Hola desde Costa Rica!!!!! I cannot get over the fact that I'm actually here! We're currently on a 4 day retreat in the mountains outside of San Jose to prepare for the next 3 months of service. But to backtrack, the adventure started on Monday when I arrived in DC for "staging." It was so crazy meeting everyone and realizing that I will be spending the next 2 years with these people. As my Mom has said, PC is so self-selecting and the kind of person that signs up for it is the kind of person I would like-- and I have definitely found that to be true. Everyone is very friendly and it's been great getting to know people. There are 54 of us, so it's a little overwhelming, but I feel like even now after a few days, I at least know most people's names, which is a start! Staging was a lot of listening about rules and regs and wasn't really Costa Rica-specific, so we were all excited to get down here after a few days and get started.
The day of travel started at 2:45 am, when I woke up (the last time I looked at the clock before falling asleep was around 1:15, so I had a solid 1.5 hrs of sleep) because we had to leave ridiculously early for our 8:40 am flight to make sure everything got off sin problemas. We landed in Miami and had a little delay in our flight to San Jose, but that was good because I had time for one last american snack of granola and yogurt. A few hours later, we landed in San Jose and were greeted by the country director who is super friendly. Then we took a 1.5 bus ride to our retreat center. It's a bit more rustic than our nice hotel in DC, but as one of the PC staff reminded us, we are in the peace corps, after all!
So far the retreat has been incredibly informative. We feel like we've been getting at least a few answers to all the questions we've had (and been asked by family/friends prior to coming here). Our training group is from 3 different PC sectors-- community economic development; children and families; and rural community development (mine!). Today we met with the Program Manager for the RCD-ers (there are SOO many PC acronyms, it's super confusing now, but hopefully we'll get the hang of it soon!) and learned a LOT about what we have in store for the next 2 years once we get to our posts. A few answers to many of the questions I'd been asked in the last few weeks:
1. yes, I will be the only PC Volunteer in my rural community of between 500-1000 people (so if there are 5 people per family, that could mean I'll live in a community of 100 houses)
2. yes, I will have electricity in my home, but there may be other houses in the community that do not
3. I will almost definitely not have hot water to shower (the program manager actually laughed out loud when we asked her this)
4. the nearest "city" will be an average of 2 hours away. city meaning they would have a supermarket and hopefully internet. let's just say we are definitely learning the meaning of rural costa rica!
5. the odds are in my favor that I may get to ride a horse at my house on a regular basis (we were all pretty excited about this one, especially because we don't have to wear helmets to wear them. they have brought up the fact that we have to ALWAYS wear helmets with our bicycles, so we were happy to find the loophole and riding horses is so much cooler than riding a bike anyway!)
As we were furiously asking questions about what life will be like in our towns, one of the volunteers raised his hand and commented that in spite of what we won't have in the next 2 years, he's really excited about the prospect of having such a different lifestyle than what he is used to and this totally resonated with me and put things into perspective. I am so ready to have this experience that will absolutely be unlike anything that I have ever done. I think it will push me to the limits in ways that I cannot even imagine right now, but I know I can do it!
That's all for now!
Mil besos a todos,
Tes
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5 comments:
You are awesome! The best of luck and we look forward to more info from you...
XOXO
Genie & Rus
Tesandra,
This is amazing! Your writing is beautiful, interesting, full of emotion and informative...all at the same time. I can't wait to live vicariously through you for the next two years. Wow, life is going to be beyond exciting. Keep the updates coming babe!
I miss you already and love you tons.
xo
ali berecca
TES! it sounds like your adventure has gotten off to a great start =) I am so looking forward to hearing more- miss you SO much! love, ALI
Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars. Transfered FROM US TO THEM. Over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They will never settle for a reasonable share of ANYTHING. They will do whatever it takes to get even richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductable crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any 'humanitarian' progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. So don’t fall for all of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductable contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah, Ellen, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool. WAKE UP PEOPLE. ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Vioxx. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of which concentrate the world’s wealth and resources and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘ good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTABLE PR CRAP. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. EXTREME WEALTH HAS MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
Hi Tes,
Enjoy reading about your experience. Your writing is beautiful and looking forward to reading more. Miss you much and hope you enjoy the rest of your experience. Please take care... Hugs and Kisses, Rosemarie, Mike, Michael, Valentina, Nicholas and Aunt Eileen (the "South Philly" Gang)
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