Still Struttin' in the City

I closed out 2011 with a wonderful visit to my old Rural Community Development site, Quebrada Grande, Guanacaste. The two week trip was filled with birthdays, Christmas parties, and a new year’s hike to the beach with fellow volunteers. A community member turned 80 years old while I was there and the entire town came together for music, dancing, singing and general celebration. It was also wonderful to see how well Austin, the new Peace Corps volunteer in Quebrada is doing. He loves the town and the community loves him as well. He just moved out of the host family stay and is now renting his own home in town. At the end of my two week stay I headed down the mountain to Playa San Miguel, my favorite beach in Costa Rica with a group of about 10 volunteers from Austin’s group (Tico 22 that arrived in March of 2011). We kicked off the New Year with a giant bonfire on the beach and a rocket firecracker. It was great for me to get to know a different group of volunteers.

Since my last blog entry my life has mainly revolved around work. I did conquer Chirripo, the highest mountain in Costa Rica with some fellow volunteers. We did it over Thanksgiving, drinking wine out of a box and eating sliced pre-packaged turkey to celebrate the holiday. The trip was just as brutal as expected and we hiked much of the mountain (both up and down) in the rain. But it was a truly memorable experience.

As for work, I keep very busy. So many projects and support for current volunteers, and so much coordination and planning in preparation for the new group of 22 TEFL volunteers due to arrive in February. I am so excited for their arrival. Our project team is super busy planning the trainings and most importantly locating the sites in which these future volunteers will work. Locations we have identified are spread throughout the country, from border to border and coast to coast. I have the amazing opportunity to join my program manager on three of the site visit trips in the coming months. One of these trips delves into the indigenous reserve of Talamanca where we have a few sites for some very determined and committed future volunteers. I am so excited to see parts of the country I have never seen while representing Peace Corps and informing local communities of the TEFL project and its purpose.

I love working with volunteers as a support system, resource, and listening ear. I love working on a project team with two of the most fun and down to earth guys I know; one Costa Rican, one American. I love working in a bilingual office and improving my Spanish skills every day. I love working for the Peace Corps and truly believing in its goals and its work in Costa Rican communities. And with this passion in mind I have decided to stay in Costa Rica an extra six months beyond my originally extended close of service date in June of 2011. My program manager asked me to apply for the extension as there will be no TEFL volunteer available to take over the leadership position until December of 2012, the date when the current TEFL volunteers complete their two years of service. So if the application is approved, I will remain in Costa Rica until next December and continue my work with the TEFL project of Peace Corps Costa Rica. I again feel the excitement of the opportunity to stay longer in Latin America. More travel opportunities, more time to perfect my Spanish, and more time to narrow down my next steps.

I also continue my work with the counterpart organization Costa Rica Multilingue. Working with this foundation and the amazing people who form it has been an incredible experience. I have been the guest at many events, met incredible people and been a key player in the planning of many projects and activities. In April we are planning a 5/10k race to benefit the foundation and express a social campaign message of the importance of multilinguism in education.

I have also joined a women’s club here. It is called the Women’s Professional Network, a facet of the Women’s Club of Costa Rica. The club is very active in education in Costa Rica and is formed by a variety of incredible women from all over the world now living in Costa Rica. I am on the planning committee for an upcoming event in April at which we will host guest speaker Gloria Feldt, a feminist and women’s rights activist from the US. She is a pretty big deal and I am excited to be a part of the project.

Next week I embark on one of the final top sites of Costa Rica on my list to see; Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula. It is said to have an incredible abundance of wildlife and is one of the most well-protected national parks in the world. You must hike in at one side of the park and then trek through the jungle and beaches to the other side. It takes a couple days to complete the journey. Unlike the freezing cold of Chirripo Mountain, Corcovado is sure to hot and humid.
My new official close of Peace Corps service date is December 21st, 2012, which also happens to be my 27th birthday and quite possibly the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar. So, we’ll see what happens!

Life in San Jose, Costa Rica

I loved my site in Quebrada Grande de Nandayure as an RCD volunteer, but that didn’t stop me from whining about sliding down the mud roads in winter, having a pulperia as the only public business within miles, no hot water, a general lack of social activity, a (maybe) twice a week 5am bus out, and probably much more.

I yearned for the city life… sidewalks and gym memberships, multi-cultural cuisine and a reliable, constant bus service, hot water and a real washing machine. I knew by mid-service training I wanted to live in a capital city while remaining in a foreign country. I wanted the hustle and bustle, the routine, the full schedule. And here I am now, basking in the luxuries of the city since June of this year, living the city life and the office life as a PCVL, and truly enjoying the aforementioned perks. Yet, despite all my whining in those final months in the campo, and all the energy I exuded in excitement to be exactly where I am now, I miss Quebrada Grande more than ever.

Sure, now I have internet 24-7 and a slew of restaurants to choose from on any given night. There are dance clubs and theater productions, races and more. But what importance do these things have when you’re an outsider, never quite able to get in? More so here than in a small community, one is not given the chance to disprove the stereotypes attached to gringas. Every day I see new faces and I try to greet with the friendliness that worked so well for me in the campo. But I am mainly met with surprise and distrust, and there is never the time nor the opportunity to prove I am a normal human being with a healthy respect and knowledge of Tico culture, not some rich foreigner here on tour or retired.

I hate to sound too depressed and negative. The truth is I still need more time to adjust to the cultural shock of campo to city. I am reminded of my PST more than two years ago when Delia and Maru spoke to us in depth about cultural adjustment. The honeymoon phase, the crisis phase, the recovery phase, the adjustment phase, and then the repetition of it all in some ways. And it occurred to me that I never really experienced that in my site… at least not to a large extent. I definitely had a lot to get used to in a rural farming town of 152 people who have low education levels, practice Catholicism strongly, and live within the machismo that defines Guanacaste in many ways. But after only a month or so in Quebrada Grande the long, silent stares full of curiosity and consternation were replaced by friendly greetings and invitations to cafecitos and baby showers. Of course, this didn’t happen with every single person and it didn’t happen overnight. It took work to visit homes, attend groups and meetings (both formal and informal), put on a solidly happy face every day and walk around getting to know people for real in those first few months. But once that was established, the adjustment and acceptance I felt came easily. And the last year and a half of service were pretty much smooth sailing, especially in terms of friendships and social acceptance. So I didn’t much think about the training with the little chart of culture shock and “feelings”… until now.

Now, instead of long cafecitos on quiet porches chatting about the recent gossip and news, I read Facebook updates and click ‘like’ to the status of friends. Instead of strolling up to wide open homes and calling out hoopay, I briskly stride past endless iron gates and closed doors, my ears and eyes alert to any possibly approaching thieves. Instead of chilling out at a neighbor’s to watch the game or sing karaoke until late at night, I try to be home before dark and lock behind me the two iron gates and heavy wooden door that protect my apartment.

I feel lonelier among thousands than I did among little more than a hundred. But I am not alone in this according to the American Sociological Review: “Loneliness frequently occurs in heavily populated cities where people feel utterly alone and cut off, even when surrounded by millions of other people, experiencing a loss of identifiable community in an anonymous crowd. It is unclear whether loneliness is a condition aggravated by high population density itself, or simply part of the human condition brought on by this social setting. While loneliness also occurs in societies with much smaller populations, the sheer number of people that one comes into contact with daily in a city, even if only briefly, may raise barriers to actually interacting more deeply with them, and thereby increase the feeling of being cut off and alone. Quantity of contact does not translate into quality of contact.”

Add this to the transition from an intimate community setting where we have been trained as PCVs to become a part of the social network of the community, mixing work, personal, social and free time all into one. And add another sucker punch for being a giant macha gringa in a Latino city society. It’s amazing how having a small community of people know you personally makes you forget your physical differences. Here in the Chepe I am strikingly aware of the physical differences that separate me from Ticos. It is pointed out to me every day.

But in the end I know this is what I signed up for. I was naïve to not consider these factors and expect an easy transition. It may not be the reverse culture shock of going back to the States, but it is still a shockingly new experience that will take time for adjustment and acceptance.

The contrast and recognition also leads me to cherish more the time I had in Quebrada Grande. I can’t go back and extend there a third year there… that might make Austin a little upset. But I can learn from the experience to treasure the positives of my current state, no matter where I am. I’m working on that right now.
I’m also continuing to play soccer on a women 5v5 team about once a week. And I spend a lot of time at the gym. It has become a bit a social scene for me as I no longer have the pulperia or town meeting hall I had back in Quebrada.

During the month of October I signed up for four different 10k cancer awareness races. I enjoyed the experience and the unity of the events. I plan to take part in more charity runs in the upcoming months. I also took a leap of faith- literally- and went bungee jumping with a group of volunteers after a recent training. It was quite possibly the scariest and most thrilling thing I have ever done.

I really enjoy my job as the PCVL of the TEFL project. The people I work with are amazing and I truly enjoy being a resource and liaison for volunteers in the field. In February we will receive a group of 20 new TEFL volunteers and impart on the 3 month journey of PST. It will be crazy busy, but very rewarding.
I plan to spend my 26th birthday and Christmas in Quebrada Grande. The weather will be perfect for beach trips, river swims and mountain hikes. I am also excitedly awaiting a visit form my mom in November. This time she’ll get to see my city life.

Happy 50th Anniversary Peace Corps!

I am now fully integrated into city life once again. I have joined a gym down the street from my apartment and I’ve found a local women’s indoor soccer team that plays once or twice a week at a really nice indoor facility in a suburb of San Jose. Office life is great too. I truly appreciate a bit of a routine and enjoy my position as a volunteer leader. I try to stay in touch with the 20 TEFL volunteers to help them with anything they need in their sites, offer them support and resources, and act as a messenger between them and the office when necessary. We are also working diligently to plan for the next incoming group of volunteers which will take place in February. We will receive 20 new TEFL volunteers and we must not only find the sites in which they will work but also plan their 3 month pre-service training. I enjoy working on site development and narrowing down the goals and objectives of the TEFL project in Peace Corps Costa Rica. It is strange to think that there are 20 idealistic and excited people awaiting a letter of invitation to Peace Corps Costa Rica just as I did almost 3 years ago. It was in December of 2008 when I finally (or at least I felt like it was finally) received a formal invitation to be a rural community development volunteer in Costa Rica starting in March of 2009. And now here I am on the other side, feeling rushed to welcome 20 new members of our Peace Corps community.

My other work consists of my counterpart organization Costa Rica Multilingue, located in the President’s House in another area of San Jose. My major work with them involves expanding a grassroots project called Community Conversations. The idea of this initiative is to match native speakers of English (or other foreign languages) who live in Costa Rica, with local Costa Ricans who wish to improve their basic or intermediate level English through conversations. So basically I have been trying to do a lot of networking and media exposure for the project in order to connect people to form these groups. I have given presentations to several ex pat groups in attempts to find volunteers to participate in the project and it is moving along well. At CR Multilingue I also do translating work and fundraising research as the organization is non-profit even though it is governmental.

I spent a month in the USA in June and July and enjoyed an amazing family reunion and Fourth of July party. I was able to catch up with friends and family in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rye, Colorado and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I actually drove from New Mexico to Oklahoma, and had a blast although it took some getting used to after two years not being behind the wheel. I also played a whole lot of tennis! It came back fast after a couple rusty hitting sessions, but I still have the knack and the passion. Hopefully it will come back again after my year long extension.
In mid-July I said farewell to North America and began my new life in the capital city of Costa Rica. Dina and I quickly made routines for ourselves and found we live very well together. We do all our fresh food and produce shopping every Saturday morning at the local farmer’s market where every fruit imaginable can be found. I go to the gym in early AM during the week and have discovered my new favorite workout (not including sports of course); Spinning. I am even considering buying the little clip bike shoes. I borrowed a friend’s mountain bike one weekend and went for a nice ride as well.

With the full work load I haven’t had many opportunities to take advantage of the easy transportation for travel from San Jose. But I was able to sign up with Dina and some other PC friends for a US Embassy trip to Tortuguero National Park. This was a National Geographic paradise. The boat tours revealed a wide variety of animal life, including many beautiful birds. And of course, we saw the turtles. We went during nesting season and were able to see the giant sea turtles laying eggs on the beach. They heave themselves up the sand, dig a giant hole and drop around 75 eggs in the hole before filling it with sand. Then they pull themselves back down into the water and never look back. It’s a very fend for yourself life for turtles. The experience was surreal. I stood within feet of the mother turtle as she went about her business with no care about my presence at all.

I also took a weekend in early September to go back to the place I called home for two years. Quebrada Grande hadn’t changed much from when I left, but I also saw a great impact from Austin’s work there now. He has developed and expanded the computer center to the point where nearly all the community kids have been adding me as friends on Facebook. And he has picked up right where I left off in teaching English in the school and to community members. After visiting with many community members during my visit I think it’s safe to say they are all very happy with their new Peace Corps volunteer.

It was of course bittersweet to me as there were things I miss. I took a few of my favorite hikes and enjoyed the calm quiet air and the views of the ocean from the mountain tops. I strolled from house to house where I was offered local coffee and was given all the gossip updates. And my dog (who I guess is no longer mine) greeted me as if I had never left and followed me around the entire weekend up until I boarded the 4:45am bus to come back to San Jose on Monday. I do indeed miss having an animal companion, but city life in an apartment just isn’t conducive.
This month and year marks the 50thanniversary of Peace Corps around the world. Washington DC will be alive with Peace Corps returned volunteers, advocates and supporters starting Sept. 20th. And here in Costa Rica we will be hosting a photo exhibit and party entitled “Costa Rica through the Eyes of Volunteers” where winning photos from volunteers will be displayed.

I am definitely proud to be a Peace Corps volunteer and I am proud of this organization’s work throughout the world. I will keep you all updated on my city Peace Corps life. But so far, so good!

Starting my new Peace Corps era

Here it is June already and as most of my friends and family know, I have received the job as Peace Corps Volunteer Leader in San Jose for the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) project. It is a year extension during which I will assist the TEFL program staff, office tasks and administration, and most importantly, the volunteers in Peace Corps Costa Rica. Currently I am in training with 4 other peers who represent the projects Rural Community Development (Dina, also my roommate), Community Economic Development (Theresa), Children, Youth and Family (Morgan) and Environmental Initiative (Kyle). We are all settling into our new lives in the city with relative ease. Those of us who have come from drastically rural sites have embraced the hot water and lack of bugs and mud. But I know I will also miss the small town feel of Quebrada Grande and its community members. I’ve traded in my easy going tranquilo lifestyle for the world of office work and a 9-5 desk job. But the work is still rewarding and interesting. Twenty-five percent of my time will be dedicated to an outside organization such as an NGO or other non-profit that shares goals with my project. Each volunteer must foster a relationship with such an organization and dedicate time to working with them and for them. My organization is called Costa Rica Multilingue (http://www.crmultilingue.org/) , an organization that strives to create a higher level of English fluency in Costa Rican citizens in order to create job opportunities. The Peace Corps TEFL project is completely in line with the goals of this organization and this is why they will become my counterpart work. I will also assist with trainings and volunteer support issues when necessary. The current TEFL group is about to reach their mid service point, which will indicate a necessary training, and then a new TEFL group (Tico 23) will arrive in February.

I have moved into a 2 bedroom apartment with fellow PCVL Dina that is located only yards away from the Peace Corps office building. Living in San Jose is both more costly and dangerous than living in the rural areas of Costa Rica, but I feel mine and Dina’s setup is the best it could be and I’m loving the ease of constant internet and sidewalks.

In my last months of service as an RCD volunteer in Quebrada, I packed as much in as I could. I finished the 3 month long boys youth group entitled Chicos Poderosos and we took a hike up to Los Pinos with a picnic to celebrate. I participated in a sex education youth day in Santa Cruz with fellow Guanacaste Peace Corps volunteers. We each brought 4-6 youth from our communities and with funding from the US grant money PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief) were able to give a full day of sex education sessions with a variety of formats and information.

I participated in a large community fundraiser for the new Catholic Church in Quebrada. We held a Cabalgata, to horse show at which lots of delicious food was served while the cowboys of the area rode up on horseback to compete horse techniques and aesthetics. I wore cowboy boots and a western checkered shirt that was the “uniform” for the girls helping.

The following weekend Priscilla and I went to the National Voces Valerosas young women’s conference in San Jose. Priscilla won a position in the VV magazine for a collage she made representing women in the work world of rural Costa Rica.
We then held the second annual Kids Soccer Camp. This year we won funding from a Kids to Kids Grant and were able to hold the event free to all kids in the community while also giving each an event t-shirt. The male youth again volunteered to be the leaders of the soccer sessions, teaching kids soccer techniques and participating in the games and activities. We also ended with the famous water balloon fight which inevitably gets out of hand but is far too popular to cancel.
In early April my sister came to visit and we spent a few days down on my favorite beach, San Miguel, which was nearly void of people. It was quiet and peaceful and more than once we had the entire beach to ourselves. I bid farewell to the American owners of the bar/restaurant, telling them that my visits would no longer be frequent. But I am sure I will return there as it has become one of my favorite places.

Near the end of April was the Volunteer Action Committee (VAC) dinner- a very famous yearly event that falls during the time where there are the most volunteers in country. It was held right before Tico 19 volunteers began to pack their bags and fly out, and during the pre-service training of the newest group in Costa Rica, Tico 22. The VAC “dinner” always ends up turning into a wild dance party as there are so many people coupled with loud music and some delicious beverages. And for we Tico 19ers, it was our last hoorah before the majority went back to the real world of the USA. Some volunteers are extending for up to a year in their current sites, while a few of us moved to San Jose for the leadership positions. But it was definitely the last time we were all together as our unified group, and it was full of emotion. The RCD tico 19ers (17 of us) went out for a special goodbye dinner as some volunteers left in late April, and the rest left throughout the month of May. We listened to each other’s future plans consisting of immediately starting grad school, starting a new job, or just heading home and moving in with the parents until something exciting comes along. Those of us taking the PCVL positions still must say goodbye the way of life of the previous 2 years as a change from a rural environment to the hustle and bustle of the city and its busy work life is a large change even if it doesn’t consist of moving out of the country of Costa Rica. We RCD 19ers each filmed a short video clip in which we said goodbye to our peers and then our group techy Penelope made a slide show of pics from our two years of service that ended with the video clips of each. We all watched it together the night of the dinner. Tears were shed and about a million hugs were shared.

In my last few days in site I took the long hiking trip over the mountain to the beach just because I had wanted to do it for so long. I also went to southern Costa Rica where I met up with fellow volunteer Jessica Robinson to explore San Gerardo de Rivas and the Cloud Bridge National Reserve at the base of Chirripo, the tallest mountain in Costa Rica. I completed my English classes and youth groups, and began saying farewell to my community members. I requested a replacement volunteer and Austin Slaughter of Austin Texas came to visit in early May as a possible volunteer for the site. He instantly loved it just as I did two years ago and I was instantly confident he was the perfect volunteer to continue in my place. He started on May 16th and quickly became very active with the community Association and shared with me many feasible and wonderful project ideas he has for Quebrada in his two years of service. We overlapped for about 15 days before I finally took the final leap and moved the remainder of my things out of Quebrada and to San Jose on May 30th, leaving my dog (who I will miss as much as many community members!) with Maikol and his family who agreed to adopt him.

Before I left I was given three going away parties by different groups of people of the community. First there was the community association who had a little afternoon barbecue and presented me with a small and thoughtful plaque of recognition. Then the ladies and girls of both Quebrada and the neighboring town of Quebrada hosted a soccer game in my honor and offered me a toast over a whole lot of food they brought. And finally, the male youth of the community (who I probably feel the closest due to our almost daily contact playing soccer in the plaza and hanging out at the pulperia) told me their goodbye’s at a bar in the neighboring town of Los Angeles over lots of music and lots of beer. I danced the night away and took millions of pictures so as to never forget these once shy and quiet guys who somehow became my best friends.

Peace Corps has been a long journey that really isn’t quite over yet. But I’ve known for a while that it is time for a change and saying goodbye is always the hardest part of starting something new and exciting.

MY NEW OFFICIAL MAILING ADDRESS

PCVL Kristen Woodruff
Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 1266- 1000
1000 San Jose, Costa Rica

Second year coming to a close

I realize I have basically failed at being a good blogster. It has been months since my last post. No excuse other than laziness really and perhaps a busy schedule. But here it is, February of 2011, only a few months away from my close of service date- May 30th is the official last day of work for my Tico 19 group. All the clichés are true about time. It feels now like it truly flew by even as I remember times that it felt like time stood still and I wasn’t getting anywhere. I think the work of Peace Corps is the only job about which one can say they are both bored and busy at the same time. It’s a strange state of mind, and an oxymoron really, but I’ve lived it first had.
Since writing last I have had visitors and taken a few trips of my own. In October I traveled to Panama with fellow volunteer and friend Jessica Robinson. We explored Panama City, Bocas del Toro, and the San Blas Islands. In January I met my mom in Nicaragua and we packed into public buses to make our way to the Jinotega Highlands, the capital of Managua, the artisan town of Masaya, and the architecturally grand city of Granada.
In November Aunt Cheri, Aunt Lauri and Cousin Suzanne flew down with new shiny passports to experience my life here in rural Costa Rica. They stayed nearly three weeks and we spent significant time down on the beach as well as hiking the trails and swimming in the river of my site.
The travels and visitors began as the rainy season faded away. During the months of April through October, travel is not ideal as frequent downpours make roads impassable and dangerous. During this time I continued English classes to several groups. One group finished their course in December, winning a certificate of completion. My children’s classes continue and the other organized course is due to finish right before I leave. The kids school year just began and thus second year English has begun as well.
We hosted a 3 day drug education course for which a Costa Rica police official stayed in our town and gave presentations to the youth of the community. The children followed along with a workbook and graduated with a certificate in the end.
In April of 2010 we hosted a kid’s soccer day camp that was a total success. All kids came to the soccer field for a day of soccer technique training and fun with volunteer help from community youth and parents. We will be hosting the second annual kid’s soccer day camp in late March of this year and this time, we were able to get funding for t-shirts.
I completed Chicas Poderosas (the girls youth group) early last year and began the young women’s group entitled Voces Valerosas. This group was comprised of similar themes regarding self-esteem, health, drug and sex education, etc. The end of this course also included a competition of the works of the young women during the course. I sent in several homeworks from my participants and one of them won a spot in the soon to be published Voces Valerosas Magazine. She and I will travel to San Jose for the young women’s conference in March which will be comprised of all winning women throughout the country and their respective Peace Corps volunteers.
I flew home in December for a cold and slightly snowy Christmas at the home of Aunt Julie in Omaha, Nebraska. It was very nice to see the grandparents, parents, cousins, and aunt and uncle for a traditional family Christmas and delicious food!
The coming of the end of the year also brought the anniversary of my birth 25 long years ago. I now carry around with me a quarter of a century worth of experience on this planet. I guess that is supposed to make me an adult. ;-)
Right now the future is quite uncertain. I only have plans in place until May 30th. I should soon find out if I have a third year extension job in the Peace Corps office in San Jose that would begin in July of 2011 and span until June of 2012. The position is Peace Corps Volunteer Leader and involves living and working in the capital city. Several volunteers are applying, so we will just have to wait and see. Whatever happens, my next step is sure to be an exciting one.

a recent poem:

Untitled

In my dreams I make love to a future

To a faceless perfection that holds me tight,
Defends my plight,
Gives me intelligent insight

That patiently accepts my passion and fire,
Listens with a smile as a scream my desire

Who calms my fear and anger,
Tells me everything will be okay,
And touches me in a manner
That my body simply turns to clay

Who sweats like me in the spirit of competition,
But can end the day with an intelligent conversation

About religion, politics, the existence of our species,
Knowing when a black and white answer is simply too difficult to seize

In my future I make love to a dream

Because perfection is not a real possibility

Still Raining

Everyday holds a potential downpour, usually in the afternoon. But some days I even wake to water droplets drilling down on my tin roof. Everything is green and lush, and muddy. Vehicles slide all over on the now mud roads, and with our steep hills, that makes for a dangerous combination. This has mainly meant that I have not left my site much in the last few months. The rain is very disabling in terms of transportation, activities and events. We have hardly even been able to play soccer and the soccer field is now watery and overgrown.
I have cabin fever for sure. Saving up for my Panama trip coupled with the constant rain has left me house-bound with my now totally scratched up from overuse aerobics dvd and my dog for company. I still continue the basic activities that make up my work. Four English courses are in full swing. My advanced adult class will have their final test in December, followed by a party to conclude the course. The English for rural tourism class progresses nicely. It is made up of mainly older women from the Women´s Association. The beginner´s youth class we started in July is a real kick. I have a lot of teenage guys in this course who get pretty rowdy but keep things interesting. And as always my kids class twice a week continues. We celebrated the Day of Children on the 9th of September by having a movie day with popcorn and ice cream at my house. I will be losing one sixth grader to the high school when this school year ends in December. But I will also gain two new first graders.
The beginning of July held the famous week-long Semana Cultural event. I was raffled on to team blue, just like last year. Due to the rain this year´s week-long mini Olympics-type event was not quite as rewarding as last year. Most of the sports just became some modification of mud wrestling. But we all persevered anyway, playing our guts out in volleyball, soccer, basketball, relay races, dodge ball and more. And the more artistic participants competed in singing, drawing and dancing. After holding a first place lead all week, my team took some hard hits on the last day in the competitions of tortilla-making, tug-o-war, and wood chopping and ended with a 3rd place finish. During this week I also had the pleasure of hosting a new volunteer transfer. Ronel Perry was a volunteer for a year in Paraguay and transferred here the beginning of July. He spent 5 days with me for a shadow experience before heading off to an indigenous site southeast of San Jose. Unfortunately or fortunately depending how you look at it, Ronel was not really able to see any of the work I do because he came during the two week Costa Rican school holiday and during Semana Cultural. Basically this means he was able to experience a bunch of partying and sports rather than my daily life as a volunteer here. But Ronel said he enjoyed the stay and even enjoyed competing on a team in the week-long event.
We´ve started our volleyball league, but the rain often cancels the events. Still, we´ve gotten out a few times on the field and played some intense games. I like to see this sport bring together a real mix of people. We have all ages, both male and female.
On the 4th of September we held the inauguration of the new community youth group and their first project; a youth garden. The day went spectacularly. Every youth age 10 to 25 was invited to participate in raffles, ice breakers and lunch, and to sign up to be a part of the new community youth group. I was personally nervous for this inauguration because I really wanted to push the idea that a commitment of time and effort was necessary to be a part of this group. But I also did not want to scare them away from joining. We did some just for fun team games, but I also led some serious team building activities. We did the Bridge of Change activity in which we planned the real backbone of the group. This activity forces group members to pinpoint major group goals, the challenges faced in achieving these goals, the way to overcome challenges, and the strengths we as group members have to succeed in our goals. As small groups they came up with their personal favorites for these categories and we then narrowed it down to the ones that represent the group as a whole. A whole slew of discussions ensued regarding Tico culture. Laziness, hora Tica, non-committal, lack of motivation, and more made up a lengthy list of challenges. Then there was discussion on how to overcome these attributes that are especially used to describe youth. It was agreed that without punctuality, commitment, motivation, and a general sense of responsibility, we would never even get close to achieving the many goals we had listed which range anywhere from maintenance of the soccer field to anti-drug activities. If you don´t show up, nothing happens.
In the conclusion of the event I challenged each participant to commit to being a member of the group and sign up. Eighteen out of nineteen youth signed up, committing to attend once per month meetings and be active in at least one project for the group.
As for future plans, English classes will continue to the end of my service in May, 2011. When the Wednesday night course ends I plan to take on the boys of the community and host Chicos Poderosos from January to March. The girls liked their girls group so much, I think the boys got jealous. The new community youth group will hold once per month meetings and hopefully begin implementing projects and event in the community. I plan to really push the youth to take over leadership positions rather than depending on me to organize everything. I am also helping a new committee of mothers that has begun planning a Christmas party for children in December. We have already held one bingo and raffle and plan to do more in October and November to have funds for a grand Christmas party. I also plan to host the second annual kids soccer camp in March of 2011. The kids were very happy with last year´s event and would like a repeat.
I´m going to Panama for two weeks in October with fellow volunteer Jessica Robinson of Colorado Springs, Colorado. And then I look forward to Aunt Cheri, Aunti Lauri and Cousin Susanne visiting for a few weeks in November-including the Thanksgiving holiday. I will spend December, the Christmas season, and my birthday here in my site with a palm Christmas tree, lights, other decorations, and the traditional Navidad fireworks. In January I look forward to a trip to Nicaragua with my mom.
As for now, I will continue awaiting the dry season and try to be thankful for this rain.

Yes America, Change Can Be Made Without Bombs

I recently took a trip State-side to my home turf of New Mexico for a family reunion. Albuquerque, New Mexico is no metropolis and its little airport with only a few international flights to a few tourist attractions in Mexico is testament to this. Thus a passenger attempting to fly from Costa Rica to Albuquerque must make a connecting flight; the most plausible is the hub of the southwest- Houston.
Flying out of Liberia, Guanacaste and into Houston was relatively painless. I followed the herd of freshly bronzed American citizens returning from their week or two on the beach in some sunny country south of the American border. Many carried a few kids in tow, equally tanned and enrobed in brightly colored Hawaiian-type attire and often accessorized with “local” or native-looking jewelry that was probably made in China. When my turn finally came to step up to a window, I smiled brightly and handed over my passport. The immigration officer did not return my enthusiasm, glancing at my passport and then staring at me slightly over the allotted amount of time to not be considered creepy. But I guess whatever he saw was acceptable and he waved me through with hardly a question asked. From there it was cake transferring from Houston to Albuquerque and exiting the plane into surprisingly hot and dry desert air. My skin instantly missed Costa Rica. But I was home sweet home and despite my fears of having a mini reverse culture shock, at the end of my stay I was ready to come “home” to Costa Rica.
This is when my travel experience got interesting. No, don´t get too excited, I wasn’t frisked, interrogated, or tortured. More accurately I was given a new idea to chew on, debate, and broadcast. It happened in Houston; Don´t mess with Texas right? I made my easy hour and half trip from Albuquerque to Houston and then had a substantial layover of four hours in the giant beast of Houston International. Within an hour and half of flight departure I settled into a black leatherback chair in front of my American Airlines gate and filled myself in on the latest fashion, makeup, exercise and sex tips Cosmo had to offer (once an addiction, always an addiction). Shortly, all passengers of my flight were called up to the gate desk for a passport check of some sort. I shuffled my way into line behind about 20 or so others destined for Liberia, Costa Rica, my attention completely absorbed by Cosmo´s Confession stories. I only slightly remember overhearing the attendants at the front desk cheerily asking passengers for their passports and acquiring as to when they would be returning home. These were normal questions for normal vacationers, so I thought nothing of it. My turn came though and bright-eyed, big-haired Texan American Airlines attendant smiled widely at me, the American flag pin on her lapel sparkling as much as her brilliantly white teeth when she asked me in her Texas drawl, “ And when will you be comin´ home from your vacation in Costa Rica darlin´?” as she scanned my passport. I stumbled slightly over my words having thought she had already seen the giant paper stuck onto the front of my passport that clearly stated “Peace Corps Volunteer”. “Um, well, I´m a Peace Corps volunteer.” She stared at me blankly, the Texas smile never budging from her well-painted features. I began mentally preparing my speech to delve into the motto, purpose and work of a PC volunteer and the reason I wouldn´t have a return flight to the US scheduled. “So when´s your trip home honey?” she asked again, beginning to sound impatient. This time I was prepared and I filled her in on the three minute Peace Corps in a nut shell overview. By this time the smile had faded and she scanned my passport more intently as I showed her where Peace Corps volunteer was printed in a back page. She swiftly turned with the passport to a colleague a few steps behind her and I watched them begin vigorously whispering over the document, eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed. Then in one motion they both swung toward me with large, fake customer service-type smiles plastered on their faces. “Mam you have to have a return reservation for an international flight,” boomed the deep, manly voice of the new American Airlines representative. By this time I was getting impatient and heard the impatient sighs of my fellow passengers waiting in the line behind me. “Look, I won´t have a flight back to the States until at least June of 2011. I am a Peace Corps volunteer in a rural community in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. I have a visa to live in Costa Rica for two years during my service. The documentation is right here in front of you.” They both held pensive expressions, maybe trying to decide if I was some sort of international terrorist. Finally the man said, “We´ve never had a Peace Corps volunteer before.” I seriously doubted that, but whatever. “Oh,” I said, trying to conjure some more patience and a friendly attitude, “well we are volunteers for two years in another country that has specifically requested the presence of American volunteers for development help. There are volunteers in many countries around the world working to help organize, motivate and sustain the people and projects in their communities. I am working in a small Costa Rican village teaching English, hosting youth groups, motivating women´s activism, and working with community groups to fund infrastructural projects. My close of service date is in June of 2011.” I closed my statement with a satisfied smile, proud of my little speech and hoping they could see the sincerity in my words and expression. Their reaction was neither disbelief nor comprehension. Even more disappointing than non-acceptance, they both looked at me as if I was a cute little girl, with a bunch of imaginary friends and idealistic fantasies. “Well isn´t that nice dear,” the woman said as both their expressions softened and they looked down at me from their boosted position behind the desk. The man pulled my airline ticket out from the passport and gave it a scribble, verifying that I had been checked and approved. They handed me back the documents and I walked slowly back to the waiting area. Although I was happy to not be holding up the line anymore, or to be in some interrogation room, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth.
About half an hour later boarding time was nearly upon us and I heard the microphone crackle to life as Big Hair Texan cheerily welcomed all passengers of American Airlines Flight such and such to begin boarding for Liberia, Costa Rica. She then proceeded with, “I would first like to invite all active US military to priority board. We would like to thank you for serving our country, defending our nation and volunteering to make America a safer, better place. Please step forward to priority board.” I may have lost some of the exact words of the statement, but assure you the sentiment and message has not been exaggerated. After a few minutes no military persons approached the desk, forcing Big Hair to begin first class boarding. I sat in my leatherback American Airlines seat waiting for my normal coach seating assignment to be called and feeling profoundly amused, but in a satirical way. I had spent a good ten minutes talking to this woman and her colleague about Peace Corps, what it is, how I am a current volunteer, and how what I do represents America, serves America, and aspired to betterment. And yet, it seems to me these people, and surely many more, look at Peace Corps as something unnecessary, something that makes no difference at all, something that´s maybe even ridiculous and wasteful, especially while we are at war (oh I´m sorry, “conflict” or whatever they call it now). Don´t get me wrong, I support our fricking troops. My heart goes out to those fighting for what they´ve been commanded to fight for, sometimes losing their lives in the process. This does not by any means signify my support of war, but you better believe I support those who risk their lives to fight for the idea of America, however they see it.
What is sad to me is that so many Americans have decided that violence, weapons and bombs are the only way to get things done, and so we put that type of action above anything else. We see any other type of volunteerism, action, and movement as wasteful, inefficient, and idealistic. Where did this sentiment come from? This idea that change is made with bullets and bombs, and anything else is just a waste? I know I don´t have a tough life here in Quebrada Grande, Guanacaste. I´m spoiled rotten in jungle paradise and won´t deny it to anyone. But there are PC volunteers out there- even in other parts of Costa Rica- who have given up a lot to follow a dream of making change one small step at a time. Some PC volunteers in the world have no running water or electricity. Some live hours away from clinics. Some have limited or no transportation out of where the live. Some live in below-poverty conditions. Some have only limited communication with family and friends. We all made the choice to serve our country, leave our homes, our families, the familiar comforts of life. We did it for personal reasons and we did it because we believe we can make a difference. We may not be dodging bullets, and for some, maybe that´s what it takes to earn respect as a servant of your country. But I don´t think so.
I am disappointed in the desk attendants at American Airlines in Houston Texas and in others who, even after being educated about what Peace Corps is, don´t respect it as something worthy of recognition. I am disappointed that more people can´t see that change through violence and destruction is usually not change at all. I am disappointed that some people can´t see Peace Corps as anything more than idealism, wasted time and a liberal political agenda. I am disappointed PC volunteers are often not treated with the respect we deserve as people who have made the choice to volunteer 2 years of our lives to the challenge of changing our world through non-violent means. I can vouch first hand, as can so many other volunteers I´m sure, that our work throughout the world proves that change can be made without bullets, conflict and violence; even if it is just through one person, group, or community at a time.