It's that time of the year

Well, a pattern is starting to develop- with the start of every summer, is the start of an adventure- so here I am again writing a blog in an airport terminal since I have a ridiculous amount of time to pass.

Obviously, last summer my blogging attempt failed. I blame not having a computer with me- and I'm sticking to that story. As most know, at the end of last summer, I returned to my apartment in the UK. Due to numerous reasons, I decided to move on to Calgary, Canada where I had an amazing 7 months working with my dad, living downtown, and braving the stupid cold weather. Why anyone would choose to live in a place where you are faced with -40C weather is beyond me. But, Calgary is actually a cute little city between the mountains and plains, so I enjoyed snowboarding and getting out to the mountains so easily.

Anyways.

I decided to work with Rustic Pathways again this summer and while a lot of the people I worked with last summer have decided to work in other countries this year, I decided to return to Costa Rica. In addition to working 3 months with Rustic, I will be doing several weeks of Toucan research as a research assistant after the summer in a town called Turrialba and then sort of winging it until I move on to my next venture- and already I have a couple different options to pursue. So, although staff training doesn't start until the first week of June, I wanted to get down early to settle into the place I'll be staying at after the summer and to get around Costa Rica a bit.

Yet again, I have way over packed- another pattern that is proving impossible to fix. Especially since I absolutely feel like I will need everything I packed…well I might not have needed to pack my pink nail polish..but I love the shade and let's be honest- that isn't going to break the weight limit. I have spent my almost 5 hours in the Houston airport hauling around a bookbag that is stuffed with my sleeping bag, pillow, and brownies for staff members, AND I also have a decent size duffle bag that is filled with all the clothes I couldn't fit into my actual backpack. Again, I need everything I have because I am here at least until December and need clothes for field work, the beach, and general stuff for the summer/days off. But, I can't help but be envious of those who are traveling with one simple bag. The true talent will come when I have to master traveling with my backpack, bookbag, and duffle bag around Costa Rica- but I have a pretty good idea of all the things I will leave in Turrialba that I can do without for the summer.

I propose a toast. Here's to not having anything stolen (like my sleeping bag in Ecuador), not losing anything (like my camera- also in Ecuador) [which could actually be argued that it was in fact stolen with my sleeping bag since it happened within an hour of each other, the day of the attempted coup-d'etat ], traveling without plans (did I mention that I don't have a hostel reserved for when I land), and to a great summer.
And to everyone reading my blog, thanks for following my travels.
Oh, and: happy birthday/anniversary/graduation/congratulations on your engagement(wedding)/congratulations on your baby- you know, just incase I miss it- but remember it isn't because I forgot, it's because I already said to you in this blog.

Sanderos Rusticos

For those of you who don´t know, my first encounter with Rustic Pathways was in the summer of 2003 when I went on a Language Immersion program for two weeks in Costa Rica. I stayed with a host family, went whitewater rafting, and met other high school students from around the United States. My mom has always reminded me of Rustic Pathways and how I could potentially work on staff with them, so when I checked the website in April and saw that they were still hiring, I couldn´t resist the temptation.
So, here I am.
Staff training was one week long at the base house of the Volcano and Rainforest Project, which involved over 25 summer staff members, and over 10 full time staff members. We are warned that our schedules outlining what programs we are doing through the summer is bound to change constantly, but at this point I am suppose to be spending 6 weeks as a guide on the Volcano and Rainforest program and two weeks doing Summer Camp Leadership program. The Volcano program has the highest capacity for students, as we have two beautiful base houses on beautiful property near Arenal Volcano. The property has a football field, ponds of ducks, a stream, and a lovely pool that is filled with the stream´s water. So, its no doubt that we can handle 34 students. The program runs a week long and is based on community service projects at local schools. Over the course of the summer, we will build a bodega or a storage room, bathrooms, lay two different ceramic tile floors, paint a mural, and repaint the inside and outside of a school, and paint the fence and basketball court of another school- in total we work with 6 different schools. When the kids are resting from community service, we will be taking them to local hot springs, zip lining, horseback riding, kayaking, white water rafting, and playing football…. I know, I know, how stressful will it be to have to do all of that EVERY week…stupid hot springs. Catered meals, lounging by the pool, and having dance parties…this is the life. I have this week off and have just been traveling around a bit, meeting up with some friends, but I am excited to get the summer started and meet the group of kids on Tuesday afternoon.

And its time for another adventure

As most of you know, I returned to the U.S. the week of Christmas with the determined plan to move to the UK after receiving a working visa through my Canadian citizenship. I really had no idea what I was going to do, professionally, where I was going to live and looked into many different options before deciding to at least settle in London for a bit. With two years for the visa, I do plan on spending as much of that time in the UK. I have spent the past three months there and have enjoyed it very much- I will upload some blogs about my time in London…eventually. For now, I really just wanted to upload a quick blog before I set off to Costa Rica- I know, I know- I just keep bouncing around at the moment.

I will officially be in Costa Rica from May 29 until August 10 working for an organization called Rustic Pathways. It was difficult for me to make the decision to leave the UK for the few months, as I had just started to really get settled in having recently moved into a flat, etc. But, I am really excited about spending my summer kicking about Central America. Rustic Pathways is an organization that provides community service opportunities, cultural and language immersion, and conservation initiatives for high school students. And interestingly enough, I participated in a language immersion program of theirs after my first year of high school. As with Ecuador, I really only am slightly aware of what I’m getting into and have no specific knowledge at the moment for where I will be and what contact will be like from the base house I will be staying at. But, as I go through training over the next week, I will get a better idea and will hopefully get the opportunity to post a bit more information about what projects I’ll be leading, where, and when.

So, until then- I appreciate the curiosity and well wishes about my work in Costa Rica. I’m all packed up and ready for my 6am flight in less than 5 hrs. I just can’t believe I’m actually taking more clothes with me to Costa Rica for three months then I did for 6 months in Ecuador. But honestly, who is to say that I wont need all 14 pairs of my shorts, 4 pairs of pants, and 15 shirts. I must say the collection of items I’m taking with me slightly impresses me because half of my friends from Ecuador will technically be traveling with me as I take: Sam’s pair of jean shorts I inherited, two of Edwin’s field shirts, a copy of Steve’s reggaeton CD on my iPod, a rope anklet identical to Olly’s, and a pair of hiking socks I ACCIDENTALY stole from the clothes line in Ecuador. Well, I suppose I only have myself to blame for such a massive bag, I didn’t have the time or dedication to cut back on my packing list but at least I’ll have clothes for almost every occasion :-)

Bargain Shopping

As the rest of my time in the jungle rapped up so much quicker than expected, I was left trying to organize souvenir/Christmas present shopping before returning. I made a couple trips to Otavalo, to grace the market with my presence…and money. I mainly shopped aimlessly decided that I could assign presents once I got back as long as I had enough to give me some flexibility. To be honest, quite a bit of shopping as for myself as well. I couldn’t resist- its naturally in my genes as a female.

Anyways, I indulged in sweaters, scarves, jewelry, an alpaca wool blanket, and basic t-shirts. The key to getting all those items is intense bargaining. Naturally, they try to take advantage of any tourist who may not know the going price a nice pullover with the pattern of alpacas grazing across the belly. And, even after leaving Otavalo, I continued on in the much smaller version of the same market in Quito just to be entirely sure I shouldn’t waste any more money. Just as I was heading through one of the last aisles convinced I didn’t need anything else, I saw something that caught my eye. A permanent stand that sold something entirely unique to the rest of the market including the master market of Otavalo. I carefully asked how much my interest would cost me- and after hearing $5 and repeating it to make sure I had heard right, I decided I couldn’t pass up such a great bargain.

So just like that, I decided to get my nose pierced.

No, I’m being serious grandma and grandpa.

Anyways, my fearlessness as overpowered by such a reasonable price. But, as I sat down in my seat to see a kid who couldn’t be over 15 years old prepping my selected piercing- I was immediately nervous. WHO JUST DECIDES TO GET THEIR NOSE PIERCED IN A MARKET IN ECUADOR BECAUSE IT’S $5?! Well….me obviously. But, that’s not the point. I think the part where I actually considered death might be an outcome of the piercing was when I saw the boy using SANDPAPER to sharpen the dull stud into something significant enough to be used as a piercer. A little spray of some funny stuff on my nose to numb it, a little dot of a pen for accuracy requiring a reluctant approval to continue, and I closed my eyes just in time to see him force through the once dull clear rhinestone stud into my nose. I couldn’t have done it without the hand of Jenn, one of the GVI staff, which was near broken when the piercing was done, and the mocking encouragement of Olly, another staff member. I honestly didn’t feel anything besides a slight pressure, so with that, I convinced Jenn of the true bargain at hand that needed to be taken advantage of. So with a few positive and encouraging words and persistent insisting and bribing of paying for her piercing- I essentially forced Jenn to get her nose pierced- who ended up loving it as well- so our bargain shopping really paid off!

Public Transportation: A Journey on Jumandy

One of the easiest ways to get around Ecuador has been by bus. Each city has at least one bus station and several bus offices over the town. There are many rewarding factors to taking the bus: price, convenience of snack, and the never-ending kung fu movies.
Buses cost about an hour for every hour you take them. From Quito to Tena, a beautiful drive crossing the Andes, is $6 for the approximate 6hours you are on the bus. Another bus from Tena to Agua Santa is $5 for the 5 hour trip and then you are only a short walk to base camp. The bus offers a large selection of high class seats. With no air-conditioning and sometimes functional windows, most seats recline back but normally to your disadvantage as the seat in front of you is practically in your lap. Aisle or window seat can always be a difficult decision. Aisle, you risk having a person who was unable to get a seat standing next to you for hours, at times practically sitting in your lap. Window, on the chance it rains, despite the window being closed, water will drip down from who-knows-where to splash on you with the turns of the bus. Luckily, I have mastered sleeping through the journeys despite the little bumps along the way, including the big bumps along the road.
Every bus station offers a variety of meals at the street side vendors that provide a small plastic stool for a nice sit down option. There are also snacks from fruit to ices in the stations. (I have even made short trips to the bus station just to eat some of the late night beef on a stick they grill and serve with mayonnaise.) But in case you decide to pass on all the food, there are vendors who board the buses for a couple minutes at a time throughout the journey who will yell everything they are selling at least three times before you realize they are speaking Spanish. One of my favourite vendors is the guy who is selling 10 oranges for a dollar. I’m always impressed by the speed he yells but more impressed by the buyer- what the hell are you going to do with 10 oranges that you spontaneously buy on a bus.
Almost every bus contains an old tv that has been put into the bus (threatening to fall from the ceiling at any time), in addition to the red fake velvet and virgin statues in honour of one of the travelling Saints. Ecuador might be one of the few places where people love Steven Segul films. And if it isn’t a Segul film that has been dubbed over in Spanish, its a Jet Lee kung fu movie- so you get to spend however many hours learning how to kick ass with only a plank of wood. When there is no movie, there is music- which has included a Michael Jackson CD on repeat for 5hrs, clearly trying to impress a bus full of gringos, a Spanish comedy radio station that wasn’t funny by any means, and a Spanish meringue CD that continuously skipped.
I have appreciated the buses and their helpfulness though. The buses do better off-roading than my 4x4 Jeep Grand Cherokee and cross bridges I wouldn’t dare jump on. The guy who collects peoples tickets/money has often told me when my destination town was getting close or has helped with the loading/unloading of my bag- and in one instance even pleased me by taking over driving for a bus driver that insisted on driving way too fast for the curves on the road. I am still amused that a guy gets paid not to just collect the tickets from people, but to hang out the door as the bus is speeding along, yelling the destination at pedestrians repeating the town name at least 10 times in 5 seconds. But in all honesty, travelling via bus has been one of the easiest things to figure out in Ecuador. And, if anyone ever wants to travel from Tena to Agua Santa, I know a guy who has offered to chauffer me anytime- now that’s networking!

My Birfffday

A year ago, I never would have guessed I’d be spending my birthday while living in Ecuador. In the past year, I have gone through relationship trouble, confusion about my ‘next step’, the rewards of graduating from university, bettering friendships, development of leadership, appreciated moments for what they offer, loved, laughed, cried, and all that other stuff- but as I said good-bye to 21 and hello to 22 over the weekend, I knew in my heart it all is a part of life, made me better, and I wouldn’t trade my year because I am happy, in Ecuador, and enjoying it. So, a quick thanks to the family and friends who were there to support me through my struggles and encourage me in my achievements.
Now that I’m through the mushy stuff...I’ll tell you how to celebrate a 22nd birthday in the jungle. This phase with enough staff members, we’ve been able to pick from a couple weekends to have one weekend off in Tena with another staff member. I originally picked week 3 of 10 because I knew in week 7 and 8 I’d be close enough to leaving I should power it out, especially with a weekend in Tena at week 5. When I realized week 3 weekend contained my birthday, Caroline, my roomie, picked that as her weekend off too. We left basecamp on the last bus to Tena that passes by at 2.30 generally. $5.00 and 5 hours later, we were arriving in Tena. We walked into the hostel GVI always uses when we pass through and got a room for 2 nights ($8 each per night) with no problems. With ambitious plans of partying the night away, after an hour of internet, some chicken, and a pina colada each, we retired to the room to watch 500 Days of Sumer at 9pm. Saturday morning I woke-up and read the birthday cards my parents and brother had sent me a head of time, went to breakfast, dropped of laundry, and sat in front of internet again for another couple hours. With a chicken lunch and avocado milkshake (which are surprisingly un-avacado-tasting) and grocery shopping done, my afternoon contained more internet time. Dinner was at Pizza Hilton, where we enjoyed more meat and after dinner drinks consisted of a 1.25L bottle of Coke and a new bottle of rum. Caroline and I went back to the hostel to start drinking and eat some slices of chocolate cake she had bought for me. At the bar we met one of the rafting guides from my ‘Thanks for Survivor’ experience who was happy to see me still alive and well. We got hustled into going to the local club where we showed up all the other gringos with our meringue moves. After dancing the night away, we returned to the hotel room where I proceeded to make a fool of myself on a skype video call to England to talk to Edwin, but not before I planted my face in my remaining cake and chugging rum straight from the bottle. I normally wouldn’t admit to such acts, but the pictures are already on Facebook. Sunday consisted of recovery via sleeping before getting on the 3.30pm bus back to the reserve. All in all it was a simple and fun weekend with the main factors of chicken, alcohol, and internet- all of which you can’t get in the jungle easily...

Hector's Island Vacation

As a volunteer last phase, I got to take a field trip out to Hector’s Island- stopping in Coca on the way there and back for pastries, chicken, internet, and other grocery shopping. This phase on staff, 3 staff members went, leaving Jenn, Jas, and myself to take care of base camp- and boy did we live it up. Let me start by saying, meat is very hard to come by. With no electricity and the lack of land, time, and ability to raise chickens- we are limited to the option of a local plate of seco de pollo- a chicken dish with rice at the market on Saturday mornings. However, when you no longer have to cook for 30 people and vegetarians: the statement ‘when there is a will, there is a way’ takes on a new meaning. Thursday morning I briefly woke up at 5am as I heard the volunteers making their way to the road to catch the morning bus to Coca. I woke up again at 8.30 which was a lovely sleep-in from the traditional 6:30am morning. Having a breakfast of scrambled eggs and fruit, I was absolutely thrilled to not eat porridge. I got ready to teach TEFL down at Puerto Rico for the Thursday lesson. Still on base camp were a couple of graduates from the Yachana technical high school doing internships. So, they helped with teaching the lesson and more importantly buying a chicken from the small shop.
It was really neat actually. We looked at a couple different hens outside before deciding to look at one. The store owner said she was going to call Tyson. I was expecting some teenage nephew or farm worker to appear, but instead it was a slim german shepard. She picked up a pebble, threw it at the hen, and told the dog to catch it. Tyson took off like a rocket, tail wagging, and with a playful bark, the dog had caught the hen within minutes despite its attempted escape up the hill side. Listening to the command to drop it, the Ecuadorian students took the chicken form the dog and we paid our $15. To skip the details of killing and gutting the chicken, it ended on our plates for a delicious dinner of seco de pollo and produced a delicious chicken noodle soup the next day. Some afternoon swimming on Friday complimented the pancake breakfast well- this is life in the jungle. Saturday morning at the market consisted of eating chicken, buying chicken tuna, and enjoying a scenic bus ride back on the bird watching top of the tourist lodge’s vehicle as oppose to the traditional canoe we take. For lunch, we had fried chicken, dinner was tune, and Sunday we enjoyed chicken soup again. We made a couple of jokes as we put lentils on to boil Sunday afternoon because the volunteers would be back for dinner which meant we were back to eating beans. We did accomplish a lot of dirty work consisting of attacking termites every day, repairing broken boardwalks, and hauling gas tanks around for cooking- but why dwell on the bad when there was so much good food.