Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: A day in the life of Delta 3

Wednesday, 13 July 2011

A day in the life of Delta 3

Woohoo Delta 3 radioed in this morning with a cheery blog update! What have they been up to?

Well Delta 3 have made amazing progress - after days of shovelling they are starting to set the foundations of the community centre they are building. After a long day of hard work in the immense heat, the group like to head to the river for a cool down dip, unless of course torrential Costa Rican rain prevents this!
Meanwhile they have been experiencing the local culture, eating tasty Costa Rican meals with their Cabecan host families. One host is a man who plays traditional Costa Rican music on guitar and his tunes have caught on with the group who are often found singing along on the project site.
They have also been playing football with the community but unfortunately Delta 3 lost the latest game 5-7. This obviously is because the locals are more accustomed to the humid climate, nothing to do with Delta 3's ball skills!
Tonight they are looking forward to having a talk on Cabecan culture and celebrating Project Manager Nati's birthday :-)

Sounds like they are having great fun! Looking forward for more updates...

*Blog by Waheeda Athaullah

20 comments:

Anonymous13 July 2011 at 11:52
What about Alpha 3????
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Anonymous13 July 2011 at 13:24
Chris Vos - Alpha 7, Hi Chris, We're looking forward to a blog update from Alpha 7, can't wait to see how the water supply is progressing. Weather forecast for Nicaragua shows that you're getting your fair share of rain & humidity...do you ever get chance to dry out?
Ben has arrived safely in Oz for the start of his adventure. take care, loads of love M&D
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Anonymous13 July 2011 at 13:26
To Ryan Austin Alpha 3 (wherever you are)

Never stick your head where you wouldn't stick your hand.
From,
Steve Duga
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David Walker13 July 2011 at 14:25
Venexia Walker/Delta 3: We've moved! Hamish travelled down with Jock in the truck and Horatio Mac is safely in place in your bedroom. Alex is commuting back to Reading on the train, Mum is still sorting boxes and I'm between Newcastle & Istanbul. Lynne is looking forward to seeing you. Love the blog updates and pictures, you'll have to read them when you get back! Loving you & missing you - Dad, Mum & Alex
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Familie Tellier13 July 2011 at 15:47
To Belle Tellier:

Ha bellie, hoe is het leven in het groen? Al veel spinnevriendjes gemaakt? We missen je hier thuis! Maar we weten dat je waarschijnlijk een toptijd hebt daar. We blijven op de hoogte via de blogs.

Geniet ervan lief! Kus van de hele fam!
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Tasha Jones13 July 2011 at 17:21
Hello Raleigh Bermuda Venturer,

Kristin has been keeping us board members updated with your progress. Keep up the good work and we're all very excited for you to be there!

-Tasha Jones
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Anonymous14 July 2011 at 08:58
Anyone seen Alpha 6 recently!!!!!
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Anonymous14 July 2011 at 09:59
sophie jenkins delta 3 missing you loads and read the blog every day, rocky is wondering where you are and everyone sends their love B.I.A.T.W Mum xxxxxx
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Anonymous14 July 2011 at 10:12
Elliot Bartholomew Alpha 2.

Elliot,

Happy Birthday for tomorrow July 15!

Still on holiday, but following your progress. Hope all is still good and photographs look like you are having a good time.

Enjoy the day!

Love you

Mum and Dad xx
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Anonymous14 July 2011 at 11:07
to Delta 4

Come on guys - write a blog for us news-thirsty followers!
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Anonymous14 July 2011 at 11:31
luke saunders delta 3 hi luke it looks like you're all working really hard. The blogs and photos are great - all the family's following your progress!! The river dip at the end of the day sounds fun! Have you been playing guitar at all? Keep up the good work.
all mising you
mum and dad xxx
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Anonymous14 July 2011 at 18:50
To Claire (Alpha 6)
From: Diana

Hola Claire! ¿Cómo estás? Ya veo que trabajando
muy duro en la construcción. Me da mucho gusto como siempre la labor tan bonita que has emprendido.
Y para qué te digo que descanses si fuiste a trabajar, jajajaja! Pero, eso sí, diviértete mucho, disfruta de tu trabajo, de la naturaleza, de Nicaragua.
Te cuento que esta semana estoy de vacaciones o "vagaciones" como algunos les dicen jejeje. Para mi es un "work-liday" porque no he parado de trabajar en mi proyecto para acabarlo pero ahora con la novedad de que Beto, ya se rajó y no me quiere ayudar así que se me amontonó la chamba. En fin... Por ahí tengo un pretendiente del cual ya te contaré cuando vengas acá...es virtual, jejeje!
Bueno, te dejo para que sigas trabajando y yo tambien. Este break ya se me acabó. Saludos
de Diana.
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Anonymous15 July 2011 at 11:29
JENIFER rodriguex de Alpha 7
disfrute bastante amiga alla es una gran oportunidad eres super amiga te queres muchooooo te mando un abrazo super grande. cuidate y sonrie siempre.atte marco garro potoy
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Anonymous15 July 2011 at 13:02
for vejuna zalalyte
alpha 1

Hope, everything is going well with you
We are ok too. You received a letter from your UNI, telling that you passed all your modules. Congratulation! Love, warm hugs , snugs etc.
Take care. Have a wanderfull time.
Family
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Laura Esquivel L15 July 2011 at 18:59
Maricruz Esquivel L/Alpha 6
Hiiii sistilla!!!
mi amorcita me hace una falta que no tenes idea!! Quiero tenerla pronto conmigo y darle un abrazo, y un beso y reirnos de tonteras cm siempre!! Voy a ir a recoger a Gustavo en este momento! Vamos a ver Harry! ya tenemos las entradas!!! :D Espero todo este super bien mi monita! La amo mucho, mucha gente te manda saludos y me preguntan por vos!!! It means people luv you! jajajajjaa!! Te quieroooooo negra!! Cuidate mucho! un beso!!
Su hermanita mujer favorita!!!--
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Anonymous16 July 2011 at 03:49
Joanna Bartlett - Alpha 5. This is my third attempt to post a message this week- don't know what happened to the others. How are you??.Japan Vs USA tomorrow in the Women's world cup final. I think the US will probably win. Are you picking up any Spanish?? weather is good here-and Im doing the usual stuff. Love mumXX
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Anonymous16 July 2011 at 20:03
Para Maria Fernanda Delta 3..

Hola se te extraña un monton, espero te estes disfrutando de la experiencia...
Te quiero. Cuidate!!!

Nando
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Anonymous17 July 2011 at 03:26
sophie jenkins delta 3 morning baby , i got your letter !!it was the beatest present , thank youso much . its wonderful to see all the photos on the blog site but actual letter was fabby . All sounds amazing . Missing you but thrilled you're having the most amazing time . Mum xxxxxxx
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Anonymous19 July 2011 at 08:49
For Lucy, Delta 3
Haven't seen any photos recently but sounds as if the community centre is taking shape. Keep up the good work! Hope you enjoyed the jungle visit on Sunday and didn't see too many snakes!!! Not long to go now. Miss you loads. Lots of love from Mum xx
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Anonymous20 July 2011 at 01:21
Would like to know how Delta 1 are doing with their turtle project?
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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?”