27 Months of La Pura Vida

June 13th, 2015

Well it has officially been a week since I arrived in site and I already feel a lot better about the community and living here for the next two years.  The best news of the past week is that I not only figured out how to access internet without wifi (after surviving a whole WEEK without it, poor me), but I also found out that there are other transportation options that leave 7 days a week and 4 times a day, the only problem is that it is a good hour bike ride to the stop but at least it will provide better options for leaving site for trainings and visits.

This past week, as it will be for the next 3 months, has really just been all about integration and getting to know the people and the community.  However, the high school and elementary school are ready to get going already.  The high school is extremely interested in starting technology classes for the students to get them more accustomed to using their new laptops and the primary school director is fairly persistent in asking about English classes for her students.  However, because I am not a TEFL volunteer, I am not allowed to teach "formal" classes, meaning I cannot teach in  a classroom setting where I am in charge of assessing and evaluating students progress.  However, I am allowed to teach community English lessons that allows people of all levels and all ages to participate so I think as of now that is the route I will go.  A lot of the older CED volunteers have warned us against getting into teaching English classes because it may lead to the community thinking that is our main project but because the kids here seem so interested and excited about the opportunity I figured it couldn't hurt to try and just keep focusing on the Coop (which is definitely going to be a good amount of work).

Other than integration, I traveled to the biggest city near me, Guapiles, yesterday to try to figure out how to use my IPhone (which I bought "unlocked") and internet for my laptop. In order to get there, the buseta (more or less a large van) left Linea Vieja at 5:15am and got to the town over at around 6, took another bus to Guapiles (about an hour and a half away)a and arrived around 8 but the bus back didn't leave until 2:10 (and thats the only bus).  Anyway the trip was...sort of successful.  Obviously I found out how to get internet access for my laptop but it was certainly a process and took most of the day.  As for the phone, I bought an IPhone 4 on Amazon that claimed it was unlocked and ready to go.  I have tried now 3 times to put a new chip in so that I could buy a plan and use it for messaging, calls and internet here but haven't been successful a single time.  Finally I went to a place that told me point blank that the phone was not unlocked and that is the reason it hasn't been accepting the new chips.  So I then had to go to another place and pay to have it unlocked and have to return next Wednesday to pick it up...absolute pain in the ass.  But I was able to see Guapiles, get a sense of the travel situation and I bought a couple coloring books for my host sister and a book on the basics of English so I can start teaching her (she is SUPER excited to start learning English, her go to word is CAT which she pronounces as GAT).

Anyway just happy I figured out the internet and can keep sharing my experience with everyone.  I am off to a community celebration now to raise profits for the school (I think?).  Hope to be able to write another update next week!

-Conor