So right now I'm in my room surrounded by complete chaos (clothes and coffee are everywhere!). There's a bus coming for me in about 45 minutes so I'll make this quick. I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has been keeping up with my blog. Thank you all so much for checking in with me. Also thanks to all the people back in the states who have been keeping my parents sane while I've been gone- I know it’s a hard job ;). And to everyone in Central America who has been keeping me sane; all the LE Panama volunteers, my host family in Panama, mi familia tica, and the ICDS students who have started to feel more like family, thank you so much you have helped me learn more about myself and life than I will ever be able to tell you. I really have had the time of my life in these last six months traveling around, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, jumping in waterfalls, climbing volcanoes, and speaking mangled Spanglish. I can't believe the time has gone by so fast! I'll be home by midnight, so this is my last official post from abroad. Thanks again for keeping up with me. I am so excited to see everyone over winter break! I'll be home for Christmas ;D
¡ciao y besitas!
<3
j
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
...casi cielo...
I am officially done with classes!!! To celebrate the end of classes, and really enjoy our last weekend in Costa Rica, I went on a road trip with Rhiannon and Kayla to Guanacaste (a region near the northwest border with Nicaragua). It was our first time there, and we were blown away by how completely beautiful it is. We hung out on the beach for four days straight. It was a great feeling to just lose track of time. We went to a grand total of three beaches while we were there; Playa Conchal, Playa Brasilito, and Playa Flamingo. Conchal was by far my favorite. Seriously if you are ever in Costa Rica do NOT leave until you go there. Leaving the beach after four lovely leisurely days was hard, especially since I've heard rumors of snow in the U.S. I really feel like I'm still lost in a never-ending summer. Going home will be bittersweet...
Friday, December 4, 2009
Who Are You?
I stumbled across this clip while looking for a youtube video of The Who singing "Who Are You", and was shocked by how much I can relate to Alice's situation. Sometimes, I feel like I'm the wrong size, color, shape to be in Costa Rica. I clearly stand out and everything is confusing and new to me. Just like the caterpillar everyone is asking me "who are you?" in the form of where are you from, how old are you, and why are you here- and just like Alice I feel like responding "I hardly know".
The issue of nationality is especially interesting here. What is your nationality? I have filled out countless government forms asking me this, most recently in Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. When I'm speaking/writing in English the answer is always American. However, since coming to Costa Rica I have had many people lecture me on the use of the term American. Technically the word America belongs to North, South, and Central America and sometimes people feel the need to remind me of this. I think at times calling ourselves American is seen as a sign of arrogance…or ignorance. I understand this on some level, but when I am speaking English I literally have no other word to describe my nationality and when I speak Spanish I simply say "soy de los estados unidos" and write EEUU (the Spanish abbreviation) on all the immigration paperwork. While this misunderstanding is frustrating at times it has been more enlightening than annoying.
Also adding to my general confusion over nationalities are the variety of slang terms used. Here's a brief list to give you an idea of what I'm talking about...
A list of things you are likely to be called in Costa Rica:
Chino- used to refer to any person who looks remotely Asian
Gringo- The term can be applied to any person who is known, or assumed to be from the United States regardless of race, or it can denote a strong association or assimilation into American society and culture. The term in its functional use is mostly encountered by Americans traveling abroad to Spanish speaking countries.[citation needed] The American Heritage Dictionary classifies gringo as "offensive slang," "usually disparaging," and "often disparaging." (I stole this from Wikipedia, but in Costa Rica the term isn't used in a derogatory way)
Macha- a blond female, usually a foreigner (this is what most people -aka men- yell at me on the street)
Negro- this can be used to refer to anyone with dark skin
Norteño- a gringo
Polaco- technically this translates as Polish, but I've been told that often this term is used to refer Jewish people in general because of the large number of Polish Jews that came to Costa Rica in the 1930s and 1940s.
In the U.S. in general, and Washington, DC specifically, I feel like specificity and political correctness are seen as valuable. Hearing these terms, and being lectured on the inappropriateness of the term I use to describe my nationality, has exposed me a different way of approaching ethnicity and race. That said, I’m not sure I’ll be using any of these any time soon…
Monday, November 30, 2009
Happy (Belated) Turkey Day!
This was the first Thanksgiving that I have not celebrated with family. While I was sad to not be at home, I still had a good turkey day. Apparently I had forgotten how much work Thanksgiving dinner can be. Rhiannon and I had decided to make dinner for our host families Thanksgiving night. Our host mother's are sisters so we picked Rhi's house to cook everything in. Thursday night everything was almost perfect. We had gone shopping the day earlier, and the ingredients for mac & cheese, sauteed green beans, garlic mashed potatoes (7 lbs!), stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie were all waiting to be put to good use. You may have noticed that the turkey was conspicuously absent from that list... Well it turns out that turkey is ridiculously expensive in Costa Rica ($60 for a tiny bird!), so our host mothers split the cost of chicken as their contribution to the meal. Unfortunately, Rhiannon and I did not have any recipes ready to prepare raw chicken. After some frantic google-ing we settled on baking it. We spent about two hours in the kitchen sautéing, boiling, baking, mashing, and speaking Spanglish. It was a little chaotic using all new recipes and no measuring cups, but so much fun!
Yum!
(photo credit: Rhiannon)
I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! We all really do have a lot to give thanks for. I am very thankful to be able to spend this time abroad. This whole experience (since June) has been truly amazing! While part of me can't wait to get home next month, there's another part that wishes I could stay just a little longer. Only 11 more days...
Yum!
(photo credit: Rhiannon)
I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! We all really do have a lot to give thanks for. I am very thankful to be able to spend this time abroad. This whole experience (since June) has been truly amazing! While part of me can't wait to get home next month, there's another part that wishes I could stay just a little longer. Only 11 more days...
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Ticos v. Uruguayos
Yesterday I went to the Costa Rica v. Uraguay soccer game in San José with Rhiannon, Cambridge, and Rhiannon's host brother (Brian). Somehow Brian managed to get us tickets even though the rumor was that they had been sold out for days. We all wore Costa Rican jerseys so we blended in a little more than usual, but we still got a lot of stares. The stadium was packed and you could feel the tension pressing down on you-even worse than the humidity! There was even a small section of Uruguayans with flags as capes and posters. The Costa Ricans tolerated a little noise from that section, but whenever they got too loud everyone else would shout them down (usually with insults about their mothers haha I learned a lot of new vocab. words). Soccer games here have so much more energy. Well, this one was an especially big deal since it was for the World Cup. In the end Costa Rica lost, and everyone left the stadium looking like their puppy had just been run over (except for the Uruguayans obviously). All in all, it was still a great experience that provided another window into tico culture. Check out the video below!
*Sorry it's a little blurry*
*Sorry it's a little blurry*
Monday, November 9, 2009
Recomendaciones
So in addition to studying human rights and development I've been getting an education in the art of the 3-day weekend in Costa Rica. We don't have classes on Fridays so most of my Friday morning have been spent scrambling to find at cab to the bus station at 4AM haha. Below are some things that I've learned which might be useful if you want to plan your own trip to paradise.
Beach
Last weekend I went to one of my favorite beaches in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio. It is in the Central Pacific region, about 3 1/2 hours away from San José by bus. The earliest bus usually leaves the station at 6AM, but it's a good idea to get there at least an hour early. Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations beacause of its amazing beaches and wildlife. The best beaches are inside the National Park, but there's an entrance fee (about $10). If you want to hang out on the beach for free there's a pretty decent one literally in the center of town. In the low season (September-November) the beach is practically deserted. When we were there we had a huge part of the surf and sand all to ourselves ;D Be careful though, the monkeys are known to steal everything from lunches to cell phones.
Hostel
We stayed at Costa Linda this past weekend. At $10 a night it's probably the best bargain you can find in town. The owner is a German ex-pat. and super friendly. Also they have an awesome breakfast ($3); gallo pinto, fruit, eggs, pancakes, toast, and coffee. See their site for more details http://www.costalinda-backpackers.com/national_park.1.html
Taxi's
My friends and I got ripped off this weekend by a cab driver. As soon as we got in the cab one of us asked the taxista if he was going to turn the meter on. He said it was working, but it wouldn't start running until after the first kilometer. However, the meter never turned on and when we got to our destination he demanded $8 (which is pretty high by Costa Rican standards). We argued that he had lied to us about the meter working, and refused to pay. After a lengthy argument we negotiated a lower price, but were still angry. Here are a few important things to know if you ever take a cab in Costa Rica:
-The majority of the streets are not named and houses don't have numbers, so make sure you know how to describe where you are going before you get in a taxi. The first few weeks in Costa Rica I would write out descriptions of where I needed to go (for example: it’s 2 blocks north of the supermarket and 3 blocks west of the post office by the park... but in Spanish obviously) on a note card and just hand it to the cab driver haha. But as I've learned my way around, and my Spanish is improving I generally know how to describe where I want to go and I can tell when they are trying to take me the long way.
-All legitimate taxis in Costa Rica are red and have yellow signs.
-According to Costa Rican law taxistas have to have the meter running while you are in the cab. It should start at either 430 or 455 colones depending on the time of day.
-There may be an added fee if you call a cab company to ask for a taxi.
Beach
Last weekend I went to one of my favorite beaches in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio. It is in the Central Pacific region, about 3 1/2 hours away from San José by bus. The earliest bus usually leaves the station at 6AM, but it's a good idea to get there at least an hour early. Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations beacause of its amazing beaches and wildlife. The best beaches are inside the National Park, but there's an entrance fee (about $10). If you want to hang out on the beach for free there's a pretty decent one literally in the center of town. In the low season (September-November) the beach is practically deserted. When we were there we had a huge part of the surf and sand all to ourselves ;D Be careful though, the monkeys are known to steal everything from lunches to cell phones.
Hostel
We stayed at Costa Linda this past weekend. At $10 a night it's probably the best bargain you can find in town. The owner is a German ex-pat. and super friendly. Also they have an awesome breakfast ($3); gallo pinto, fruit, eggs, pancakes, toast, and coffee. See their site for more details http://www.costalinda-backpackers.com/national_park.1.html
Taxi's
My friends and I got ripped off this weekend by a cab driver. As soon as we got in the cab one of us asked the taxista if he was going to turn the meter on. He said it was working, but it wouldn't start running until after the first kilometer. However, the meter never turned on and when we got to our destination he demanded $8 (which is pretty high by Costa Rican standards). We argued that he had lied to us about the meter working, and refused to pay. After a lengthy argument we negotiated a lower price, but were still angry. Here are a few important things to know if you ever take a cab in Costa Rica:
-The majority of the streets are not named and houses don't have numbers, so make sure you know how to describe where you are going before you get in a taxi. The first few weeks in Costa Rica I would write out descriptions of where I needed to go (for example: it’s 2 blocks north of the supermarket and 3 blocks west of the post office by the park... but in Spanish obviously) on a note card and just hand it to the cab driver haha. But as I've learned my way around, and my Spanish is improving I generally know how to describe where I want to go and I can tell when they are trying to take me the long way.
-All legitimate taxis in Costa Rica are red and have yellow signs.
-According to Costa Rican law taxistas have to have the meter running while you are in the cab. It should start at either 430 or 455 colones depending on the time of day.
-There may be an added fee if you call a cab company to ask for a taxi.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
¿El Final?
Just in case you've been curious, an update on the Honduran coup...
On October 30th an agreement was reached between the de facto Honduran government and representatives of deposed president Manuel Zeleya. Talks to end the crisis were deadlocked as of Oct. 23, after 16 days of negotiations. Then a delegation from the United States headed by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon joined the talks in Tegucigalpa on Oct. 28, and an agreement was signed just two days later. Before the delegation's arrival the Obama administration had consistently said that it would take a backseat in the negotiations, claiming the US wanted to avoid "intervention". "Who knows what would have happened if the [US] delegation had arrived earlier?" asked Eduardo Enrique Reina, the Honduran ambassador to the US (appointed by Zelaya in July).
However, the delegation that arrived on October 28th was certainly not the first group of U.S. politicians to arrive in the wake of the coup. In the beginning of October a group of House Republicans journeyed to Honduras to meet with the de facto government, flying in the face of the Obama administration's 'hands-off' stance. Additionally, days before the official delegation arrived, U.S. supporters of the coup were experiencing setbacks in their efforts to claim that the coup was legal and backed by a majority of Hondurans. Several legal experts had already dismissed an August report by the Law Library of Congress claiming that Zelaya's removal was constitutional. On Oct. 27 Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Librarian of Congress James Billington calling the report "misleading to the Congress and the public" and charging that it "contains factual errors and is based on a flawed legal analysis". They asked for the Law Library to issue a corrected version including other views. The report had been requested by a Republican, Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois, and Republican Congress members promptly charged Kerry and Berman with censorship. (The Hill, Oct. 27; Miami Herald, Nov. 1)
U.S. infighting aside, it now looks like there is an end in sight to the Honduran crisis. However, this coup has highlighted the core issue surrounding U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. "At its root, the fight in Honduras has been over whether Latin American nations will remain committed to upholding liberal democracy and the rule of law, not only at home but for their neighbors. The alliance led by Hugo Chávez [ALBA] is promoting a rival model of populist authoritarianism -- one that Honduras's deposed president, Manuel Zelaya, was attempting to adopt" (Washington Post, Oct. 31). As Chavez continues to promote ALBA [Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America] there will be more political tests of will like this. What is less certain is how the United States will respond to its hegemony being threatened in the region.
Related articles
What is ALBA? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivarian_Alliance_for_the_Americas
Deal is struck http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1933603,00.html
A Win? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003360.html
Republican Trip http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/10/02/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5358973.shtml
On October 30th an agreement was reached between the de facto Honduran government and representatives of deposed president Manuel Zeleya. Talks to end the crisis were deadlocked as of Oct. 23, after 16 days of negotiations. Then a delegation from the United States headed by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon joined the talks in Tegucigalpa on Oct. 28, and an agreement was signed just two days later. Before the delegation's arrival the Obama administration had consistently said that it would take a backseat in the negotiations, claiming the US wanted to avoid "intervention". "Who knows what would have happened if the [US] delegation had arrived earlier?" asked Eduardo Enrique Reina, the Honduran ambassador to the US (appointed by Zelaya in July).
However, the delegation that arrived on October 28th was certainly not the first group of U.S. politicians to arrive in the wake of the coup. In the beginning of October a group of House Republicans journeyed to Honduras to meet with the de facto government, flying in the face of the Obama administration's 'hands-off' stance. Additionally, days before the official delegation arrived, U.S. supporters of the coup were experiencing setbacks in their efforts to claim that the coup was legal and backed by a majority of Hondurans. Several legal experts had already dismissed an August report by the Law Library of Congress claiming that Zelaya's removal was constitutional. On Oct. 27 Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Librarian of Congress James Billington calling the report "misleading to the Congress and the public" and charging that it "contains factual errors and is based on a flawed legal analysis". They asked for the Law Library to issue a corrected version including other views. The report had been requested by a Republican, Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois, and Republican Congress members promptly charged Kerry and Berman with censorship. (The Hill, Oct. 27; Miami Herald, Nov. 1)
U.S. infighting aside, it now looks like there is an end in sight to the Honduran crisis. However, this coup has highlighted the core issue surrounding U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. "At its root, the fight in Honduras has been over whether Latin American nations will remain committed to upholding liberal democracy and the rule of law, not only at home but for their neighbors. The alliance led by Hugo Chávez [ALBA] is promoting a rival model of populist authoritarianism -- one that Honduras's deposed president, Manuel Zelaya, was attempting to adopt" (Washington Post, Oct. 31). As Chavez continues to promote ALBA [Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America] there will be more political tests of will like this. What is less certain is how the United States will respond to its hegemony being threatened in the region.
Related articles
What is ALBA? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivarian_Alliance_for_the_Americas
Deal is struck http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1933603,00.html
A Win? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003360.html
Republican Trip http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/10/02/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5358973.shtml
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Costa Rican Farming...
Last weekend all the students in the International Center for Development Studies programs went on a fieldtrip to EARTH University. We toured a paper mill, a banana farm, as well as a cocoa farm to learn about organic farming practices. It was a great weekend, and I learned about a lot of new farming techniques (not that I'll be needing to use them any time soon). I'll leave the rest of the story to my pictures...
*bananas that will end up in Whole Foods someday*
*baby cocoa plants*
*grown up cocoa*
*tasting fresh cocoa*
*cows staring at city kids who don't usually get to see cows*
***Go here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129521&id=698895562&l=b7381fd5f2 if you want to see all of them =)***
*bananas that will end up in Whole Foods someday*
*baby cocoa plants*
*grown up cocoa*
*tasting fresh cocoa*
*cows staring at city kids who don't usually get to see cows*
***Go here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129521&id=698895562&l=b7381fd5f2 if you want to see all of them =)***
Friday, October 16, 2009
To Granada & Back Again
So Rhiannon, Kayla, and I decided to take advantage of the long Columbus Day weekend and head to Nicaragua. At 3:45AM Friday we hopped on a direct bus and took off for the border. I immediately fell asleep. When I woke up the bus was stopped, and I couldn't tell where I was so I stumbled off (still groggy) to buy a bottle of water. As I was walking back to the bus I noticed that there was a sign on the front that said Tegucigalpa. I looked around and saw lots of people offering to exchange money, a sign that said customs, and then had a mini-heart attack. For a brief moment I thought we had gotten on the wrong bus and somehow arrived at the Honduran border instead! Needless to say Honduras is not the place to be right now...Luckily it was the Nicaraguan border, and everything was fine (still not sure why that sign was on our bus). We made the 8 hour journey to Granada without any other problems thankfully. The hostel we picked was amazing! *See end of post for full review* After dropping off our backpacks we set out to explore the city for the afternoon. Granada reminds me of Cusco, Peru a little. It's the oldest colonial city in Nicaragua and full of history and joie de virve. Granada is a city that will try it's best to charm you be it through the friendly people, the colorful colonial buildings, or fantastic sunsets. I fell in love with the architecture! (see pics below). Anyways, on our second day there we took a horse and buggy tour and saw Granada's old hospital, a fort that was turned into a prison during the Samoza regime, as well as several of the city’s oldest churches. After a quick stop at an organic chocolate shop (amazing!), we spent the rest of the day exploring Las Isletas in Lake Nicaragua. There are over 360 islands in the lake which can be bought starting at around $100,000. Anyone feel like loaning me some cash? Haha, but really the islands are all beautiful and I would not mind living there. At the end of the day we ended up devouring 2 whole pizzas plus dessert between the three of us to our waiter's amusement =D Busy girls require lots of food!
*Nicaraguan flag flying in the center of town*
On Sunday we set off to explore the nearby town of Masaya. Our first stop was the market. It was gigantic and everything imaginable was for sale! The ground was covered with trash, squishy black gunk, vegetable parts, bits of meat, and some kind of black slime. We went up and down rows and rows of plantains, cabbage, huge hunks of cheese, live chickens, and pig heads. We had wandered around for at least 45 minutes before we stumbled upon the craft section. I felt like Alice in Wonderland; I was too big for the market haha and felt kind of out of place. There was so much to look at the three of us were all on sensory overload. We left the market drenched in sweat though happy, and negotiated for a taxi to take us to a nearby volcano. Volcan Masaya is semi-active and looks like something out of "The Lord of the Rings" (like the doors of Mordor). We climbed to the mouth of the volcano where it was strangely silent, but a heavy kind of silence that buzzed. Oh, and there's a cross at the top put there by the first priest stationed in the area when he designated it the mouth of hell. Before that the native people used to throw humans into the volcano to appease its spirit. We ended out our day with dinner beside a crystal clear lagoon in between Masaya and Granada.
All in all, it was an amazing weekend. Traveling in Central America is always an adventure! Go here (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=128465&id=698895562&l=45ac4f5c1e)to see all my pics from this trip on facebook!
*overlooking the volcano*
*the lagoon we ate dinner by*
Hostel Oasis
This is without a doubt one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in! $8 a night, free internet, and free breakfast is hard to beat. Also it has a great atmosphere and location. If you're ever in the area I highly recomend it =)
*Nicaraguan flag flying in the center of town*
On Sunday we set off to explore the nearby town of Masaya. Our first stop was the market. It was gigantic and everything imaginable was for sale! The ground was covered with trash, squishy black gunk, vegetable parts, bits of meat, and some kind of black slime. We went up and down rows and rows of plantains, cabbage, huge hunks of cheese, live chickens, and pig heads. We had wandered around for at least 45 minutes before we stumbled upon the craft section. I felt like Alice in Wonderland; I was too big for the market haha and felt kind of out of place. There was so much to look at the three of us were all on sensory overload. We left the market drenched in sweat though happy, and negotiated for a taxi to take us to a nearby volcano. Volcan Masaya is semi-active and looks like something out of "The Lord of the Rings" (like the doors of Mordor). We climbed to the mouth of the volcano where it was strangely silent, but a heavy kind of silence that buzzed. Oh, and there's a cross at the top put there by the first priest stationed in the area when he designated it the mouth of hell. Before that the native people used to throw humans into the volcano to appease its spirit. We ended out our day with dinner beside a crystal clear lagoon in between Masaya and Granada.
All in all, it was an amazing weekend. Traveling in Central America is always an adventure! Go here (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=128465&id=698895562&l=45ac4f5c1e)to see all my pics from this trip on facebook!
*overlooking the volcano*
*the lagoon we ate dinner by*
Hostel Oasis
This is without a doubt one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in! $8 a night, free internet, and free breakfast is hard to beat. Also it has a great atmosphere and location. If you're ever in the area I highly recomend it =)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Fútbol/Soccer & Gringas/Ticas
It sounded like a good idea at the time...so many stories start out that way haha. There was a soccer game between Costa Rica and the U.S. in Washington, DC last night. If Costa Rica had scored three goals they would be qualified for the World Cup. Oddly enough I would guess that maybe a quarter of the U.S. population knew that it was going on, and yet the entirity of Costa Rica seemed to be invested heart and soul. People just don't really pay attention to soccer in the states. Anyways, Rhiannon and I wanted to go watch the game, and I decided to wear my U.S jersey. Oh, the looks I got when I walked into a room full of Costa Ricans (men in jerseys, women in club attire and heels)! I really can't remember the last time I felt so awkward. It was like saying y'all in the north , or asking for sweet tea on the west coast, or probably more like wearing a Red Sox's jersey to a Yankee's game; regardless I was marked as an outsider (an unwelcome one at that). I think I would have felt more at ease walking around naked... maybe not, but almost. So the game ended in a tie, and then I really started feeling awkward because everyone got dead silent when the U.S. scored a goal in the last 20 seconds. The stoney silence didn't wear off as quickly as I expected it to. When it did, it gave way to muttered curses about gringos. The tied game means that Costa Rica has to play Uruguay twice in order to qualify for the World Cup, and the chances of Costa Rica winning again the Uruguayan team aren't so good. Lesson learned: everyone can be a sore loser when it's a matter of national pride & try to look less like a gringa in the future =D
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
A la playa por favor...
Here are some pics from my trip to the beach in Montazuma (Pacific side)the weekend before last. It was a great trip, but not my favorite beach...so far I think Puerto Viejo and Manuel Antonio share that title. Midterms are this week and next, so I'll just let the pictures do the talking for once and save my words for later.
*taken on the ferry ride over*
*we fell asleep in the sand =)*
*ps. these photos would not be possible w/out my early birthday gift! thanks again dad ;)*
*taken on the ferry ride over*
*we fell asleep in the sand =)*
*ps. these photos would not be possible w/out my early birthday gift! thanks again dad ;)*
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
It's times like these that you want to plot a coup...
*brownie points if you know what song i stole this title from ;)*
So, in case Central American politics haven't been on your radar lately, here's a quick refresher about the situation in Honduras..... President Manuel Zelaya was removed from power on June 28th, and taken to Costa Rica by the Honduran military. Zelaya claims that he was tortured while in custody. I've also heard a rumor that the U.S. ambassador made a call to Panama requesting permission for Zelaya's plane to land after he was detained by the military. Many people are certain that the U.S. had something to do with this coup, and really it wouldn’t be surprising given our history in the region. *Quick background info. --> Zelaya, a democratically elected president, is an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. The U.S. and Chávez tend to disagree* Somehow Zelaya managed to get back into Honduras, after a brief stay in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and has been in the Brazilian embassy since September 21st. From his protected position within the embassy walls he has called on his supports to riot in the streets. On Sunday rights to free speech and assembly were suspended by the de facto government headed by Roberto Micheletti, in part to keep said riots under control (http://www.fsrn.org/audio/honduran-crisis-continues-de-facto-government-suspends-civil-rights/5512). Micheletti's government has also closed down several TV and radio stations. Additionally, representatives from the OAS (Organization of American States) have been denied entry to Honduras. Elections are scheduled for the end of November, but there is infighting over whether or not Zelaya should be allowed to run, as well as Micheletti’s future position in the government. Only time will tell if the international community will allow a 21st century coup d'état to go virtually unaddressed.
I remember learning the word for coup d'état in Spanish (golpe de estado) freshman year at GWU, and thinking "when in the world am I ever going to need to know this?". That was before I took a history class about Latin America haha. Coup d'état’s are part of the political reality here in a way that I could have never imagined in the U.S. Because the coup d'état in Honduras happened while I was in Panama, and I am now learning more about it in my classes in Costa Rica ( a country whose government is heavily involved in the peace negotiation process because of President Oscar Arias), I’m definitely getting a different perspective on the issue than I would at home. My professors are all integrating it into our class discussions, which has been great. It’s also personal matter for some of them; one of has been attending protests to show solidarity with Zelaya supporters, and another has family who have been waiting in the Tegucigalpa airport for two days now trying to get a flight to Costa Rica. It feels as if all of Central America is holding its breath, waiting and watching to see how this new turn of events will play out in this region so accustomed to political turmoil.
More info. here:
Honduras
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ho.html
Concise breakdown
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g1ejO3g3MVSOrGhmgIIPExxxEsQQ
Sen. Kerry getting involved?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/01/AR2009100105015.html
So, in case Central American politics haven't been on your radar lately, here's a quick refresher about the situation in Honduras..... President Manuel Zelaya was removed from power on June 28th, and taken to Costa Rica by the Honduran military. Zelaya claims that he was tortured while in custody. I've also heard a rumor that the U.S. ambassador made a call to Panama requesting permission for Zelaya's plane to land after he was detained by the military. Many people are certain that the U.S. had something to do with this coup, and really it wouldn’t be surprising given our history in the region. *Quick background info. --> Zelaya, a democratically elected president, is an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. The U.S. and Chávez tend to disagree* Somehow Zelaya managed to get back into Honduras, after a brief stay in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and has been in the Brazilian embassy since September 21st. From his protected position within the embassy walls he has called on his supports to riot in the streets. On Sunday rights to free speech and assembly were suspended by the de facto government headed by Roberto Micheletti, in part to keep said riots under control (http://www.fsrn.org/audio/honduran-crisis-continues-de-facto-government-suspends-civil-rights/5512). Micheletti's government has also closed down several TV and radio stations. Additionally, representatives from the OAS (Organization of American States) have been denied entry to Honduras. Elections are scheduled for the end of November, but there is infighting over whether or not Zelaya should be allowed to run, as well as Micheletti’s future position in the government. Only time will tell if the international community will allow a 21st century coup d'état to go virtually unaddressed.
I remember learning the word for coup d'état in Spanish (golpe de estado) freshman year at GWU, and thinking "when in the world am I ever going to need to know this?". That was before I took a history class about Latin America haha. Coup d'état’s are part of the political reality here in a way that I could have never imagined in the U.S. Because the coup d'état in Honduras happened while I was in Panama, and I am now learning more about it in my classes in Costa Rica ( a country whose government is heavily involved in the peace negotiation process because of President Oscar Arias), I’m definitely getting a different perspective on the issue than I would at home. My professors are all integrating it into our class discussions, which has been great. It’s also personal matter for some of them; one of has been attending protests to show solidarity with Zelaya supporters, and another has family who have been waiting in the Tegucigalpa airport for two days now trying to get a flight to Costa Rica. It feels as if all of Central America is holding its breath, waiting and watching to see how this new turn of events will play out in this region so accustomed to political turmoil.
More info. here:
Honduras
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ho.html
Concise breakdown
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g1ejO3g3MVSOrGhmgIIPExxxEsQQ
Sen. Kerry getting involved?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/01/AR2009100105015.html
Sunday, September 20, 2009
¡comida, comida, y más comida!
So the question eveyone has been asking is "but what are you eating?". The answer.... everything! Well, more or less haha. My host mom is an amazing cook, and works very hard to come up with new vegetarian dishes to surprise me. So what is Costa Rican food like? One dish typical to Costa Rica is gallo pinto, which translated literaly means spotted rooster (see picture and recipe below). It's usually eaten for breakfast with eggs, toast, and natilla (kind of like sour cream). Even McDonald's and Subway serve it here! I have yet to try gallo pinto from a fastfood place, but doubt it could be better than my host mother's recipe (which I still need to steal). Another popular item is sopa negra, black bean soup served with a hard boiled egg. Other great things I've eaten here include: platano maduro (ripe plantains cooked with a little butter and sometimes sugar), yuca (a root vegetable), cas (a type of fruit), guabana (another type of fruit), fresh coconut water, and of course the coffee. So no worries I am not starving! In fact I am getting spoiled rotten. Every morning I get a plate of fresh fruit as well as coffee, and usually either eggs, a breakfast sandwhich, or banana pancakes. Yes, life is good ;)
Here's a link to a blog about Costa Rican food if you're intersted in learning more!
recetasdecostarica.blogspot.com
Gallo Pinto
Makes 4 to 6 servings
•Oil 2-3 tablespoons
•Onion, finely chopped
•Bell pepper, finely chopped
•2-3 cloves minced garlic
•Cooked black beans, drained, liquid reserved -- 2 cups
•Salt and pepper to taste
•Hot cooked rice -- 2 cups
Method
1.Heat the oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high flame. Add the onions, bell pepper and garlic and sauté for about 2-3 minutes, or until cooked through.
2.Stir in the drained beans, some of their reserved liquid, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer until heated through.
3.Add the rice and stir into the beans and heat through. Adjust seasoning and add a little more bean liquid if necessary. Serve hot.
Variations
•On the Caribbean coast coconut oil is commonly used instead of regular vegetable oil, and chili peppers are added
•Stir in some chopped cilantro.
•Add a few dashes of bottled pepper sauce or Worcerstershire sauce for added flavor.
(Stolen from http://www.whats4eats.com/grains/gallo-pinto-recipe)
Here's a link to a blog about Costa Rican food if you're intersted in learning more!
recetasdecostarica.blogspot.com
Gallo Pinto
Makes 4 to 6 servings
•Oil 2-3 tablespoons
•Onion, finely chopped
•Bell pepper, finely chopped
•2-3 cloves minced garlic
•Cooked black beans, drained, liquid reserved -- 2 cups
•Salt and pepper to taste
•Hot cooked rice -- 2 cups
Method
1.Heat the oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high flame. Add the onions, bell pepper and garlic and sauté for about 2-3 minutes, or until cooked through.
2.Stir in the drained beans, some of their reserved liquid, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer until heated through.
3.Add the rice and stir into the beans and heat through. Adjust seasoning and add a little more bean liquid if necessary. Serve hot.
Variations
•On the Caribbean coast coconut oil is commonly used instead of regular vegetable oil, and chili peppers are added
•Stir in some chopped cilantro.
•Add a few dashes of bottled pepper sauce or Worcerstershire sauce for added flavor.
(Stolen from http://www.whats4eats.com/grains/gallo-pinto-recipe)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Start From Scratch!
The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.- William Shakespeare, Henry The Sixth (Part 2, Act 4, scene 2)
"The words, ‘Let’s kill all the lawyers,’ were not spoken by a disgruntled litigant (or even by Henry VI’s press secretary). They were uttered by the conspirators in Cade’s Rebellion, who planned to overthrow the English government, destroy the ancient rights of English men and women, [as such "rights" were available to women at that time], and establish a virtual dictatorship. Through the rebels’ threat, Shakespeare reminds the groundlings that lawyers, as protectors of that system of ordered liberty, are as much an obstacle to a rebellion that would curtail liberty as any garrisoned castle. Thus, Cade’s path to oppression leads inevitably over their bodies…”. — John J. Curtin, Jr., Esq., President, American Bar Association, published in the ABA Journal, September, 1990
I am exactly where I've wanted to be since my senior year of highschool, and it makes me giddy. Senior year we all had to write a term paper on our dream career, mine was on International Human Rights Law. I am now in Costa Rica studying human rights with one of Costa Rica's top lawyers. He is running for the position of Ombudsman (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ombudsman). If he wins, he will be responsible for handling all human rights violation reports for this country. Though the class is still a bit heavy on theory, I am enjoying it and thrilled that it is taught by someone of his caliber. Last week he gave us an interesting group exercise; we were handed a list of rights and told to rank them from most important to least important. We were supposed to place them in order of what would be vital if we were starting with a brand new society that had no rules. What would you place at the top if you had to create your own societal rules from scratch? Each of us made our own list, and then we broke up into three groups, with the task of coming to a consensus on the 'correct' order. When I first looked at the list I didn't think I would be able to rank them. Check it out...
*rights are listed in no particular order*
1) The right to due process
2) The right to freedom of expression and religion
3) The right to peace
4) The right to liberty (freedom from slavery, freedom of movement)
5) The right to privacy
6) The right to property
7) The rights related to labor and social security
8) The right to an adequate standard of living
9) The right to health
10) The right to education and culture
11) The right to participate in society
12) The right to equality and non-discrimination
13) The right to a clean and healthy environment
14) The right to rest and leisure
Make your own list!
.......... done?
At the end of the exercise my group placed liberty, freedom of expression, due process, and standard of living at the top. It was really interesting to see other group's choices. One of the them placed due process near the bottom, which I can't even begin to understand but that's just me. This kind of stuff fascinates me, I know I'm nerdy sometimes ;). An exercise in futility or enlightenment? Tell me what you think!
"The words, ‘Let’s kill all the lawyers,’ were not spoken by a disgruntled litigant (or even by Henry VI’s press secretary). They were uttered by the conspirators in Cade’s Rebellion, who planned to overthrow the English government, destroy the ancient rights of English men and women, [as such "rights" were available to women at that time], and establish a virtual dictatorship. Through the rebels’ threat, Shakespeare reminds the groundlings that lawyers, as protectors of that system of ordered liberty, are as much an obstacle to a rebellion that would curtail liberty as any garrisoned castle. Thus, Cade’s path to oppression leads inevitably over their bodies…”. — John J. Curtin, Jr., Esq., President, American Bar Association, published in the ABA Journal, September, 1990
I am exactly where I've wanted to be since my senior year of highschool, and it makes me giddy. Senior year we all had to write a term paper on our dream career, mine was on International Human Rights Law. I am now in Costa Rica studying human rights with one of Costa Rica's top lawyers. He is running for the position of Ombudsman (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ombudsman). If he wins, he will be responsible for handling all human rights violation reports for this country. Though the class is still a bit heavy on theory, I am enjoying it and thrilled that it is taught by someone of his caliber. Last week he gave us an interesting group exercise; we were handed a list of rights and told to rank them from most important to least important. We were supposed to place them in order of what would be vital if we were starting with a brand new society that had no rules. What would you place at the top if you had to create your own societal rules from scratch? Each of us made our own list, and then we broke up into three groups, with the task of coming to a consensus on the 'correct' order. When I first looked at the list I didn't think I would be able to rank them. Check it out...
*rights are listed in no particular order*
1) The right to due process
2) The right to freedom of expression and religion
3) The right to peace
4) The right to liberty (freedom from slavery, freedom of movement)
5) The right to privacy
6) The right to property
7) The rights related to labor and social security
8) The right to an adequate standard of living
9) The right to health
10) The right to education and culture
11) The right to participate in society
12) The right to equality and non-discrimination
13) The right to a clean and healthy environment
14) The right to rest and leisure
Make your own list!
.......... done?
At the end of the exercise my group placed liberty, freedom of expression, due process, and standard of living at the top. It was really interesting to see other group's choices. One of the them placed due process near the bottom, which I can't even begin to understand but that's just me. This kind of stuff fascinates me, I know I'm nerdy sometimes ;). An exercise in futility or enlightenment? Tell me what you think!
Monday, September 14, 2009
I want to ride my bicycle...
This past weekend Rhiannon and I made a rather last minute decision to take a trip to Puerto Viejo. By last minute I mean, we decided to go on Thursday night at 11:30 PM and left at 4:30AM on Friday haha. Puerto Veijo was amazing! It's on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica *see map below*
We stayed at Rockin' J's, a cheap hostel right on the ocean, with a bunch of other people from our program. Friday we spent the afternoon bumming around on the beach, and exploring Puerto Viejo. It's a got a different vibe from Manuel Antonio (the beach we went to on the Pacific side two weeks ago); a little less touristy with a strong Jamaican influence. Also, there's a pretty large ex-pat/hippy population. Anyway, on Saturday a bunch of us decided to rent bikes and ride to Manzanillo (about 8 miles away) and check out the beach there. I think the last time I was on a real bicycle (as opposed to a stationary one in a gym) I was 12. So I kind of freaked out a little when I realized that I had to maneuver this awkward rusted purple bicycle down 8 miles of potholes and back again. When I say potholes... think of a road in the middle of a war zone and you might begin to understand how terrible this road was haha. So we made it to Manzanillo, enjoyed the beach, and had an amazing late lunch. However, after lunch Rhiannon realized that she couldn't find the key to her bike's lock. After launching a thorough search she went back to the restaurant to ask if anyone could pick locks. One of the workers there told her that someone would be coming with tools in a few minutes. A little while later a 10 year-old shows up on a bike w/what looks like the jaws of life. He didn't want to cut the cable so Rhiannon did it on her own. Then, we set off for Puerto Veijo, but we weren't out of the woods yet (haha pun). On the way back one of the girls in our group got a flat tire. I noticed she had stopped, along with another guy from our group, and we started walking with her. Luckily we happened upon a bicycle repair shop in the jungle. No really, it was a little hut/repair shop in the jungle surrounded by thick vegetation. Unfortunately, by the time we left the jungle repair shop it was pitch black. The narrow road had street lights in some areas, but there were some pretty long stretches without any light at all. Adding to our nervousness was the creepy sound emanating from the jungle that my friend supposed to be a jaguar, and the cryptic advice of the repairman to be wary of ladrones. At the time none of us could remember how to translate ladrones... it means thieves. After about 30 frightening minutes of riding in the dark, dodging oncoming traffic, three of our friends showed up. They had gotten worried when we didn't show up for dinner. It was SO nice to see friendly faces on a dark road in a foreign country =-) It all ended well, no worries. We made it back to the hostel, and had a great night. This weekend really was amazing. There's more to tell, but I've got to study now. Most posts soon!
my bike and i
wish you were here
yes this is how i spend my weekends in costa rica ;)
We stayed at Rockin' J's, a cheap hostel right on the ocean, with a bunch of other people from our program. Friday we spent the afternoon bumming around on the beach, and exploring Puerto Viejo. It's a got a different vibe from Manuel Antonio (the beach we went to on the Pacific side two weeks ago); a little less touristy with a strong Jamaican influence. Also, there's a pretty large ex-pat/hippy population. Anyway, on Saturday a bunch of us decided to rent bikes and ride to Manzanillo (about 8 miles away) and check out the beach there. I think the last time I was on a real bicycle (as opposed to a stationary one in a gym) I was 12. So I kind of freaked out a little when I realized that I had to maneuver this awkward rusted purple bicycle down 8 miles of potholes and back again. When I say potholes... think of a road in the middle of a war zone and you might begin to understand how terrible this road was haha. So we made it to Manzanillo, enjoyed the beach, and had an amazing late lunch. However, after lunch Rhiannon realized that she couldn't find the key to her bike's lock. After launching a thorough search she went back to the restaurant to ask if anyone could pick locks. One of the workers there told her that someone would be coming with tools in a few minutes. A little while later a 10 year-old shows up on a bike w/what looks like the jaws of life. He didn't want to cut the cable so Rhiannon did it on her own. Then, we set off for Puerto Veijo, but we weren't out of the woods yet (haha pun). On the way back one of the girls in our group got a flat tire. I noticed she had stopped, along with another guy from our group, and we started walking with her. Luckily we happened upon a bicycle repair shop in the jungle. No really, it was a little hut/repair shop in the jungle surrounded by thick vegetation. Unfortunately, by the time we left the jungle repair shop it was pitch black. The narrow road had street lights in some areas, but there were some pretty long stretches without any light at all. Adding to our nervousness was the creepy sound emanating from the jungle that my friend supposed to be a jaguar, and the cryptic advice of the repairman to be wary of ladrones. At the time none of us could remember how to translate ladrones... it means thieves. After about 30 frightening minutes of riding in the dark, dodging oncoming traffic, three of our friends showed up. They had gotten worried when we didn't show up for dinner. It was SO nice to see friendly faces on a dark road in a foreign country =-) It all ended well, no worries. We made it back to the hostel, and had a great night. This weekend really was amazing. There's more to tell, but I've got to study now. Most posts soon!
my bike and i
wish you were here
yes this is how i spend my weekends in costa rica ;)
Sunday, September 6, 2009
lluvia, drogas, y armas
The rainy season has officially begun. Rhiannon and I went exploring with some friends (Kim, Brad, and Katt) through San Jose on Friday and it "tropical stormed" as Katt put it haha. The streets were more like rivers we had to ford to get around. That aside, I like San Jose more now than I did at first. *See slideshow below* According to my host parents, it will rain almost every day now until December. I'm so glad I brought my umbrella!
I've been sick the past week =( I waited a while to go to the pharmacy, because I was intimidated. In the pharmacies here most everything is behind the counter. (Side note: there are lots of meds. here that you don't need prescriptions for-like imitrex- but they are all kept behind the counter, I'm guessing to discourage theft)This means that since I didn't know anything about the brands here I had to look up how to describe my symptoms in my dictionary (yes sadly my vocab. does not extend very far into medical matters). However, with my dictionary and a little gesturing I think I managed to convey that I feel like crap haha. The stuff the pharmacist gave me doesn't seem to be working very quickly, even though she assured me it's the strongest they have. Fun drug-related fact about Costa Rica--> their policies on illegal substances are much harsher than in the states. Pot possession carries jail time (or so I've been told), but the popular sentiment does not seem to reflect that difference. It's analogous to the public’s relationship to stop signs here (or at least I think so), 'stop the car if a cop is around but otherwise who cares'?
On another random note... It just hit me yesterday that I am living in a country that does not have a military. I knew that before I came, Costa Rica hasn't had a military since 1948. But we were talking in our Development and Society class about how eliminating the military allowed the government to redirect funds to healthcare, and it just made me do a mental double take. I've been keeping up, for the most part, with all the craziness surrounding the healthcare debate in the U.S. Honestly, I understand where both sides are coming from. I can't help but wonder how people in my own country would respond to the suggestion that we eliminate our military in order to provide more social services. I can only image the decibel of screaming at the town hall meetings would elevate to a fever pitch punctuated with gunfire.
I'm doing ok here, still loving the coffee, and still realizing new things about myself and the way I view the world every day. My Spanish is improving (for example I now know how to say phlegm haha), but not as fast as I would like. Part of me can't wait to get home for Christmas, but I know that there are still adventures to be had. I'll try to post more entries, it helps me make sense of everything.
Besitas!
I've been sick the past week =( I waited a while to go to the pharmacy, because I was intimidated. In the pharmacies here most everything is behind the counter. (Side note: there are lots of meds. here that you don't need prescriptions for-like imitrex- but they are all kept behind the counter, I'm guessing to discourage theft)This means that since I didn't know anything about the brands here I had to look up how to describe my symptoms in my dictionary (yes sadly my vocab. does not extend very far into medical matters). However, with my dictionary and a little gesturing I think I managed to convey that I feel like crap haha. The stuff the pharmacist gave me doesn't seem to be working very quickly, even though she assured me it's the strongest they have. Fun drug-related fact about Costa Rica--> their policies on illegal substances are much harsher than in the states. Pot possession carries jail time (or so I've been told), but the popular sentiment does not seem to reflect that difference. It's analogous to the public’s relationship to stop signs here (or at least I think so), 'stop the car if a cop is around but otherwise who cares'?
On another random note... It just hit me yesterday that I am living in a country that does not have a military. I knew that before I came, Costa Rica hasn't had a military since 1948. But we were talking in our Development and Society class about how eliminating the military allowed the government to redirect funds to healthcare, and it just made me do a mental double take. I've been keeping up, for the most part, with all the craziness surrounding the healthcare debate in the U.S. Honestly, I understand where both sides are coming from. I can't help but wonder how people in my own country would respond to the suggestion that we eliminate our military in order to provide more social services. I can only image the decibel of screaming at the town hall meetings would elevate to a fever pitch punctuated with gunfire.
I'm doing ok here, still loving the coffee, and still realizing new things about myself and the way I view the world every day. My Spanish is improving (for example I now know how to say phlegm haha), but not as fast as I would like. Part of me can't wait to get home for Christmas, but I know that there are still adventures to be had. I'll try to post more entries, it helps me make sense of everything.
Besitas!
Monday, August 31, 2009
First Impressions (part 2)
Do you ever really get a 2nd chance at first impressions? With people I don't think so, but with countries I'm not too sure. I know I didn't have all my thoughts about Panama figured out after the first week, or even the second. Getting to know and understand a country is a long process. So far I'm really enjoying my time in Costa Rica, but I can't help but compare it to Panama. I hope I don't drive everyone in my program crazy with all my comparisons. Honestly, I miss Panama a lot. There are lots of differences, but I don't dislike it here. My host family is really great, and I love the neighborhood I'm in. However, I still feel like a tourist in Costa Rica. I keep thinking that I'm on vacation, and I'll either go back to the U.S. or to Panama in a few weeks. It still hasn't really hit me that this is my new home for a while. I think I was just so happy when I finally got comfortable in my village in Panama, and now it's hard to have to start all over again- to relearn how things work in a new place. It will just take some time.
Rhiannon and I at Volcan Irazu (a sleeping volcano)
All the kids from GWU!
For those of you wondering what exactly I'm studying here, I'm taking: Development in Latin America from a Gender Perspective, Politics and Democracy in Latin America, Human Rights in Latin America, Human Development and Society in Latin America, and an intensive Spanish class. So I have a normal class load (5), but the schedule is kind of odd. We get Fridays off, and most of the classes are 3 hours long. This is my first full week of classes. So far I really like all of our professors. None of them teach full time, but they all have jobs in fields related to the classes. I'm excited to get to know them better.
Here's all of my contact info. in one place for those of you who may not have it yet. Also, my house has really fast wi-fi so I'm on skype a lot. That's probably the best way to reach me =D
Mailing Address:
Jennifer WhiteC/O Centro Internacional para el Estudio del Desarrollo (ICDS)
P.O. Box 1411-1000
San José, Costa Rica
Email: jenn.s.white@gmail.com
Skype: jenn.s.white
*The phone I had in Panama doesn't work here so just call my regular number*
Saturday, August 22, 2009
First Impressions
I made it-I am in Costa Rica!!!
***Somewhere to the left of the dot that is San Jose, that's me!***
So far everything has been great! My host family is really friendly; 2 parents, 3 kids, and a dog named Danger. The house is very different from where I stayed in Panama, no bugs or bats here, and we have a maid. One of my friends from GWU (Rhiannon) is staying with the sister of my host-mom who lives right around the corner. Also, the coffee is awesome here! My host mom makes it, and rumor has it that it's the best in the neighborhood. That's all for now, still a little dazed and confused by everything. Sorry this is choppy. Miss you all tons!
Besitas,
J
*Song that's currently stuck in my head....
***Somewhere to the left of the dot that is San Jose, that's me!***
So far everything has been great! My host family is really friendly; 2 parents, 3 kids, and a dog named Danger. The house is very different from where I stayed in Panama, no bugs or bats here, and we have a maid. One of my friends from GWU (Rhiannon) is staying with the sister of my host-mom who lives right around the corner. Also, the coffee is awesome here! My host mom makes it, and rumor has it that it's the best in the neighborhood. That's all for now, still a little dazed and confused by everything. Sorry this is choppy. Miss you all tons!
Besitas,
J
*Song that's currently stuck in my head....
Friday, August 14, 2009
I'm A Brat/You're A Brat
Reverse culture shock= re-adapting to the realities of one's home country..........
A few days ago I walked into Toys R Us and freaked out a little bit. First of all there was AC. More shocking than that was the vast amount of merchandise, you could easily get lost in there for days. I was supposed to be picking out birthday presents for my little cousins, but there were just too many choices and I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't comprehend how all of those toys were available in one clean, air conditioned place. I realized how incredibly spoiled I am just to have access to that. I'm a spoiled American brat, and you probably are too whether you realize it or not. I promise I don't mean that in a bad way per se, I'm just absorbing how different life in the states can be from the realities that others experience. It's not just that I have access to things as "basic" as AC and Toys R Us. I have a car, an education (granted it's still in progress), parents who love me, amazing friends, the right to vote, a house, more than enough food to eat... I could keep going, but for your sake readers I'll keep the rambling to a minimum. Suffice it to say that we are lucky. Below is a map of world poverty which shows the percentage of the population living on less than $2 a day by country...
***Link for the map is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Percentage_population_living_on_less_than_2_dollars_day_2007-2008.png blogger keeps cutting it in half, sorry***Below is something else I found online that puts things in a different light.
If we could reduce the world’s population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all existing human ratios remaining the same, the demographics would look something like this:
60 Asians/12 Europeans/5 People from the US and Canada/8 Latin Americans/14 Africans
A few days ago I walked into Toys R Us and freaked out a little bit. First of all there was AC. More shocking than that was the vast amount of merchandise, you could easily get lost in there for days. I was supposed to be picking out birthday presents for my little cousins, but there were just too many choices and I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't comprehend how all of those toys were available in one clean, air conditioned place. I realized how incredibly spoiled I am just to have access to that. I'm a spoiled American brat, and you probably are too whether you realize it or not. I promise I don't mean that in a bad way per se, I'm just absorbing how different life in the states can be from the realities that others experience. It's not just that I have access to things as "basic" as AC and Toys R Us. I have a car, an education (granted it's still in progress), parents who love me, amazing friends, the right to vote, a house, more than enough food to eat... I could keep going, but for your sake readers I'll keep the rambling to a minimum. Suffice it to say that we are lucky. Below is a map of world poverty which shows the percentage of the population living on less than $2 a day by country...
***Link for the map is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Percentage_population_living_on_less_than_2_dollars_day_2007-2008.png blogger keeps cutting it in half, sorry***Below is something else I found online that puts things in a different light.
If we could reduce the world’s population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all existing human ratios remaining the same, the demographics would look something like this:
60 Asians/12 Europeans/5 People from the US and Canada/8 Latin Americans/14 Africans
51 would be Female, 49 male
80 would live in substandard housing
24 would not have electricity (and the 76% that do would use it only at night)
67 would be unable to read
1 would have a college education
50 would be malnourished and 1 would be dying of starvation
7 would have access to the internet
If there is food in your refrigerator, if you have clothes on your back and shoes on your feet, and if you have a bed and a home you are better off than roughly 75% of the people in this world.
*I stole this from http://users.gazinter.net/melan/Warn/Warnenu.htm
Just some things to think about. I'm going to finish packing, still have too much laundry to do haha. I promise the next update will be from Costa Rica! My mailing address there is listed below. Also, I will be taking my U.S. cell phone as well as the phone I bought in Panama. Email me for the numbers if you need/want them!
Mailing Address:
Jennifer White
C/O Centro Internacional para el Estudio del Desarrollo (ICDS)
P.O. Box 1411-1000
San José, Costa Rica
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