Chineada
Trip Start
Jun 26, 2006
1
45
50
Trip End
Aug 14, 2008
Here,
Costa Rica
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
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.)
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...
hi
. But I DID buy t-shirts! 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.
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.
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 arroz con pollo (rice with shredded chicken bits) because I was starving. The next morning, I looked at the gallo pinto (rice and beans) and passed.
Interesting hanging flower
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." I said I'd be okay and wait for lunch.
"There's rice for lunch. You poor thing, you don't eat rice! How about I make you a cheese sandwich for breakfast?"
Sounds delicious.
"What will you have for lunch then? I know! I'll make you chicken!"
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.
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
mariposa
! I ecstatically told my host mom that the only thing that would make my life complete would be a dryer. 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.
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?
Comments
spoiled
You're not bad compared to me. While overall, I've become less picky and whiny and more independent since going to college. However, there are parts that I feel are becoming worse. For example, nowadays I HAVE to shower unless I'm just too physically exhausted, and I'm not as adapted to the heat (this I blame my roommate for because she's always making the room freezing). I remember being able to stand the humidity in Taiwan, but this past summer, I was a wimp (though the heat did aggravate my hive). I'm also turning into a night owl, but hopefully my 9 AM class next semester will change that. This makes me worried about JET. While I still want to do it, I wonder if I can manage to live on my own. Then again, the distance may be just the thing I need to really break away from home.
It sounded like you still had fun despite the freezing rain. I'm amazed at how rain can chill you to your bones or make you sweat like a pig afterwards (yay Houston autumn ^^;;). Well, enjoy the new washer. ^_~
~Jen
HEY KIRA
OMG, I finally remember my password. I haven't written/commented in a while I totally forgot my password. LOL So how the heck are you? All is well here, babies are 17 months now (as of Jan 5), Gene is starting his last semester of Rad. Tech. school and me, I'm working for Baylor Family medicine at Flower Mound. Don't talk much to the old crew anymore. Victoria is doing well. She has a new job and a new house. That's about it for now. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!! Many blessings to you in the New Year!! Keep in touch and when you are in town let's do lunch or something!
Miss ya,
Dawn