First Soccer Game..Last Childcare Center Meeting

Saprissa Vs. Cartago!

Last week I went tomy first, en vivo soccer game. Saprissa (the team that I support) was playing Cartago, which meant that it was close enough for us to go to! Several friends and I put on our purple and orange garb, and went out to support EL Monstro! We tied 1-1, but it was quite the experience. The fans of Saprissa are called the Ultra Morada, and they are crazy! The get all dressed up and scream and jump and yell... it's impressive. In any case, Ihad a good time and was glad I got to support my team.

Last Centro Infantil Meeting

Last night the ladies from the childcare center committe and I got together for our last meeting. Ligia and i presented the final designs for the building, plus all of the cost estimates that Daniel, the engineer who was helping us, worked out. They seemed pretty excited about how the plans turned out. I really hope that they keep up the fundraising efforts, and that a year from now I come back to see a completed day care center.

Systemizing the Habitat process

So, a representative from the Latin American Habitat office came to do a workshop with all 22 of our Las Rosas Habitat families. The idea is that they are going to evaluate what parts of the process worked well, and which ones didn't, so that they can apply the input to other housing projects farther down the road. It was a long, cold day. I arrived at 8:30 am to set up, but we didn't end up starting the activity until after 9:30 (due to family tardiness). Also, the event was held on the outdoor (though thankfully covered) patio of the elementary school, and it was raining and extremely cold! The consultant from the LAC (Latin America Office) asked me to supervise the kids so that the parents could fully engage in the process; we played a lot of games, and I managed to fall pretty hard on the slippery tile while we were playing tag. From what I heard from where the kids and I were playing, it sounded like the workshop accomplished its goal: the families were very open about expressing their likes and dislikes. However, it was also kind of upsetting for the families and the Habitat ppl who came. I mean, even impactful organizations have flaws... and the families have a right to complain about what they didn't like. I hope that their input is put to good use. We didn't end up leaving until about 3 pm, and I was exhausted. I went home, and was going to take a nap, but one of my friends Nelson showed up and invited me over to eat Chicharrones (fried pork?). I went, and they were totally worth it!

March is here

So, I come home exactly 1 month from today! Craziness! This is going to be a short but sweet blog, since i have a good bit to cover and not a ton of time.

Panama-Carnaval

Dustin (the other Habitat volunteer) and i went to Panama for our last 3 day trip out of the country. We made sure that we went while they were celebrating Carnaval, because it is supposed to be quite a party. Well, Panama lived up to its reputation, but I decided that at 23 I am just too old to be partying like a Panamanian- they don't sleep! And the big draw are these things called Culecos, which is pretty much a huge street party, but everyone has hoses and waterguns, and you spend the entire day soaking wet (nice for the heat though). Well, at first it was really fun, but by the end of the afternoon, there is a tond of wet trash, and who knows what other stuff floating in the streets, and you are in flipflops, and everyone was drunk )not me... which may have been why I didn't quite see the appeal). And they do this for 4 days straight. I went one day, then hung out with a family we know down in Penonome- they are super sweet. Consensus' Carnaval was interesting; not somethign i would want to do again.

More progress with my projects!

Obviously, with so little time left, I am rushing to get as much done as possible. We got the playground installed, and the first day that I opened it, a kid broke his arm! I guess that's just how kids are though, right? We also got the official constructión plans back for the childcare center, and I am in serious fundraising mode. Things are looking good. The elementary school is recycling! And they are excited about it!

Tope in Pacayas

Last weekend the friends and I went to Pacayas which I think will be my last Tope (horse parade) in CR =(. We had a good time though. However, I either got food poisoning or caught a virus, because I spent Sunday night puking. Here are some photos:

Other than these little things, I feel like a lot has been happening, but I can't think of what those things are at this moment. I will try and post a follow up blog soon.

Birthday Blog

So, I turned 23 last week! I feel kind of old, but whatever. It was cute, my adult students threw me a surprise birthday party in class! I was teaching like normal, when Marta came from her house to tell me that I had a phone call. Normally, I wouldn’t just leave my class in the middle, but I thought that since it was my birthday there was chance it was someone from the States, so I went to answer it. However, they had already hung up when I got there! I walked back to my house, but I was locked out! They let me in like 30 seconds later, and they had a cake and ice cream and cookies and everything; and they sang to me. It was really nice. Then, I went to Dixie’s house afterwards, and she had also made me a cake! My dinner that day was 100% sugar- I am surprised I didn’t go into some sort of shock =)

That same day, in the afternoon, Daniel (an engineer) came out to see our lot and help us design the official plans for the childcare center. It went super well. Daniel is really nice, adn very willing to help us. We should see some results this week! It's hard for me to explain how great I feel that we are taking some more concrete steps towards making this Childcare center a reality.

On the 13th, we finally installed the new playground in the park! It was supposed to take 2 full days, but Abdón and I helped out all day and got it done in less than 1 day. Habitat families provided the food for the workers, and everything came off without a hitch. Now, I just have to figure out a way to keep the high schoolers from playing on it and breaking it. Me threatening death and dismemberment has worked up until this point, but who knows how long I can keep that up. It looks really nice, made of wood with bright primary colors.

Speaking of Highschoolers- I am teaching 5 separate English classes from now until I leave! 5th grade, 6th grade, 9th grade, 10th grade, plus my faithful adults. Also, I met a couple from New Jersey who contacted me interested in helping out in Las Rosas. I feel really blessed, because they are going to teach English! Liz is a professional ESL teacher in Cartago, and is going to work with my adutls once a week, while Adam is going to help out in the colegio. I was really bummed that I was going to leave my students (especially the adults who have worked so hard) without any continuing English education. But now, with Adam and Liz, some of them will get to stay in class until about November!

Valentine's Day is pretty much the same here as in the States. ON the 14th, we had a party at my house to celebrate El Día del amor y amistad, plus my birthday and the birthday of two other girls in our group of friends. It was fun, with yet more cake. Ticos love their cake.

KBD...KBD.

On Saturday, Habitat presented the keys to 23 homes to families who lost everything in the january 8th earthquake. Even though this is not really my area of expertise here with Habitat, I tagged along to the ceremony because 1- I wanted to see it. and B- Because the President of Costa Rica (Oscar Arrias Sanchez) was going to be there and I am super lame and wanted a picture with a president. Well, I attained both of my goals. It was really moving to see the families in their new houses. Another nonprofit (fndación Monge) was able to donate furniture and appliances and everything for all fo the families. The only down side- it was pouring rain! It was really awful, and the ceremony was outside under tents. Not a good combination. PLus, I was wearing flip flops, and my feet got so muddy, and then there I was with the Persidente de la República with muddy feet =) Anyway, here are some pictures. I was dying of laughter. Arias' "body guard" was actually like, "here, come closer", I was about 2 seconds away from giving him a kiss on the cheek. None of my friends here think it was that cool (in a smaller country I guess its not that exciting). But i'll probably never meet my own president (but that would be neat) so I am going to settle for my adopted one.

Volcan Irazu

I think that I forgot to write about this when I went, but remembered when I was going through my pictures. IN January I went with CArita and his nephew to see the Irazu Volcano (which we actually live on the slopes of). I just hadn't made it to the crater yet. It was really pretty, and actually sunny. I got super sunburned. Afterwards we went to the SANATORIO, which is an abandoned mental hospital. It was neat looking.

Las Fiestas de Palmares, Minesterio de Salud

So, I went with my friends on a trip on Sunday to the biggest fiestas of the year, in all of Costa Rica. They take place in Palmares, which is really only on the map because it ahs a big party once a year. It was fun. We got on a party bus at 8 am in Santa Rosa, and got back at 1 am that night. The day was full of a concert, drinking, dancing, food. It is pretty much like a huge carnival or something. I had a really great time.

Yesterday Ligia and I had a meeting with an official in the Ministry of Salud. She was super helpful. She took a look at the preliminary plans that we have drawn up for our childcare center, and gave us some really useful suggestions. I am pretty psyched about the fact that we are actualyl having real plans made, which means we can get a serious price estimate, which means I can do some serious fundraising in the last 2 months I have left. An engineer is coming to look at the lot next week, and we are also installign the playground. it should be a busy few days.