TravelStream™ news feed for member pcvgirl on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/pcvgirl en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:25:53 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1219710000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1219710000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1219710000/tpod.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:25:53 -0400 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

COS date: August 14, 2008This is a rather lame way to end the travel blog, but I moved from Costa Rica to Pittsburgh and started grad school the week after (orientation anyways, the semester officially started today). So things have been rather hectic around here and I've already got a nice workload cut out. I just figured I should probably make some closing remarks... It was worth it and I'm very glad that I saw it through to the end. Peace Corps is not for everyone, but if you're interested, then do some soul searching and definitely go for it if you think it's right for you.I learned a lot about myself and grew and changed and I'm not the same person I was when I stepped off the plane two years ago. All for the better, I like to think... Thanks for all of your support. If you have any questions about Peace Corps or CR just send me an email!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1209219120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1209219120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1209219120/tpod.html Fri, 09 May 2008 10:17:05 -0400 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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Managua, Nicaragua

Nicaragua Part II Three Rules of Survival 1. Don't eat food from street vendors.            This is an obvious one due to the fact that sanitary food preparation is quite often overlooked. ie- unwashed hands, machetes that have been used to cut things you don't want to think about much less your food, flying crawly friends, fridges aren't as plentiful on street corners as stop signs...           I suspended this rule in light of the fact that it is cheaper to buy your meals from said vendors than to buy and prepare your own meals. Our hosts apparently went off in a daily scavenger hunt for the next meal, whether it be fresh baked tortillas and "cuajada" (a type of unprocessed cheese, from what I understood, or the curds?) to meat on a stick with a plate of rice and veggies.            Coffee? Try the woman down the road making it the old fashioned way- choreada: Boil water over a fire (I suppose fires on the sidewalks are legal since everyone was doing it), pour it into a cloth sack that contains your coffee grounds and voila! Coffee to go!            Fruit salad? Only 50 cents for more fruit than you can eat! Just don't ask if the fruit's been washed first.            I didn't get any intestinal disorders, but as a friend recently put it: "You've been living here for almost 2 years. Your stomach's made of iron."  2. When driving, stay alert.            The department in charge of has a fear, apparently, of long, straight stretches of road. The nation's drivers getting complacent? Thrown in a rotunda or speed bumps the size of hills! Rotundas were placed every 10-15 minutes that didn't lead anywhere but the same road that you were on before you began driving in endless circles trying to figure out the right turn off. As for the speed bumps, maybe the buses didn't have shocks, but it was a veritable roller coaster ride... I have to hand it to Nicaraguan drivers, they're pretty talented... 3. Don't Panic            Our bus from CR dropped us off at a gas station that was obviously not the main bus stop since it was headed to another city and was too large to get into the main bus terminal. My travelling companion, V, had changed money at the border so we had local currency. In large bills of course. V, never having travelled very far, was at a loss and looked to be on the verge of tears. We were supposed to be met at the station, but had no idea where that was.             Step 1: Take a deep breath.            Step 2: Break the large bills at the nearest store. Tip- Buy snacks to sustain you, because your ride might show up any time between the next hour to the next week.            Step 3: Ask for the closest pay phone and your coordinates to the nearest degree. If the coordinates are unknown, street names and local landmarks will work.             Step 4: Call your hosts and pray for deliverance.             We followed the steps and made it to our destination within an hour. Of course it was a lot funnier once they had picked us up and we were safely on our way.             Overall, I really enjoyed this vacation. The nice thing about staying with locals is that they know the best places to go and you don't have to worry about figuring out arcane bus systems and maps. We did the touristy things like visiting the craft markets, parks and museums. One day, we happened to catch the grand opening of a new exhibit in the national museum featuring typical mask dancers. At the markets, our hostess was a great haggler of the caliber one only reaches when one is a true "local". We also took a boat ride around the islets of Lake Granada. One night, we danced under the stars at a restaurant overlooking Lake Tiscapa. I felt like I really got the flavor of life in Nicaragua.             If you're thinking of visiting, do. It's quite inexpensive and I spent less than $100 the entire trip (but then again, I stayed at someone's house, not a hotel). The downtown area of Granada has picturesque old buildings with red tile roofs that the government has protected as historical treasures. Managua, the capital, is a bit hard to navigate since there is no central area due to a hurricane in the early 70's that devastated the center, but it's bustling along the main roads with restaurants, bars and shops that are open past 6pm (here in CR, these only exist in touristy areas and large cities like San Jose, but even then they close around 8). And there are lots of outdoorsy stuff, beaches, forests, lakes, etc for adventure vacations, but we stayed in the cities.             Two thumbs up. On a scale of overall whoopee: I'd go again.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1206644340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1206644340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1206644340/tpod.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:59:55 -0400 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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Here, Costa Rica

I had wanted to go to Nicaragua for a while and, as happens most things here, I dropped in on a friend, V, and suggested that we go for Semana Santa (Holy Week, the biggest celebration in CR, they celebrate it like we do xmas). She'd mentioned wanting to go and that she'd wanted to go with the previous volunteer, but their plans never came to fruition. V was always constantly and bitterly reminding me that the old vol had gone with other vols. So V was delighted that I showed real interest but she suggested that we go the week after Holy Week since a lot of Nicaraguans (Nicas) would be going home to visit family.  Despite having bought our tickets, V obtaining a visa and arranging lodgings with a friend of hers, I was rather sceptical of the reality of our trip. I've often described this mentality of mine (and fellow volunteers). Basically you position yourself in a state of doubt, or as we put it, reality, wherein you expect nothing to happen and for no one to follow through with anything. This way you avoid almost certain failure and disappointment. And when something does happen, even if it's only a tenth of what you were promised, you are overjoyed. It saves a lot of heartbreak and frustration.  So I didn't mention to many people that we were going because I didn't believe and wouldn't believe that we WERE going until V and I were on the bus. Thus, I didn't pack until 3pm the afternoon before our departure date. I was still, however, waiting on bated breath for V to call me and cancel our plans.  Never-leave-home-much-less-the-country-without-them-items: Sunblock-Insect Repellent, check. Anti-bac gel, check. TP, check. Okay I had everything I needed for returning home germ and malaria free. Now, for the less important items: Clean underwear, check. Passport... passport... passport! I couldn't find it anywhere!  Calm down, I told myself. It has to be here somewhere. And if it's not, there's only one other place in the world it could be. And unfortunately for me, it was in The Other Place. The PC office. I frantically called in and yup, there it was. The office closes at 5 and the volunteer lounge closes at 7. I had 3 hours to get there before 7pm. While it wasn't a big deal to go into the office to pick it up (good thing I didn't procrastinate until 9pm that evening to pack!!) it was still a hassle. It'd be a 3 hour round trip journey just to pick up my passport.  Brilliant me, I had the idea that I could ask someone who was in SJ to pick it up for me. I started scrolling down my address book, calling everyone and anyone I knew who works in SJ. I finally persuaded a friend to pick it up for me. The conversation went something like this: Me- Are you in SJ right now?Friend- Yeah, why?Me- I'm facing a personal emergency and need a huge favor. I'm going to N tomorrow at 6am and my passport's in SJ. Could you pretty, please pick it up for me and I'll swear to you my undying love and name my firstborn after you?Friend- Maybe... I'd need more than that tho... Where is it?Me- XX (on the other side of town)Friend- Wow, that's kind of far from here...Me- But it's farther from here! (a very whiny) Please! Friend- Okay... Me- Thank you! Te quiero mucho, mucho mucho! I owe you a couple beers. (at which he perked up about his errand) So I was saved, unless, as my karate classmates pointed out (because I decided I might as well go to karate class while I was waiting for my friend to get here), that I received one of several calls: Scenario A: Friend- Hi, I'm home! When did you want me to pick up your passport? Scenario B:Friend- Hi! I'm here in Nicaragua right now! The weather's great!  Scenario C:Friend- Do you know how much US passports are worth? I just got $500 for yours. Do you think I got ripped off? However, this was a very trustworthy friend, besides, free beer? Who'd sell a passport when they could get a couple of free beers. A COUPLE, mind you, as I AM on a piddly PC living allowance. Needless to say, I was a tad worried. However, an hour later, I had my passport safely in my hands.  So it was starting to look like this trip would really happen! And if we didn't go, it wouldn't be my fault.  Stay tuned for Part II: Yes, we're there yet!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1205416920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1205416920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1205416920/tpod.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:43:31 -0400 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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Here, Costa Rica

It's been a while, a long while, since my last entry. More random acts of spontenaity: One Friday, as I lay in bed, I pondered over the fact that I'd spent most of the week at home, not many things were going on as school hadn't started yet and everyone was still in vacation mode. I was staring at a long weekend of the same. Very depressing, as things are rather dull on the weekends if there's nothing going on. I lay pondering my seemingly dull and immediate future. Then I decided enough moping around! I was going to DO something! Something exciting! Something fun! Something spontaneous! I pulled out my Costa Rica travel guide book and started feverishly flipping pages. The beach! Beach always=fun and exciting, and in this case, it definitely counted as spontaneous! But which beach? I decided upon Tamarindo. Since I arrived here, I've wanted to go. At the welcome retreat, way back when I was naive and optimistic, way back before gallo pinto (rice, beans and Salsa Lizano) and way back before a permanent tan, a volunteer was regalling us noobs (newbies) with tales of exotic beaches and wild jungles, more specifically about Tamarindo. I thought wow, it must be a cool beach, I've gotta go there! Getting recommended by a real live PCV is the height of coolness. It was a year and change since that fateful day. I was now expereinced and realistic, up to here with gallo pinto and a certified piece of toast. But the recommendation still stands. A country's PCVs' collective knowledge of the where-to and how-to of travelling within the country is topped by none. And an item on your to-do list that's a year and a half old definitely needs crossing off before the two year mark. I was going! I packed my bag that night to avoid repentance the next morning. Saturday, I beat down the birds of negativity and made reservations at a hostel. It was official. I even roped a friend into coming with me. My powers of persuasion worked along the lines of: "Good morning! What are you doing this weekend? Nothing? Good! We're going to the beach!" Lucky for me, I'm amazingly persuasive and she agreed to come with me. We met in San Jose and were on our way by 3pm. The whole thing was what we call una locura. A craziness. And it was. But it was fun and relaxing and if I was already a piece of toast, I returned a slightly charred piece of toast, despite my inability to bask like an iguana in the sun like other members of the female sex. For me, the beach is a place to frolic in the waves and so forth. If I wanted to sunbathe, I could do that on my roof at home. We returned home within 36 hours, and spent the majority of those 36 in transit. We weren't in Tamarindo even 24 hours and by bus, it's apx 6 hours away, not including wait time and transfers. But it was totally worth it. I returned home refreshed and ready to tackle another week.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1199998740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1199998740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1199998740/tpod.html Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:33:12 -0500 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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Here, Costa Rica

It's been only too long since I've last updated. News from down south:Thanksgiving- Panama with other volunteers. Xmas/New Years- In my site, muy tranquila. It's been rather quiet with school vacations. I've been reacquainting myself with the all too commonly used word, pereza- lazinessThere's a small park near my house with three swings, four see-saws, monkey bars and some cement tubes for crawling through.  I usually go to swing.  A solitary effort, no extra body required. For some reason people over the age of... 12 are never too interested in going to the park to see-saw. So if I go with the kids, they have to pile on the other end of the see-saw. Anyhow, I was swinging, just contemplating life and my existence as a PCV in Costa Rica, my site in particular, when I decided to do something spontaneous. When I swing, I usually face the road-side. The park is on a hill and at the bottom, the road. On the other side of the road is a small mountain (I'm not good at distance/height, but maybe... 10-15 stories high? Not really a mtn at all, more like an extremely large hill) with coffee plants. I've always wondered what was on the other side. The other side of town, of course. But what if it WASN'T the other side of town? What if it was a secret passageway to... the neighboring town or there was a cave filled with a thousand wonders? No, no, I HAD to find out. Even if it turned out to be something as mundane as the other side of town. There are several shacks at the bottom of the mtn. I didn't want to disturb the residents or get myself attacked by rabid dogs or set upon by mad chickens. So I began hunting for a way across the little stream that runs between the shacks and road that wasn't a) directly in front of the houses and b) a dip in the stream. I found a "bridge" that was a little farther down the road and walked across as if I owned it. (You DO realize that attitude is 90% of the game, right? If I looked like a trespasser, I'd be wrestling with chickens instead of writing right now.)I bushwacked my way through coffee plants and stickler plants in my flip flops. I thought about calling it quits or "doubling back home for sneakers" (a poetic way of quitting) but I valiently pushed aside the branches and ignored the sticklers in my jeans, shirt, hair, skin, etc.  At one point it was a vert climb and I stared at it dismayed until I realized there was a bit of a trail farther down. Of course if coffee pickers can summit this thing with baskets weighing 10 lounds full of coffee beans, then I sure as anything can too! So I took the trail. When I reached the top, properly scraped up, what did I see? Not the other side of town, nor a pot of gold, but the neighboring town and, yes, more coffee plants! Whoo-hoo! I was better than Scooby Doo and Shaggy any day of the week! I was a mystery solving girl, unafraid of gu-gu-gu-ghosts or sticklers or even branches shaped like skeleton arms! Anyhow, I found a dirt road cutting through the plantations and took the way that seemed to lead back to town. I resisted the urge to take a branching path as I wasn't feeling THAT adventurous. Guess where I finally wound up? On the other side of town. How's that for spontaneity. Try it!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1194981900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1194981900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1194981900/tpod.html Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:26:20 -0500 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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Here, Costa Rica

Not that it wasn't known before, but now it is universally known. I am <i>chineada. Spoiled. &nbsp;Last week was our annual All Volunteer Conference (AVC). The packing list included things like warm weather clothes (check), sleeping bag (borrowed one, check), snacks (one small bag of Bioland cookies, check), playing cards (check), green spotted leopard toad (no... the pulperia was all out.)&nbsp;AVC was planned by the Volunteer Action Committee (VAC), the StuCo of Peace Corps Costa Rica. Unfortunately, although it was required of all 98 of us, it was not an official PC event. Therefore there was a limited budget. We did minimal fundraising (We sold t-shirts and raffle tickets. To ourselves.) and received some money from the official budget. I complained about the state of things and someone asked, "How many raffle tickets did you buy?" Uhh.... But I DID buy t-shirts! &nbsp;We were at a boy scout camp on a mountain top. Meaning that when it wasn't raining, it was drizzling the other 23 hours of the day. And it was freezing. I wore two shirts, my one sweater, and a rain jacket the entire time. (Well, I took off the jacket to sleep.) I, for some strange reason, didn't bring long-johns with me to CR, otherwise I would've worn those under my pants. I've officially de-climatized and lowered my tolerance for cold. But everyone else walked around similarly clad. &nbsp;As it was so cold, and as the shower water consisted of icy streams of H2O, most of us opted for the minimal number of showers possible during a 3 day period. That is, one or none. Welcome to Peace Corps. Thus, we perpetuated the stereotype of dirty PCV's. But I honestly DO shower regularly in my site. &nbsp;The food: rice for breakfast, rice for lunch, and rice for dinner. Soemthing you should know about me: as a general rule, I do not eat rice. The first night, I ate the <i>arroz con pollo (rice with shredded chicken bits) because I was starving. The next morning, I looked at the <i>gallo pinto (rice and beans) and passed. I looked at the scrambled eggs sitting in melted butter and passed. I looked at the buttered air bread (more air than bread) and passed. The serving lady said, "Well, what are you going to eat? You can't just eat nothing for breakfast." &nbsp;I said I'd be okay and wait for lunch. &nbsp;"There's rice for lunch. You poor thing, you don't eat rice! How about I make you a cheese sandwich for breakfast?" &nbsp;Sounds delicious. &nbsp;"What will you have for lunch then? I know! I'll make you chicken!"&nbsp;Thus began my endearing friendship with the cook. She made me chicken and vegetables while the rest of those poor volunteers had to eat rice three meals a day. Everyone was very jealous. &nbsp;Anyhow, the rest of ACV went well. To further compound the story of me turning into a spoiled American, I came home Saturday night and there was an American-style washing machine in the living room! I ecstatically told my host mom that the only thing that would make my life complete would be a dryer. &nbsp;Washing clothes with the other machine is quite a process. The traditional model consists of two covered buckets. First, you fill the washing bucket with water. Add soap, add clothes, set the timer. The bucket shakes the clothes and the hope is that the detergent properly permeates your clothes. When the shaking finishes, you have to rinse your clothes of the soap. Then place the clothes in the drying bucket. It spins the water out of your clothes (centrifugal force, thanks Bill Nye). After which you must line dry your clothes. &nbsp;I'm quite happy with this new-fangled washer. I have a sneaking suspicion that I am not rinsing my clothes properly and it's a wonder that I don't erupt in soap suds every time it rains. So one step closer to... clean clothes?
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1192029660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1192029660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1192029660/tpod.html Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:30:26 -0400 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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Here, Costa Rica

It's been raining non-stop for the past two days and we've started on day three. Supposedly, we're experiencing a monsoon of sorts that should only last three days. It's funny. In the states, I was obsessed with the weather report: 5 degrees colder than it was this morning means grab a jacket on the way out. Here, I get dressed, step outside and turn around to change my clothes if what I'm wearing isn't weather appropriate. It just doesn't matter. Another point may be that the weather doesn't vary all that much so you pretty much wear the same thing year round. &nbsp;I'll concede that it's been a tad chilly and that I have given in to wearing long sleeved shirts and carrying around a jacket. If there's one thing I can't stand it's wearing full blown cold weather gear when it's 75 degrees out. I never thought I'd see: gloves, knit toggle hats, scarves, puffy winter coats... I've been combating the extremist culture by refusing to don no more than a sweater when it gets "cold." &nbsp;Other news: Last week, I successfully completed yet another acronym: MST, which stands for mid-service training. This means I am officially halfway through service.&nbsp;I suffered through a week of medical appointments, charlas (lectures), and talleres (workshops). I made it through unscathed except for a vaccine on both arms. &nbsp;My group, Tico 15 CED (community economic development), all thirteen of us (we started out as 18), made a revolutionary break through with the office staff. Given our nature, we are not the most dynamic group. We're more serious and straight-cut than the kumbayah singing CYF (children, youth and family) and RCD (rural community dev) volunteers. We're business majors. What could you expect? Anyhow, our group, particularly, has the reputation of being dry, sarcastic and unenthusiastic. &nbsp;On Thursday we had to do a presentation about our projects for the entire staff. Some groups do boring PowerPoint presentations, others do skits, you get the idea. Everyone, I'm sure, was expecting us to do a ppt or flipcharts. However, someone had the brilliant idea to do a skit based on the popular Saturday evening show, Bailando por un Sueño (Dancing for a Dream). &nbsp;The premise of the show is similar to Dancing with the Stars (I think. I don't watch DwtS so I'm not sure.) Each contestant has a dream (an operation for a sick relative, building a playground, constructing a house for poor neighbors, etc). The contestants dance with a Costa Rican star. Every week, the pairs do two dances, get judged and one pair is eliminated. &nbsp;We paired up and our projects were our sueños. My partner and I did the Chicken Dance. The other pairs did: merengue, polka, the Macarena, and reggaeton/mime. It was absolutely ridiculous, but we received two thumbs up for fine family fun. The staff was pleasantly shocked, to say the least. Tears of mirth flowed freely and laugher abounded. We are no longer the screw up kids. &nbsp;Watching the video afterwards gave more cause for giggles. I, as most of you know, am not prone to smiling freely (save on the wrinkles), however, Thursday, I wore the most ridiculous, let's be happy smile. I think that was the clincher. Several people commented that just for that, I could be a kindergarten teacher. &nbsp;If I could show you the video, I would, but posting myself dancing the Chicken Dance would probably give many of you good blackmail material...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1186669920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1186669920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1186669920/tpod.html Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:39:27 -0400 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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N, Costa Rica

Well, I made it back to Costa Rica and&nbsp;I spent the first days unpacking and re-organizing my room. I seemed to have acquired an inordinate amount of THINGS. I honestly don't understand how that much STUFF came out of my two suitcases. You know what I'm talking about, the things that creep into your life, cluttering your countertops and dishevelling your drawers. But I managed to tame it all and cram the majority of it back where it belongs. In my suitcases. Under my bed. &nbsp;The first few days, my room was a war-zone. Girl against Mess. My host dad waved a flag of truce and managed to pull me out of my room to crash a wedding. Technically, we didn't crash it as my host mother was invited, so by virtue of proximity, we were invited, too. &nbsp;I threw on the Caroline dress. That was my second mistake. The first was deciding to go and brave crowds of Spanish speaking Ticos (my Spanish was atrocious after a month of dis-use. Which only goes to prove the adage, "Use it or lose it.") I really love this dress, despite my inhibitions donning two years ago to go to Mass. For those of you who remember that fateful Sunday (Kira dressing in color for the first time that semester...) Thank you, again, Caroline, btw. &nbsp;Most people have a signature outfit or an article of clothing that will always be associated with them in the memories of friends, acquaintances, and strangers who stop to stare and point. And being a Peace Corps Volunteer, having essentially two suitcases worth of clothes, the whole world becomes intimate with your two pairs of holey jeans and three ratty t-shirts. &nbsp;I'm aiming to imprint this dress upon memories related to Kira the Volunteer. It stands out. It makes statements. It is bright. It is colourful and there's no way you can forget this dress once you've seen it. It's wonderful! &nbsp;Anyhow, so my host dad and I walk boldly into the dance hall. It didn't help that the entrance was at the front of the hall. I felt as if the entire wedding party, every guest and all the onlookers had immediately tuned into us, The Uninvited. My dress must have a flash mode. But seeing as how it was a typical Costa Rican wedding, the more the merrier and really, no one minded, except yours truly. &nbsp;My host parents got up to dance. They invited me. I rather reluctantly stood up and slowly walked over to them. Smack dab in the center in front of the stage where the band was playing. There are several basic dance steps that one needs to learn in order to not make a fool of oneself in such situations. Unfortunately my feet failed me upon this occasion. You might have heard that gringos can't dance. Well, instead of breaking down this cultural barrier and stereotype, I fully defined and embraced it. &nbsp;The kindest way to describe what my feet were doing was shuffling in place. As for my arms and hands, well, perhaps they were perfecting 45 degree angles. To top it off, the song lasted for about 7 minutes. I was in shame. As soon as the song ended, I slunk back to my seat. There's a reason why I don't dance. People need to respect that. Ticos don't really understand that, unlike them, I was not born with an internal rhythm. Curse them and their Latin groovy-ness. &nbsp;Anyhow, to wrap things up, I managed to sneak back home with what was left of my dignity a bit after the food was served. My host mother looked disappointed that I declined to stay for dancing after dinner.&nbsp;
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1185546960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1185546960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1185546960/tpod.html Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:36:57 -0400 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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San Jose, Costa Rica

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]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1184528700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1184528700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pcvgirl/costa_rica_2006/1184528700/tpod.html Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:27:56 -0400 Peace Corps, Costa Rica, Micro-Enterprise Development, 2006 This blog expresses my own personal views and does not reflect Peace Corps standings or positions.

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POS, Trinidad and Tobago

Here I am in an English speaking country. I have not been to TT since '92 and I don't remember very much. I find myself making a lot of comparisons, but TT is VERY different from CR. I thought they'd be pretty similar and in some ways they are, the laid back life-style and people and the climate... But TT, even though it's a 3rd world country as well, is much more developed than CR, especially the infrastructure. When I tell people that TT is luxurious, I really mean it. Everyone looks at me crazy, but it's true. AC, backyard swimming pools, conventional washers and dryers. Come on, life doesn't get any better than this. I must have really adjusted to living in CR....
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