March 23, 2010

March 23, 2010

Hi Everyone!!!! The last week and a half has been super busy. Instead of bogging you down with all the details, I’ve been jotting down a few of my experiences as I go. This is over the last week and a half or so. Disclaimer: I’m saying these things as observations not judgement. Sorry for the vulgar language in advance. Sorry for the grammatical errors. I’m typing fast and going between 2 languages.

* In Costa Rica, we are told, our host mothers cook, clean, and do our laundry for us. (Sweet!) However, if you are female, you must wash your own panties. So, I washed 13 pairs of my panties the other day and hung them all up outside to dry for all to see. And, we are told, no one cares if you’re unmentionables are hanging outside to dry. By the way, if you are a guy, your host mom WILL wash your underwear!

* Interesting --- during one of our first outings around town for Spanish class, we saw a nice Range Rover come down the street --- followed by an antique Ox cart pulled by two ginormous oxen.

*I got 21 mosquito bites my first week in training, despite being sprayed down with Ben’s 30% deet insect repellent issued by PC. (those malaria pills better work). :)

* Since my arrival to Costa Rica, I have experienced 2 tremors. One on March 5th that registered 4.4 and the other tremor the week after last. I was sound asleep during the second one. It did wake me up, but I was too sleepy to be scared.

* As I was journaling the other night, I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye: a huge roach that I almost didn’t even register as a roach because it was so big. My host mom came and said, “ah si una cucaracha” then, got a broom to kill it. It took 2 crunches with her shoe to kill it.

* On the bus from San Jose, a man grabbed my butt as I was getting off the bus. Jack ass. My host dad said I should have grabbed his package and twisted as hard as I could. I went for the ignore and get away approach.

* A lot of shows on TV are from the U.S. (dubbed over in Spanish) or are a Costa Rican version of a U.S. show. I watch Costa Rican Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Fear Factor all the time with my host mom.

*My host mom HATES movies with animals that talk (Ice Age, Madagascar, Happy Feet).

* Most, if not all, the older generation here in town are so giving, friendly, and genuine. Once you introduce yourself and chat a bit -- they invite you in for jugo de cas.

* I think I really and truly know what the words “ants in your pants” mean now.

* The bus drivers here are straight up “G’s”. They roll those huge buses as if they were Cadillacs. They parallel park into small spaces quickly and maneuver the roads in the mountains with no fear. I just keep looking out the window at the scenery instead of what’s happening on the road.

* On a t-shirt of young pre-teen at an event: I may not be Mr. Right, but I’ll fuck the shit out of you till he comes home. (Don’t think he had a clue what it said)

*I bought a shirt, a skirt, and a pair of shorts for 3200 colones (that’s just a few bucks) at the Ropa Americana store (American clothes store), which is probably where the boy mentioned above bought his shirt. I’ve been told lots of the clothes we giveaway or donate ends up in these kinds of stores.

*** Special note to my LifeWorks crew! In training last week, we discussed the importance of using SMART goals when working with people. AHHHHHHH! I thought I got away!

* On my site visit these last few days, I travelled to a community a few hours away and met with another volunteer to see what she does. On the bus, I apparently got bitten by an insect that went up my jeans. I have about 26 bites that I counted on my leg thighs, bum, and lower back. The bites got pretty nasty by the next day so I went to the clinic. They told me the bug that bit me was most likely infected and that in addition, I had an allergic reaction to the bug bites. Yuck is all I have to say about that. My legs look gross. My mentor (the volunteer I went to visit) said I have been officially inducted to the Peace Corps experience now that I have gotten the nasty bites from an unknown bug while having her host mom and many friends and family give their opinions, diagnose, and treat me! lol. I was itching so bad, I had no shame at all about them inspecting me. LOL.

That’s all I have for now. Things are going well. I’m loving it and grateful for the experiences. I do get sad every once in a while and miss everyone, but all your emails and facebook messages are helping!

Love ya!

Pictures!

Here´s a link to some pics of my first week. There´s a bunch of pics missing, until I figure out how to transfer them from my mac... this is it!

http://picasaweb.google.com/dshanor/Week1OfCostaRica?feat=directlink

Pura Vida March 13, 2010

Hi Everyone! All is well here in my little town just 40 minutes away from San Jose. I love my host family. They ROCK. I get up now between 5am and 5:30am now and am in bed by 9!!! Crazy right?!?! I am learning my way around and getting used to living with spiders... ya'll know I'm trying to get over my phobia. My host family has a dog, a parrot, roosters, and canaries.

Training is no punk. We stay hemmed up in class or workshops all day everyday. Peace Corps has their stuff together. It's all very organized and well put together. I am learning a lot.

I will try to post pictures this weekend. I've been taking pics. Ok, Pura Vida people. Shoot me an email and let me know how you're doing.

Love ya!

Made it through Orientation Week!

Sunday, March 7, 2009

Hello Everyone! I made it through orientation week! From D.C. staging/orientation, 56 of us new Peace Corps Trainees got on a plane on March 2nd to Miami then to Costa Rica!!!! We made it just fine and were put on buses with all of our luggage to Tres Rios, Costa Rica. We stayed at a retreat up in the mountains where we had our official orientation. It was great! We got to know one another, meet the Peace Corps staff, and attended sessions all day long with tons of information. We also ate A LOT! The most exciting part was the last night at the retreat, at about 10pm or so, we experienced an earthquake! It was small --- only 4.4 on the scale. I had never been in one. I was on the phone with Jeff when it happened. The earth trembled for 4 whole seconds, then it was over. It was the talk of the town for the next few days. :)

On Saturday, we packed up and rolled out to our new host families. I live in a town not far from San Jose. My host family is awesome and I have my own room and bathroom --- much like my own little suite. I feel very lucky. My host mother and I spoke for about three hours straight yesterday. She is so sweet. She said she had been praying that God would send me to her and that God answered her prayers when she met me. We hit it off just fine. My host father is great. He makes fun of me and of anyone or anything he can. He is so connected to the land. I like him because he’s old school. I have a host brother who lives in the house too who is about 32 or so. He has a girlfriend that comes by a lot too. There is a dog (my new buddy), a parrot, canaries, and roosters (that start making noise at 3:30am).

Today, I slept in (for once) and then had a great breakfast with my host mom. Then I walked around the property with my host father who showed me the different kinds of trees they have --- guanabana, grapefruit, banana, granadilla, mango, papaya, and more. He also showed me two bee hives, one of which he took a long stick and poked at to make sure I could see the bees! We took off running together when the bees starting coming out. He told me they are angry bees that sting very much. lol. After lunch I was going to take a quick nap and read/do my assignments. Instead, I slept for 3 hours! Then, the entire family (extended family too) who all live on the same street came over and made a typical dinner on the wood burning stove outside. We ate outside and they dedicated the dinner to me. Awww. It was very nice. I probably already gained a few pounds with all this eating I’ve been doing!!!!

Tomorrow, I start my first week of official training. Peace Corps calls it PST or Pre Service Training.

I miss all of you. I hope you are doing well. I am doing great so far. All is well. I’ll keep you posted. Love you!

P.S. Um, I forgot to mention that the FIRST night in Costa Rica at the retreat I saw a freakin’ tarantula!!!!!! The whole group knew I was afraid of spiders and warned me that there was one on the wall outside as we went to session. Yuck. Needless to say, I did not sleep well that night. Gave me the heebie jeebies. But I survived.

P.S.S Kevin! Thanks for the recommendation on the sleeping bag liner! I’ve used it every night and it makes me feel safer from the spiders! ;p

P.S.S Emily! Thanks for the prayer shawl! I love it and have worn it twice already. It’s very special.