 |
| Marina Pez Vela <3 |
26 May 2012
15 May 2012
Swearing-In and Moving On
The week leading to swearing-in day was hectic and full of surprises, the biggest of which came just two days before the big ceremony! That Wednesday, we got terrible news about fellow Tico 23er Heloise. Heloise is a very special part of our group. She is one of the bravest people I know, because she is doing Peace Corps with the help of her seeing eye dog, Annette. That's right, Heloise is blind. If you think PC is tough with all of your senses, just think about how strong of a person Heloise is.
Anyway, that Wednesday, we found out that her school where she was going to teach English had pulled out at the last minute and decided they no longer wanted to work with her. It was a pretty clear case of discrimination on the part of the school, at least in my eyes. As a result, Heloise had no site to go to (and her site in particular had taken an extra long time to set up, due to her disability). That, in turn, led PC to decide to give her an "interruption of service," which would mean not allowing her to swear-in with our group and sending her back to the US for an undetermined length of time. We were all devastated, especially because we had seen Heloise overcome so much in the last three months. I decided to write a letter asking PC to reconsider their decision and our whole group came together to sign it. Steve, our country director, presented our petition to the PC headquarters in Washington, and they decided to accept it. Heloise was thus allowed to swear-in with us and will be staying in our training community in San Isidro until a suitable site is found! We were obviously thrilled with how everything worked out, as was Heloise!
Friday was the swearing-in ceremony at the US Ambassador's house. A lot of important people spoke, like the ambassador herself, our country director, our boss during training, etc. The most exciting speech came from two of our own, Darien and CJ, who did an awesome job. Finally, we all took the oath to serve for the next two years and received our certificates. We even got a chance to shout out to our families and friends back home, who could watch the ceremony via live stream.
After that, our whole group went out to eat some delicious Lebanese food in San José. After our awesome meal, Riley and Darien had organized a little game where we all shared something we loved about Tico 23 and made a friendship bracelet out of ribbon :)
 |
| Heloise and Annette |
Friday was the swearing-in ceremony at the US Ambassador's house. A lot of important people spoke, like the ambassador herself, our country director, our boss during training, etc. The most exciting speech came from two of our own, Darien and CJ, who did an awesome job. Finally, we all took the oath to serve for the next two years and received our certificates. We even got a chance to shout out to our families and friends back home, who could watch the ceremony via live stream.
 |
| Me on the big day! |
 |
| After the ceremony with my host family :) |
The next day and a half were spent with my wonderful host family in Heredia. It was so hard to say goodbye to them. I really feel like they became my family here, and I got so attached to them. It was pretty scary and sad to leave behind my safety net here, but I know they will always be there for me and be my best friends here.
Now, I am on day three at my site and loving it. That having been said, I'm not gonna lie -- days one and two were pretty rough! After a series of sad goodbyes and a really long bus ride, I inadvertently offended my new host mom by offering to cook for myself after she said that she worked all day five days a week. Even after I tried to clarify that I just wanted to be helpful, she still seemed sort of upset. I then found that I actually don't have much of a room at my host family's house. My room, it turns out, is pretty much a family common space, especially for the kids, who know it more fondly as the computer room. In addition, it is connected to the bedrooms of all the little kids, meaning it has no door and the kids have to walk through my room to get to their rooms and the bathroom, and are almost constantly hanging out in it. In other words, ZERO PRIVACY, despite the fact that PC REQUIRES volunteer home stays to have a bedroom door with a lock. I then talked to our project manager for TEFL about the situation, which pretty much ended up with me feeling belittled and not taken seriously. Anyway, despite all that, things are going very well now. It seems that, in spite of me being upset/homesick and not feeling up to reaching out to people, God still looked out for me and I've become fast friends with the house keeper here who takes care of the three kids. I've also gotten to know her son and daughter, who are just a bit younger than me. And today was my first day at two of my schools with my awesome counterpart Isabel. I've also gotten to play a lot with the two daughters here. All in all, it's a good situation. I've also got a variety of projects I'm starting to get organized on outside of my TEFL work, including an outside-of-school recreation program and community English classes.
Well, that's all for now, folks! Thanks for reading and much love! :)
Rach
07 May 2012
It's Love
It's official: I am in LOVE with my new home. (Sorry, Alex. I just couldn't resist its charm! hehe) I arrived home to good ol' Concepción on Tuesday evening, after what were probably my four happiest, most blissful days in Costa Rica so far--which is saying something, since I am pretty much in love with this country as well!
I spent last Thursday and Friday at a project partner workshop put on by Peace Corps to introduce us to our counterparts (in this case, the teachers we will be working with at our schools) and help us facilitate conversations about schedules, co-planning, expectations, etc. Isabel, my co-teacher, is super cool. I think we are going to be good friends! Not to mention her English is amazing. She spent a year in the states on a scholarship and speaks incredibly well.
Early Saturday morning, Isabel and I took off on a 3+ hour journey to my new home on the Pacific Coast! She was kind enough to drop me off at my house and make sure I got there okay. My host mom wasn't there when I arrived, but my somewhat aloof host sister was. She promptly called her mom to ask what she should do because, and I quote, "the gringa is here." What a warm welcome--ha!. (Since then, I found out that I have to change host families...but more on that later). A few minutes after I got there, I went into the bathroom and found an iguana waiting for me! I should note that he was definitely NOT a pet. Life here is full of surprises!
Anyway, I put my suitcases in my room and went over to visit Claire, a youth development volunteer who has been in site for about a year already. She has been great and really welcoming. It's so nice to already have a friend where I'm going! On Saturday night, I went with her to a silent auction/gala type event to raise money for the shelter she is opening for sex trafficked girls. It's an awesome project, and I am so impressed with all the work she has done on it. Check it out here: Seeds of Hope.
Sunday, I went with Claire to a Four Square Church, which, crazily enough, is the same church I went to in Gettysburg! I'm pretty sure it was meant to be. The service was great and it just felt so good to be connected with God. I just felt very at peace, and it was really nice to be at a protestant service for the first time in a long time (I've only been to mass since I've been here...I'm not a fan, even in Spanish). At the service, I met a Nicaraguan friend and her adorable daughter. I had a lot of fun translating the service for her. I've been trying to keep in touch with them a bit and work on developing friendships in Quepos right from the start. After church, we went to an event to raise awareness about sexual exploitation, another event for Seeds of Hope. In true Tico fashion, no one showed up until about 40 minutes after it was supposed to start, but it turned out perfectly. One boy admitted that he had been sexually exploited as a teenager and accepted Christ that day. It was pretty amazing to be there.
The rest of that night proved to be VERY interesting and also turned out to be the reason I am changing host families! I got home around 9:30 that night, and my host sister's husband came to let me in (since I didn't have house keys) wearing nothing but very tiny underwear. At first I gave him the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe he had been asleep or something. But then, he proceeded to get uncomfortably close to me, put his hand on my face, and tell me how beautiful I am. Yikes. I was taken by surprise, so I didn't say much and hurried off to my bedroom. I took a shower, and when I came out was welcomed back to my bedroom by a giant rat. Double yikes. I didn't want to run and tell my host family wearing just my towel since my host brother-in-law had already been so bold and creepy. So, I got dressed and went out the side door of the house where I thought I heard people talking. A dog jumped out and started barking and growling at me. So, there I was, out in the street in front of my house, unable to go back in because of the dog and with a giant rat in my room. I wandered back over to Claire's and she and our friend Maurice came to get rid of the rat. They mocked me mercilessly when the growling dog turned out to be a puppy--gimme a break, it was dark, I had no idea they even had a dog, and I was still creeped out by the rat. Anyway, I told PC about the incident with my host brother-in-law, and they decided that I need to move to a new family for safety reasons. I feel good about the decision and know that it's for the best and it's better not to wait and see what would happen if I were there longer...But I am still stressed about finding a new place to live, not knowing that the new family might be like, potentially not having as much independence as I would have had with the original family, where Alex will stay when he visits, etc., etc., etc.
Monday, I went for a super long stroll around Inmaculada to get to know the community. Needless to say, I got all kinds of lost and turned around. But that's okay, that's nothing new for me. Later in the day, I got to meet the English teachers where I'll be working and I got to see my two different schools. The best part was meeting with Isabel, the first co-teacher I met at the workshop, and the regional assessor for MEP (Ministry of Public Education). We talked about my teaching hours, but even more exciting to me, they were super supportive of my idea to start an after-school academic enrichment program (like El Centro!) for the kids in Inmaculada, because they have very little to occupy themselves outside of school and need a safe place to be. We even talked about finding a permanent place for it and making it a non-profit organization. I know it's still in the planning stages, but I could not be more excited to get started!
Finally, yesterday we had a family party for all of the host families that have taken us in over the past three months. It was a lovely time celebrating with all of our families. My favorite photo of the day with the three newest loves of my life:
Bueno, kudos to you if you read this far without giving up or getting bored! All is well here, and in just three days I will be sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer!
Much Love ~ Rach
 |
| My first glimpse of a Costa Rican beach! |
I spent last Thursday and Friday at a project partner workshop put on by Peace Corps to introduce us to our counterparts (in this case, the teachers we will be working with at our schools) and help us facilitate conversations about schedules, co-planning, expectations, etc. Isabel, my co-teacher, is super cool. I think we are going to be good friends! Not to mention her English is amazing. She spent a year in the states on a scholarship and speaks incredibly well.
 |
| With my co-teacher, Isabel. |
Early Saturday morning, Isabel and I took off on a 3+ hour journey to my new home on the Pacific Coast! She was kind enough to drop me off at my house and make sure I got there okay. My host mom wasn't there when I arrived, but my somewhat aloof host sister was. She promptly called her mom to ask what she should do because, and I quote, "the gringa is here." What a warm welcome--ha!. (Since then, I found out that I have to change host families...but more on that later). A few minutes after I got there, I went into the bathroom and found an iguana waiting for me! I should note that he was definitely NOT a pet. Life here is full of surprises!
 |
| In addition to the iguana, these little guys were waiting for me in my bedroom. |
Anyway, I put my suitcases in my room and went over to visit Claire, a youth development volunteer who has been in site for about a year already. She has been great and really welcoming. It's so nice to already have a friend where I'm going! On Saturday night, I went with her to a silent auction/gala type event to raise money for the shelter she is opening for sex trafficked girls. It's an awesome project, and I am so impressed with all the work she has done on it. Check it out here: Seeds of Hope.
 |
| Me and Claire - I am SO short. |
Sunday, I went with Claire to a Four Square Church, which, crazily enough, is the same church I went to in Gettysburg! I'm pretty sure it was meant to be. The service was great and it just felt so good to be connected with God. I just felt very at peace, and it was really nice to be at a protestant service for the first time in a long time (I've only been to mass since I've been here...I'm not a fan, even in Spanish). At the service, I met a Nicaraguan friend and her adorable daughter. I had a lot of fun translating the service for her. I've been trying to keep in touch with them a bit and work on developing friendships in Quepos right from the start. After church, we went to an event to raise awareness about sexual exploitation, another event for Seeds of Hope. In true Tico fashion, no one showed up until about 40 minutes after it was supposed to start, but it turned out perfectly. One boy admitted that he had been sexually exploited as a teenager and accepted Christ that day. It was pretty amazing to be there.
 |
| Claire presenting at the event. |
The rest of that night proved to be VERY interesting and also turned out to be the reason I am changing host families! I got home around 9:30 that night, and my host sister's husband came to let me in (since I didn't have house keys) wearing nothing but very tiny underwear. At first I gave him the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe he had been asleep or something. But then, he proceeded to get uncomfortably close to me, put his hand on my face, and tell me how beautiful I am. Yikes. I was taken by surprise, so I didn't say much and hurried off to my bedroom. I took a shower, and when I came out was welcomed back to my bedroom by a giant rat. Double yikes. I didn't want to run and tell my host family wearing just my towel since my host brother-in-law had already been so bold and creepy. So, I got dressed and went out the side door of the house where I thought I heard people talking. A dog jumped out and started barking and growling at me. So, there I was, out in the street in front of my house, unable to go back in because of the dog and with a giant rat in my room. I wandered back over to Claire's and she and our friend Maurice came to get rid of the rat. They mocked me mercilessly when the growling dog turned out to be a puppy--gimme a break, it was dark, I had no idea they even had a dog, and I was still creeped out by the rat. Anyway, I told PC about the incident with my host brother-in-law, and they decided that I need to move to a new family for safety reasons. I feel good about the decision and know that it's for the best and it's better not to wait and see what would happen if I were there longer...But I am still stressed about finding a new place to live, not knowing that the new family might be like, potentially not having as much independence as I would have had with the original family, where Alex will stay when he visits, etc., etc., etc.
 |
| The Rat, capital R. Please note the tail, ewwww. |
 |
| I swear he seemed scarier at night! |
Monday, I went for a super long stroll around Inmaculada to get to know the community. Needless to say, I got all kinds of lost and turned around. But that's okay, that's nothing new for me. Later in the day, I got to meet the English teachers where I'll be working and I got to see my two different schools. The best part was meeting with Isabel, the first co-teacher I met at the workshop, and the regional assessor for MEP (Ministry of Public Education). We talked about my teaching hours, but even more exciting to me, they were super supportive of my idea to start an after-school academic enrichment program (like El Centro!) for the kids in Inmaculada, because they have very little to occupy themselves outside of school and need a safe place to be. We even talked about finding a permanent place for it and making it a non-profit organization. I know it's still in the planning stages, but I could not be more excited to get started!
Finally, yesterday we had a family party for all of the host families that have taken us in over the past three months. It was a lovely time celebrating with all of our families. My favorite photo of the day with the three newest loves of my life:
 |
| Deyvid, Jordan, Cristel, and me <3 |
Much Love ~ Rach
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)