rainforest and cloud forest. Costa Rica is one of the world´s most biodiverse country because of it´s stacked ecosystems and with the help of the government´s protection. Providencia is in th e middle of nowhere. The trip was 3 hours long on a private bus. An hour into it, we stopped by a road restaurant, and I ordered beed, cheesy potatoes, and rice. This time, portions were larger and for only 1500 colones! So much cheaper than food in the city. Bussing up the tropical hills on the long winding rowds is truly reminiscent of Vietnam. I really miss it there... and cows lined the streets periodically, just eatin ´some grass... Ya know, the usual.
The great thing about Costa Rica is that most of the forests are protected. Driving through into town, you realize how rough it can be for the community, though. It´s two main forms of income are farming coffee and blackberries, which are both harvesting in the same season. So through November to March, they have the challenge to sell enough to cover the whole year´s cost of living. They can´t lumber, pollute the water, or anything that may damage the forest: which is great but makes life harder. They have to commute over an hour away just to get fuel or visit a hospital. Only every 2 weeks does a doctor come into town at the local clinic.
So transporation is very difficult for them. The muddy roads erode every rain fall (and it rains every day). Our first project starting tomorrow is a road construction on a very steep hill turning the dirt path into cement and lining the edge using ecobricks (which is literally cemented plastic bottles stuffed with plastic bags) to prevent erosion. ISV´s overall goal for Providencia is to help the community become wholly sustainable. My team is the 20th to come on the Santos project, so we´re going to work hard to make progress on improving their lives! I´m so excited to start work tomorrow!
Oh! Note on the weather... I didn´t take into account we´d be traveling into the high lands so it does get chilly at night, but nothign out of range of Seattle. I actually think I packed quite decently.
Once we arrived into town, they had arranged a welcome celebration for us. The men and boy6s unpacked the bus full of our heavy bags, the girls were dressed in adorable traditional clothing, a stretch of tables lined with white cloths, and prepared for us was fresh juice, chicken and rice, tortillas and salad. Then with a quick introduction, the girls performed a dance for us. Then another one included two boys reinacting a bull arena. After orientation, we met our host families. Myself and another ISV volunteer, Kristal, got paired with Orlando the father (57), Louisa (59) the mother, and Louis the son (17). After touring the house, Orlando, Louisa, Kristal and I took a walk down the road. I truly love it here... The streets are lined with tropical fruits and flowers. The river running through town is actually one of the cleanest in the world, too. It is absolutely great here. I can´t even think about when I have to leave.
The great thing about Costa Rica is that most of the forests are protected. Driving through into town, you realize how rough it can be for the community, though. It´s two main forms of income are farming coffee and blackberries, which are both harvesting in the same season. So through November to March, they have the challenge to sell enough to cover the whole year´s cost of living. They can´t lumber, pollute the water, or anything that may damage the forest: which is great but makes life harder. They have to commute over an hour away just to get fuel or visit a hospital. Only every 2 weeks does a doctor come into town at the local clinic.
So transporation is very difficult for them. The muddy roads erode every rain fall (and it rains every day). Our first project starting tomorrow is a road construction on a very steep hill turning the dirt path into cement and lining the edge using ecobricks (which is literally cemented plastic bottles stuffed with plastic bags) to prevent erosion. ISV´s overall goal for Providencia is to help the community become wholly sustainable. My team is the 20th to come on the Santos project, so we´re going to work hard to make progress on improving their lives! I´m so excited to start work tomorrow!
Oh! Note on the weather... I didn´t take into account we´d be traveling into the high lands so it does get chilly at night, but nothign out of range of Seattle. I actually think I packed quite decently.
Once we arrived into town, they had arranged a welcome celebration for us. The men and boy6s unpacked the bus full of our heavy bags, the girls were dressed in adorable traditional clothing, a stretch of tables lined with white cloths, and prepared for us was fresh juice, chicken and rice, tortillas and salad. Then with a quick introduction, the girls performed a dance for us. Then another one included two boys reinacting a bull arena. After orientation, we met our host families. Myself and another ISV volunteer, Kristal, got paired with Orlando the father (57), Louisa (59) the mother, and Louis the son (17). After touring the house, Orlando, Louisa, Kristal and I took a walk down the road. I truly love it here... The streets are lined with tropical fruits and flowers. The river running through town is actually one of the cleanest in the world, too. It is absolutely great here. I can´t even think about when I have to leave.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Costa Rica: II Heredia Day 1
I've finally made it to Costa Rica! It has been a long and tedious journey... but Dramamine got me through the plane ride. For once in my life, I was puke-free on the plane ride!
However, the end of Day 1 concludes with being locked inside my own hotel room.
Let's start off with some observations:
1. Pedestrians beware. The roads are sketchy and skinny! Even by Seattle standards. Try not to get run over, since-here-pedestrians aren't guaranteed the right of way as in the states.
2. Meals run around 5-6 USD. Food here is more on the bland side so bring salt and pepper for the trip. My 1st Costa Rican meal was at a restaurant called Mr. B's and I had rice, fried plantains, and this green bean/egg patty. It was good though and my stomach seems to be okay so far.
3. All toilet paper gets trashed, not flushed! That's right, when you swipe, there is a designated bin on the side. I am not sure why, but the sewage system simply operates that way. Might seem gross but when in Rome...
4. It rains heavily once a day in the evening. But the weather still remains hot and humid.
5. Their cold is Seattle's warm. I definitely packed too heavy. "Don't underestimate the cold," they say. Cold is about 65F. Yeah... I will have to cut my jeans into shorts later.
6. Heredia has amazing icecream! Go to "Pops'' when in Heredia. I got a cono regular - leche condensada with this nut mixed in -- only 990 colones so about 2 USD.
7. Beware of traps. Day 1 we bokoed into Hotel America in Heredia. I shared a room with 6 others, each with our own bed. Whoever has the key controls the exits. I literally got locked inside and there's no way to unlock it. So I couldn't get out till the following morning!!
All in all, Costa Rica isn't the most wallet-friendly spot... But there's still so much more excitement to be had! The weather is great all the time, even during rainfalls!
That's the end of Day 1. What did we learn? Well let's recap.
1. Pedestrians beware. The roads are... just kidding. I'm not going to repeat everything haha!
Tomorrow, we leave for Santos so stay tuned!
Might be awhile until I get to update my blog with a new entry since I'm not sure what the internet situation there is... And as of right now, I can't upload any photos either, so I will have to do that on my return.
However, the end of Day 1 concludes with being locked inside my own hotel room.
Let's start off with some observations:
1. Pedestrians beware. The roads are sketchy and skinny! Even by Seattle standards. Try not to get run over, since-here-pedestrians aren't guaranteed the right of way as in the states.
2. Meals run around 5-6 USD. Food here is more on the bland side so bring salt and pepper for the trip. My 1st Costa Rican meal was at a restaurant called Mr. B's and I had rice, fried plantains, and this green bean/egg patty. It was good though and my stomach seems to be okay so far.
3. All toilet paper gets trashed, not flushed! That's right, when you swipe, there is a designated bin on the side. I am not sure why, but the sewage system simply operates that way. Might seem gross but when in Rome...
4. It rains heavily once a day in the evening. But the weather still remains hot and humid.
5. Their cold is Seattle's warm. I definitely packed too heavy. "Don't underestimate the cold," they say. Cold is about 65F. Yeah... I will have to cut my jeans into shorts later.
6. Heredia has amazing icecream! Go to "Pops'' when in Heredia. I got a cono regular - leche condensada with this nut mixed in -- only 990 colones so about 2 USD.
7. Beware of traps. Day 1 we bokoed into Hotel America in Heredia. I shared a room with 6 others, each with our own bed. Whoever has the key controls the exits. I literally got locked inside and there's no way to unlock it. So I couldn't get out till the following morning!!
All in all, Costa Rica isn't the most wallet-friendly spot... But there's still so much more excitement to be had! The weather is great all the time, even during rainfalls!
That's the end of Day 1. What did we learn? Well let's recap.
1. Pedestrians beware. The roads are... just kidding. I'm not going to repeat everything haha!
Tomorrow, we leave for Santos so stay tuned!
Might be awhile until I get to update my blog with a new entry since I'm not sure what the internet situation there is... And as of right now, I can't upload any photos either, so I will have to do that on my return.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Costa Rica: Introduction
I realized half way into this trip that I never explained what I was beginning to get myself into. Honestly, I didn't realize it till I got this trip.
Back in November at the beginning of the school year, a couple ISV reps came though my organic chemistry class pitching the program. Well I attended an information session. The International Student Volunteers is a nonprofit organization that combines a volunteer experience with an adventure tour/travel towards college students who want that experience. ISV is a host organization that sponsors individual nonprofit groups within different countries and categorized within community development, environmental conservation, animal habitation, and things like that.
Costa Rica caught my eye as I browsed through my options across the globe. Its culture is set up such that the community is so intertwined with its environment. Hence, their community projects are both about helping people as well as the environment-exactly my career goals. I am majoring in Chemical Engineering with a specialty area in Environmental Engineering as well. It might sound cheesy, but I want to change the world. I joined this because I thought it'd be a good way to get my foot in the door to making a difference. It might take awhile, but where there is a will, there is a way!
The organization is nonprofit so I did have to pay into the program. The standard program consists of 2 weeks of volunteer work and 2 weeks of an adventure tour across the country. One of my bucket list items is actually to travel to at least 3 countries on every continent. So I opted into the standard program. The bad thing about ISV is that they don't really explain the project agenda very well. All of us really had no idea what we'd be doing, just that it was in community development. Most of them wanted to work with kids, actually. I wanted to work with biodiesel and biodigestion.
Jonathan Cerdas is our project leader and founder of Green Communities - a branch off his originally company Santos Tour. He studied tourism but is truly passionate about sustainability. One of the great things about Costa Rica is their initiative on ecotourism. Jon has set up a nonprofit group to recruit volunteers on making communities here sustainable while still giving them a great cultural experience. His project we'll be working on in Providencia right now is working on paving an important hill for farmers and the community, recycling, and promoting organic farming for these two weeks. Other green projects he's introduced before have been biodiesel, biodigestion, ecostoves (gasifiers), ecolatrines, and the list goes on. You can find out more about his passionate goals at his new website www.greencommunities-cr.org :). You might see me promoting him here and there, just because what he is doing is such a great cause. I agree with so many, if not all, of his initiatives. He's changing the world a step at a time, and that's something to really look up to. This guy is a real inspiration, and its been such a pleasure to work with him!
Back in November at the beginning of the school year, a couple ISV reps came though my organic chemistry class pitching the program. Well I attended an information session. The International Student Volunteers is a nonprofit organization that combines a volunteer experience with an adventure tour/travel towards college students who want that experience. ISV is a host organization that sponsors individual nonprofit groups within different countries and categorized within community development, environmental conservation, animal habitation, and things like that.
Costa Rica caught my eye as I browsed through my options across the globe. Its culture is set up such that the community is so intertwined with its environment. Hence, their community projects are both about helping people as well as the environment-exactly my career goals. I am majoring in Chemical Engineering with a specialty area in Environmental Engineering as well. It might sound cheesy, but I want to change the world. I joined this because I thought it'd be a good way to get my foot in the door to making a difference. It might take awhile, but where there is a will, there is a way!
The organization is nonprofit so I did have to pay into the program. The standard program consists of 2 weeks of volunteer work and 2 weeks of an adventure tour across the country. One of my bucket list items is actually to travel to at least 3 countries on every continent. So I opted into the standard program. The bad thing about ISV is that they don't really explain the project agenda very well. All of us really had no idea what we'd be doing, just that it was in community development. Most of them wanted to work with kids, actually. I wanted to work with biodiesel and biodigestion.
Jonathan Cerdas is our project leader and founder of Green Communities - a branch off his originally company Santos Tour. He studied tourism but is truly passionate about sustainability. One of the great things about Costa Rica is their initiative on ecotourism. Jon has set up a nonprofit group to recruit volunteers on making communities here sustainable while still giving them a great cultural experience. His project we'll be working on in Providencia right now is working on paving an important hill for farmers and the community, recycling, and promoting organic farming for these two weeks. Other green projects he's introduced before have been biodiesel, biodigestion, ecostoves (gasifiers), ecolatrines, and the list goes on. You can find out more about his passionate goals at his new website www.greencommunities-cr.org :). You might see me promoting him here and there, just because what he is doing is such a great cause. I agree with so many, if not all, of his initiatives. He's changing the world a step at a time, and that's something to really look up to. This guy is a real inspiration, and its been such a pleasure to work with him!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Costa Rica: I The Beginning
A week from today, I will depart on my first solo international traveling adventure! To this day, I've not left the United States besides to Canada and my birth place of Vietnam. Within the US, I've only traveled to Oregon and Pennsylvania. These 20 years of my life have been uneventful, to say the least.
A half a year ago, I discovered the opportunity to participate within a non-profit organization called the International Student Volunteers. I'll be sent to Santos, Costa Rica very soon; where my volunteer mission begins with promoting community development and environmental conservation. Great causes and exactly the things that inspire my education and career choice. I am a Chemical Engineering student specializing in Environmental Engineering. Changing the world by helping our environment and people are what I strive to do. But that's a whole nother story.
A half a year ago, I discovered the opportunity to participate within a non-profit organization called the International Student Volunteers. I'll be sent to Santos, Costa Rica very soon; where my volunteer mission begins with promoting community development and environmental conservation. Great causes and exactly the things that inspire my education and career choice. I am a Chemical Engineering student specializing in Environmental Engineering. Changing the world by helping our environment and people are what I strive to do. But that's a whole nother story.
For the first two weeks of my stay in Santos, I'll be building/restoring community facilities and working to gain ECOLOGICA certification for local organic farms. Other projects and duties are detail pending.
For the next two weeks after, I'll really get to have fun :). This leg of my journey will be packed with adventures all throughout the lands of Costa Rica. Hiking, white water rafting, mud pools, and horseback riding are just a few of the planned activities.
THE PREPARATION:
As I prepare for my trip, in which I have no idea how to do, there are some tricks I've been told to consider.
1. Bring lots of quick dry clothing. Fabrics like polyester, nylon, or fleece dry quicker than the bulk of fabrics we're used to wearing (cotton) which absorbs liquid and make you cold. Nylon is mostly found for pants; polyester for anything; and fleece for shirts that apparently, unlike cotton, keep you warm when wet. So just some things to consider when buying clothes for a long trip.
2. These fabrics are also very lightweight. A plus for backpacking or hiking.
3. Wool socks. They are actually amazing! They keep you much warmer than cotton, can absorb 1/3 of its weight before feeling wet, low maintenance and can be worn even a few times before washing if let out to air dry. Though I just read that you should hand wash wool socks with little soap then let it air dry. NEVER machine wash, apparently. Looking back to when I first bought some, I should have researched this earlier... I guess soap, heat and friction are bad for wool...
That's what I've gotten so far. Still figuring out any last minute things I need to pack, whether I am under packing or not for a month of travel.
Anyways, stick around :). I will be updating on my adventures as often as I can!
That's what I've gotten so far. Still figuring out any last minute things I need to pack, whether I am under packing or not for a month of travel.
Anyways, stick around :). I will be updating on my adventures as often as I can!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Costa Rica: Bucashi
Gazuntite.
Alright. If I knew I'd be shoveling chicken shit... man.
Well it's all a part of organic farming. What we are doing is making grade A organic fertilizer called Bucashi. Before making a new batch, we had to bag and store the fertilizer made from the last group already dried. Jon quite literally picked the smallest girl to do the hardest job: carrying the heavy sacks up this hill and into the storage. My face was dripping sweat. Anyways. It is literally made of chicken poo and some other ingredients. We pretty much made a layered poo cake.
From what I remember the steps to making Bucashi are:
1. 10 bags of chicken poo (for maybe 250 colones a bag. Super cheap!)
2. 10 buckets of black soil (part of their land)
3. 4 buckets of water and molasses
4. 30 buckets of coffee cherry skins (recycled from coffee production)
5. 2 bags of charcoal (made from ecostoves)
6. 1 bucket of the powder waste from rice production
7. 3 buckets of a mix of water, molasses, and m&ms?? (Okay this I'm iffy about. Not quite sure what the heck else is in this liquid but it activates the bucashi so the fluid is essential to the process)
8. Then we repeated 1.5 more times
9. Add water till very moist until you can almost turn it into a ball
10. mix everything well
11. Each day mix and turn the bucashi to cool until the fertilizer is completely dry.
12. Pray it comes out well.
So this stuff is supposed to be the shit. Quite literally and figuratively. It is the best and most natural fertilizer you can have. For farmers, too, it provides all the nutrients to naturally make your plants strong without putting your plants on steroids, and its so much cheaper than what nonorganic farmers have to use that run around $30 a bag. It is just more work. The natural fermentation causes the mix to go up to 200F. So quite hot...
Surprisingly, it didn't stink as what I was expecting. That is because the chicken poo was already mixed with some soil at the farm to reduce to smell. I wore a friend's large farm overalls he lent me and got compliments from everyone all day!
Community Building...
Later we had a community BBQ later that night. Jon had a few surprises for us. We also had a surprise for the community. They made dinner but we made dessert! Kristal had the idea of making dirty snowballs:
Crushed oreo cookies mixed with cream cheese and covered in chocolates
We danced a little, played a game of hot potato, and this newspaper dancing game, and we didn't have to come into work until 8am instead of 7:30am the next morning! Thank. You. Jonathan. Tonight was a blast. The newspaper game was one where you have a partner and have to dance in the newspaper. Every song you fold the newspaper in half and repeat till your feet fall out and you lose. But I... WON!!! Myself and Gustavo. Granted we were the smallest in the group... All strategy, yo. The little boys broke out their break dancing skills (under 10 years old!!) I played with the kids, but accidentally made one cry when I put him on top of my shoulders...
Alright. If I knew I'd be shoveling chicken shit... man.
Well it's all a part of organic farming. What we are doing is making grade A organic fertilizer called Bucashi. Before making a new batch, we had to bag and store the fertilizer made from the last group already dried. Jon quite literally picked the smallest girl to do the hardest job: carrying the heavy sacks up this hill and into the storage. My face was dripping sweat. Anyways. It is literally made of chicken poo and some other ingredients. We pretty much made a layered poo cake.
From what I remember the steps to making Bucashi are:
1. 10 bags of chicken poo (for maybe 250 colones a bag. Super cheap!)
2. 10 buckets of black soil (part of their land)
3. 4 buckets of water and molasses
4. 30 buckets of coffee cherry skins (recycled from coffee production)
5. 2 bags of charcoal (made from ecostoves)
6. 1 bucket of the powder waste from rice production
7. 3 buckets of a mix of water, molasses, and m&ms?? (Okay this I'm iffy about. Not quite sure what the heck else is in this liquid but it activates the bucashi so the fluid is essential to the process)
8. Then we repeated 1.5 more times
9. Add water till very moist until you can almost turn it into a ball
10. mix everything well
11. Each day mix and turn the bucashi to cool until the fertilizer is completely dry.
12. Pray it comes out well.
So this stuff is supposed to be the shit. Quite literally and figuratively. It is the best and most natural fertilizer you can have. For farmers, too, it provides all the nutrients to naturally make your plants strong without putting your plants on steroids, and its so much cheaper than what nonorganic farmers have to use that run around $30 a bag. It is just more work. The natural fermentation causes the mix to go up to 200F. So quite hot...
Surprisingly, it didn't stink as what I was expecting. That is because the chicken poo was already mixed with some soil at the farm to reduce to smell. I wore a friend's large farm overalls he lent me and got compliments from everyone all day!
Community Building...
Later we had a community BBQ later that night. Jon had a few surprises for us. We also had a surprise for the community. They made dinner but we made dessert! Kristal had the idea of making dirty snowballs:
Crushed oreo cookies mixed with cream cheese and covered in chocolates
We danced a little, played a game of hot potato, and this newspaper dancing game, and we didn't have to come into work until 8am instead of 7:30am the next morning! Thank. You. Jonathan. Tonight was a blast. The newspaper game was one where you have a partner and have to dance in the newspaper. Every song you fold the newspaper in half and repeat till your feet fall out and you lose. But I... WON!!! Myself and Gustavo. Granted we were the smallest in the group... All strategy, yo. The little boys broke out their break dancing skills (under 10 years old!!) I played with the kids, but accidentally made one cry when I put him on top of my shoulders...
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