Tuesday, December 21, 2010

More Pics (previous blog cont.)

Here are some pics I forgot to add in the previous blog.  I have one more from the swearing-in ceremony at the US embassy:
The Gentle Giants and Ambassador Anne Andrew

Pictures from the end-of-training-family-party, yes all one word:


Half of my host family: Rosa, Yensi, Me, Eduardo

Cooking the meat

The Grill-masters

My return to AMERICA

Family and friends,

I am officially a Peace Corps volunteer!  Yes, I am officially apart of the world Peace Corps network; I am one of the volunteers currently serving in one of the 77 countries Peace Corps serves throughout the world.  I am proud to be a part of the Peace Corps family, especially the Peace Corps Costa Rican family.  I feel privileged and honored to be among such a fine group of PCVs; I believe Tico 21 will have a sustainable impact on Costa Rica and its wonderful people. 

My group and I (Tico 21) had the privilege of swearing-in this past Friday at the US embassy in Ezcasu, San Jose.  It was nice to step back onto US soil.  I wanted to pull a Homer Simpson and start jumping across the line of demarcation, “now I’m in America, now I’m in Costa Rica; now I’m in America, now I’m in Costa Rica.”  However, I think the large, US marines would not have thought very highly of such an action.  I behaved myself and the ceremony went smoothly.  Each of us were able to invite two host-family members from our training community.  I invited my host-brother Eduardo and my host-mother Rosa.  They seemed to enjoy the festivities, as did the rest of the group. 

The main speaker at the ceremony was the US ambassador to Costa Rica, Anne Andrew.  President Obama and the senate appointed Andrew as Ambassador in December 2009 to Costa Rica.  Before serving as Ambassador she worked for a corporate environmental/energy law practice.  She does not know Spanish very well (which is strange to me) but she tried her best to do some of the speech in Spanish.  Even though it was broken Spanish, it was a nice deed because the host-families only know Spanish.  Otherwise, the English part of the speech was very thoughtful. 

After the speeches, every PCV had the opportunity to receive a certificate.  We all walked up to the stage and shook the Ambassador’s hand and the Country Director’s hand.  My exchange of words with the Ambassador went like this:

Me: Ambassador, Thank you for your kind words.
Ambassador Andrews: You’re welcome, Where are you from?
Me: Minnesota
Ambassador Andrews: Wow, did you hear about all the snow they got?
Me: Yes
The entire audience: (laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh)
Ambassador Andrews: I bet you feel lucky to be in Costa Rica!
Me: Yes, I really do!
The entire audience: (laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh)

At the time, I was confused and I didn’t know why the audience was laughing, I thought I had done something wrong or silly.  I found out later that it was because there was such an extreme height difference between myself and the Ambassador.  Apparently extreme height difference is humorous in Costa Rica.  Here are some pics of the event:
 Andrew Wood (New York), Ken Farrell (Iowa), Barton Rode (California, Spain, Africa), Me

Andrew, Maria (Training Director), Me

San Gabriel Training Group: Me, Megan (Wisconsin), Marie (Conn.), Andrew

The logistic badasses: Christian, Me, Harold

The entire CED group

John Foss (Vermont) and I wrapping ourselves in glory

"I did not have sexual relations with that woman..."

CED Training coordinators (Luis, Vinyela) and me


Right now, I am at my site in Agua Buena, Coto Brus, Puntarenas.  Here are some pics of my community:

Rio Agua Buena


Park in front of my house

Catholic Chruch

The sign for the women's group I will be working with. "Tortilla Factory, 100% Pure Corn, United Women"

House

Bull Fighting Plaza

The basketball court that was turned into a Bola (soccer on hard wood floor) court


Soccer Plaza


The medical clinic, financed by the Gov.


Red Cross

Bar

Colegio (High School)


Raging River

The community is beautiful and I am lucky to be here.  That being said, this is the thought that comes to my mind most often right now, “oh god, here we go, what do I do now?”  This ambiguity does not frighten me though, I know from talking with other volunteers that 99% feel anxious when they first arrive at their site.  It is something that only time and lots of hard-work can heal.

The first months, my main objective is to complete a diagnostic of the community and continue to improve my Spanish level.  The diagnostic is called the CAT and I am expected to complete the entire diagnostic in Spanish (should be about 50 to 60 pages).  It seems like a lot of work but it is a great tool to integrate into the community.  One of the components of the CAT is to learn more about the history, culture and people in the community.  The only way to do that is to have long conversations in Spanish with sometimes people you meet for the first time.  I heard it is a very useful tool for PCVs.

Other than the CAT, I am expected to: spend time with my host family; introduce myself to any community members that currently work on issues related to community development in and near the community; observe English or ICT classes; explore the possibilities of teaching English to groups such as: youth out of school, high-school students, adults; attend social functions; attend social functions like church, birthdays, baby showers; create a community map with micro-enterprises, associations and cooperatives.  There will be plenty of things to do the first months, it is just that I have to find the motivation to do all these things.  No one is going to come to me unless I have successfully integrated and gained their trust.  This part of my service is extremely important.

I am also very close to buying a mountain bike!  I am very lucky with my site because there are some dirt roads in the mountains where I can ride.  CoopaBuena (the sister city of Agua Buena) has a bike shop and I went to talk to the owner yesterday.  Peace Corps provides you with 70,000 (about $140) for the purchase of a bike.  The owner offered me a pretty nice mountain bike, and in addition, he said he would install shocks and a higher seat for 80,000 ($160).  I would have to make up the 10 mil (only $20) difference, but I think it is worth it.  I am going to price shop a little more and then make a decision as soon as possible. I look forward to a lot of mountain biking the next two years.  Don’t worry Mom, the PC requires that I wear a helmet at all times J.

Christmas, the New Year, and my birthday are around the corner and it is going to be hard to not be at home for the first time.  I am use to be not having much time at home because of college basketball, but I am not use to not being at home at all.  Family, PLEASE take a lot of pictures of the festivities; I want to see everything,  every little event documented!  These will be important for me to see!

I wish everyone and their families a safe and happy holiday season!

Pura Vida,
Elliot