27 Months of La Pura Vida

Courts for Kids Update!

Big news this past week!  The Courts for Kids process is already making progress (and optimistically, fairly important progress).  Last week, I received an email from the contact point in charge of central and south American projects, Derek, saying that our application looks "very strong" and that they are currently looking to tentatively send a team of 20 students to the community from May 15th- May 23rd.  Our next step is to set up a phone call so that we can go over the process, Derek can explain what is necessary from us and how to make sure that we can keep on track for the intended dates in May.  I have already spoken to the ADI (community development association) as well as the colegio director and we have agreed with Courts for Kids that the team will be staying in the colegio during the week in one of the classrooms with "mattresses" provided and food provided at a very small cost.  I am unfortunately still trying to work through the bids and projected costs as I cannot get anyone to help me call some of the construction supply stores during the day but am hopefull we can get them done by the end of the week.  But fingers are crossed we can uphold our end of the deal and during the coming months and complete all the necessary steps to prepare the site.

Recycling Committee

Another big step we have been taking is working with the colegio science teacher and director to partner with a government organization SINAC to increase recycling in the community and proper trash disposal as there currently is pretty much none.  We have already had 2 meetings with the SINAC representative but unfortunately due to some schedule conflicts, we haven't had any involvement from the community.  Ideally, Rafa (the science teacher) would like 3 colegio students, 3 escuela students and 3 parents to attend the meetings and form a recycling committee that would oversee the project and work with the colegio and escuela to make it sustainable.  Hopefully tomorrow we are scheduling a meeting with the community members to discuss a plan to have a huge event in the community to promote recycling and caring for the environment with a regional band, a magician dancing and everything!  I am really hopeful that we will be able to get this together because it is being spearheaded by the science teacher and the SINAC representative but again, without the community involvement and interest, it could end up being only a community event that leads to nothing.

Vacation

Well it was no Bocas del Toro, but myself and two other volunteers ended up getting out of site for the weekend and heading to Manuel Antonio national park from Friday the 9th to Saturday the 12th and a well needed getaway.  We didn't really do much but hang out the national park, met people from Sweden, a group of American tourists, some Germans and a whole bunch of vacationing Ticos (it was a holiday weekend).  Even though this was now my third time there and second time in the past 5 months, it is still an amazing place and a beautiful place but just really over the top expensive, everything is "gingo prices".  Most importantly as any vacation, it allowed us three to blow some steam, talk about the projects and challenges were facing and see how we individually deal with some of the common issues.  

But now, I am back in site, hoping to talk with courts for kids this week, hopefully getting somewhere with the recycling committee and keeping classes going.  We have a regional meeting in Puerto Viejo on November 6th, IST II from November 23rd - 25th and Thanksgiving holiday after and then under a month until the family visits!  Time is absolutely flying by!!  Starting month 8 abroad!

-Conor