I love maps.....

I'm not sure where I will be staying but the info says the family lives near the center of town..  Looks like it will be easy to get around.....nice even blocks.

still learning.....

Found this YouTube video of a PBS show about.......Costa Rica.  Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ioHN0XrQyw&feature=relmfu

Spanish lessons...

I found this really cool link for FREE Spanish lessons.  So far it looks like a very helpful site.  Here it is:

http://www.123teachme.com/

How's the weather?????

http://weather.yahoo.com/costa-rica/alajuela/atenas-57747/

News I can use....

http://www.ticotimes.net/


An ex pat publication about daily life in CR.

Soy Tico !!!

Independence Day for Costa Rica celebrated in Atenas on September 15, 2011 and I will be there for this year's parade and celebration !!!

List of things I need....map....check!

You can find Atenas just about in the middle of this map.  And Palmares is quite a bit north of Atenas.  It's gonna be quite an interesting daily commute...

Notice all those little volcanic mountains??????

a little communication goes a long way...

I remember that the acceptance email said "let us know if you have any questions"  and so I took them at their word and asked!   Here's how it went....

me:   "I am a little confused by the placement being so far from my host family and a long bus ride away so early in the morning. Will someone tell me how to do all that and also be back in time for Spanish lessons?"
  

them:  "Your project is from 8-12. The bus leaves at 12:15 and so you are back in town by 1:00 p.m. Your Spanish lessons are at 3 p.m. So, no problem."

I paused before writing back.  I don't want them to think I am some wussy American whiner.....but that wasn't exactly the answer I was looking for.   Try, try again...

me:     "So as I calculate it, I would need to catch the bus about 6:30 AM???? How will I know where to do that and then how to walk to the project? It would make more sense to me if I had Spanish lessons in the morning then went to the project."

them: "The bus is at 8 am. You will be there by 9 to start. They know the schedule of the buses. We will take you there on the first day and walk you through it all. 

The children take naps in the afternoon, so the morning is the only time they can take the volunteers."

 

See rule number 3 again....... Tico time prevails. 

 

I do feel a lot better about getting there the first day.  Just need to keep breathing and get into the Tico mindset.   Pura Vida!!!!

Initial instructions.....please sign and accept

Once I was accepted, I received my official information and general instructions about my placement.  Here is what I read:

Volunteer Project Information
Project	Children’s home in Palmares, Hogarcito
Contact person	Tina
Project Description	The children’s home in Palmares is a temporary home for children who have been taken from their homes by child welfare services due to abuse or neglect.  They stay in this home until the home situation can be worked out or they can be adopted out to another family.

You will be playing with the children, helping around the house, and assisting in whatever the staff needs help with. Rules for the Children’s Home in Palmares The children’s home is located in Barrio las 3 Marias, Calle Ramirez, Palmares, which is 1 km from the center of Palmares. The times to work in the orphanage will be from 8 a.m.-12 noon. 1)     You will work only with the children, preferably with table games, crafts, coloring, hide and seek, ball games, etc.  Please bring some with you if possible. 2)    The Volunteers need to use the restrooms that are located outside of the house. 3)    Do not give expensive gifts to the children. 4)    Do not give sweets or junk food, better to give fruits. 5)    Be available to help with the staff (tias) when needed. 6)    Do not loan the children your cameras or cell phones. 7)    Do not take photos of the children. 8)    When you play games with the children, put away them away when you finish. 9)    Play with the children outside, not in the house. 10) Wear conservative clothing, no shorts, no shirts that reveal the belly or shoulders or that is low cut.

Monday-Friday, 8-12 noon.  If you want Spanish classes (highly recommended), they will be in the afternoon.

Same

Must be independent, patient, and reliable, a self-starter, Must be self-motivating. Must love children.

Bring games and things for the children to use and play with.  Wear conservative clothing, nothing too revealing as you are working with children.

Palmares (you will take a bus out, about 45 minutes and walk out to the site, so please bring the equivalent of $1 each way for each of the days, if you prefer to take a taxi from the bus to the site, it is an additional $3)

Sounds simple enough right?  But wait?  What was that about the project being a 45 minute bus ride from the town (Atenas) where I am staying?  I don't drive that far to work now....    Do I pay with dollars or colonnes?   I don't even know how to tell the driver where I am going.   And a 20 minute walk after the bus?   How will I find the orphanage?   I wonder if it is hilly there.  I am starting to hyperventilate.  

I continue to read "the rules".  Number 3 is: 

3.    I will arrive to my project on time, every day. Even if the project manager/site coordinator shows up late (is running on “Tico” time), as a guest I am expected to be there and to work all the days that I am scheduled to work.

In order to get there on time, I figure I will need to be on the bus by 6:30 AM.   Holy cow!   It will be dark then.... I have no clue how many buses there are or which one I need....and I hate getting up early....... Hear me whine????

I know they said flexibility is essential but geez....... And when are those Spanish lessons? What will I do about lunch? I was born under the sign of punctuality and I do not like to be late......  I like to know the plan, carry the map......have reservations......yikes!

I am toast!!   This is going to be harder than I thought.....    "Just breathe", I tell myself. You will figure it out. It will all be fine...........I hope!  

How can I resolve this issue?   Should I just "go with it" and see what happens?  Or will my ugly American, anal side win out? 

Stay tuned........  lol

Pictures tell a story

Here is an informational blog from an American couple who are living in Atenas, CR.  This is the town where I'll be staying....   Check it out!!!

http://costarica.com/atenas/

Why not?

I was just sitting here one Sunday afternoon wondering if there were any volunteer opportunities to work in an orphanage in Costa Rica.  Don't ask me why I was thinking about  that:  I just do those things....  One good search yielded a number of potential organizations who arrange these kinds of things.  Most were very expensive and seemed to be more or less for much younger people.....  I am 62 years old now so I have certain challenges.....lol.

I did find one that appealed to me.  It was/is IFRE, a small organization that is a non profit humanitarian group in Dallas TX.  You can read about them at http://www.ifrevolunteers.org/   My brain's wheels stated spinning and so an idea for a new adventure was born.

First of all, I needed to make certain I could be away from my job for 4 weeks.  Once that was settled (thanks Laura!), my plans have started to be worked out.  I was accepted right away (can't imagine who would be denied....) and received my asignment info (more on that later).  Tonight I am just setting up this blog (by request from my daughter Debra) and will let you travel along with me as I prepare to go.  Six months seems like a long time but I know better.....

So this is my first installment of the 2012 adventure into Central America.  BTW, my Spanish is minimal at best.....  That will likely make for some very interesting moments.  But life is about learning and I am ready to tackle this new experience.