Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Alpha preparations in full swing

Monday, 12 July 2010

Alpha preparations in full swing

The Alpha groups have returned from Jungle Camp and thrown themselves into final preparations for their project deployments very early tomorrow morning.

The biggest job for the trek groups (Alphas 1 and 2) is organising all the food they'll need for the next 19 days. They'll receive food drops from Fieldbase every five or six days but it all needs to be packed up and ready to go before they deploy.

21 comments:

Anonymous12 July 2010 at 16:26
Delta 3 Daisy Bareham - Hope everything's going good for you out there and you're not getting bitten alive. Keeping an eye out for the occassional appearance in photos. I'm looking forward to the full report when you get back. Keep safe and have masses of fun. Eli
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ma jacob12 July 2010 at 17:03
Hi Hel! Just wishing you and your team the best of luck as you head off for the project. Hope everything goes according to plan and life's not too uncomfortable. Looks like there are plenty of rations - hope they taste better than they look and sound! Make sure you don't get too many insect bites. Loads of love, Mam XXX
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Anonymous12 July 2010 at 17:41
@nic o'callaghan: what the hell is going on with that hat buddy?!?!?! i'll c evry1 soon!
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Carajilla12 July 2010 at 22:03
To Ariadna Venegas Li, Delta 2

Carajaaaa!!! He estado viendo el blog a cada rato y hablando con tu maire y se quedo preocupadilla porque solo llevabas un sweater y cosas no-impermeables pero espero que ahi hayas un mcgyver vacilon para sobrevivir jaja estuvo bastante tiempo tratando de elaborar una frase de "no llorona ni desesperada" pero creo que al final quedo como un "digale que estoy orgullosa y tranquila de que ella este bien". Todo va bien con la prematricula y todo eso asique podes estar tranquila por eso. Te extrañamos carajosa!! Que la pases dem bien!! Te queremos!
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yvonne Bingham13 July 2010 at 00:42
To-Jemma Bingham-PM- Alpha 3
Hope you have and your team have a fantastic time- watch out for them bugs....take lots of photos. Keep safe have loads of fun love
Mum & Dad...Oh and the 100's of people who ask me every day "whats happening today in the deep dark jungle ...has she seen a crocodile yet?"
(Hmmm they are ages 5-11!!!)
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David Jackson13 July 2010 at 03:58
Hi Gub, Seen your pic on the blog. Looks like you are having fun. We're packing for Barbados. N has a speech (?) exam today and last night she had 'bad' stomach ache which continued this morning (with a twinkly smile)- she said she couldn't go to school but she's gone. Pawpaw came round on Saturday. I forgot she was there and set the alarm when I went out which of course was set off when she came downstairs - got the neighbours out thinking there was an intruder!

Lots of love from us all xxxxxxxx
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David Jackson13 July 2010 at 04:00
Have just sent a message which is for Kimberley Jackson , Alpha 4
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Anonymous13 July 2010 at 04:25
Ryan Buchanan, alpha 6

Hope your getting lots of bites and crappin yourself and night with the jungle noises! Im sure youl be missing the chicken nuggets from home by now haha.

hope your having a good time, take care

from your bro in aussieland!

p.s. think of having nice food all the time itll help
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Anonymous13 July 2010 at 09:06
To: Li Qi

Hi, hope all is well and you are enjoying yourself!!!!! Be safe and just wanted to let you know work sucks and I wish I was doing something more exciting like you!!!!

Sarah
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Anonymous13 July 2010 at 14:45
To Alice and Lucile,

Hope your families are friendly and that everything is going well!
We had a really lovely evening with Lucile's
parents and Catherine printed some beautiful pictures of both of you.
We are going to Paris this week-end for Dominique's 60th (her), Jacques will be going to Spain that week end so he is not coming.
Lots of love and big hugs to both of you,
Catherine Whittle
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Mum and Jo13 July 2010 at 15:45
Dear Gaby in Delta 1,
Hope you're having a wonderful time and it's not raining too much!! Stay safe and don't be too wild! Lots of love Jo and Mum xxx
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Anonymous14 July 2010 at 00:21
Hi Luke

Looking out for you in photos. Keep the mozzies at bay and enjoy

love ya. Mx
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Anonymous14 July 2010 at 04:09
Rob Pritchard, Delta 1.
Hi
Hope all is well with you and you're having a wonderful time. Seen your photo preparing to leave - you all seem happy. Hope its not too rainy over there and the sun comes out every now and then. Food looks plentiful so that's good, just keep those insects away.

All is fine here, keeping busy with various things and fitted in going to gym too!

Look forward to seeing all your photos when you get back and all the stories.
Keep safe, take care and have loads of fun
xx M
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Pippa14 July 2010 at 04:22
Hi Soph (Delta 1)
Hope you are having a fantastic time and everythings going ok.Seen your photo...looks like a great group.Keep safe.Loads of love Mum and John xx
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Anonymous14 July 2010 at 06:35
Luke, Delta 3
Hope you're having a fantastic time. Take care.
love you lots D & M xx
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wdavies91114 July 2010 at 07:54
Hello Danielle,
So pleased you arrived safely and by the looks of thing your going to have fun.
Spoke to your Mum and I told her I will try and send you a message.(hoping this works).
Take care and ill write to you soon.
Billy :-) XXX
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Anonymous14 July 2010 at 11:18
Hey Ana ( Alpha 2)
Don't know how you will get this comment as you'll be deep in the jungle by now...don't wory about the criters, as Barry Burkett used to call them, you are probably scaring them!
All very quiet and boring here apart from the summer shenanigans.
All work and no play for me. Niall has been swimming and Dad cutting the grass.
Hang in there
love from all in Saintfield
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NASH14 July 2010 at 14:36
OI OI ALICE WHITTLE (delta 4) AND LUCILE SMITH (delta 1).

Saw your photos and I am jealous! Enjoy girls, don't poo in the mess tin... it's for food, don't eat any colourful insects and don't forget me awright- come home eventually!

Lots of Love,
NASH
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Anonymous15 July 2010 at 08:29
Delta 3 - Luke Sparrow
Hi Luke - Great seeing your photo on Mum's computer. Hope you're enjoying the experience. Look forward to hearing all about it.
Love Nan xxx
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Unknown15 July 2010 at 13:31
Hi Jessica - Alpha 5. It looks scenery looks fabulous. I hope its enough to distract you from the creepy crawlies. I saw your photo in the blog and stopped fretting. Enjoy the project, Love ya, Mum x x x x
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Anonymous15 July 2010 at 19:10
Hi Colita. (Alpha 6) I showed your picture to the lot on my job and godma Kathy, And we laughed too, We can imagine the person who took your picture was laughing too because you were loaded down unlike no other tracker. What doesn't fit in your bag you will carry, leave nothing behind. That grin on your face told it all. lol. I pray that your enjoying yourself and getting as much knowledge. I know when you come back home you would be a different person. Enjoy enjoy enjoy with love. Mom
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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?”