Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Hola Todos!

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

Hola Todos!

Welcome to the brand new Costa Rica/Nicaragua 09F&G blog. This is the place to be for the next few months! All the latest news and photos will be posted here from the Summer 2009 expedition. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the blog and expedition and of course messages to loved ones so please get involved. Simply post your comments after each blog entry and we’ll pass them to your loved ones (on the right is a guide on how to do this).

Field base has been a busy place since the arrival of the advance team on Sunday. We’ve been having fun and games getting to know each other and settling into a very different kind of 9 to 5!

Meet the team -

Julian Olivier - Country Director

Ross McKenzie - Country Programme Manager

Ale Leon - Host Country Participant Co-ordinator

Don Martin - the legend of field base!

Olivia Husemeyer - Deputy Expedition Leader

David Morris - Finance Manager

Rachel Wilde - Administrator and Anthropologist!

Wendell Morris - Logistics Manager

Tim Perkins - Driver

Sarah Rogerson (me!) - Communications Officer

Guy Tavernor - Photographer

Lisa Barrett - Medic

We started off the week with a Birthday celebration for Guy. The girls made dresses out of sarongs and the boys had black ties made from bin bags and of course Ross had his kilt on. A delicious dinner of spaghetti bolognese was prepared followed by a giant strawberry and cream birthday cake. Happy Birthday Guy!

The team have also been getting driver training. We started with a theory session learning about driver rules and regulations in Costa Rica. Followed by vehicle inspections and learning how to change a tyre on a Land Rover. Quite a challenge for some of the ladies!

On Sunday we will be joined by project managers and begin a action packed fortnight of training including jungle camp! We are all very excited about the expedition, meeting all the venturers, and making this an amazing experience for everyone.

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to so far -

Field base - where the magic happens!

Lisa cooking some delicious food

Tim doing a vehicle inspection

Oli recovering after changing a tyre!

Today’s weather -

24°C
Real feel 29°C
Sunny
Humidity 71%

Hasta Pronto!

41 comments:

Unknown18 June 2009 at 04:50
Great entry! Great to see all the team! Food sounds good!
Everyone here wishes you well and can't wait for photos of jungle trip!
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Joan18 June 2009 at 07:30
Great newsy entry Sara of course you had a great teacher in you Dad. Great pictures too. Send some of your heat over to Perth is cold windy and showery here today. Love Joan.
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Bunny18 June 2009 at 07:57
Seems like you've packed a lot into a short time, Sarah, and not neglected the all-important lighter side of things. Great bonding.
Love, Bunny.
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Janet18 June 2009 at 12:04
This is the first blog I have done/sent - what's the right term? Great to hear that all is well Rachel and as though life is fun! Did you change a tyre?? Love from all at home
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Felipa18 June 2009 at 14:26
Hola David - Mucha suerte en Costa Rica y un beso - Felipa x
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Claudio19 June 2009 at 15:25
Cheers for the emails Rach, glad you've settled in well! I've been in touch with your Dad quite a lot recently about your folks trip over there - sounds awesome!

Stay safe :) x
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Gemma19 June 2009 at 21:35
Nice first blog post Sarah! Glad to see you have all settled well into field base and looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday! Love Gemma, Laura and Alex
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Janet20 June 2009 at 13:58
Hi Rachel. Just talked to Matt about our trip to Venezuela - as Claudio says its awesome. Tickets have arrived from him so we are on! Saw War Horse at theatre in London today - also awesome xx
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Unknown21 June 2009 at 03:47
Oi Wilde hope you're keeping it fresh
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Unknown21 June 2009 at 03:47
Oi Wilde hope you're keeping it fresh.
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Anonymous21 June 2009 at 13:20
hi Alexander Glad all is well and you arrived safely and have had a good rest!!! have fun and laugh a lot buena suerte
Me
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Anonymous21 June 2009 at 13:23
hi alexander Glad you arrived safely and all is well hope you have had a rest!! have fun and laugh a lot love me
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Diana21 June 2009 at 21:13
Hi Alex! Onward....bon chance
Diana
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Jessica1 July 2009 at 17:28
Beautifull place i will love to visit some time
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Katharine2 July 2009 at 02:38
Gemma, Happy Birthday. Enjoy yourself. Love Katharine
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Mum, Dad and Julia3 July 2009 at 00:32
Hi Gemma! Wishing you a very happy birthday. Lots of love from Mum, Dad and Julia xxx
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Anonymous3 July 2009 at 07:17
Hola Daniel es tu hermano Rafa deseándote que la pases de lo mejor. Saludos
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Claudia3 July 2009 at 17:26
Hola Dani!

Que la pases super bien, y que Dios te acompane.

Tome fotos :)

Muchos saludos!
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Anonymous8 July 2009 at 15:34
hola hermano espero q la pases bien
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nacho8 July 2009 at 15:36
hola hermano espero q la pases bien
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NACHO8 July 2009 at 15:55
Hola Nacho

te estaba viendo en la foto me imagino que ya estas contando historias , estoy con Fabi el en la casa y yo en mi trabajo viendo todo, te extrañamos muchoooooooooooooooooooooooooo, cuidate mucho hijo y disfruta (Papa)
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nacho8 July 2009 at 21:03
hola nacho te extraño mucho mami,marisol y yo te mandamos muchos besos y abrazos, cuidate mucho y disfruta cada momento.encomiendese a Dios.T.Q.M mi Osito.
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Corriols13 July 2009 at 10:37
hey compas soy yo kike espero que la esten pasando super, les mando muchos saludos karlita, nacho, ber, y los demas....
PURA VIDA!!!
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Nacho13 July 2009 at 16:37
Diay guevon cobarde !
PRO FI TE !!
Je t'aime Nig'.
Mona Elisa.
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nacho13 July 2009 at 22:01
Hola Nacho
veo por las fotos de la caminata de espuma fue muy dura, Cuidate hijo. Tu hermano Santi ya sube todas gradas de la casa. ( Papa)
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pame14 July 2009 at 14:12
hola nacho !!!! espero ke la estes pasando super bien ... me hace falta soncho !!!
vieras con nañis todo PASE ! y anus tb ....
disfrute dem dem pero cuidec ! te adoro
PAME
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jose segura14 July 2009 at 15:39
Nachoooooo !!!! mae nos haces falta guevon jejeje mae que chivas las fotos ahi te he visto todo contento, que tuanis que la estes pasando bien compa, segui asi, las fiestas ya no son lo mismo sin vos jaja mae ahi seguimos en contacto por este medio jejeje
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KAYRA!14 July 2009 at 22:37
MI NASHITO LINDO OJALÁ Q ESTA NUEVA EXPERIENCIA SEA LO MEJOR! TE ADORO! Q DIOSITO TE ACOMPAÑE! MUAH! KAYRA!!
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Raque15 July 2009 at 18:55
Hola nacho!! Espero que le esté yendo demasiado bien! Nos hace Falta!! Cuidec mucho! Un beso!!
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Unknown16 July 2009 at 17:59
Bno pasaba aqui a postearle ya una vez con el fin de semestre atras, espero la este pasando dema bien y que sea todo lo que esperaba, en el ambito internacional pues siguen mediaciones aqui, quien sabe que pasará y se extienden las vacaciones por la AH1N1, en ambito personal, teniendo unos dias medio dificiles, me hace falta su alcoholica alma, saludos
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Faby y Andreina20 July 2009 at 16:45
HOOOOOOOLAS!!!!! Nacho guapo como andas alla(andre)... Esperamos que estes super bien, aqui extrañandolo jejeje bueno ni pa tanto jejeje mentiritas y las fotos estan buenisimas jajaja ..Se cuida We love you...Y que las sigas pasando super bien....Besos..
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Kari C.21 July 2009 at 10:03
Hola Nacho!!

Espero q te este llendo de lo mas bien, cuidese muchoooo y disfrute bastante.. ya cuando vuelvas tenemos q reunirnos para q nos cuentes todos los detalles de tu aventura jajaja...

Cuideseeeee!!!

Kari C.
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Nacho22 July 2009 at 15:29
Nacho

Hijo te veo bien en la foto, te extraño todos los dias , espero que la estes pasando bien.Cuidate Papa.
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Unknown22 July 2009 at 21:02
Hola Nacho, veo que las estás pasando super bien x alla. Te cuidas mucho y espero escuchar todas las historias cuando vuelvas. Besos y Abrazos, Iris
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pame29 July 2009 at 19:41
hola !!! ke dicha ke tas bien .... ya casi entramos :( !!! nos hace dem falta , cuidec mucho !!! te adorooooo ! un beso
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Nacho4 August 2009 at 08:42
Hola nacho, espero que estes bien en esta otra etapa, la tia Olga te envia un beso , tu hermano Santi esta tremendo. Te extrañamos (papa)
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Anonymous4 August 2009 at 11:28
que nacho!!! es tije, mop espero que la este pasando super bien,nos hace falta mop!!! cuidece mae
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Raquel5 August 2009 at 01:11
HOla Nacho!! Ojala la estes pasando super bien, cuidese mucho y muchisima suerte en todo
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Oscar A5 August 2009 at 04:08
Espero la este pasando bien mae!! Debería de decir que pongan más fotos para ver si está vivo, porque fijo a pasado a pura avena :o y se ve hecho mierda jajajajaja no son varas... se ve igual que siempre.
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fer5 August 2009 at 06:58
HOLA NACHO!!! no se por que la vez pasada te escribipero no sale!!! bueno espero q lo hayas leido... como va todo! yo por aca estoy en el viejo continente!!! como haces falta! cuando volvas nos pegamos una buena fiesta!!!1 jajaja bueno cuidate! te quiero un monton! fer
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jose segura19 August 2009 at 14:35
Nachooooooooo !!!!! mae q falta hacés guevon ya entramos y vos allá todavía jaja vieras q ya resolví mi vida jajaja tanto tiempo después pero ya todo solucionado jeje ahí te cuento luego ... mop fijo estás super bien por eso no hemos sabido nada de vos jajaja mae avisame cuando llegás, yo ya casi cumplo mae y tenemos q irnos de fiesta con todo el mundo ... saludos mae cuidate mucho
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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?”