Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: The Raleigh Roadshow

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

The Raleigh Roadshow

Yo yo yo this is King Tut a.k.a Wah on da blog!!! Yep thats right, Fun Dawn set off this morning on the road in Bravo 1 along with Brie, Amy and Phil. They are now on a 12 day adventure up to Nicaragua covering hundreds of kilometres and visiting 7 expedition groups. On this exciting tour they will bring the venturers food drops, medical supplies and personal requests such as batteries and envelopes. For those of us living with creature comforts this may not seem like much but actually the Raleigh roadshow is hugely anticipated. For those trekking or out on project, receiving such items, seeing a few different faces and getting news from the outside world is a lifesend. Bravo 1 also have the messages that you, the much loved blog readers have been posting in the last few days. And they will also be calling in with updates on how the groups are getting on. So good luck roadies and enjoy the travels!

The FB crew preparing for the roadtrips

So you must be thinking there can't be many folk left at Fieldbase? Well we merry few are still working hard, organising the next roadtrip, making orders for Phase 2, wah-manning the radios and of course freelance blogging! One of our most important tasks is Radio Raleigh, the weekly round up that gets broadcast every Sunday to the projects sites (unfortunately the trekkers only have phones, no radio comms so they cannot tune in, but there is talk of setting up a podcast for them). This week's Radio Raleigh gave the venturers news, sports, jokes, facts and celeb gossip - the highlight of course, news of Harper Seven's entry into the world.

Finally Alpha 1 received a consecutive visit from some of the FB* team today as they are trekking through the Turrialba region. After a night spent camping in a waterlogged football pitch and a 20k journey on foot they are happy, safe and dry, staying in a church tonight. They say hello!

Oh how we love the wet clothes and boots!

Well thats all for now, more updates coming soon. Pura Vida!

* Please note FB stands for Fieldbase and not Facebook - now that would be a surprise if any of our groups had a visit from Mark Zuckerberg...

10 comments:

Nicola Burden12 July 2011 at 22:19
message for Nick Burden Delta 3
Hi there. By now you must be really feeling like a pork with mushroom cream sauce dinner. Had a great night with gratuitous champagne at Glenys' last night and everyone says hi. It looks like its wet but I bet you're having a blast.
I miss you. Matthew's in Bali now and having fun. Rock on
LYMYB x
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Anonymous13 July 2011 at 01:27
For Bella Pringle Delta 4

Hi darling. We haven't heard much about you lately but we saw pictures of what looked like lovely rolling hills and streams where you are building your classroom. We all hope you are feeling ok and enjoying it. I am going to see Jane Cowpe today who is getting married on Saturday! Also seeing Joanna Haines who is over from Seoul. I am helping to run a big Macmillan party tomorrow night and then off to Wittering with the grannies on Friday. Quite busy but miss your smiling face at the end of the day.
Lots of love Mum xxxxxx
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Katy Harley13 July 2011 at 03:16
For Tom Harley Delta 1

Hi Tomba

Really good to see you in the photos on the blog - much appreciated by all the Bevans and especially us! Your 19th birthday in 2 days time - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU - and hope it's a good one - we will be thinking of you. GOt back from 4 days in Cornwall yesterday - staying at the Golf Club which was really good. Amazing weather so we are all very burnt - ouch! Hope you are having a great time - we miss you. Lots and lots of love Mum xx
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Anonymous13 July 2011 at 05:51
Ryan Austin Alpha3

Three quotes of inspiration:

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Helen Keller

One way to get the most out of life is
to look upon it as an adventure.
William Feather

The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.
Elbert Hubbard
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Anonymous13 July 2011 at 07:22
Jordan 11G&H;Alpha 3: Jordan, we think of you all the time. Can't wait to hear from you. Waiting on photos and word on your trek. We love you so much. Mom and Dad.
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Tia Coco13 July 2011 at 11:21
Para Issac Hassard Alpha 5

hola mi amor espero que la estes pasando de maravilla ,talvez por cosas de la vida dios te llevo a ese lugar y se que sera de gran beneficio para tu vida quiero que sepas que te quiero mucho y que cuenta conmigo para cualquier cosa filipenses 4.13 ... todo lo puedo en cristo que me fortalese espero que llegues ,porque aqui hay mucha gente que te ama
chao que dios te bendiga cuidate tia coco
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Liz Tulloch13 July 2011 at 13:40
Mitch Tulloch Alpha 1
Hi Mitch saw the pic of you hanging out your wash to dry, also heard about your water logged field. Hope things are a bit drier now. Take care. love mum
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Anonymous14 July 2011 at 12:57
luke smalley alpha 1 , hi luke , hows it going ? it was so lovely to see u on photos , i was thrilled and it made me so happy that u looked so happy and obviously enjoying what ur doin ..... u cant even imagine how proud i am of u ! i took tyson out for a couple of hours 2 day cos the weather was brilliant and sunny for a change , he loved it and has bin asleep all day .... missing u lots and love ya lots mum xxxxx
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Anonymous15 July 2011 at 11:43
Jennifer Rodriguez S, Alpha 7
De: Adri, su hermana q la amaaaaa! <3 <3 <3

Hello Darling! :) q ya se hizo green?
je la extrañamos mucho! nos habiamos quedado preocupadas x el mensaje q ud puso cuando se conectó pero ya al fin entendimos q fue, kei todo preocupado tamb ahi pregunto! jajaja la mandaron de translator.. zaaa fijo ya es toda bilingûe
Ud viera.. mami sta q se muere sin ud, no se imagina.. me mando a decirle tantas cosas q ni me acuerdo.. cuando llegue a turri mejor le digo q le escriba ella un mensaje y se lo mande :)
lo q me acuerdo es q me mando a contarle q bebè ya gatea! esta todo chancho vieras! :)
Buenooo titiii! te amo mi titi linda! :)
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mummy barnsley18 July 2011 at 13:13
Claire Barnsley Alpha 5
Hi Tink! This is the fourth time i've tried to send a message but don't think it worked from Switzerland - or more likely I did it wrong - you know me and computers!
Back home now after lovely relaxing time at the appt. Jonnie managed not to destroy the house! Hanny now definately into Imperial. All good. Millie delighted to see us and sends you a lick!
Take care. Miss you. Keep smiling! Love mummy x
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Add comment

Hi,

Thank you for visiting our blog. Comments are monitored daily and we will ensure messages are promptly delivered to your loved ones. Please ensure you state the name of the person to whom your message is addressed. This is so we don't miss any out. Muchas gracias!

Pura Vida!

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How to send your loved ones a message

It's easy. Scroll down to the bottom of the most recent entry and click the comments link. A box will then appear where you can write your comment - please don't forget to tell us who the message is for including the full name and project group of the recipient. You can select name/URL from the dropdown menu to tell us who it's from (you can leave the URL blank if you wish). Finally, click on 'Post Comment' and you're done.

As you can imagine there are 180 volunteers so hundreds of messages for loved ones, no comments go live immediately and have to be moderated for appropriateness, so please do bare with us.

All comments that are pertinent to the post will be publshed and all personal messages will be delivered (even if they don't appear published). Messages mean a lot to all the volunteers; thank you for your continued support.

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?”