Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Alpha 5 photo album

Wednesday, 4 August 2010

Alpha 5 photo album

We've collected stacks of photos from the Alpha 5 Venturers and PMs - here are some of the best:

10 comments:

Anonymous4 August 2010 at 12:57
Victoria Courtice A5/E3 - Hi Tori looks like your having a fantastic time but definitely very hard work! Enjoy your next project. We received your letter on cardboard and it was great to hear from you - looking forward to more updates. Mums on her fitness kick which has lasted 3 days so far but is doing well. Met the Luckhursts today and it was great to see Georgina and Alex who are great company putting up with us old crumblies! Missing you but also pleased that your having a great time and have met some nice people. LOL Mum, Dad, & Trouble xxx
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Juliet Radford Hayes6 August 2010 at 07:04
Hi Tina (echo 4)
Have been looking at some of the photos that have been posted up and there are quite a few with you in there! You are looking really happy and pleased with yourself and it's fantastic to see you like this! From what I can gather, you are now in echo 4 and at the turtle hatchery so I can't wait to hear all about what you are doing there. How exciting! Lola's been around - up on the garage roof and over the fence - but she's not been in the house today, even though I called her. That horrible ginger cat was on our bin and she chased him away! then disappeared - so maybe they're playing together. It's Friday 6th August today and tomorrow I've got Ali and Kim from Raunds coming to stay overnight and we're having a bbq with Andy and Julie so that will be really nice. Weather miserable today - misty, cloudy and damp - so hope it clears up for tomorrow.
Well take care sweetheart - love you loads and really missing you! So glad you're having a fab time and I'll keep on with the blogs. Lots of love from Mum xxxxxxx
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Anonymous8 August 2010 at 12:07
Kristina Ambrose (Alpha 5 I think)

Yo tiny, jus a quite note to say that I'm still laughing from the picture of the whole group digging a trench.....except you standing there with a great gormless grin waving to the camera!

Frank X
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Hannah Langton10 August 2010 at 15:07
Catriona Till 10F Echo 1

Hi Trins! I hope this gets to you, not sure how it all works! Hope you're having fun out there, the pictures look incredible. I got back from Senegal on Sunday...think I finally got rid of the chalet girl bum! I have so much to tell you, it feels like too long since we last spoke. The culture shock coming back after 3 months surprised me but it's great to be back again, and with the family. I hope I can see you before you head up North for uni, but if not I'll just have to come and find you in St. Andrews. We have a lot to catch up on! Keep enjoying yourself. Missing you loads. Lots of Love. HUSA xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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David Jackson11 August 2010 at 09:44
For Kimberley Jackson Echo 2
Hi Gub, I've seen the album of Alpha4 and the pics of you. Everyone from Barbados sends you their love and all are highly impressed especially with the trek. Looking forward to seeing the next lot of pics. Lots and lots of love from Mum, Nat and me. Dad xxxx
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MARY M14 August 2010 at 16:53
Hello son ,how is everything with you over there and your groups ? hope everything is perfectly ok ?We miss you alot and your little brother start is first primary school on monday as a big boy in primary one and is always asking of you day and night , it look confused about where re u and he said mama tony is on the computer and not talking to meeee he cried. he make me laugh and we hope you enjoyed every bit of costa rica with your groups ok, miss yu. from yur mum.

TO -TONY TAWAKALI
ALPHA 5 GROUP COSTA RICA.
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Anonymous15 August 2010 at 02:26
Hi Sarah (Coyte) my darling!
Hope all is ok and you havent gone down with theh dreaded Lurgi yet! please make sure you get in some of the photos as I want to make sure that you are alive! We are all fine here- awaiting Jo Jo's results on Thursday, and we are out to France again the same day. hope you liked the parcel- and only 4 more weeks to go- well Im counting the days anyway! love you lots my honey- keep up the good work!
mamma xxx
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Anonymous16 August 2010 at 02:12
Hey Tiny T,
Hope the project with the turtles went or is going well.Saw Diane from Moreton yesterday up at Burton Dasset with Wads and Banana Man and she asked after you. Glad its all going well. I'll send you an email with all the gossip and random info. Lots of Love Jen x x
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Anonymous18 August 2010 at 04:28
Hey tina!!

Im loving tha bandana u look wicked!!looks like you are a busy bee!
Keep up the good work and tan them legs lol.

Love ya Tracey xx
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Anonymous19 August 2010 at 00:48
Sarah (coyte)
wasssap sarah, my little sister,
i have just recived my results for uni and im into Reading :). Bad luck, it seems you will have company!!!
Just about to go in and get my grades from school as i have only seen it on UCAS.
Hope all is well and make sure you wash before you get back!!
xxxxxxxxxxx
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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?”