Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Island life: Richelle Stacer's Alpha Six round up

Thursday, 18 February 2010

Island life: Richelle Stacer's Alpha Six round up

Castaway project reporter Richelle Stacer taking notes at sunrise on Coco Beach

It’s now day twelve and Alpha Six has managed to survive on the deserted Isla San Lucas. We have used the supplies and tools we were given well and have successfully built a jungle camp right on the beach. The days pass quickly when they begin with a sunrise over the ocean and end with our dinner as a group around our table.

Our days are busy and filled with work activities and laughs. The main focus of our time here is our environmental project. We have been building a terrace for the Ranger’s Station so they have a place where they can hold meetings. Currently in the works are efforts to restore the prison and turn the island into more of a tourist destination. Giving the park rangers a place to hold meetings brings them one step closer to that goal.

Richelle, hard at work on the Alpha Six project site

The work is hard and the heat doesn’t help things. But we are only working half days and the gratefulness of the rangers certainly makes it all worthwhile. It will be very rewarding to see the finished project in the end and to know that we built it, with recycled materials no less!

Life on the island is pretty close to paradise. Although as I am writing this I am sitting through a vicious sand and wind storm... that may be the one down side to island life. We have explored some of the island and all the beautiful beaches it has to offer. Other activities that have been known to happen with Alpha 6 are karaoke, games night, beach Olympics and group diary writing sessions.

All of us are slowly accepting the fact that we will constantly be covered in sand no matter how hard you try to get it off and the bugs will never leave you alone regardless of how much DEET you spray on yourself. The rustling you hear at night is just thousands of hermit crabs going for their nightly scurry to the sea. Despite stories about the prison being haunted we have yet to have a run in with any ghosts, even after spending a night in one of the cells. But we still have 8 days left and you never know what could happen.

PM John, Blogger and Richelle signing off from Coco Beach...

And there's more - Alpha Six reveal their best moments on Isla San Lucas in this smashing video...

15 comments:

Anonymous19 February 2010 at 02:37
SASKIA WROTE TO SAMUEL BECHT, ALPHA FIVE

Ha lieve Sam, even een weekeinde berichtje van thuis. We volgen al jullie verrichtingen, maar over Alpha Five weinig nieuws op dit moment. Werken jullie hard, maar vooral, geniet je ook? Wij zijn zo benieuwd of hoe je het vindt en of je groep leuk is, hoe de natuur is en, o ja, hoe je stem klinkt ! Nog een paar weken en dan ben je al 19, voor het eerst je verjaardag zonder dat je er bent. Abrazos de nosotros, grote omhelzing, kus en liefs, mam
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karin19 February 2010 at 04:18
Lieve Emma (alpha six)
Wat leuk om te zien dat je op hetzelfde plekje bent als Marieke twee jaar geleden. Als ze dit ziet zal ze enorm jaloers zijn, Ik hoop dat je een geweldige tijd hebt en hat was heel leuk om je even op het filmpje te zien. Veel liefs van Pim, Karin, Marieke en Romée. En doe de groetjes aan Mark als je weer op fieldbase bent.
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Anonymous19 February 2010 at 08:03
To Thomas Jeggo Alpha 6

Hi Tom - we are following the blog everyday so it's great to see you on the video. Hope your fishing skills improve soon! How do the beaches compare with Jerseys'? Hope you are having a great time (and working hard!). Miss you lots
Mum x
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learningallthetime19 February 2010 at 10:11
Anna..Great to see and hear you. Sound's like you're having a brilliant time - why doesn't that surprise us?

A very descriptive favourite moment - not red, not blue, not even purple but a violet sky:)

Tash, Becky and cousins have at last conquered "Go Ape" although not sure Cath & Sam will be rushing back... keep having fun. lol your family
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Anonymous19 February 2010 at 11:11
Dear Richelle; it was so nice to read your words today. I am very excited to hear reports of your adventure and am trying to imagine what it must be like for you! Keep up the great work and know that you are making a difference. GO CANADA GO! We're rockin' the Olympics. I'm off to Mexico on Sunday, will be thinking of you and Alpha 6! Love mom :o)
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Unknown20 February 2010 at 06:58
To Adam Gary Smith - Hi Adam looks like you are having a great time hope you are not missing the football too much. Looking forward to seeing the photos and hearing all (well most) of the tails. Keep on with the good work and hope the Teryaki Chicken is going down well Love The UTTONs
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kay20 February 2010 at 16:38
hi mark was great to see you on the video you look really well am so proud of you sure you will have lots to tell us when you come home take care auntie kay
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Lotte20 February 2010 at 22:54
To Adam Smith (alpha 6)

hiiii :)
i just want to tell you i am really happy that you are having a good time!! on the video you looked soooo happy!! made me smile! and laugh that taking your boots off is the best bit..trust you lol
looks like you are making the most of being there!! have funn and enjoy yourself too the full!!
i love you!!
lotte xxxxxxxxx
p.s only 31 smints left lol
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Connie21 February 2010 at 08:01
Hi Uncle Mark,
gkrmo8uuuuuuuuuuut8u7yh gggggggggggggh7v7
Lots and lots of love Connie xxx
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Anonymous21 February 2010 at 15:01
aiiiiiiite maya!
lookin' fly and mighty. seems like you're having such a good time in San Lucas (even if you can't see any of it) and the weather looks absolutely perfect. this urban jungle has graced us with little more than sleet and rain over the past few days but admittedly summer is beginning to shine through the cracks! I hope you're 'avin' a right laafff. we're all missing you immensely.
Mags x
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Anonymous22 February 2010 at 04:35
Hi Jamie Keeble
Got your message thanks, have been watching your progress on Raleigh Blog - you look like you are enjoying yourself. Missing you lots, keep in touch
lol Mum
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Annebel to Emma (alpha 6)23 February 2010 at 07:36
Lieve Emma
Woowwww het ziet er zo gaaf uit en ik ben zo trots op je! Ik mis je wel echt heel erg en verheug me op al je verhalen!
Love you emming xxxxxxx anning
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Glenn26 February 2010 at 11:33
Hi Mark
Looks and sounds like you are having fun, hope the back pack is ok, probably getting more use with you that all the years I used it in the Army, just make sure no South American beasties come back with it! Keep enjoying the experience, drink plenty of water and keep it in the boxer shorts!!!
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yvonne28 February 2010 at 09:13
says.... to Mark Ross, Hi mark....u r lookin really well. we r all sooh proud of u xx we will keep in touch. look after yourself & stay safe.... lots of luv auntie Yvonne xxx
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yvonne1 March 2010 at 16:35
Mark Ross Alpha six. you are lookin really well. keep havin fun & stay safe. we all send our luv xxxx
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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?”