Thursday 3rd May
Today was the first day where I feel I contributed something of signifiance: I cut approx. 20 steps into the side of a steep hill which will lead to the new house. It was good to be working outside, despite the snakes, mosquitos and flies!! Carlos joined me later and helped some (sharpened my spade!!) whilst talking about women, women, women, travelling and women....
Also had a tour of the house project with Roberto and Marvin. I suggested he should become the new Jefe de Contruccion and he's good and dedicated and interested. And I now understand the project much better: a restaurant for tourists and or volunteers with private rooms, balcony etc. and work for the whole family. A very good idea with much potential and a secure future for Timoteo's family and perhaps not completely thought through but better prepared than I thought.
However, the original estimate has doubled and although it's unlikely that money has dissapeared, there's no record of what has been spent and whether materials have been ordered or not. A family meeting will be called tomorrow - 3rd try to make it happend this week - to discuss the future and try to re-enthuse the family . Marvin seems more excited than everyone else.....!
The rainy season is just starting and everybody is very happy as it has been too dry for too long. Electricity is still be ing rationed though, so as of 4pm there's no more luz and as of 6pm its dark, so just candles and torches. Thankfully, there's enough water so no searching for that, unlike the villages further up the mountain who sometimes walks for miles looking for agua potable.
1st Spanish lesson today with a young girl who works in the local hardware store and is studying to be a pre-school teacher. Didn;t go well today but will se how things develop tomorrow. Already thought about changing teachers today, but she;s probably very thankful for the money. Will however tally up the hours at the end of the week and ask for a refund which I'll use for the schools and in some form Timoteo's family. Same idea for giving up one of the included tours. Must talk to Laura about that......
Timoteo prayed for me 2 days ago and sang for me and Roberto today, welcoming us into his house as part of his family, living like indios he says!!
Must be careful not to forget the destitution here, but somehow everybody seems muy contento here. Carlos gave me some intersesting information today: 2 days work for 20 kilos of coffee for less than 1 US$!! They try to harvest every 3 months, but that doesn't always work out. No fair trade here. 1 kilo of rice costs approx. 1 US$ here, but they are fairly self-sufficient here. Carlos is working hard to save money for the coming baby.
Big insects here and some of really like to bite...!!!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Day3
Wednesday 2nd May
Wow! Today was big and has changed my perspective significantly. Joined Timoteo today to see how he works with the even poorer communities in the mountains. Hitched a ride with one of the trachers of the two schools in La Pera. First time on the back of an open pick-up and very cool feeling riding on a first track dodging potholes and hanging on for dear life!!
Arrived at the school La Pera 2 after a 30 minute hike, past primitive huts made of branches, leaves and bark wood. Some say alcohol is a big problem here and there's some evidence it could be true. No men to be seen because they are all out working on the plantatoins for the big frit comapanies (who pay next to nothing).
The local school seems to be the meeting place for the community and many of the women can be found here. Most are young, attractive, well kept and almost all have small babies.
Timoteo visits them to take details about illnesses - very many diabetics here - as well as family size, living conditions. He then passes the information on to "Limas" or "Junto de Salud" who then send help in the form of food, medication and sometimes doctor visits.
And it didn't take long to realise that I should be doing more than just help Timoteo with his "building project", so I have spoken to the directors of both schools and have promised to return in 2-3 weeks with as many school materials as I can find in San Jose. I have no idea how I will pay for it, but perhaps I can get some financial help from friends....? Not sure how I will transport the stuff as I have been giving 2 very long shopping lists, but I'll find a way somehow....
And that was just the beginnng: now there is Timoteo's/Roberto's project which is already in danger of collapsing becuase of zero management, bad communication and unclear goals. Originally the wish to build a new private house for Timoteo with money donated by Roberto.
Need to help out here too and think I can provide some direction and focus as well as muscle work, but the 1st will be way more difficult than the 2nd.
Looks like my Spanish lessons won't be happening, but perhaps it's better that way: I can spend more time working on the new build and talking with the family. And perhaps even use the money for the school equipment...???
Exhausted already and think the real work will begin tomorrow. Hope I have the energy and endurance......
Wow! Today was big and has changed my perspective significantly. Joined Timoteo today to see how he works with the even poorer communities in the mountains. Hitched a ride with one of the trachers of the two schools in La Pera. First time on the back of an open pick-up and very cool feeling riding on a first track dodging potholes and hanging on for dear life!!
Arrived at the school La Pera 2 after a 30 minute hike, past primitive huts made of branches, leaves and bark wood. Some say alcohol is a big problem here and there's some evidence it could be true. No men to be seen because they are all out working on the plantatoins for the big frit comapanies (who pay next to nothing).
The local school seems to be the meeting place for the community and many of the women can be found here. Most are young, attractive, well kept and almost all have small babies.
Timoteo visits them to take details about illnesses - very many diabetics here - as well as family size, living conditions. He then passes the information on to "Limas" or "Junto de Salud" who then send help in the form of food, medication and sometimes doctor visits.
And it didn't take long to realise that I should be doing more than just help Timoteo with his "building project", so I have spoken to the directors of both schools and have promised to return in 2-3 weeks with as many school materials as I can find in San Jose. I have no idea how I will pay for it, but perhaps I can get some financial help from friends....? Not sure how I will transport the stuff as I have been giving 2 very long shopping lists, but I'll find a way somehow....
And that was just the beginnng: now there is Timoteo's/Roberto's project which is already in danger of collapsing becuase of zero management, bad communication and unclear goals. Originally the wish to build a new private house for Timoteo with money donated by Roberto.
Need to help out here too and think I can provide some direction and focus as well as muscle work, but the 1st will be way more difficult than the 2nd.
Looks like my Spanish lessons won't be happening, but perhaps it's better that way: I can spend more time working on the new build and talking with the family. And perhaps even use the money for the school equipment...???
Exhausted already and think the real work will begin tomorrow. Hope I have the energy and endurance......
Monday, June 25, 2007
Day2
Tuesday 1st May
An early but easy start. Just a couple of hours so far working on the medicinal plant trail, then an outing to a hidden waterfall which operates something like a tap :-) Am so glad I learnt to swim.... Felt much easier in the water and really enjoyed it!!
Went with Luis and his son and spoke a lot about indigenous rights: many are protected except when it comes to exploring for oil. No rules there :-(
I'm guessing Luis is my age. He works as a nurse at the local clinic, responsible for out-patients so is often on his motorbike for hours on end visiting patients in the mountains. He earns pretty well for CR standards. Around US$400/month. Think he's saving for a computer with internet (col30000/month - expensive!). Perhaps we can do something there?? Need to think what to send these guys when I leave...
What does it mean to volunteer? Wait to be assigned to something or take the initiative and look for ways to help purposefully?
Think Timoteo is waiting for the mysterious Roberto to materialise. He seems to have started the building project here, Hope I'll be able to contribute more as soon as he arrives. However, somebody was telling me today they have no more wood, so maybe we'll have to find a way to find some money for that before we can start working.
My Spanish is coming back to me and its pretty easy to understand most of the indigenous here. They are all unbelievably friendly and all want to practice their English! Not sure what will happend to my Spanish lessons, though....?
It seems very easy to accept the poverty and destitution here. Sanitation is basic to nothing, water is sparse and electricity a luxury which isn't always available. One thing that seems to work well is the telephone. As of 5pm people from the whole community line up to make calls to who knows who....
Families here are generally big and start young, but somehow everybody survives. A unique community spirit here which would be difficult to find in Europe or the US: OPEN-ACCEPTING-CURIOUS-INTERESTED-CONCERNED-FRIENDLY-SATISFIED-HAPPY(?)-PURA VIDA!
Spoke to Timoteo this evening and am beginning to realise how much help he really needs. He is at the beginning of a long journey and seems to want to do it independently, which will make it much harder and he's not getting any younger (63!).
I can understand his point of view: he's been screwed so many times by the people in Puerto Viejo who have promised him "turistas con plata", but they only ever brought them at the beginning and are now taking them to the "cascadas", charging them $80 and not paying the indigenous for entering their land.
Perhaps I can come up with something to bring them here directly: a few signs, some advertising, spreading the word or finding an organisation who want to get involved with experience similar to Los Pueblos Mancomunidados in Oaxaca. Or a website? Hmm... Need some advice, I think. Should talk to Laura and Scott from Tropical Adventures. Perhaps Dawn Robinson back in te UK? But how to do it without turning it into a tourist trap? Ah, the joys of eco-tourism!! Tricky....
An early but easy start. Just a couple of hours so far working on the medicinal plant trail, then an outing to a hidden waterfall which operates something like a tap :-) Am so glad I learnt to swim.... Felt much easier in the water and really enjoyed it!!
Went with Luis and his son and spoke a lot about indigenous rights: many are protected except when it comes to exploring for oil. No rules there :-(
I'm guessing Luis is my age. He works as a nurse at the local clinic, responsible for out-patients so is often on his motorbike for hours on end visiting patients in the mountains. He earns pretty well for CR standards. Around US$400/month. Think he's saving for a computer with internet (col30000/month - expensive!). Perhaps we can do something there?? Need to think what to send these guys when I leave...
What does it mean to volunteer? Wait to be assigned to something or take the initiative and look for ways to help purposefully?
Think Timoteo is waiting for the mysterious Roberto to materialise. He seems to have started the building project here, Hope I'll be able to contribute more as soon as he arrives. However, somebody was telling me today they have no more wood, so maybe we'll have to find a way to find some money for that before we can start working.
My Spanish is coming back to me and its pretty easy to understand most of the indigenous here. They are all unbelievably friendly and all want to practice their English! Not sure what will happend to my Spanish lessons, though....?
It seems very easy to accept the poverty and destitution here. Sanitation is basic to nothing, water is sparse and electricity a luxury which isn't always available. One thing that seems to work well is the telephone. As of 5pm people from the whole community line up to make calls to who knows who....
Families here are generally big and start young, but somehow everybody survives. A unique community spirit here which would be difficult to find in Europe or the US: OPEN-ACCEPTING-CURIOUS-INTERESTED-CONCERNED-FRIENDLY-SATISFIED-HAPPY(?)-PURA VIDA!
Spoke to Timoteo this evening and am beginning to realise how much help he really needs. He is at the beginning of a long journey and seems to want to do it independently, which will make it much harder and he's not getting any younger (63!).
I can understand his point of view: he's been screwed so many times by the people in Puerto Viejo who have promised him "turistas con plata", but they only ever brought them at the beginning and are now taking them to the "cascadas", charging them $80 and not paying the indigenous for entering their land.
Perhaps I can come up with something to bring them here directly: a few signs, some advertising, spreading the word or finding an organisation who want to get involved with experience similar to Los Pueblos Mancomunidados in Oaxaca. Or a website? Hmm... Need some advice, I think. Should talk to Laura and Scott from Tropical Adventures. Perhaps Dawn Robinson back in te UK? But how to do it without turning it into a tourist trap? Ah, the joys of eco-tourism!! Tricky....
Field Trip May 2007: Day1
Monday 30th April
Four flights & four days later have finally arrived at the Bri-Bri reservation in Talamanca, close to the border with Panama. Spent two days in Washington + one day in NYC and finally saw Susan in her home environment. She seems much calmer when at home but still managed to exhaust me within a few hours :-) Really liked Washington though: a small back-water town full of irony and political wrangling, all of which somehow not at all representative of the intense amount of power concentrated there....
And now I'm here wondering what the next two weeks will be like. I'll be living in a small hut made of a jigsaw of bark, wood, vines and what looks like banana-leaf thatching to keep me dry. There is electricity here, but never guaranteed and often only for a few hours a day: the lack of rain is already effecting the hydro-electric plants.
My room is about as basic as it gets: a bed made of two planks, two layers of foam, an old blanket and a mosquito net left by the previous volunteer. Already found a cockroach on my bed and am visited by any number of insects whilst writing by torchlight.
Timoteo's family has already been very hospitable: his wife very quiet, his twelve children a mixture of young boys and older girls, all of whom have their own kids. So many grandchildren, even Timoteo doesn't know exactly how many or how old they are :-)
Early start tomorrow (6.30am). Timoteo is allowing me to start a little later: his day begins at 5am. Will be a tough two weeks, working seven to eight hours a day, then Spanish lessons which will probably only be possible after an hour's bus ride each way, every day...
Am looking forward to a good start tomorrow. Hope I'm up to it and am a help rather than a hinderance....
Too much television, even here!!
Four flights & four days later have finally arrived at the Bri-Bri reservation in Talamanca, close to the border with Panama. Spent two days in Washington + one day in NYC and finally saw Susan in her home environment. She seems much calmer when at home but still managed to exhaust me within a few hours :-) Really liked Washington though: a small back-water town full of irony and political wrangling, all of which somehow not at all representative of the intense amount of power concentrated there....
And now I'm here wondering what the next two weeks will be like. I'll be living in a small hut made of a jigsaw of bark, wood, vines and what looks like banana-leaf thatching to keep me dry. There is electricity here, but never guaranteed and often only for a few hours a day: the lack of rain is already effecting the hydro-electric plants.
My room is about as basic as it gets: a bed made of two planks, two layers of foam, an old blanket and a mosquito net left by the previous volunteer. Already found a cockroach on my bed and am visited by any number of insects whilst writing by torchlight.
Timoteo's family has already been very hospitable: his wife very quiet, his twelve children a mixture of young boys and older girls, all of whom have their own kids. So many grandchildren, even Timoteo doesn't know exactly how many or how old they are :-)
Early start tomorrow (6.30am). Timoteo is allowing me to start a little later: his day begins at 5am. Will be a tough two weeks, working seven to eight hours a day, then Spanish lessons which will probably only be possible after an hour's bus ride each way, every day...
Am looking forward to a good start tomorrow. Hope I'm up to it and am a help rather than a hinderance....
Too much television, even here!!
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