A few explanations...

And I'm back! With a few explanations:

1. Title of the blog
The people of Costa Rica are commonly called "Ticos." This is because, while most Spanish speakers put -ito or -ita on the end of a word to make it a diminutive (ex: "casita" means little house), in Costa Rica, people put -ico or -ica instead. For the title of my blog, I wanted something a little more unique than "Tes' Peace Corps Blog" and came up with a little spin on the Ricky Martin song (no making fun, I thought it was a cute idea!). Also, I take it as a good sign that in Pamplona ( where I did my CISLA internship 2 summers ago) they also do the -ico/-ica thing and my friends there liked to call me "Tesandrica." Maybe my Tico friends will do the same...!

2. What is a Rural Community Developer?
Good question! As the job title is pretty broad, I thought I'd do my best (using the info that Peace Corps has given me so far) to explain. According to the booklet I got with my invitation, Community Development involves the following:
1. Community and Organizational Development
-working with local community organizations to increase their capacity to serve and address community's needs
2. Economic Opportunities
-working with community members/groups to increase opportunities for developing and enhancing income
generating activities
3. Education
-promoting and supporting a variety of educational programs, organizing academic support programs for
students, and working with schools to build their capacity for seeking needed resources

All this will be done in a rural community of under 1,000 somewhere in Costa Rica. It sounds amazing (and really challenging) and I can't wait to start!

1st Post!

So this is my very first post and more of a tester than anything else. I am planning to use this blog as a way to keep family and friends updated (as much as possible!) while I am away for the next 27 months. Where will I be for the next 27 months? Let me tell you:

On December 10, 2007, I received an invitation from the Peace Corps to serve in Costa Rica as a "Rural Community Developer." It has been a very long and winding process to actually get the invitation, but as soon as I got it, it made everything worth it, because this sounds like the perfect post for me. I get to practice my Spanish, the job sounds incredible (and challenging!), and I get to be in Costa Rica! I'm leaving on February 25, 2008 for 2-3 days of staging (somewhere in the US, they haven't told me yet) and then it's off to Costa Rica for the next 2 years! I could not be happier about the way everything has turned out. I have wanted to do the Peace Corps forever and it's exciting to think that this is my opportunity!

I'll post more when I have more information!

Besos,
Tes