After a much enjoyed break from the campo life of Costa Rica I was able to make it back to New York for some rest and relaxation. The transition from Costa Rica to New York was more intense then I thought it would be. Primarily because I havent seen alot of my family and friends for well over 9 months. But overall it was amazing to see everyone and as I am here now in Costa Rica, my time in New York served as a great refresher and as well gave me a new perspective between my life in New York and my life in Costa Rica.
Thanksgiving was a great time spent with my family. Of course we had all the mandatory foods and fixins on the table and it was really a special time to spend with my family. The next night was my five year High School Reunion which was definately a blast and as well served as a great opportunity to catch up with people I havent spoken to in a while and as well party with my good friends from back home.
Overall my experience in New York was positive. But it was definately very hard to say goodbye as I didnt spend as much time with certain people as I wanted to, and as well the feeling of comfort from my family and friends at home was very difficult to leave. I could easily see myself sliding back to my ¨normal¨ life as a member of US society, but then again I would be missing out on the amazing opportunity which I have here in Costa Rica. As well I feel connected to my site and the people which I am living with and helping here in Costa Rica and I could not let them down.
So far I have been back in Costa Rica for about 3 days and I am happy to have at least escaped the fierce cold of New York as I went on a 5 mile run in the blistering 90 degrees Fahrenheit mid day heat of Southern Costa Rica. My marathon training is working out well as of right now, but the heat will definately be a huge issue as the training progresses.
Things in my site are going well. I have continued my English Classes and am working to finish things up before I roll out to NY again to celebrate Christmas with my family.
Overall thinga are great and for all of you who I saw in New York over the break it was great to see you and I miss you all everyday.
Much love amd Tuanis,
Rudy
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Training is Fun
About a week ago I went with my friends Bill and Lindsay to go visit our training host families. As usual it was an amazing time. Very relaxing and quite a change from my regular site. I remember initially thinking that my living situation was rough but now whenever I go and visit my training host family in a way it seems like the Beverly Hills of San Jose. Overall it was a really great time.
The next day the three of us left on the bus to make it into San Jose in order to celebrate the birthday of a fellow Tico 16er. Ever since the rates at the usual hotel we stay at where jacked up we decided to try out a newer hotel. At this newer hotel we decided that we would need 2 2 bedroom suites with Balconies , Jet tubs, Bedais? ( the things next to the toilets to wash your rear ends), and King Size beds. It was definately a huge step up from the Hole in the all we normally stay at. As well the security guard named Elvis at our old hotel switched jobs and now works at our new favorite hotel, which is awesome. Elvis is the man. We went out that night and partied it up in some Italian restaurant and then of course brought back the party to the Suites and danced the night away.
The next day we needed to wake up early, like around 11 am, and get ready to board the buses for AVC. AVC stands for All Volunteer Conference. It is actually a mandatory event for all Peace Corps Costa Rica volunteers to go to. This year as in past years it was held at an Old Boyscott Camp high in the mountains of San Jose. It was soo high up in the mountais half the time it felt like we were in the clouds, as well it was extremely steep wherever we walked and freezing. Tico 16 of course grabbed the ¨Night Owl¨bunk as opposed to the ¨Early Bird¨Bunk, meaning at what times we would eventually go to sleep. Our room basically consisted of one GIGANTIC steel bunk bed with wrestling mats as the mattresses. Each bed or platform basically fit 12 people squished together. Overall the accomodations were meager along with the ICE cold showers but nonetheless some serious bonding went on at night. It is a good thing that TICO 16 were all Rural Community Development volunteers use the grundge and rough conditions.
Anyways at AVC there were alot of different¨Charlas¨or talks about potential projects and also meetings within the three different programs, RCD, CYF (Children Youth and Family), and CED ( Community Economic Development). As well there were alot of different entertainment things to such as play football in the mud, there was a talent show at the end of one of the nights (Which TICO 16 represented strong), and then another night we had a casino night with both Euchre and Poker. I ended up entering the Texas Holdem No Limit 24 person poker tournement and came out winning the WHOLE thing. I was the last man standing with 4,000 Brachs Pepperming Starbrite Candies as chips. It was a really fun event and I am definately glad that I came out on top. Normally I am not that good at poker but I have been honing my card skills at the casinos in San Jose every once in a while. Overall AVC was definately a really good time and I also had the opportunity to meet alot of new people in Peace Corps I have not met before.
After AVC about 1/2 of the volunteers who came to AVC decided to stay the night in San Jose. Which turned out to be a really fun time. We partied it up in the hotel then hit up the local duplex casino on the bottom floor Discoteque on the second floor joint and danced the night away. After waking up the next day I felt that I needed to get a haircut to trip my monstrous head of hair I had not cut for 9 months as well as beard I hadnt cut for 3 months. I went to the nearest haircut place and got be haircut done by this Colombian guy named Hubert. Good times all around.
Finally the next day I was able to trek back to my site in the Zona Sur of Costa Rica. Things in my site are going very well. I have begun my 2 adults classes on a twice a week 2 hours a day schedule. As well we have implimented the use of the new Centro Cultural Oxford Press books, which are very high quality and an overall very good English program in my classes. They are learning alot and seem to be having a great time. Teaching English is definately an amazing way to integrate into the community and as well a perfect opportunity to get to know people in my community on a more one on one basis. Overall there is nothing but success relating to my English classes.
I will be continuing work on my remaining interviews and as well hopefully finish up my Community Analysis Tool aka Report of my community by the end of December or January. As well the school year will be winding down in December so I am thinking up some ideas of what I can do with the children when they are out of school and have nothing to do.
At my house 2 near little calfs were born and as well one of my 5 dogs is very pregnant up to the point where she can barely walk. Last time she gave birth to 11 puppies. Ever since day one when I arrived my house as been under construction. So poco a poco things have been getting renovated which is great. We have new ceramic flooring as well they are currently installing windows. Right now my room does not have windows because the window guy comes to install the windows once every bloom moon. So I have been pleasantly startled with Chickens, Random Birds, and Stinging Insects randomly flying into my room as I read the newspaper on my bed. But overall it is going to be a good thing, because in the past the only window I had was boarded up by two wooden planks. The house which I live in now is definately one of the better quality houses in my site although I still need to venture to my latrine where last night there was a chicken sleeping in that startled the heck out of me.
Ever since I have arrived here in Costa Rica I have been meaning to start running again but never really had the motivation. So I decided to begin training for the Jungle Man Marathon on February 23, 2007 in Puerto Viejo. The marathon like all marathons will be 26.1 miles, where 2/3 will be running on the unforgiving beach and 1/3 literally in the Jungle all during the hottest time of the year. It will be an insane physicaly feet but I have dedicated myself to completing it and will definately give you the updates on my progress during training. Today I went on one of my first training runs and sweated up a storm in the 90 degree sun. It will be intense but hey Go Hard or Go Home as the say.
Other news I am extremely excited to head back the the US for a week for thanksgiving. I have my 5 year high school reunion to look forward to and as well spending time with family and friends I have not seen for over 9 months. It will definately be an amazing experience but mentally it will be hard in terms of culture shock to extract my self from the jungles of costa rica to the suburbs of New York. Things like driving a car, having a cell phone, eating whatever food you want whenever you want, flush toilets, and hot showers will be quite an experience.
Also I would like to personally thank The Gleason family for sending me such a wonderful care package to me here in the Zona Sur. It was piled high with American Candy and an amazing Dora the Exploradora educational game I know my Kindergarten class will LOVE. I really appreciate the effort.
I look forward to seeing everyone back home soon. Feel free to send me emails or packages whenever you want. I hope you enjoyed reading this novel of a blog entry.
Everything Irie.
Tuanis,
Rudy
The next day the three of us left on the bus to make it into San Jose in order to celebrate the birthday of a fellow Tico 16er. Ever since the rates at the usual hotel we stay at where jacked up we decided to try out a newer hotel. At this newer hotel we decided that we would need 2 2 bedroom suites with Balconies , Jet tubs, Bedais? ( the things next to the toilets to wash your rear ends), and King Size beds. It was definately a huge step up from the Hole in the all we normally stay at. As well the security guard named Elvis at our old hotel switched jobs and now works at our new favorite hotel, which is awesome. Elvis is the man. We went out that night and partied it up in some Italian restaurant and then of course brought back the party to the Suites and danced the night away.
The next day we needed to wake up early, like around 11 am, and get ready to board the buses for AVC. AVC stands for All Volunteer Conference. It is actually a mandatory event for all Peace Corps Costa Rica volunteers to go to. This year as in past years it was held at an Old Boyscott Camp high in the mountains of San Jose. It was soo high up in the mountais half the time it felt like we were in the clouds, as well it was extremely steep wherever we walked and freezing. Tico 16 of course grabbed the ¨Night Owl¨bunk as opposed to the ¨Early Bird¨Bunk, meaning at what times we would eventually go to sleep. Our room basically consisted of one GIGANTIC steel bunk bed with wrestling mats as the mattresses. Each bed or platform basically fit 12 people squished together. Overall the accomodations were meager along with the ICE cold showers but nonetheless some serious bonding went on at night. It is a good thing that TICO 16 were all Rural Community Development volunteers use the grundge and rough conditions.
Anyways at AVC there were alot of different¨Charlas¨or talks about potential projects and also meetings within the three different programs, RCD, CYF (Children Youth and Family), and CED ( Community Economic Development). As well there were alot of different entertainment things to such as play football in the mud, there was a talent show at the end of one of the nights (Which TICO 16 represented strong), and then another night we had a casino night with both Euchre and Poker. I ended up entering the Texas Holdem No Limit 24 person poker tournement and came out winning the WHOLE thing. I was the last man standing with 4,000 Brachs Pepperming Starbrite Candies as chips. It was a really fun event and I am definately glad that I came out on top. Normally I am not that good at poker but I have been honing my card skills at the casinos in San Jose every once in a while. Overall AVC was definately a really good time and I also had the opportunity to meet alot of new people in Peace Corps I have not met before.
After AVC about 1/2 of the volunteers who came to AVC decided to stay the night in San Jose. Which turned out to be a really fun time. We partied it up in the hotel then hit up the local duplex casino on the bottom floor Discoteque on the second floor joint and danced the night away. After waking up the next day I felt that I needed to get a haircut to trip my monstrous head of hair I had not cut for 9 months as well as beard I hadnt cut for 3 months. I went to the nearest haircut place and got be haircut done by this Colombian guy named Hubert. Good times all around.
Finally the next day I was able to trek back to my site in the Zona Sur of Costa Rica. Things in my site are going very well. I have begun my 2 adults classes on a twice a week 2 hours a day schedule. As well we have implimented the use of the new Centro Cultural Oxford Press books, which are very high quality and an overall very good English program in my classes. They are learning alot and seem to be having a great time. Teaching English is definately an amazing way to integrate into the community and as well a perfect opportunity to get to know people in my community on a more one on one basis. Overall there is nothing but success relating to my English classes.
I will be continuing work on my remaining interviews and as well hopefully finish up my Community Analysis Tool aka Report of my community by the end of December or January. As well the school year will be winding down in December so I am thinking up some ideas of what I can do with the children when they are out of school and have nothing to do.
At my house 2 near little calfs were born and as well one of my 5 dogs is very pregnant up to the point where she can barely walk. Last time she gave birth to 11 puppies. Ever since day one when I arrived my house as been under construction. So poco a poco things have been getting renovated which is great. We have new ceramic flooring as well they are currently installing windows. Right now my room does not have windows because the window guy comes to install the windows once every bloom moon. So I have been pleasantly startled with Chickens, Random Birds, and Stinging Insects randomly flying into my room as I read the newspaper on my bed. But overall it is going to be a good thing, because in the past the only window I had was boarded up by two wooden planks. The house which I live in now is definately one of the better quality houses in my site although I still need to venture to my latrine where last night there was a chicken sleeping in that startled the heck out of me.
Ever since I have arrived here in Costa Rica I have been meaning to start running again but never really had the motivation. So I decided to begin training for the Jungle Man Marathon on February 23, 2007 in Puerto Viejo. The marathon like all marathons will be 26.1 miles, where 2/3 will be running on the unforgiving beach and 1/3 literally in the Jungle all during the hottest time of the year. It will be an insane physicaly feet but I have dedicated myself to completing it and will definately give you the updates on my progress during training. Today I went on one of my first training runs and sweated up a storm in the 90 degree sun. It will be intense but hey Go Hard or Go Home as the say.
Other news I am extremely excited to head back the the US for a week for thanksgiving. I have my 5 year high school reunion to look forward to and as well spending time with family and friends I have not seen for over 9 months. It will definately be an amazing experience but mentally it will be hard in terms of culture shock to extract my self from the jungles of costa rica to the suburbs of New York. Things like driving a car, having a cell phone, eating whatever food you want whenever you want, flush toilets, and hot showers will be quite an experience.
Also I would like to personally thank The Gleason family for sending me such a wonderful care package to me here in the Zona Sur. It was piled high with American Candy and an amazing Dora the Exploradora educational game I know my Kindergarten class will LOVE. I really appreciate the effort.
I look forward to seeing everyone back home soon. Feel free to send me emails or packages whenever you want. I hope you enjoyed reading this novel of a blog entry.
Everything Irie.
Tuanis,
Rudy
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