Delta 3 and Alpha 4

Our Country Programme Manager, Ross, swung by Delta 3 yesterday for a brief ‘hello’ and to see what’s going on in Bajo Chirripo Indigenous Reserve. The team are doing well! So far they have laid the foundations for the start of their community centre. The guys have a tough job on their hands as their first task is to level out the ground in the marked out section, seen in the picture below. Harder than it sounds! Still, morale is high and the team are cracking on with big smiles and lots of gusto!

The building site!

The group has been split into three different houses where they have been living, cooking, eating and sleeping with their new families, each with their own luxury plus points; one has a shower, one has a flushing toilet, and the other seems to be producing the better meals – everyone’s a winner!

Every day after work the team have been swimming and washing in the beautiful river situated right by this remote community. All in all, the team is getting on great; the work is hard but the rewards are greater, and the swim at the end of the day means that our Delta 3 troopers don’t smell too bad, yet.

Posing for the camera - squeeeeeze!

Alpha 4 are celebrating this evening as it is Keith’s birthday! Happy birthday Keith! All is going well for the guys up at Volcan Turrialba who, earlier on today, were interviewed by a passing film crew on the top of the volcano! Hooray for our first 11G moment of glory!

For the rest of our groups, everything seems to be running smoothly. Spirits are high and the fieldbase team cannot wait to get out there and see them all in action! I’m off to visit Delta 4 in Chirripo tomorrow to see how they’re getting on and to drop off some kit.

All is going well at fieldbase as we are making plans for our weeks ahead – coming soon at Raleigh HQ will be Fancy Dress Friday and Accent Sunday. This could be embarrassing. (That’s the point).

Keep the messages coming in as we will be heading out to visit the groups in the next couple of days. Don’t forget to put the group of the person you are writing to and their name at the start of the message (so, Joe Bloggs Alpha 4 / John Smith Delta 3). Gracias!

One last thing for today, there is a competition running throughout the Raleigh groups. Whilst Raleigh isn’t one to be discriminative against any individual, unfortunately on this occasion we have to leave the ladies out as it is a ‘Who Can Grow the Best Beard in Phase One’ competition. Pretty tough for the chicks although we openly welcome all participants. Scores will be based on a range of categories; length, volume, ginger-ness and vibrancy in colour. Points will be deducted for inconsistency (i.e. patchiness and irregularity), and for the general lack of beard. Extra 'fun points' if they can fashion a moustache. If you know a venturer with the potential to do well here, I encourage you to encourage them to participate. Prize to be decided, although it will more than likely be ice cream. Or maybe just pride. We’ll keep you posted.

Back soon with more updates, but until then… Pura Vida!

*Blog written by Dawn Tennant and photo’s by various.