It has been almost 3 months since my last post and 2 months since my arrival in Costa Rica. Although my training has kept me very busy, I also found it difficult to write an un-biased and non-comparative post of my experience in CR so far. Coming from Niger where life is so much simpler yet difficult, to Costa Rica, which reminds me of the West Indies, was not an easy transition. I realized I really miss Niger and my experience there will always be remembered and cherished but I must put that same passion and focus into my work here in Costa Rica because there is definitely a need.
Peace Corp in every country varies but one thing that is the same is training and since this is my 2nd training in a 6 month period it can be a little bit….boring
Yet I have definitely enjoyed certain parts of it and the content is also more focused on the program (Children, Youth & Families) I am working in. My weekly schedule entails, Spanish class Mon., Wed., & Fri from 8am-3:30pm, and technical and core classes on Tuesday & Thursday form 8am-4:30pm. The rest of the time I usually spend with my host family or traveling on Peace Corps trips to visit other volunteers of your future site. So far I have visited 2 volunteers in 2 different parts of the country; Santa Cruz, Guanacaste & Buenos Aires, Puntarenas. Guanacaste was dry and hot but I was able to go to the beach and saw a lot including hundreds of jellyfish in the water and and a dead crocodile on the shore! I was also able to learn about the many projects the completed by the volunteer in that site including setting up official night classes for adults. After doing a community diagnostic she realized many adults within her community did not have an education beyond 6th grade so working with Ministry of Education she was able to have certified teachers sent to her community to teach classes for adults. With these classes students will be able to obtain an equivalent of a high school diploma. The other volunteer I visited in Puntarenas, which was hot and humid but gorgeous, also completed many projects within her community. She created a women’s group and helped them in obtaining materials and training to build a greenhouse to simulate income generation among members of her community. She also got a grant to build a playground for the children within her community as well as many other smaller projects. For many Costa Rica is just another vacation site but there are also many parts of the country that are plagued with social issues and economic disparity. Visiting other volunteers and seeing the work they have done as well as the relationships they have created within their community has inspired me. It has also helped me realized that just because a country maybe more advanced in terms of infrastructure and technology does not mean all their problems have been eliminated and there is always work to be done.
I would also like to make a special dedication to Seyni, a Peace Corp Niger staff member that passed away from high blood pressure a couple of weeks ago. I personally remember Seyni and am deeply saddened by his passing especially since I know our departure from Niger had a lot to do with his health. May his soul rest in peace and my prayers going out to his family.
Some clips of Costa Rica so far! Most are pics of the schools and children I work with.
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