Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Back to Civilisation ..... briefly!

Friday, 31 October 2008

Back to Civilisation ..... briefly!

On Sunday our three Alpha groups will return from each of their locations to once again fill up field base. Arriving Sunday afternoon, they will have a chance to go into Turrialba and use phone and internet services on Monday. Speaking from personal experience it is wonderful to receive emails and letters while on expedition, particularly when you come in from phase, so just in case you haven't already please pop something in their inboxes.

Our eating and activity area and this changeover the location for our halloween party on Monday night as well as stage for the much anticipated skits on Sunday night. Below the much loved tents equipped with wooden pallet floors, just the thing for our weary adventurers.

Sandra and Rosie, our ever smiling cooks who come each changeover to give everyone a break from tuna and crackers. This changeover's menu includes, Rice, Chicken and Beans Carribean style, Burritos and a huge BBQ which should keep everyone happy.

17 comments:

Anonymous31 October 2008 at 10:38
Hi Christophe

Have been checking regularly to see what you have been up too.It looked very hard work carrying those logs. Well done to you all.
Cant wait to hear all about it. Maybe you can email when you get back to base camp.
Have fun on the next phase
Bises
Maman
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Anonymous31 October 2008 at 16:57
NAA!
Un abrazo presiosa, sigo el bloq y leo todo lo del RALEIGH, un exito.
Espero haya disfutado esta primer fase,espero la de nicaragua para seguirla igual,le deseo mucha suerte en las proximas aventuras con los compas,que buen toque el de la fiesta de noche de brujas...boo! el concierto con SKATALITES fue un exito, no sabe lo que fue ver en vivo a esos maes tocar,cuidese y un abrazo con toda el alma yi.
TA
Moritz
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Anonymous1 November 2008 at 01:33
Hi Emily,
We are all very proud of you, can't see many mossie bites yet, we love looking on the blog to see what you've been doing,
Have received 2 letters so far, hope you find another pen! It's very cold here and quiet A. returns home today hopefully!
Have sent you a letter, well enjoy changeover and a warm Shower, we'll look forward to the next phase.
Love, Mum
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ahill1 November 2008 at 02:00
Hi Oli have been leaving you notes but not sure if I am sending them to the correct place. We all miss you and can't wait to hear news of your adventures. Libby is missing you lots. love Mum
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Anonymous1 November 2008 at 11:22
Hey Chrisophe,
Hope your having an awesome time out there. Been looking at the blog and pics, sounds like your always on the go. Hope their feeding you enough and your coping wiht eating the same stuff all the time. Nothing new to report here. Take care, Soph x x
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Henda2 November 2008 at 04:28
Mick,

Hartelijk Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!

Groeten, Henda (moeder van Vincent)
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Henda2 November 2008 at 04:59
Hello Vincent,
Now you've seen the Pacific Ocean, you've seen all the oceans eventhough you won't remember the Indian Ocean(South Africa) seeing you were only one year old at the time! I expect it was a wonderfull coast to coast walk/experience but also hard at times. Enjoy your rest at field base. Well done!
Groetjes, Mamma
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Anonymous2 November 2008 at 10:23
Hey emily
I like the picture of you behind bars!
I'm back from NASA and am very tired but it was an amazing trip with only one or two incidents. My favourite bit was commanding a space shuttle!!!
How big actually are the spiders - have you got any pictures? Have fun with your building!
lots of love
alice
x
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Anonymous2 November 2008 at 14:31
Hello Vincent,
Welcome back to Field Base to you and everyone in Alpha 2 after your eventful and challenging adventure. What an experience. Well done!
Thanks to your leaders for the very welcome and interesting updates on your progress and the photos. Really brought it alive for families back home.
Enjoy the chicken and beans Carribean style and Burritos at the BBQ tonight.
Happy Halloween party on Monday and Good Luck with the next phase!
Love, Grandma
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sir-s2 November 2008 at 14:46
HI Vincent, welcome back to "civilisation" - well, looks like fine food anyway. Hope you'll enjoy your day of leisure, then it's off to the hard labour... where will you be? ...will be checking the blog often, great pictures there, remember to take some of your own too! All the best,
Pappa.
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Anonymous3 November 2008 at 17:01
Hello Jen!! - Congratulations on the successful completion of your Trek - an amazing achievement. Put your feet up (literally) for the next few days because it looks like the hard work is about to start. It was great hearing you in good spirits this evening and hope you can ring again. We are all fine here and look forward each day to your new adventures. Thanks to those who put up the pictures and information on the Raleigh Blog. Congrats to the whole of Alpha 2, you will look back on this and say to yourselves, " I really did this!!"
Lots of love and more Dada xxx
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Anonymous4 November 2008 at 02:54
Hey Christophe,
Thankyou for spending your afternoon talking to me, I can't wait until we can do it again in 21days time! I love you :) Take care, and as always, have fun - or prepare the chew on my fist?!?!?! Hehe, goofy smile over and out xxx
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Anonymous4 November 2008 at 11:11
Hi Joanne and members of Alpha 3,
What a long and happy email, Joanne! While reading your email, I can picture you typing away at the computer with so many exciting stories to tell that you don't know where to start. What a storyteller you're going to be when you return in December. I hope that you all had a fantastic reunion back at field base with the other Alpha groups and staff. That was a lovely idea about writing positive comments about everyone and putting them in a bag for each of you. All the best with your skit, have a safe journey tomorrow morning, and keep on having a really fun time.
Lots and lots and lots of love from Sandy xxx xxx xxx
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Anonymous4 November 2008 at 11:23
Well done Jen
Your letter arrived this morning.
It will now encourage me to write one back to you.
Well done Alpha 2.
It was great to hear your voice last night Jen and know that you are safe and enjoying your great adventure.
This blog is a great way to keep in touch.
Thank you Blog master whoever you are?
Much Love Mother xxxxxxx
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Anonymous6 November 2008 at 13:20
Hello Emily. Really loved your letter perhaps you write better standing up!Now you know what a hot bath or shower really means in terms of comfort and pleasure. Another postcard (from London) on its way to let you know we're thinking of your jungle life. We watch the blog so make sure you're on most of the photos! Big hugs and lots of love
G & P
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Juls12 November 2008 at 04:26
Hi Asher

It's Julie from Quarriers here! Hope you're well and still enjoying it. All well here ad Fee and Laura are working hard with the VIP going from strength to strength!

Looking forward to hearing all your stories on your return

Take Care

Julie
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Anonymous13 November 2008 at 08:19
Hello Jen and the plumbing team of Achuapa. No news is always good news so I hope that you are chopping jungle and laying pipes. Its raining here at the moment and there have been a few floods but nothing too bad!
Looking forward to the updates
Lots of love
xx
Spen
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Raleigh Lingo

Copy that?

Sometimes our Raleigh technical terms can be a tad confusing so we've put together a glossary for you blog followers. This will appear as a quick-reference section on the right-hand column so you can translate our Tico-terms into something a bit more palatable. And for those keen to brush up their Central American Spanish, we've included some handy translations. Here's a few to get you started...

Alpha, X-Ray and Zulu groups
(Grupos Alfa, X-Ray y Zulu)
The official name for project groups during the phases of CR&N 13A. Alpha will be out on project from 3rd to 23rd February, X-Ray from 24th February to 15th March and Zulu from 17th March to 5th April. Project groups are allocated during induction

Basha
Jungle ‘bed’: consists of a tarpaulin for shelter, a hammock and mosquito net. A basha is hung up between two trees and supported by rope, bamboo and canvas straps

Bodega
A Spanish word meaning store or warehouse

Bravo
A term of endearment for our hard-working Land Rovers. The four vehicles are officially, and imaginatively named Bravo One, Two, Three and Four

C.A.T.I.E.
The agricultural and development research institute on whose campus Fieldbase is situated. Find out more at http://www.catie.ac.cr/

Changeover (Cambio de Fase)
Two day period where all staff and Venturers return from their project sites for some respite before they are all reallocated and sent off to do it all over again...

Chicas, Chicos
Spanish term meaning girls (chicas) or guys (chicos) or both (chicos aswell). As in “Vamonos chicos!” or “Let’s go guys!”

Craic
A way to gauge how people are feeling, usually measured from 0 to 90. If your ‘craic’ is high, you’re pretty happy. If you announce a low craic, people will probably fix you up with an energy bomb and a nice big hug

CR&N 13A
Costa Rica and Nicaragua expeditions 13A

Day Leader (DL) (Líder del día)
Every day on project, one of the Team is designated DL – they are in charge of the day, including organising the day’s briefing, keeping group morale up, dealing with any problems, sticking to schedule and de-briefing at the end of the day. The DL role rotates round the whole group so everyone takes a turn

Energizer (Actividad Levanta Muertos)
An activity to gather the group together and raise energy levels. Can be used at the beginning of the day, or whenever a quick pick-me-up is required

Energy bombs (Explosión de azucar)
A trekking treat – mix together oats, raisins, condensed milk and chocolate powder and roll into little balls of gooey goodness to power you through the day

Fieldbase (FB) (Campo Base)
Refers to the Raleigh ‘office residence’ which is where the Fieldbase staff eat, sleep and work, whilst organising the expedition, manning the radios round the clock, supporting the projects, planning transport and logistics, keeping tabs on the finances and much, much more

Field Base Volunteer Managers (Equipo Logístico Voluntario del Campo Base)
Volunteer support staff for the expedition. The team looks after the ‘behind the scenes’ of the expedition and ensures everything runs smoothly. This consists of three permanent staff members - the Country Director, Country Project Manager and Country Expedition Manager - plus a team of volunteer staff including the, Medic, Photographer, Administrator, Finance Officer, three Logistics (logs) team members and the Communications Officer

Gallo Pinto
A traditional Costa Rican dish of rice and beans (yum!)

Icebreaker (Rompe Hielos)
A getting-to-know-you game

Longdrop (Letrina)
The camp loo. Literally a deep hole in the ground, it is one of the first tasks to complete when setting up jungle camp for obvious reasons! Short drops are similar, normally used for overnight stops when a shallower trench will suffice

Longs (Pantalones)
From 6pm onwards, we all don long trousers and sleeves to discourage the bugs that aren’t deterred by DEET

Maxis
Short for Maxi Pali, the stock-everything shop about a kilometer from Fieldbase where you can buy all those things you forgot/ran out of/lost

Nicas
An affectionate term referring to the native population of Nicaragua

Ninja
A popular game/energizer used by venturers and Project managers alike. Everyone stands in a circle and tries to hit the team members either side of them on the hand via a single ninja movements. Sound effects welcome

POPS
Legendary milkshake and ice-cream parlour chain found all over Costa Rica – perfect for a sweet splurge

Pork and beans (Frijoles con cerdo)
Another staple foodstuff for trekkers: tinned beans with a slightly sausage twang, served cold for lunch. Usually accompanied by dry cracker dust, sprinkled liberally on to the top. If you’re in a hurry, this can be consumed without cutlery straight from the can

Project Managers (PMs) (Guías)
Project staff for the expedition. Each of the groups has at least two PMs who work with the Venturers to develop skills, lead projects and challenge themselves

PURA VIDA!
A very special Costa Rican phrase that means hello, goodbye, I’m great, it’s good, pure life, basically any positive, feel-good thing can be Pura vida!

Radio check (Chequeo de Radio)
As well as a daily SITREP, all Alpha projects are required to complete a second radio call-in each day to check in, receive messages and report any developments

Review (Revisión)
A round-up that assesses how everyone feels, what went well and what needs work. This is sometimes an ‘activity’, sometimes a chat around the campfire, or sometimes just a bit of time to reflect. It’s an important part of everyone’s personal development so we make sure it happens every day

Roadtrip (Paseo Volando Rueda)
The logistics team and some of the Field Base team drive the Bravos on a loop round to each of the accessible project sites once per phase. They deliver kit, supplies, site visitors, messages from the blog and of course the all important post

Ropa Americana
Purveyors of the finest second hand American threads. Perfect for fancy dress/obtaining that long coveted college sports jersey

SITREP (Reporte de la Situación)
Literally Situation Report. A special radio message sent from the satellite project sites back to fieldbase once a day. It follows a certain format and includes all sort of handy information like where they are, what they’ve been up to, what they need and what they’re planning to do next

Tang
A fruity powder that is used to make squash. Jolly useful for taking away the chlorine taste of purified water

Ticos
An affectionate term referring to the native population of Costa Rica

Trangia (Mini Cocina)
A portable cooking stove. Used primarily for trekking, a trangia’s compact design makes it perfect for easy transportation. Literal translation in spanish - mini kitchen. Makes sense

Turrialba
The location of Fieldbase

Venturers (Aventureros)
Participants in the Raleigh expedition. Aged 17 to 24, they come in three varieties: Host Country Venturers (from Costa Rica and Nicaragua), Partnership Venturers (positive young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK who participate in Raleigh expeditions as part of a longer term development programme) and UK and International Fundraising Participants (who work hard to raise money to contribute towards the charities work and expenses in order to take part in the expedition)

Wash up (Revisión Final)
The last few days of expedition, spent debriefing, returning equipment, performing skits, and most importantly enjoying the farewell party (tears alert)

Zero (Cero)
A radio term that identifies the radio controller at Fieldbase. Fieldbase monitors the radios 24-7, listening out on three frequencies for calls from our satellite project sites. When the radio alarm sounds, we might answer something like this: “Hello unknown call sign, hello unknown call sign, this is Zero, this is zero, do you copy, OVER?”