Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: 09G The Dependable Delta Groups Settle In

Sunday, 26 July 2009

09G The Dependable Delta Groups Settle In

We have had some great comms from the Deltoids in Tayni Indigneous Reserve and Barbilla National Park - everyone arrived safety and are getting stuck into enjoying themselves (and doing some work)!

Delta 1 and 2 have been warmly received into their communities of Boca Coen and Cuchey. So far they have had a welcome dinner, and today they are getting a tour of their communities and an outline of their project schedule with their Maestro de Obras (foremen).

Delta 3 spent last night at Barbilla Ranger Station. They have already seen a Boa Constrictor and a Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frog – just the start of some of the incredible wildlife they will be seeing. Today they will begin moving their kit and camp into the jungle.

23 comments:

ale lobo26 July 2009 at 22:58
hello guys i hope you all are enjoying your projects! i miss you tons, i hope y'all having fun. hope to see the ticos when they come back, and hopefully the british as well. stay in touch! love you all, ur former HC V for 3 days!
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Emelyne27 July 2009 at 09:42
Waooo That's impressive!!
How is it going sandrine?? Were you the group who discovered that boa constrictor?
Nice picture in the "hamac"!
Hope it's going well! Work well! And don't try to sleep with the frog or other kind of snake!
Take care little sister!
Lov
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ann27 July 2009 at 14:53
Hey Alice, glad you have arrived safely and despite hammocks and rucksacks! Hope the bugs are staying away.....? Don't forget the mosqito spray and the sunscreen. I hope your time at the project is rewarding - live every minute of it. Lots of love Mum x x x
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Jordan Reeve27 July 2009 at 16:11
--> James Fournier
HEY JAMES !!!
Me (Jordan), Lottie and Beth say HI !!
Best of luck mate, knowing you, its no hard work !! ;)
Beth says she still loves you despite you haircut ! Jokes mate, we all love you, good luck mate, YOU'RE AWSOME !!
We'll have a party when you get back !
x
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Anonymous28 July 2009 at 10:43
Hello Sophie!
J'espere que tu vas bien! Ne pas oublier de prendre des tonnes de photos!J'imagine que tu es dans un endroit magnifique! On pense beaucoup a toi! Bisous, maman
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Laura Hecht28 July 2009 at 11:53
Hi Rachie! (Frew on Delta 2)
This is brill - spotted this last week but didn't realise we could send you messages via it. You look happy and place looks great so we can relax! Enjoy every minute of your adventure and can't wait to hear all abouty!! Hope your wee toes are ok (mum has been worried!). J says its fine cos you hardly had any baby toe nails anyway :) We are back from honeymoon now (it was amazing) - and back to normality and hundreds of FB pics too (fun). Looking forward to seeing more photos and hearing more chat about what you and the other Vs are getting up to over there. Lots of love, your big sis and bro-in-law! xoxoxo
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Mrs Cameron28 July 2009 at 15:59
Hola Rosie!
Que tal? You'll be learning the local language as well! Suerte!
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Laura Hecht29 July 2009 at 02:59
Hi Rachie! (Frew on Delta 2)
This is brill - spotted this last week but didn't realise we could send you messages via it. You look happy and place looks great so we can relax! Enjoy every minute of your adventure and can't wait to hear all abouty!! Hope your wee toes are ok (mum has been worried!). J says its fine cos you hardly had any baby toe nails anyway :) We are back from honeymoon now (it was amazing) - and back to normality and hundreds of FB pics too (fun). Looking forward to seeing more photos and hearing more chat about what you and the other Vs are getting up to over there. Lots of love, your big sis and bro-in-law! xoxoxo
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Anonymous29 July 2009 at 04:48
Hi Alice, really impressed with the Boa. We hope you are having a fine time and good luck with the building project. CathnNick
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Anonymous29 July 2009 at 11:33
from mum
Josh
don't touch the wildlife!!!
Woody missing you - puppy growing
lots of love all
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Anonymous29 July 2009 at 12:13
from Holly
Josh-hello-goodbye
lol holly your little monster
p.s c u soon
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Ann30 July 2009 at 03:23
Hey Alice,
Guess you are well and truly in the swing of things now? How's Gallo Pinto for breakfast! I will be off to Cappodoccia soon so will catch up with the blogs when I get back. Not quite the same as the wildlife in Costa Rica but we found a frog and a newt in the back garden! Pretty exciting here, eh? Lots of love Mum x
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Anonymous30 July 2009 at 16:03
Hi Eliza just got back from rainy cornwall and have so much to tell you!! Watch out for the gossip in your letters. Your project looks so amazing and we are all thinking of you loads. Love you lots Mama, Paps, Lots, Freds and Sami xxx
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Anonymous31 July 2009 at 13:45
HELLO ELIZA
i do miss you loads :) !! hope you are having a great time! back from polzeath and menorca tomorrow!! love you loads kiss kiss kiss LOVE FREDDI X X X X X X X
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Anonymous31 July 2009 at 15:34
Hi Edwin,Best wishes from all in Juan-les-pins.We've been following the blog and hope you will give us a big smile in the next photo. Back in london without you is not the same, so think we might come and join you....and share your hammock. Thinking of you lots! Keep safe. BIG BIG HUG Maman and Mark xx
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Ann1 August 2009 at 10:44
Hey Alice, off to Cappodocia tomorrow. Just printing a picture of your project group to send to Nanny! She keeps asking if I have heard from you - she can't quite grasp that this is not possible! Still, we are all missing you, me especially, followed by Ed and Maisie. Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures. Lots and lots of love Mum x x x
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Kristina2 August 2009 at 08:05
Hey Rosie :]

Just a note to say hope you're having a fantastic time, everything is boring as per in the rain capital of the world. Miss you loads, mum and blair are doing fine and so am I so no worrying. Good luck to your team in finishing the project. Given you enough luck already ugly. Proud of you, love you lots from Krisi xx
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Kristina2 August 2009 at 08:14
P.s. Rosie i know you're secretly excited that there is someone there called Sebastion (so sorry if my spelling is wrong)! ly from Krisi x
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Susan2 August 2009 at 11:03
Hello Alex K ..... Glad to see that you've hooked up with the group - and it looks like a great project. You will be quite an expert on building schools at the end of this - maybe skip painting the murals this time. Very jealous of all the jungle pictures. Hope you are managing to sleep in your hammock without falling out. Guy got back on Friday, very very brown and had a fantastic time. Emma says she has had swine flu - but is over it now, and in Cambodia. Missing you loads. Have fun. Mum and Dad xxxxxxx
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Anonymous2 August 2009 at 12:09
Message for Rachel B,
Hope the project's going well and that you are enjoying yourselves. Plenty of rain here in BoT(every day since St. Swithen's day!). Thinking of you!
Love Mum and Dad
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Anonymous2 August 2009 at 13:06
Alex (Crompton)
Looks as though you are have a great time. Good to see you are all smiling - even the lad on the stretcher
Love Nana and Grandad
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Helen Raymond3 August 2009 at 03:28
Hi again Rachel Frew

2 weeks in now,, Hope you are having a great experience, weather back home horrid. Cannot wait to hear all your news.

Helen x
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Anonymous3 August 2009 at 16:29
Message to Edwin Lauzel,
Hey bubs it's big sis here. just to say i'm missing you bare, cotches just aren't the same without you. nothing's changed here, off to spain for a few days tomorrow to pick almonds. standard. miss you so much, been looking at your photos and so so proud of you. love you so much xxx Julia
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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?”