Jimmy and Susana in front on the Christams tree at his parent's house.
Jimmy and Susana on his 28th birthday.Monday, December 11, 2006
Jimmy and Susana
Jimmy and Susana in front on the Christams tree at his parent's house. Jimmy and Susana on his 28th birthday.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Panama Pictures
Susana in her new orange swim suit in Bocas del Toro, Isla Bastimentos
Some students sitting next to children in the Ngobe-Bugle Indigenous Community
Group Picture in Bocas del Toro, Isla ColonPanama Pictures
Group picture in Bocas del Toro
Julia and Susana at the Panama Canal
Susana in Corcovado Tent Camp, Drake Bay
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
The end of our Panama trip
Greetings from Costa Rica.
We arrived home late last night to the cold (early) December winds from the North. Our travel day to Heredia yesterday was long because an intense wind storm created huge waves, and we could not leave the island on a normal taxi boat, so we had to take a huge ferry. Leaving the Island of Bastimentos was a melancholic experience because we were sad to end our academic trip and leave a precious paradise, but at the same time we felt happy to return home.
A highlight of our time in Bocas del Toro, and the entire trip, was our snorkeling day on Monday. Can you imagine 29 people snorkeling in the open ocean for a couple of hours?!? Then we went to a tiny island in the National Park that does not have any human development and played on the beach for a couple more hours. No words are sufficient to explain our experience, but beautiful, spectacular, magical and colorful attempt to describe our day.
Overall, this trip was a total success because we had a safe time and we ALL learned so much about a wide variety of topics. It is amazing to see the personal growth of each individual and the group as a whole. For many people, Panama was an insignificant country that they only learned about due to the canal, and now Panama is a dynamic country full of history and cultural diversity. This trip succeeded in changing people’s perspective about the world.
For me, I am surprised about how often the topic of GLOBAL WARMING came up in different talks. From an economics lecture to an oceanography lecture, global warming is becoming an increasingly important concern and it overwhelms me because I am realizing how serious this problem is, and will be. The planet must unite to stop it, or else, and I wonder if we can change.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING ALONG! As you all know, it is important for me to reflect and document, and I appreciate your support. I will send pictures out soon.
=)
PS, do you know that Panama has used the US dollar since 1903, when the US “helped” them become a country? They never had enough gold to create their own currency.
We arrived home late last night to the cold (early) December winds from the North. Our travel day to Heredia yesterday was long because an intense wind storm created huge waves, and we could not leave the island on a normal taxi boat, so we had to take a huge ferry. Leaving the Island of Bastimentos was a melancholic experience because we were sad to end our academic trip and leave a precious paradise, but at the same time we felt happy to return home.
A highlight of our time in Bocas del Toro, and the entire trip, was our snorkeling day on Monday. Can you imagine 29 people snorkeling in the open ocean for a couple of hours?!? Then we went to a tiny island in the National Park that does not have any human development and played on the beach for a couple more hours. No words are sufficient to explain our experience, but beautiful, spectacular, magical and colorful attempt to describe our day.
Overall, this trip was a total success because we had a safe time and we ALL learned so much about a wide variety of topics. It is amazing to see the personal growth of each individual and the group as a whole. For many people, Panama was an insignificant country that they only learned about due to the canal, and now Panama is a dynamic country full of history and cultural diversity. This trip succeeded in changing people’s perspective about the world.
For me, I am surprised about how often the topic of GLOBAL WARMING came up in different talks. From an economics lecture to an oceanography lecture, global warming is becoming an increasingly important concern and it overwhelms me because I am realizing how serious this problem is, and will be. The planet must unite to stop it, or else, and I wonder if we can change.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING ALONG! As you all know, it is important for me to reflect and document, and I appreciate your support. I will send pictures out soon.
=)
PS, do you know that Panama has used the US dollar since 1903, when the US “helped” them become a country? They never had enough gold to create their own currency.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Culture in Bocas, Panama
I am here on the main island called Colon, of the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Christopher Colombus came to these islands and he actually named them. "Colon" in Spanish means "Colombus."
Yesterday we went to the indigenous community called Ngobe-Bugle. Wow! It was awkward at first because we stared at them just as much as they stared at us. After receiving an informal lecture from the leaders, which I translated, we listened to the kindergardeners sing some songs and then we sang some kids songs for them. Then we all played cat-and-mouse with the children. The best ice-breakers in most activities are the kids. We then were able to walk around the community and see where and how the people live. That small community only has 516 people and their greatest worry regards the future of their children. There are so many kids and there is not enough land to sustain their needs, (just like anywhere else in the world). When we left, all of the children ran to our sides to hug us and walk hand-in-hand to our boat. It was an amazing day because we formed friendships quickly and learned from each other.
Today we had a lecture from an Afro-Caribbean lawyer that is a descenant of one of the founding families on the island. We learned about Afro-Caribbean history and culture, which is extremely unique in the Bocas del Toro region due to their mixing with other races of people. After our lecture, an Afro-Caribbean children´s group danced for us and it was so beautiful to see youth with very very black skin dressed in white cloth moving to traditional calypso music.
Oh, and yesterday morning we hiked to the other side of the Bastimentos Island and swam in a totally secluded beach paradise.
We return to Costa Rica on Tuesday and I will write when we get back. Tomorrow we are going snorkeling.
Yesterday we went to the indigenous community called Ngobe-Bugle. Wow! It was awkward at first because we stared at them just as much as they stared at us. After receiving an informal lecture from the leaders, which I translated, we listened to the kindergardeners sing some songs and then we sang some kids songs for them. Then we all played cat-and-mouse with the children. The best ice-breakers in most activities are the kids. We then were able to walk around the community and see where and how the people live. That small community only has 516 people and their greatest worry regards the future of their children. There are so many kids and there is not enough land to sustain their needs, (just like anywhere else in the world). When we left, all of the children ran to our sides to hug us and walk hand-in-hand to our boat. It was an amazing day because we formed friendships quickly and learned from each other.
Today we had a lecture from an Afro-Caribbean lawyer that is a descenant of one of the founding families on the island. We learned about Afro-Caribbean history and culture, which is extremely unique in the Bocas del Toro region due to their mixing with other races of people. After our lecture, an Afro-Caribbean children´s group danced for us and it was so beautiful to see youth with very very black skin dressed in white cloth moving to traditional calypso music.
Oh, and yesterday morning we hiked to the other side of the Bastimentos Island and swam in a totally secluded beach paradise.
We return to Costa Rica on Tuesday and I will write when we get back. Tomorrow we are going snorkeling.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Leaving Panama City was a long haul on a bus for 10 hours and then a 1 hour boat ride to one of the six main islands of this archipelago. We arrived last night and we are staying in a hotel that was an old-styled afro-caribbean house that is pratically over the water on stilts. We are staying on one of the less developed islands called Bastimentos, and the small town does not have any motorized vehicles. Paradise, once again.
Today we had a lecture from the Smithsonian Research Institute, where we learned about the ecosystems on this side of the country. The coral reefs are in danger, just as the turtles, of going extinct due to uncontroled tourism, environmental exploitation, increase in population and lack of regulations. The main island of Colon has the most important beach for turtle nesting, and every year less turtles come to nest. There seems to be so many environmental problems and not enough social organization to protect the negative impacts, yet.
We lucked out too, because Bocas del Toro is celebrating their yearly festivals this weekend. So, after full days of learning, we will continue to learn through experience about their socio-cultural life. =)
Today we had a lecture from the Smithsonian Research Institute, where we learned about the ecosystems on this side of the country. The coral reefs are in danger, just as the turtles, of going extinct due to uncontroled tourism, environmental exploitation, increase in population and lack of regulations. The main island of Colon has the most important beach for turtle nesting, and every year less turtles come to nest. There seems to be so many environmental problems and not enough social organization to protect the negative impacts, yet.
We lucked out too, because Bocas del Toro is celebrating their yearly festivals this weekend. So, after full days of learning, we will continue to learn through experience about their socio-cultural life. =)
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Economics in the world and Panama
What a day! In a nutshell, we had an amazingly intellectual lecture from a professor from the University of Panama that was an ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGIST. He explained to us in basic yet complex terms how the history of economics has arrived to form the global system that we have today. By explaining all of the current problems that the world is experiencing today, we understood the depth of how unfair just the economic global system is for every country in the world except the Great-8 (the most powerful countries). This Academic Professional shared such basic terms with us, (Market of Goods & Services, Market of Resources, Financial Market, Business, Supply, Demand, Price, Conflict of Interest, GNP, Consumption, Investment, Government, Unions, Trade, Imports & Exports, Inflation, Exchange Rates), and he shared with us the dynamics of how and why national markets are turning into international markets, thus the Free Trade Agreements. The common problems of corruption, unemployment, prostitution, drugs, violence, poverty, trafficking are direct results of the current economic system across the world. It is true that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the World Trade Center (GATT) attempt to create regulations to create capitalistic equality, but these organizations are controlled by the Great-8. The business world sector is too often more important that the people & environment.
Solutions? According to Dr Barrett, 1. Solidarity 2. Elect better government officials 3. Each country in the world should have equal votes in international organizations (UN, IMF, WB, WTC, etc.).
Our time in Panama City is now over and we are leaving tomorrow at 4am to drive to the islands of Bocas del Toro.
Solutions? According to Dr Barrett, 1. Solidarity 2. Elect better government officials 3. Each country in the world should have equal votes in international organizations (UN, IMF, WB, WTC, etc.).
Our time in Panama City is now over and we are leaving tomorrow at 4am to drive to the islands of Bocas del Toro.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The Colon Free Trade Zone, Panama
Can you imagine a city that only has stores? A city with no services? No plants or dogs? No restaurants? A city with 3000 stores, to be exact? 3000 stores that only sell in bulk? With merchandise that is shipped to other countries free of tariffs and taxes? A gigantic free trade zone?
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
The Colon Free Trade Zone, Panama
Can you imagine a city that only has stores? A city with no services? No plants or dogs? No restaurants? A city with 3000 stores, to be exact? 3000 stores that only sell in bulk? With merchandise that is shipped to other countries free of tariffs and taxes? A gigantic free trade zone?
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Can you imagine a city that only has stores? A city with no services? No plants or dogs? No restaurants? A city with 3000 stores, to be exact? 3000 stores that only sell in bulk? With merchandise that is shipped to other countries free of tariffs and taxes? A gigantic free trade zone?
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
The Colon Free Trade Zone
Can you imagine a city that only has stores? A city with no services? No plants or dogs? No restaurants? A city with 3000 stores, to be exact? 3000 stores that only sell in bulk? With merchandise that is shipped to other countries free of tariffs and taxes? A gigantic free trade zone?
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Today we went to the city of Colon, which is a port city located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. We went into the Free Trade Zone and walked the streets with our mouths open. It is like a huge city, only for shopping. And big time shopping.
We went into several stores, of all sizes, and every single store had tables with calculators and clip-boards on them. Most stores have a minimum amount of merchandise that buyers can ship to their stores in another country, consequently retail sales are not permitted. For example, a small shoe store would only permit sales of a minimum of 33 pairs, and the most that store ever sold was 3000 pairs. Another example, a huge department store, with no dressing rooms obviously, only permits the sales of a minimum of 7-dozen of each item. They looked like regular stores, displaying their products, but there was no cash registrar.
And all of these items leave Panama free of charge, thus no exporting fees, but the recipient country does charge import feeds.
The Free Trade Zone employs 14000 Panamanians.
How can I describe the Colon Free Trade Zone? A city purely based on buying. Materialism. Commerce. Capitalism. Trade. Money. Corruption. Weird. So weird. Just so strange.
Hmmm….
Monday, November 13, 2006
THE Panama Canal
HOLA!
Greetings from the metropolitan capital of Panama. When so much happens in one day that changes my life, it is hard to summarize and fully captivate my experiences and lessons. Do you know what I mean? Reflection and documentation, and sharing...
Leaving the Tent Camp in Drake Bay, Costa Rica was like leaving paradise. Our time there ended nicely because we had a final meeting with marine biologists and a non-profit organization leader that is working towards creating a sea sanctuary in the bay so that all of the marine life could have a protected space to live and travel. Thus, we ended our time of learning about all of the environmental problems and oceanography's challenges on a positive note because we talked with people that are trying to create social, political and environmental change.
Driving to Panama was long. This country is very long and crossing the border took too much time. Bahh!
We have only been in Panama City for 2 days and we have learned about the overwhelming importance of the Panama Canal. This whole country circulates around that "commerce artery of the world." Ever since the US “helped” Panama gain their independence from Colombia in 1903, the US has maintained a very strong presence in this city. In my opinion, and most of the students would agree, Panama City looks like Brooklyn and the zone around the Canal looks like the USA. Considering that the Panama Canal zone belonged to the US from 1903 until Dec 31, 1999, and Panamanians could not even enter this zone, it continues to look like a modern US Military base. In a city that has a plethora of modern skyscrapers and neighboring shacks where the poor inhabitants do not even have running water, contrast is obvious.
Yesterday we took a tour of the Miraflores Locks, which are the biggest locks in the Panama Canal. We walked through the biased museum, watched the propaganda video and watched 4 HUGE cargo ships pass through the locks. Amazing. The largest vessel to pass through the canal just passed through last week, and that ship paid $250,000 in fees and the average passage time is 8 hours. The Panama Canal is like the Singapore of the American continent.
After learning everything possible about the Canal, in one afternoon, we went on a tour of the city. We drove through the poorest neighborhood that received the majority of the bombs during the 1989 US invasion to get the dictator President Noriega out of power. We drove through the old city where the capital was originally established by the Spanish. And we drove through the modern metropolitan area of high rises and colorful stores. This city really is an excellent example of contrast.
Today we went to the University of Panama and had a lecture from the largest Student Group about their perceptions of their country. I translated and it was hard due to the different in regional accents. The Question-and-Answer part of the meeting was interesting because college students learned from college students about the complexity of a country that maintains the richest economy in Latin America (so they say) and where 40% of the population lives in poverty.
This afternoon we went to the US Embassy Consulate and received an outstanding and educational talk from the Diplomatic Public Relations Representative. That charismatic and intelligent man shared everything he knew about Panama-US relations from a governmental viewpoint, along with his opinions as a private citizen. He answered our dynamic and profound questions completely and left us feeling semi-satisfied about the “good intentions” of the US government in the world.
We are learning so much about politics, international relations, social problems, US world relationships, trade & commerce, free trade agreements [ =( ], university life, environmental issues and, of course, THE Panama Canal. Our schedule and brains are full, and our world perceptions are expanding. Just like the Panama Canal is going to do within the next 10 years.
Greetings from the metropolitan capital of Panama. When so much happens in one day that changes my life, it is hard to summarize and fully captivate my experiences and lessons. Do you know what I mean? Reflection and documentation, and sharing...
Leaving the Tent Camp in Drake Bay, Costa Rica was like leaving paradise. Our time there ended nicely because we had a final meeting with marine biologists and a non-profit organization leader that is working towards creating a sea sanctuary in the bay so that all of the marine life could have a protected space to live and travel. Thus, we ended our time of learning about all of the environmental problems and oceanography's challenges on a positive note because we talked with people that are trying to create social, political and environmental change.
Driving to Panama was long. This country is very long and crossing the border took too much time. Bahh!
We have only been in Panama City for 2 days and we have learned about the overwhelming importance of the Panama Canal. This whole country circulates around that "commerce artery of the world." Ever since the US “helped” Panama gain their independence from Colombia in 1903, the US has maintained a very strong presence in this city. In my opinion, and most of the students would agree, Panama City looks like Brooklyn and the zone around the Canal looks like the USA. Considering that the Panama Canal zone belonged to the US from 1903 until Dec 31, 1999, and Panamanians could not even enter this zone, it continues to look like a modern US Military base. In a city that has a plethora of modern skyscrapers and neighboring shacks where the poor inhabitants do not even have running water, contrast is obvious.
Yesterday we took a tour of the Miraflores Locks, which are the biggest locks in the Panama Canal. We walked through the biased museum, watched the propaganda video and watched 4 HUGE cargo ships pass through the locks. Amazing. The largest vessel to pass through the canal just passed through last week, and that ship paid $250,000 in fees and the average passage time is 8 hours. The Panama Canal is like the Singapore of the American continent.
After learning everything possible about the Canal, in one afternoon, we went on a tour of the city. We drove through the poorest neighborhood that received the majority of the bombs during the 1989 US invasion to get the dictator President Noriega out of power. We drove through the old city where the capital was originally established by the Spanish. And we drove through the modern metropolitan area of high rises and colorful stores. This city really is an excellent example of contrast.
Today we went to the University of Panama and had a lecture from the largest Student Group about their perceptions of their country. I translated and it was hard due to the different in regional accents. The Question-and-Answer part of the meeting was interesting because college students learned from college students about the complexity of a country that maintains the richest economy in Latin America (so they say) and where 40% of the population lives in poverty.
This afternoon we went to the US Embassy Consulate and received an outstanding and educational talk from the Diplomatic Public Relations Representative. That charismatic and intelligent man shared everything he knew about Panama-US relations from a governmental viewpoint, along with his opinions as a private citizen. He answered our dynamic and profound questions completely and left us feeling semi-satisfied about the “good intentions” of the US government in the world.
We are learning so much about politics, international relations, social problems, US world relationships, trade & commerce, free trade agreements [ =( ], university life, environmental issues and, of course, THE Panama Canal. Our schedule and brains are full, and our world perceptions are expanding. Just like the Panama Canal is going to do within the next 10 years.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Whales, dolphines and turtles, oh my!
Greetings from Corcovados Tent Camp Bilogigical Reserve!
Here are a few words to describe our experience so far in this small corner of Southern Costa Rica: "Paradise on Earth!"
Arriving here was an adventure, as we floated down a wide river on a small boat. Breaking the waves and crossing into the ocean was thrilling and yet scary. Viewing actual camping tents surrounded by tall palm trees was exciting and relaxing.
But don't get me wrong, we ARE on an academic field trip. We have received some lectures about marine life, oceanography, current problems and efforts to combate these serious situations.
We went on a full-day marine life watch in little boats out on the open sea. Finding huge families of different kinds of dolphines proved to be a beautiful experience because those small mammals love to dive in & out of the water. We swam in the open sea too, which was humbling because the rolling waves were huge. We saw humpback whales. And I got so sea-sick that it was a totally miserable experience and I puked my guts out most of the time. Waiting for the hours to pass by was unbearable because I felt desperate to get off of that small, rocking boat. But I survived.
We are in Drake Bay, which is the only place in the world where humback whales come from both the North and South of this planet to have babies. November is the best month to whale watch because the Southern whales are going back down to Antartica for summer and the Northern whales are coming down from Alaska to have babies. So cool!
Between hiking, kayaking, swimming in the ocean and river mouth springs, climbing waterfalls, we are learning. It seems like there are so many environmental problems occuring in the oceans and humans are the main cause of these drastic and permanent problems. More ocean floor is "deforested" than the rain forest. For every 1 pound of shrimp a boat scrapes from the floor, 5-10 pounds of sea life is killed. ("Think about that the next time you eat a shrimp coctail," said our tour guide.) Turtles, dolphines and baby whales get caught in fishing nets and are killed for no reason. On and on and on....
Yet, there are some foundations that are organizing in order to help the ocean environment. And we are having lectures with those organizations' leaders. Education is the key.
Tomorrow we leave for Panama City. Chao.
Here are a few words to describe our experience so far in this small corner of Southern Costa Rica: "Paradise on Earth!"
Arriving here was an adventure, as we floated down a wide river on a small boat. Breaking the waves and crossing into the ocean was thrilling and yet scary. Viewing actual camping tents surrounded by tall palm trees was exciting and relaxing.
But don't get me wrong, we ARE on an academic field trip. We have received some lectures about marine life, oceanography, current problems and efforts to combate these serious situations.
We went on a full-day marine life watch in little boats out on the open sea. Finding huge families of different kinds of dolphines proved to be a beautiful experience because those small mammals love to dive in & out of the water. We swam in the open sea too, which was humbling because the rolling waves were huge. We saw humpback whales. And I got so sea-sick that it was a totally miserable experience and I puked my guts out most of the time. Waiting for the hours to pass by was unbearable because I felt desperate to get off of that small, rocking boat. But I survived.
We are in Drake Bay, which is the only place in the world where humback whales come from both the North and South of this planet to have babies. November is the best month to whale watch because the Southern whales are going back down to Antartica for summer and the Northern whales are coming down from Alaska to have babies. So cool!
Between hiking, kayaking, swimming in the ocean and river mouth springs, climbing waterfalls, we are learning. It seems like there are so many environmental problems occuring in the oceans and humans are the main cause of these drastic and permanent problems. More ocean floor is "deforested" than the rain forest. For every 1 pound of shrimp a boat scrapes from the floor, 5-10 pounds of sea life is killed. ("Think about that the next time you eat a shrimp coctail," said our tour guide.) Turtles, dolphines and baby whales get caught in fishing nets and are killed for no reason. On and on and on....
Yet, there are some foundations that are organizing in order to help the ocean environment. And we are having lectures with those organizations' leaders. Education is the key.
Tomorrow we leave for Panama City. Chao.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Leaving for Panama for the two-week academic trip with my work (The Friends World Program)
Tomorrow I embark on an adventure with the Field Trip Coordinator Ileana, the Center Coordinator Sarah and 26 students to the dynamic country of Panama. Originally, we were to travel to Nicaragua, but we changed our plans due to potential danger regarding the presidential elections that occurred tranquilly on November 5th, which seems to have unofficially resulted in the election of Daniel Ortega [=(]. I hope to send out emails and update my blog with reflections about this academic trip, so I hope you all learn with me and enjoy my attempts to document these experiences that surely will change my world-view. If you do not want to be on the traveling list, just let me know, and no hard feelings. I pray for safety, success and growth. Here is a list of our objectives, activities and lodgings. I am also attaching our itinerary. Until then, have fun.
PANAMA = Nov 8-21
*DRAKE BAY = Nov 8-10
-Learn about the ocean in the context of the global environmental crisis of the planet.
-Introduce students to the main characteristics of the marine ecosystems in the tropics.
-Learn about the challenges that whales and dolphins face in their survival.
-Compare the situation of marine fauna and the fauna in the Rain and Cloud Forests visited in Costa Rica.
-We will stay in the THE TENT CAMP: www.corcovado.com
-We will go on the tour DIVINE DOLPHIN: www.divinedolphin.com
*PANAMA CITY = Nov 10-15
-Learn about the historical relationship of Panama and the United States and the influence it has had in what Panama is today.
-Learn about the importance the Panama Canal has had in Panama and its role in the future.
-Explore the role of situation of Panama in the global economy.
ACTIVITIES:
LECTURES
-Introduction to Panama
-Panama and the Global Economy
-U.S. - Panama Relations
VISITS
-Panama Canal
-Colon city and Free Trade Area
-Street Children Project
- SAN BLAS ISLANDS - KUNA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
-We will stay in the INTERNATIONAL HOTEL.
*BOCAS DEL TORO ISLANDS = Nov 15-20
-Learn about the main issues for the Kuna indigenous people in their relationship to the Panamanian State and the non-indigenous population.
-Explore among the Kuna people the positive and negative effects tourism has had in their community and culture.
-Compare the situation of the Maleku indigenous community in Costa Rica with the Kuna in Panama.
ACTIVITIES:
LECTURES
-Indigenous People in the Region
Past, Present and Future
-Afro Caribbean People in the Region
Past, Present and Future
-The Main Characteristics of the coastal ecosystem in the area
VISITS
-Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
-Indigenous Community Eco-Tourist Project
-Bastimentos National Park
*Hike
*Snorkeling
-We will stay in Hotel Bahia: www.hotelbahia.biz
PANAMA = Nov 8-21
*DRAKE BAY = Nov 8-10
-Learn about the ocean in the context of the global environmental crisis of the planet.
-Introduce students to the main characteristics of the marine ecosystems in the tropics.
-Learn about the challenges that whales and dolphins face in their survival.
-Compare the situation of marine fauna and the fauna in the Rain and Cloud Forests visited in Costa Rica.
-We will stay in the THE TENT CAMP: www.corcovado.com
-We will go on the tour DIVINE DOLPHIN: www.divinedolphin.com
*PANAMA CITY = Nov 10-15
-Learn about the historical relationship of Panama and the United States and the influence it has had in what Panama is today.
-Learn about the importance the Panama Canal has had in Panama and its role in the future.
-Explore the role of situation of Panama in the global economy.
ACTIVITIES:
LECTURES
-Introduction to Panama
-Panama and the Global Economy
-U.S. - Panama Relations
VISITS
-Panama Canal
-Colon city and Free Trade Area
-Street Children Project
- SAN BLAS ISLANDS - KUNA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
-We will stay in the INTERNATIONAL HOTEL.
*BOCAS DEL TORO ISLANDS = Nov 15-20
-Learn about the main issues for the Kuna indigenous people in their relationship to the Panamanian State and the non-indigenous population.
-Explore among the Kuna people the positive and negative effects tourism has had in their community and culture.
-Compare the situation of the Maleku indigenous community in Costa Rica with the Kuna in Panama.
ACTIVITIES:
LECTURES
-Indigenous People in the Region
Past, Present and Future
-Afro Caribbean People in the Region
Past, Present and Future
-The Main Characteristics of the coastal ecosystem in the area
VISITS
-Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
-Indigenous Community Eco-Tourist Project
-Bastimentos National Park
*Hike
*Snorkeling
-We will stay in Hotel Bahia: www.hotelbahia.biz
Friday, October 20, 2006
Service Learning with my WORK
Service Learning October 2006
Last year a group of FWP students traveled to a marginal neighborhood of San Jose to work with a community organization called Vecinos. The students painted the building on the inside and outside with fantastically bright colors of blue, pink and yellow with local participants of youth groups associated with Vecinos. Just as Vecinos had asked.
Those colors still shine one year later. The energy from that Service Learning experience a year ago remains in Vecinos and represents the fun & inviting environment that is offered to the low-resourced people that find new opportunities in that urban grassroots building.
Thus, the effects from the Service Learning project from last year continue to help.
This year a group of FWP students traveled to Vecinos to perform a huge and difficult project. Vecinos has a backyard that has been not been used productively for years. That 20x20 meter plot of land has two tall trees, and was completely covered with 2 meter tall weeds, and was totally filled with trash.
Working with local children from the various self-help groups that Vecinos offers, the FWP students cleaned out all of the trash, pulled weeds, cut down the grass, removed rocks, put up a permanent tent, painted the gate and also a soccer goal on two opposing walls, and and and…so much more. Finding all kinds of surprises, such as dirty diapers, an old washing machine, a couch, a single roller-blade made us aware about the importance of solid-waste management. We filled over 15 hug garden trash bags. Furthermore, we worked with very little tools and recognized the weight that hard manual-work has on a body in the hot sun.
Despite the physical challenges, the FWP students learned the importance of taking initiative and creating projects. In a seemingly impossible situation, creativity can stimulate inspiration. Working for only 3 days, the FWP students helped to transform that wasteland of a backyard into a community space that can now be used for: group activities, as a play area and a place for meetings. The opportunity to do Service Learning with Vecinos was beneficial because the FWP students helped the organization improve their facilities and in return we learned about that powerful organization that does so much good for that underprivileged neighborhood.
Plus, we remembered to pull weeds from the roots, just like our mothers taught us when they we kids.
Hopefully the results of this year’s Service Learning will last, just as last year’s paint has. And next year…?
Last year a group of FWP students traveled to a marginal neighborhood of San Jose to work with a community organization called Vecinos. The students painted the building on the inside and outside with fantastically bright colors of blue, pink and yellow with local participants of youth groups associated with Vecinos. Just as Vecinos had asked.
Those colors still shine one year later. The energy from that Service Learning experience a year ago remains in Vecinos and represents the fun & inviting environment that is offered to the low-resourced people that find new opportunities in that urban grassroots building.
Thus, the effects from the Service Learning project from last year continue to help.
This year a group of FWP students traveled to Vecinos to perform a huge and difficult project. Vecinos has a backyard that has been not been used productively for years. That 20x20 meter plot of land has two tall trees, and was completely covered with 2 meter tall weeds, and was totally filled with trash.
Working with local children from the various self-help groups that Vecinos offers, the FWP students cleaned out all of the trash, pulled weeds, cut down the grass, removed rocks, put up a permanent tent, painted the gate and also a soccer goal on two opposing walls, and and and…so much more. Finding all kinds of surprises, such as dirty diapers, an old washing machine, a couch, a single roller-blade made us aware about the importance of solid-waste management. We filled over 15 hug garden trash bags. Furthermore, we worked with very little tools and recognized the weight that hard manual-work has on a body in the hot sun.
Despite the physical challenges, the FWP students learned the importance of taking initiative and creating projects. In a seemingly impossible situation, creativity can stimulate inspiration. Working for only 3 days, the FWP students helped to transform that wasteland of a backyard into a community space that can now be used for: group activities, as a play area and a place for meetings. The opportunity to do Service Learning with Vecinos was beneficial because the FWP students helped the organization improve their facilities and in return we learned about that powerful organization that does so much good for that underprivileged neighborhood.
Plus, we remembered to pull weeds from the roots, just like our mothers taught us when they we kids.
Hopefully the results of this year’s Service Learning will last, just as last year’s paint has. And next year…?
Friday, October 13, 2006
The Sarapiqui Field Trip
Look how fast the banana workers sort bananas.
What an educational ecotouristic boat ride in the Sarapiqui River.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Sarapiqui Field Trip
Learning about banana plantations, unions’ struggles, environmental conservation, subsistence farming, eco-tourism, wildlife, deforestation, contamination, transnational….
It is amazing how much we can learn in a two-day field trip.
This past weekend, 25 students and 2 LAC leaders traveled to the North-Western region of Costa Rica called Sarapiqui for an intense and overwhelming field trip.
Our first activity was with the Public Relations Representative of Dole. In his hour-and-a-half lecture, we walked around the plantation and learned everything there is to know about banana growing, (well, on a commercial farm). We even entered the banana processing plant and observed the workers fast at work as they cleaned the green bananas, put fungicide on them, put stickers on them, boxed them and packed them. We learned that there is so much work in the banana industry. Plus, the banana history of Costa Rica is long and dynamic because it was an imported crop and now it is a primary crop.
Throughout the rest of the day, we visited La Selva Tropical Reserve, had two lectures with the Banana Union leader (who has been in jail 22 times for his environmental & social justice efforts), and a true environmental conversationalist (a.k.a. – a worrier). From these three ladder activities, we learned about the truth.
Commercial banana plantations, like Dole, Chiquita, El Monte, do not have good labor rights. The workers are exploited through their pay, lack of benefits and exposure to harsh chemicals.
The forests are being cut down and rivers are being polluted without control to enhance the growth of the banana and pineapple farms.
The government too often sides with the transnational that operate large businesses in Costa Rica, so environmental and labor law suits frequently favor the big companies.
Yet, there are many small farmers that live off the land and feed their families. There are some farmers that grow a limited amount of crops and sell them locally. They take from the Earth what they need and do not exploit anyone or anything.
And Eco-Tourism attempts to show tourists the beauty of the land and teach them about the negative impacts of the big banana and pineapple plantations. We went on a boat ride along the wide Sarapiqui River, which is filling up with pesticides and fertilizers from the bordering farms, and we saw a small amount of wildlife. Managing to survive, we saw Howler Monkeys, White-Faced Monkeys, a 2 meter crocodile, bats and a dead iguana. Our guide told us that, before, there was so much wildlife. But now the bordering forests are gone, and airplanes spray the neighboring farms and the wind carries the chemicals into the lives of the wild animals and remaining plants.
So much has changed in this area, and we saw many perspectives about the current reality. Banana plantations do whatever possible to produce a cosmetic banana that the world market will value, and these corporate farms value money more than the environment. Thus, buy organic bananas. Support fair (not free) trade. Write a letter and ask transnational to honor workers’ rights and protect the environment.
The Friends World Program definitely does demonstrate experiential education, and give us the tools to change the world’s issues for a better future.
For pictures, please click here.
It is amazing how much we can learn in a two-day field trip.
This past weekend, 25 students and 2 LAC leaders traveled to the North-Western region of Costa Rica called Sarapiqui for an intense and overwhelming field trip.
Our first activity was with the Public Relations Representative of Dole. In his hour-and-a-half lecture, we walked around the plantation and learned everything there is to know about banana growing, (well, on a commercial farm). We even entered the banana processing plant and observed the workers fast at work as they cleaned the green bananas, put fungicide on them, put stickers on them, boxed them and packed them. We learned that there is so much work in the banana industry. Plus, the banana history of Costa Rica is long and dynamic because it was an imported crop and now it is a primary crop.
Throughout the rest of the day, we visited La Selva Tropical Reserve, had two lectures with the Banana Union leader (who has been in jail 22 times for his environmental & social justice efforts), and a true environmental conversationalist (a.k.a. – a worrier). From these three ladder activities, we learned about the truth.
Commercial banana plantations, like Dole, Chiquita, El Monte, do not have good labor rights. The workers are exploited through their pay, lack of benefits and exposure to harsh chemicals.
The forests are being cut down and rivers are being polluted without control to enhance the growth of the banana and pineapple farms.
The government too often sides with the transnational that operate large businesses in Costa Rica, so environmental and labor law suits frequently favor the big companies.
Yet, there are many small farmers that live off the land and feed their families. There are some farmers that grow a limited amount of crops and sell them locally. They take from the Earth what they need and do not exploit anyone or anything.
And Eco-Tourism attempts to show tourists the beauty of the land and teach them about the negative impacts of the big banana and pineapple plantations. We went on a boat ride along the wide Sarapiqui River, which is filling up with pesticides and fertilizers from the bordering farms, and we saw a small amount of wildlife. Managing to survive, we saw Howler Monkeys, White-Faced Monkeys, a 2 meter crocodile, bats and a dead iguana. Our guide told us that, before, there was so much wildlife. But now the bordering forests are gone, and airplanes spray the neighboring farms and the wind carries the chemicals into the lives of the wild animals and remaining plants.
So much has changed in this area, and we saw many perspectives about the current reality. Banana plantations do whatever possible to produce a cosmetic banana that the world market will value, and these corporate farms value money more than the environment. Thus, buy organic bananas. Support fair (not free) trade. Write a letter and ask transnational to honor workers’ rights and protect the environment.
The Friends World Program definitely does demonstrate experiential education, and give us the tools to change the world’s issues for a better future.
For pictures, please click here.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The Maleku Indigenous Reserve
Arriving to the Maleku Indigenous Reserve in the Northern sector of Costa Rica took about 6 hours, and I would not have know that we were entering an indigenous reserve if it were not for an old, rusty sign at the entrance of the dirt road.
We drove along a bumpy, dusty road and passed many standard Costa Rican rural houses, where both non-indigenous and indigenous lived. Technically, the Maleku have 3000 hectares of land that the government officially gave them in the 1970s, yet not even 1000 hectares are in their hands now due to land-robbing that the government ignores. The government has also constructed housing for many of the indigenous Malekus, but the architecture of the houses is the typical house that that government builds for anyone, thus the houses do not maintain the tradition of living with extended family and burring people in the dirt floors of the house. The culture of the Maleku has changed due to these imposed houses because they only live with their direct family and they have learned to mop their cement floors. All the houses that we saw had electricity, TVs and running water.
The Maleku are the smallest indigenous reserve in Central American, with only 600 members. Even though they have a small population, they maintain their language. The 6 teachers in the school are Maleku and teach in both Spanish and their native language.
During our time in their overly deforested home, we went on an educational hike in a tiny patch of primary forest where we learned about their medicinal plants and sacred places. The Maleku believe waterfalls are temples, and they go to them to pray to the Great Spirit. We also toured their organized botanical garden and learned about their knowledge of healing plants and their healthy diet. Observing an ancient grave and learning about their burial ceremonies, and history of grave-robbing was extremely interesting because every culture has their own unique traditions. The Maleku pour a specially prepared cacao drink over the graves during the entire mourning period. We also had a craft demonstration, where we were able to paint or carve our own Jicaro fruit shells. A highlight of the trip was a traditional dance ceremony, where a man spoke to the Great Spirit in Maleku for great periods of time, where it was then translated to Spanish in a lesser amount of time, and then finally translated to English in an even shorter amount of time. Their traditional clothing was typical of many indigenous groups in that it respected the plants that the fibers came from. The ceremony was finished with an intense question-and-answer time where the students dove into the depths of the Maleku culture and the changes the Malekus have experienced over time. Of course, the night ceremony was concluded with chichi drinking, which is their sacred beverage made from fermented corn. Our time with the Maleku was short, yet many people formed intense relationships with various members of the community.
The Malekus were totally exploited about 150 years ago when rubber tapers came to the area and sold the Malekus as slaves and destroyed their natural forests.
It was beneficial for the students to stay with a variety of different families so they could observe distinct family’s ways of life, and then compare their experiences amongst each other.
Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed our short visit to the Maleku reserve because, as an anthropologist, I am fascinated by indigenous’ people’s way of life and how they try to maintain their customs in face of modernization. I was shocked to learn that the Maleku reserve had internet, their own radio station and a nationally-funded health clinic. The lack of jobs makes people reliant on agriculture and community rural tourism, yet this has profound impacts on their ancient culture of sustenance farming and community organization.
Is it positive that indigenous groups sell themselves to tourism? It provides income. It makes them objects of observation. It makes them practice their traditional customs. It brings capitalism to their economic framework. It is reality.
Capi Capi. (= their traditional greeting).
To view pictures, please click here.
We drove along a bumpy, dusty road and passed many standard Costa Rican rural houses, where both non-indigenous and indigenous lived. Technically, the Maleku have 3000 hectares of land that the government officially gave them in the 1970s, yet not even 1000 hectares are in their hands now due to land-robbing that the government ignores. The government has also constructed housing for many of the indigenous Malekus, but the architecture of the houses is the typical house that that government builds for anyone, thus the houses do not maintain the tradition of living with extended family and burring people in the dirt floors of the house. The culture of the Maleku has changed due to these imposed houses because they only live with their direct family and they have learned to mop their cement floors. All the houses that we saw had electricity, TVs and running water.
The Maleku are the smallest indigenous reserve in Central American, with only 600 members. Even though they have a small population, they maintain their language. The 6 teachers in the school are Maleku and teach in both Spanish and their native language.
During our time in their overly deforested home, we went on an educational hike in a tiny patch of primary forest where we learned about their medicinal plants and sacred places. The Maleku believe waterfalls are temples, and they go to them to pray to the Great Spirit. We also toured their organized botanical garden and learned about their knowledge of healing plants and their healthy diet. Observing an ancient grave and learning about their burial ceremonies, and history of grave-robbing was extremely interesting because every culture has their own unique traditions. The Maleku pour a specially prepared cacao drink over the graves during the entire mourning period. We also had a craft demonstration, where we were able to paint or carve our own Jicaro fruit shells. A highlight of the trip was a traditional dance ceremony, where a man spoke to the Great Spirit in Maleku for great periods of time, where it was then translated to Spanish in a lesser amount of time, and then finally translated to English in an even shorter amount of time. Their traditional clothing was typical of many indigenous groups in that it respected the plants that the fibers came from. The ceremony was finished with an intense question-and-answer time where the students dove into the depths of the Maleku culture and the changes the Malekus have experienced over time. Of course, the night ceremony was concluded with chichi drinking, which is their sacred beverage made from fermented corn. Our time with the Maleku was short, yet many people formed intense relationships with various members of the community.
The Malekus were totally exploited about 150 years ago when rubber tapers came to the area and sold the Malekus as slaves and destroyed their natural forests.
It was beneficial for the students to stay with a variety of different families so they could observe distinct family’s ways of life, and then compare their experiences amongst each other.
Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed our short visit to the Maleku reserve because, as an anthropologist, I am fascinated by indigenous’ people’s way of life and how they try to maintain their customs in face of modernization. I was shocked to learn that the Maleku reserve had internet, their own radio station and a nationally-funded health clinic. The lack of jobs makes people reliant on agriculture and community rural tourism, yet this has profound impacts on their ancient culture of sustenance farming and community organization.
Is it positive that indigenous groups sell themselves to tourism? It provides income. It makes them objects of observation. It makes them practice their traditional customs. It brings capitalism to their economic framework. It is reality.
Capi Capi. (= their traditional greeting).
To view pictures, please click here.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
My Knee Surgery
I am doing OK.The surgery was a success, according to the doctor. He did not follow the original plan though. When he opened up my knee, he found a hernia sack inside. So he cut out that bad, yellow tissue instead of fixing my tendon. The doctor believes that will relieve pressure and pain. While I was asleep during the surgery, I had an alergic reaction to some pain medicine, and a large raised rash formed all over my body, so they pumped me full of even more medicine.
I was put to sleep for the surgery, by choice, and I had a strong reaction to the anesthesia. It was hard for me to wake up and then I fainted when the first put me in the wheel chair after my hour of recovery time. Thus, I had to wait two more hours before they released me from the hospital.
I am so thankful for Jimmys mother because she was with me the whole time, since she is a nurse at that hospital. She took very good care of me! The first thing I heard when I woke up was her voice. She changed my clothes. She caught my head when I fainted. She lifted me back onto the bed. She spoon-fed me tea. She held my hand and prayed with me.
I threw-up tea the whole taxi ride home in Jimmys arms.
I am very grateful for Jimmy and my dear friend Patricia for taking such good care of me over the past few days. They cooked good for me, kept fresh ice on my knee, carried me to the bathroom and watched movies with me. I do not know what I would have done without them.
So now the physical therapy part begins. I just started to walk today, slowly. I go back to the doctor on Tuesday to get my stitches taken out, and then I will start to go to the gym everyday for PT.
I am OK. My knee is very swollen and the surgery video showed the large amount of work and cutting that was done inside.
Slowly but surerly.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Goodbye
My dream come true will end tomorrow when Jimmy and I return to Costa Rica. We have had the most WONDERFUL time over the past 6 weeks exploring this country by land from San Francisco to Colorado to North Carolina because we did everything that I wanted to do and we saw sooooo many important people to me. Both Jimmy and I have learned so much individually and as a couple, and we are thinking about moving to the United States in about one year so that I can replicate Intercambio in either San Francisco, Ft Collins or Chapel Hill.
This past week has been so relaxing with my brother Patrick and his family in their new house. Baby Thomas is a beautiful and healthy baby, and our family is blessed to have such a special new addition. My 9 year old niece Elvita is so smart and we seem to grow closer every time we see each other because she is very curious and asks a lot of questions, and I am honest and playful with her. I am thankful for my time here because as our family grows in size, our love expands in new directions.
So, what am I looking forward to in Costa Rica? I am having knee surgery on Monday, August 7th at 7:00. I return to work on the 14th, hopeful, and eventually I will start teaching yoga again soon. And my 25th birthday is on August 12.
Thank you for reading along with all over our adventures. Even though it may seem like everyday, normal, routine activities, this really was a dream come true for me. I showed Jimmy the best of this country, and he liked it, and we’ll be back. I feel melancholic as I write this final email that concludes our vacation here in my home country, because I am so happy for our great experiences and so sad to leave. I love my family so much and I am so grateful for my friends.
Thank you. Until next time, peace
Monday, July 31, 2006
Chapel Hill
We are now in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with my brother's wife Omayra, their daughter Elvita and their son baby Thomas. Baby Thomas is only 3 weeks old, thus he is a floppy baby and he is VERY cute.
Our drive across the country was a fantastic four day tour because we went to many states and saw many cities, and best of all we united with many of my dearest friends. I am thankful we could stay with Philip Meyer and his family in Chatanooga where I also saw my college friend Gordon, and also Caitlin Quinn and her family in Johnson City.
The most exciting sight along the trip for Jimmy was a herd of buffalo in Kansas.
The St Louis arch was pretty cool.
Visiting Knoxville was melancolic since I went to college there for 2 years and I had not been there for over 4 years.
I successfully drove my parents crazy in the car.
Jimmy learned a lot of idioms from a great book we have.
And and and... one more week.
Our drive across the country was a fantastic four day tour because we went to many states and saw many cities, and best of all we united with many of my dearest friends. I am thankful we could stay with Philip Meyer and his family in Chatanooga where I also saw my college friend Gordon, and also Caitlin Quinn and her family in Johnson City.
The most exciting sight along the trip for Jimmy was a herd of buffalo in Kansas.
The St Louis arch was pretty cool.
Visiting Knoxville was melancolic since I went to college there for 2 years and I had not been there for over 4 years.
I successfully drove my parents crazy in the car.
Jimmy learned a lot of idioms from a great book we have.
And and and... one more week.
Monday, July 24, 2006
The Colorado Rocky Mountains
Here we are, enjoying our last night in Colorado. Tomorrow my parents, Jimmy and I leave for a 4 day road trip to North Carolina, stopping in Tennessee, to see my brother Patrick, his wife Omayra, and their children Elvita & baby Thomas. Let's see who drives who nuts first in the car. =).
The past few days have been spectacular because we went camping in the mountains. We spent the first couple of nights camping by a huge, beautiful resevoir with my dad, my brother Richard, and his children Payson & Maggie. While we camped there, we went on a few superb hikes that took us above timber line to enjoy the most extraordinary views of the mountains. Then we went with my dad to Rocky Mountain National Park, where we also did some precious hikes to some high mountain
lakes and drove over the "highest paved continuous road" in the United States. On the way home, we stopped to do the Alpine Slide in Winter Park.
I think the experiences in the mountains were very special for my dad & I, and especially for Jimmy, because my dad and I had a wonderful time showing Jimmy the true beauty and uniqueness of Colorado. I wonder how many times Jimmy said "wow."
Thanks for following us on our journey across the country. Next stop, Chapel Hill.
The past few days have been spectacular because we went camping in the mountains. We spent the first couple of nights camping by a huge, beautiful resevoir with my dad, my brother Richard, and his children Payson & Maggie. While we camped there, we went on a few superb hikes that took us above timber line to enjoy the most extraordinary views of the mountains. Then we went with my dad to Rocky Mountain National Park, where we also did some precious hikes to some high mountain
lakes and drove over the "highest paved continuous road" in the United States. On the way home, we stopped to do the Alpine Slide in Winter Park.I think the experiences in the mountains were very special for my dad & I, and especially for Jimmy, because my dad and I had a wonderful time showing Jimmy the true beauty and uniqueness of Colorado. I wonder how many times Jimmy said "wow."
Thanks for following us on our journey across the country. Next stop, Chapel Hill.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
The most fun yet
An overview list will not do justice, but it hopefully will give an idea of all of the experiences that we have learned from lately.
-Denver's Museum of Nature and Science
-IMAX on Greece
-Bikeride up Waterton Canyon with my dad
-Camping with Intercambio (40 people)
-Indian Peaks Wilderness (huge mountains, beautiful lakes, gorgeous flowers)
-Red Rocks Amputheater
-Water Skiing with Angela Magnotta's family (and tubbing) {THE MOST FUN!]
-Columbine High School
-106 degree weather
-Burgers
-Salmon dinner
-Denver's 16th Street Pedestrian Mall
And so much more. Jimmy and I are doing so much and having so much fun! It is so wonderful to live out my dream of showing him my home and introducing him to my "people." And there is so much more left to do....
-Denver's Museum of Nature and Science
-IMAX on Greece
-Bikeride up Waterton Canyon with my dad
-Camping with Intercambio (40 people)
-Indian Peaks Wilderness (huge mountains, beautiful lakes, gorgeous flowers)
-Red Rocks Amputheater
-Water Skiing with Angela Magnotta's family (and tubbing) {THE MOST FUN!]
-Columbine High School
-106 degree weather
-Burgers
-Salmon dinner
-Denver's 16th Street Pedestrian Mall
And so much more. Jimmy and I are doing so much and having so much fun! It is so wonderful to live out my dream of showing him my home and introducing him to my "people." And there is so much more left to do....
Highlights
Jimmy and I have spent the past few days in Ft Collins and Boulder. Too much fun to describe.
-Frisbee golf! Jimmy is loves it and he is so good already.
-Brewery and Pubs! Homemade beer and yummy food.
-Bud Light!
-Hiking! We did a great hike with Richard, Laura, Payson and Maggie up a mountain and we saw some spectacular views.
-Yoga class! First class is free. Ahh.
-The public pool! We took Payson and Maggie to a luxurious kids pool in a huge city park. Wow.
-Boulder bars! Salsa dancing and live reggae with a lot of my friends.
-The Pearl Street Mall!
-Volunteering! Back to work at Intercambio.
-Chai!!!
-Funny English sayings!
-Mountains!
-Homeless people DO exist in this country!
-100' weather!
It is all overwhelming and great!!!!
-Frisbee golf! Jimmy is loves it and he is so good already.
-Brewery and Pubs! Homemade beer and yummy food.
-Bud Light!
-Hiking! We did a great hike with Richard, Laura, Payson and Maggie up a mountain and we saw some spectacular views.
-Yoga class! First class is free. Ahh.
-The public pool! We took Payson and Maggie to a luxurious kids pool in a huge city park. Wow.
-Boulder bars! Salsa dancing and live reggae with a lot of my friends.
-The Pearl Street Mall!
-Volunteering! Back to work at Intercambio.
-Chai!!!
-Funny English sayings!
-Mountains!
-Homeless people DO exist in this country!
-100' weather!
It is all overwhelming and great!!!!
4th of July
So much is happening that I find it challenging to summarize our adventures.
We went to Boulder and I gave a tour of the University of Colorado's campus to Jimmy and Elizabeth. Jimmy was amazed at the beauty and size of my college.
Then we continued the tradition of $1 tacos and Jimmy met about 10 of my friends, which I am sure was overwhelming, but it was great.
On the 4th of July, we watched the World Cup game in the day, and then we all went to the Rockies (professional baseball) game at Coors field. Jimmy said the stadium was unbelievable and he was so impressed with the firework show afterwards. He also enjoyed the light-rail train that we all took to and from the game. Jimmy asked me why we don't have parades on the 4th of July holiday, and I did not have a good answer, other than the tradition is to have fireworks.
We went over to my dear friend Angela Magnotta's house and Jimmy had so much fun jumping on a trampoline for the first time, with Payson and Maggie.
Payson is a really good teacher to Jimmy. The other day Payson did the United 50 States puzzle with Jimmy and taught him where every state is and a little fact about each state.
Jimmy likes all the micro-brews.
Jimmy laughed as he cleaned the driveway with our electric blower. Ahhh, the machines that we have in the States.
We also ate "Carb Freedom" icecream. Ahhh, the diet fads that we have in the States.
Jimmy's English is awesome. It is truely incredible how quickly he is learning.
His new funny word is "shaft" and he shouted that word as he was looking at old pictures with my dad and he saw a picture of the Washington Memorial. Ha!
Some new sayings are: "Suck it up." "It is not the end of the world." "To get a kick out of it." "On and off." And so much more.
Jimmy did an excellent job explaining to my family why English is so hard. He used the example of pronunciation: "face" and "surface." "mouth" and "plymouth."
This trip has been so fun so far. Both Jimmy and I were very sad to take our friend Elizabeth to the airport tomorrow, because we had passed a perfect week with her, and we love her so much.
We went to Boulder and I gave a tour of the University of Colorado's campus to Jimmy and Elizabeth. Jimmy was amazed at the beauty and size of my college.
Then we continued the tradition of $1 tacos and Jimmy met about 10 of my friends, which I am sure was overwhelming, but it was great.
On the 4th of July, we watched the World Cup game in the day, and then we all went to the Rockies (professional baseball) game at Coors field. Jimmy said the stadium was unbelievable and he was so impressed with the firework show afterwards. He also enjoyed the light-rail train that we all took to and from the game. Jimmy asked me why we don't have parades on the 4th of July holiday, and I did not have a good answer, other than the tradition is to have fireworks.
We went over to my dear friend Angela Magnotta's house and Jimmy had so much fun jumping on a trampoline for the first time, with Payson and Maggie.
Payson is a really good teacher to Jimmy. The other day Payson did the United 50 States puzzle with Jimmy and taught him where every state is and a little fact about each state.
Jimmy likes all the micro-brews.
Jimmy laughed as he cleaned the driveway with our electric blower. Ahhh, the machines that we have in the States.
We also ate "Carb Freedom" icecream. Ahhh, the diet fads that we have in the States.
Jimmy's English is awesome. It is truely incredible how quickly he is learning.
His new funny word is "shaft" and he shouted that word as he was looking at old pictures with my dad and he saw a picture of the Washington Memorial. Ha!
Some new sayings are: "Suck it up." "It is not the end of the world." "To get a kick out of it." "On and off." And so much more.
Jimmy did an excellent job explaining to my family why English is so hard. He used the example of pronunciation: "face" and "surface." "mouth" and "plymouth."
This trip has been so fun so far. Both Jimmy and I were very sad to take our friend Elizabeth to the airport tomorrow, because we had passed a perfect week with her, and we love her so much.
We are in Colorado
We arrived 5 1/2 hours late last night on the train. The ride was spectacular because we passed through the most "beautiful scenic route" in the country. The Amtrack train was very nice and the experience was awesome.
So, Jimmy has now met all of my family. My parents were waiting for us at 1am last night at the train station and they hugged Jimmy more than they hugged me, =). This morning Jimmy met my brother Richard and his wife Laura, and their children Payson and Maggie. Then we went to go see my Grandma, who is doing so well and has totally recovered from her pnemonia at the age of 97, a true miracle.
Jimmy saw a family of geese in the river while we were in the Glen Canyon on the train, and he said, "Oh how cute, look at that family of turkeys." HA!
Jimmy layed down on my family's waterbed in the basement and could not stop smiling and laughing for about 5 minutes as he rolled around on the waves saying WOW. HA!
Jimmy threw the frisbee with Payson and Maggie in the backyard this morning. So cute!
We are good. Tomorrow we are all going to the Rockies baseball game for the 4th of July to see the firework shows.
We will be in Colorado until July 24th, and then we will drive to North Carlolina.
So, Jimmy has now met all of my family. My parents were waiting for us at 1am last night at the train station and they hugged Jimmy more than they hugged me, =). This morning Jimmy met my brother Richard and his wife Laura, and their children Payson and Maggie. Then we went to go see my Grandma, who is doing so well and has totally recovered from her pnemonia at the age of 97, a true miracle.
Jimmy saw a family of geese in the river while we were in the Glen Canyon on the train, and he said, "Oh how cute, look at that family of turkeys." HA!
Jimmy layed down on my family's waterbed in the basement and could not stop smiling and laughing for about 5 minutes as he rolled around on the waves saying WOW. HA!
Jimmy threw the frisbee with Payson and Maggie in the backyard this morning. So cute!
We are good. Tomorrow we are all going to the Rockies baseball game for the 4th of July to see the firework shows.
We will be in Colorado until July 24th, and then we will drive to North Carlolina.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
We're Here!
Greetings from San Francisco! Jimmy and I arrived to this wonderful city last night to visit my brother Mathews. Despite our plan leaving Costa Rica a few hours late, missing our connection in Houston, having an extremely long layover in Houston and loosing my check-on bag, we were very happy to finish our full day of traveling.
Our first hours in the Unites States have already been an eye-opening experience for Jimmy. It is so fun for me to watch his expressions as he sees my country for the first time, and furthermore to answer all of his questions. He was totally fascinated with the moving walkways. He is awed by all of the rainbow gay flags in San Francisco and the very steep streets. He played ultimate frisbee this morning and was overwhelmed by the game. He drank his vist chai with a perma-smile. He also drank his first micro-brew beer and loved the taste of the amber ale. He is already learning so many new words in English, like "to flush" the toilet. and And ANd AND! The list does not stop.
A highlight of our long layover in Houston was an unexpected visit with our dear friends Amir and Caitlin. They came and picked us up at the airport and took us to an A&W for some fast food. Jimmy's first "real" experience in the USA was the expansive highway system of the country's 4th largest city. We love Caitlin and Amir.
The Gay Rights Parade
Yesterday we went to San Francisco's Gay Rights Parade. There were at least 1 million people attending the parade, and Jimmy said "WHOA" at least that many times.
Before that we went to my brother's church that is called Glide, which is a social justice liberal church. The message was acceptance of everyone's love.
After the parade we went on a driving tour of the city and we saw the Golden Gate bridge.
Let's just say that yesterday was a culture shocking day! It was great!!!
San Fransisco is awesome! We are happy.
Friday, June 30, 2006
San Fransisco Highlights
Highlights:
-Going to China town and tricking Jimmy into sticking his fingers in a chinese finger trap, and laughing as he tried to get his fingers out while saying "Oh Sh*t."
-Welcoming our dear friend Elizabeth Balten to the trip.
-Watching Jimmy's reaction to seeing sealions and seals at Fisherman's Warf.
-Traveling across the Golden Gate Bridge to go to some beaches and redwood forests.
-Drinking chai everyday.
-Throwing the frisbee in some city parks.
-Riding our bikes throughout the city.
-AND AND AND.
-Going to China town and tricking Jimmy into sticking his fingers in a chinese finger trap, and laughing as he tried to get his fingers out while saying "Oh Sh*t."
-Welcoming our dear friend Elizabeth Balten to the trip.
-Watching Jimmy's reaction to seeing sealions and seals at Fisherman's Warf.
-Traveling across the Golden Gate Bridge to go to some beaches and redwood forests.
-Drinking chai everyday.
-Throwing the frisbee in some city parks.
-Riding our bikes throughout the city.
-AND AND AND.
Critical Mass
Today's afternoon was Critical Mass, a peaceful protest bike-ride tradition in San Francisco every last Friday of the month. So, Jimmy, Elizabeth, Mathews and I rode bikes with about 2000 other screaming people and it was sooo fun. We went all around the city in World Cup jersies representing different countries, and Jimmy & I wore Costa Rica shirts. Police came and shut down the streets for the bikers and it was great. The purpose? Share the Road AND Impeach Bush!!!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
My work trip to New York
Hello from Brooklyn, NY!
This has been, maybe, the busiest week of my life! I do not believe I have ever thought and worked so hard even in college as I did this week at work and during my exploring adventures in this gigantic city. I feel so stimulated, challenged, and inspired after this intense, full and overwhelming week. This week in New York was a positive experience for me because I learned so much on every level possible.
I am now officially the Admissions Counsilor at the Latin American Center (in Costa Rica) for the Friends World Program of Long Island University! Hurray for me because this job is exactly what I want to be doing right now with this institution, and this job is heading me down the kind of carreer path that I want to follow. I have know for awhile that I want to work as a leader in the administrative part of an upper-education institution, but I have struggled to find my place because I do not think I am a disciplined academic. I believe I have an emotional intellegence that shines through my hard work and my ability to socialize professionally with people. Thus, my new job of calling and emailing potential students in the USA from Costa Rica and guiding them through their college decisions is an oustanding position for me. This 20 hour position will have me working 2-10pm on Wed and Thur and all day on Saturday, then my other 20 hours will be 8:30am - 4pm on Tues and Fri as the Academic Assistant & Translator. I am so excited and I know I will do a great job.
This week at work, not only did I attend curriculum building workshops, I also received training on PodCasting, Electronic Portfolios, Databases, Assessment Tests, four-year development progression plans for alternative education. I learned about the dynamic and complicated systems of organization for a large, private university.
And besides working like crazy every single day, I had so much FUN in New York. I went out every single night and explored this huge city at great length and depth. Many nights I went out with my co-workers to places such as Union Square, Washington Park, China Town, Little Italy, Park Slope, Times Square, Ground Zero, Central Park, Wall Street, where John Lennen was shot, Carnigie Hall, Prospect Park and soooo much more. I have eaten food from so many countries: Indian, Thai, Greek, NY Pizza, Italian Gelato, Turkish, Meditterranean, Sushi, organic vegi buffet and lots of ice cream. I am absolutely fascinated with this city and I am dazzled by the subway system.
A highlight of this week was a final work dinner at a co-worker's house, who lives in the White House Apartments, right on the border of Central Park. She lives on one of the top floors and she has the most spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline and all of Central Park. I have never been in such a fancy home and it was a very luxurious experience.
Another highlight is a free summer concert I attended in Prospect Park to see Maceo Phillips, the original saxaphonist for James Brown, and Prince surprised the crowd with a final oncore.
The saddest highlight was my visit to Ground Zero. I cried. Really, there are two big holes and all of the surrounding buildings have not strucurally recovered yet. There is plans to build the Freedom Tower and a beautiful waterfall memorial. I saw more toursists at Ground Zero than anywhere else, and no one smiled. Silence.
This week has been so good for and I feel personally transformed. And exausted. I am ready to return to Costa Rica and I am motivated to start my new position. I am so happy.
In conclusion, I love New York and I love the Friends World Program!
This has been, maybe, the busiest week of my life! I do not believe I have ever thought and worked so hard even in college as I did this week at work and during my exploring adventures in this gigantic city. I feel so stimulated, challenged, and inspired after this intense, full and overwhelming week. This week in New York was a positive experience for me because I learned so much on every level possible.
I am now officially the Admissions Counsilor at the Latin American Center (in Costa Rica) for the Friends World Program of Long Island University! Hurray for me because this job is exactly what I want to be doing right now with this institution, and this job is heading me down the kind of carreer path that I want to follow. I have know for awhile that I want to work as a leader in the administrative part of an upper-education institution, but I have struggled to find my place because I do not think I am a disciplined academic. I believe I have an emotional intellegence that shines through my hard work and my ability to socialize professionally with people. Thus, my new job of calling and emailing potential students in the USA from Costa Rica and guiding them through their college decisions is an oustanding position for me. This 20 hour position will have me working 2-10pm on Wed and Thur and all day on Saturday, then my other 20 hours will be 8:30am - 4pm on Tues and Fri as the Academic Assistant & Translator. I am so excited and I know I will do a great job.
This week at work, not only did I attend curriculum building workshops, I also received training on PodCasting, Electronic Portfolios, Databases, Assessment Tests, four-year development progression plans for alternative education. I learned about the dynamic and complicated systems of organization for a large, private university.
And besides working like crazy every single day, I had so much FUN in New York. I went out every single night and explored this huge city at great length and depth. Many nights I went out with my co-workers to places such as Union Square, Washington Park, China Town, Little Italy, Park Slope, Times Square, Ground Zero, Central Park, Wall Street, where John Lennen was shot, Carnigie Hall, Prospect Park and soooo much more. I have eaten food from so many countries: Indian, Thai, Greek, NY Pizza, Italian Gelato, Turkish, Meditterranean, Sushi, organic vegi buffet and lots of ice cream. I am absolutely fascinated with this city and I am dazzled by the subway system.
A highlight of this week was a final work dinner at a co-worker's house, who lives in the White House Apartments, right on the border of Central Park. She lives on one of the top floors and she has the most spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline and all of Central Park. I have never been in such a fancy home and it was a very luxurious experience.
Another highlight is a free summer concert I attended in Prospect Park to see Maceo Phillips, the original saxaphonist for James Brown, and Prince surprised the crowd with a final oncore.
The saddest highlight was my visit to Ground Zero. I cried. Really, there are two big holes and all of the surrounding buildings have not strucurally recovered yet. There is plans to build the Freedom Tower and a beautiful waterfall memorial. I saw more toursists at Ground Zero than anywhere else, and no one smiled. Silence.
This week has been so good for and I feel personally transformed. And exausted. I am ready to return to Costa Rica and I am motivated to start my new position. I am so happy.
In conclusion, I love New York and I love the Friends World Program!
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