Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Deltas are Go! (i.e. have gone...)

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Deltas are Go! (i.e. have gone...)

Alphas returned from camp early this morning to a very quiet Fieldbase - freshly vacated by the Delta Groups who left as the sun rose to tot off to their projects. Delta Phase 1 has begun!

We wish them all the best of luck and success in Carara, Playa Hermosa, Duchari and Tamiju - an amaze phase awaits them I'm sure. We can't wait to receive updates from the Project Comms Officers and Project Photographers - of which there are 1 of each per group - we will be posting those updates on the blog so keep a look out.

Meanwhile, Alpha Groups have showered and now have a teeny bit of time to reflect on our first night of bonding under the stars before the final preparations begin for the off tomorrow. Kit needs to be picked up and organised, final handwashing done for 3 weeks of wear, and some final training on sustainable development will add context to the projects we're about to join and make it all real and tangible. To say everyone's excited is a massive understatement!

Here are some pics of 'jungle camp' - and from what we see, like the Deltas I reckon these guys might just get on! Phase 1 is set to be fantastic and it's brilliant to see Venturers and VMs from all over the world working together - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, GB, Eire, Bermuda, Holland, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, France, Argentinia (Pedro), Cyprus, US, Canada and Germany - borders and oceans don't matter when you've got a tent to pack, 100 bags of cement to shift or 20km to trek!

Once we've had our final sessions at 7pm it's party time - but not sure how long everyone will stay up - it's a 3.30am start again tomorrow! Phew...

12 comments:

Rambo3 July 2012 at 12:45
To Emma Smyth Alpha 5

Have a great trip up north, good luck sleeping on that bench!

Keep smiling:)
Lol
Rambo xx
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Anonymous3 July 2012 at 14:12
To Craig Henry Alpha 1

Hey Craig, Just wanted to say hi before you head off on your trek. Have fun, good luck. Some of us are jealous!

Love Mum, Dad and Ewan x
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Bob and Marion3 July 2012 at 14:21
Message for Sonia, Alpha 2.
Hola Sonia! Great pic of you playing cards but looks like a lousy hand! Lots of people send their love, inc. Grandma and Granddad, David, Lucy and Theo, Jon, Will and Alice. We're all cheering you on as you start your trek through the jungle. Remember to keep smiling [and all that other dull but worthy stuff your parents droned on about :-) ]. We noticed that those energy bombs look a lot like cake so you should be fine. With all our love. Los padres xxx
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Anonymous3 July 2012 at 15:26
Message for Ivan Coueslant, Alpha 4.
You might not get this cos you're off in the morning to your island jungle, enjoy, build paths, have fun. Bet there's some cracking bugs to race!! Luv ya and miss ya, adios for now, luv mum
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Anonymous4 July 2012 at 00:53
Message for Grace Delta 2
Hey Grace delighted to see you arrived safely and hope that the Jungle has seen off the last of the jet lag.
You look really well- clearly we also need to adopt the Plantain diet!

Love Mum,Dad and Elise xx
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helen bichard4 July 2012 at 08:18
For Joe Druce-Oliver

Hola and hope Duchari is ace!

Just to say Fred came through his op and the general anaesthetic, is lacking a few teeth (well, all of them), annoyed about his cone collar, but really, really well. And there's a tin of salmon with his name on it when he's up for it:)

love you,

Mum x
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Unknown4 July 2012 at 09:15
Message for Grace Packard (Delta 2)
Hi Miss GeogSoc Secretary!
This is the second time i've tried to write a blog post...i'm not very good on the technological side of raleigh! haha! I do apologise if my first message did actually get through to you! I am very confused with this blog, it was much easier just receiving them!
Anywaysss, I hope you are loving life on the black sandy beaches, saving all those turtles and loving the pork and beans. I can't wait to exchange Raleigh stories once you're back. Remember to sing, smile and be happy and you'll do amazing. I hope that head torch has come in useful!
Much love, Your Boss...Polly!
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Anonymous4 July 2012 at 09:50
Amy Marshall Alpha 3
Hope all goes well on your project enjoy the experience and make the most of it as you always do love from Grandma & Grandad xxxxx
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Edith Ling5 July 2012 at 05:10
To Lu Ying Yap ( Alpha 1 )

Happy Birthday BB!!! Enjoy the birthday during exped. You go to the same trek as me, my son is so lucky to go there again. Take care of him and your group mate. :) Enjoy the beautiful scenery .... and .... Pork and Beans.... :P DO MISS ME ..HaHaHaHa

Edith
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Anonymous5 July 2012 at 10:57
Amy marshall alpha 3
Hi amy have a great time love from Grandma & Grandad xxxxxx
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Anonymous5 July 2012 at 11:00
Amy Marshall alpha 3
Hi Amy have a great time love from Grandma & Grandad xxxxxxxxxxx
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Anonymous5 July 2012 at 11:18
Hmizouu, c'est genial de pouvoir voir se que vous faites jespre que totu va comme tu veux, profite en bien en tout cas ! gros bisou , de que jai tes resultats je lai appelle pour quil te les donne! gros bisous
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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?”