It’s the little things we do – environmentally friendly living

By the year 2050 there will be 9 billion people in the world and unless we make serious changes there will not be enough resources for everyone, a scary prospect.

Alongside environmental projects that are undertaken, which we will be discussing further in the coming weeks,  Raleigh International believes in living sustainably – there are many things we can do, both here in Costa Rica & Nicaragua but also at home, that will make a difference. Especially if we can positively influence our friends and family to do the same. 

Here at Raleigh CR&N Fieldbase in Turrialba we do a few little things to lessen our footprint on the world. Currently we annually recycle:

• -       3,600 glass and 5000 plastic bottles
• -       1,000kg of cardboard and paper – equivalent to 10 trees every year
• -       10,000 tin cans – saves using 137,000 litres of water during manufacture of new tins.

The recycling area

We also:

• -       Aim to convert 1,200k of organic waste into fertilizer and gas using our composter and biogas unit. This reduces the amount of methane released and helps reduce global warming. This is equivalent to 3.2 less vehicles on the road.

• -       Use ‘bags for life’ to minimize oil use and reduce the amount of non-biodegradable items in landfills
• -       Turn off our 10 computers each night – equivalent annual energy saving of boiling a kettle for 7.5 years
• -       Fill vehicles and minimize journeys in order to use less fuel
• -       Turn off lights when not in use to conserve energy
• -       Limit showers to 5 minutes to conserve water – or do as we do and have cold ones, you won’t be in it for very long!
• -       Only eat meat once a week in order to reduce methane emissions and conserve fresh water
• -       Buy locally grown organic food to limit ‘food miles’ and chemical pollution. Which includes our herb garden just a few steps from the kitchen at Fieldbase.

Fieldbase grown chillies

• -       We also walk to work – a short 100m up the drive – we think it might be one of the best commutes in the world

Pauline commuting

Is there anything else you would like to see us do at Fieldbase to help lower our footprint on the world? How do you live sustainably?

Expedition 13A is in flight

Expedition 13A has begun – the expedition advanced team of dedicated Volunteer Managers have descended on Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua’s Fieldbase in Turrialba. We are enthusiastically preparing for the arrival of 24 Project Managers on the 14^th January and 143 Venturers on the 29^th January.

It is an incredibly exciting time as we prepare for the Raleigh International Volunteers, individuals who are dedicating themselves to working with people from around the world inspiring, developing and challenging themselves; working in partnership, learning to build sustainable communities and conserve the environment.

So who are the advanced team and what do we do?

The Advanced Team top row (l-r): Pedro, Katherine, Vanessa, Greg, Gabby, Alice, Julian and on the bottom row (l-r): Simon V, Jess, Simon B, Dav, Holly, Richard and Pauline 

The team consists of our head honchos Country Director Julian Olivier, Country Programme Manager Pedro Rodriguez and Country Expedition Manager Simon Vorley. A merry band of three who support, train, organise and rally (sorry!) us to be the best we can. They work tirelessly to support all the Venturers, Project Partners, the communities, Rangers and Volunteer Managers, wherever they are across Costa Rica and Nicaragua – no mean feat.

Julian teaching the expedition drivers how to change a tire

Pedro and Simon: blue steel

Our fantastic support crew includes Richard in Finance, who does a huge amount of counting and usually has a calculator in his hand, who will be working alongside Vanessa and Jess who make up our fabulous (and glamorous) Administration Team, keeping us all in line and providing the backbone of Raleigh Fieldbase.

Richard counting

Our wonderful admin ladies

Today we are all getting down to business with a lot of cleaning, counting and sorting but check back tomorrow to learn about the how the other half of Fieldbase live with an introduction to 13A’s Communications, Medical and Logistics Teams. 

Final goodbye to 12L

So we've now had the final few days take stock ( both literally and metaphorically) of our Raleigh experience.  First job, as always, was to clean team kit, personal kit and yourself - a cold shower has never felt so good.  Then each group held a debrief so that everyone could learn from their most recent experiences on phase.

There was some time in Turrialba for last minute shopping - or buying up the treats that you've missed the most over the past 19 days.  We the final skit performances, and with them the last chance to win ice cream (well done Zulu 5!)

There was time for reflection to consider the Raleigh experience as a whole; how we've challenged ourselves, how we've grown over the expedition and how we can carry on the Raleigh spirit on in to our day to day lives back home.  That evening we wrapped up with a Christmas dinner and party, because even though it's not snowing here it is definitely that time of year.  This was when we presented the "Golden mess tin awards", like the Oscars only better.  Well done to Alex, Tiggy, Omar, Luke and Patrice.

And then before you know it you're loved ones will be back home ready to tell you all their stories, share photographs....and no doubt give you a tonne of very dirty washing!

The final countdown...

Alex can't wait to say hello

Everyone is back at Fieldbase, the Nicaraguan bus arrived yesterday and the Costa Rican buses today.

Claudia and Hester - welcome back

Lilian and Matt - big hug

Group hug!

The extended Raleigh family is now all safely back at Fieldbase, with buses making their way back home from the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican projects.  We've only been apart for a few weeks but so much has happened; there will be stories to share, tales to tell and gossip to gather.  And when you haven't seen each other for a while there is only one thing to do...HUG!

There are a couple of days to changeover, when we say farewell to the Alpha groups and welcome in the X-Ray groups.  More on the project allocations to follow...

And then there were more

Expedition 12L comes in two flavours - a 10 week and a 7 week option.  The 10 week venturers, who arrived a few weeks ago are now coming to the end of phase one and will soon be joined by explorers who are here for the 7 week option. The explorers will choose to do 2 project phases (Community, Environmental or Trek) rather than all 3.

So the new 12L explorers arrived in San Jose last night and made their way to Fieldbase this morning.  Welcomed, as usual, by a breakfast of rice and beans (Gallo Pinto) and the Fieldbase crew.  This morning will be busy with admin, money exchange, swim assessments etc, and then this afternoon it's straight off to jungle camp to learn the joys of building a basha bed and cooking on a trangia (for newcomers please see the Raleigh Lingo on the right hand sidebar, and don't worry you'll get the hang of all this new vocabulary very soon).

Back row: Vinnie, Franklina, Phil, Barney, Carlyn
Front row: Louis, Jack, Bodyl, Claudia

So as we bring 7 new explorers into the Raleigh fold, the adventure continues...

We're going on a Road Trip!

Natalie, Karen, Nicole and Phil 'the bear'

Occasionally the Field Base team are given the opportunity to escape and venture further afield by going on a   'Road Trip'. The purpose of the road trip is to check on the venturers and their progress and  deliver or replace much needed equipment such as lost boots or broken rucksacks or tape for those inevitable blisters! It is also when the much welcomed food drop is made and the venturers receive more of their  favourite meals of rice and beans and the 'stick to your ribs' porridge. Occasionally if the field base team are feeling generous they may cook them a cake to take along, as was our communication manager "Ruth" when she recently visited Alpha 3, who are at Playa Hermosa currently protecting the turtles.

Alpha 3, Jim,Clare, Andrea, Angel, Callum, Eveline, Henry, Laura, Lillian, Lydia, Marco, Matt, Max and Raheem at  Playa Hermosa receiving a much welcomed visit from Field Base!

The road trip is also a chance for stories and gossip to be exchanged and any messages posted on the blog to be delivered to the venturers when they can receive news and good wishes from home which can lift the spirits if they are feeling a tad "home sick"!

Occasionally on the road trips we have to collect and return volunteer managers back to field base such as our intrepid photographer "Joss" who is much missed at Fieldbase for his skills as a Spanish teacher and his incredible general knowledge (sometimes not useful or relevant but nevertheless entertaining)............ who needs Google when we have Joss? Hopefully soon he will be returned with some wonderful pictures of all the venturers having the time of their lives.

 J

This is zero, this is zero... over

When everyone is out on their projects there is always a core team here at Fieldbase.  Each Alpha group has various means of staying in touch (a radio, a mobile phone and a satellite phone) so they are never cut off from advice, support or a friendly word.

There are two official communications from each group at a set time each day.  One is just to check in and the other ones is a more detailed SITREP (situation report).  This is a structured conversation that includes where the group are, what they've been doing, what they are going to do and allows information to be shared both ways.  One person is responsible for manning the Comms Room at Fieldbase each day to take the calls morning and night.  Our call sign here is zero.

Charlie and Martina manning the radio - this is zero, this is zero...

The news from our Alpha groups over the past couple of days is:-
                           
Alpha 1 - Yesterday they walked 18km to San Miguel and ate some fantastic salami.

Alpha 2 - They have walked from Miraflor Ranger Station to La Naranjita.

Alpha 3 - Arrived at Playa Hermosa and have succeeded in building basha beds to keep dry.  They have gone straight into Turtle patrols and working with the rangers.

Alpha 4 - At Carara National Park the jungle camp site is waterlogged so they are living in a ranger house - and it has the bonus of electricity.  They've started work on the trail.

Alpha 5 - Arrived at Achuapa, they are having a tour of the community and the water source today.

12L venturers...arrived safe and sound

Happy to report that the venturers all arrived safe and sound in San Jose yesterday, (there are 6 who are still making there way over and will be with us today).  They were picked up at the airport and greeted by the big smiles of the welcome party.  Last night they stayed  in San Jose before getting up bright and early and making there way here to Fieldbase in Turrialba.

First things first.  Mess tins at the ready we served up gallo pinto, scrambled eggs, fried plantains, cheese and bread - a veritable Costa Rican breakfast feast.

Next some introductions in English and Spanish and everyone got divided into smaller sleeping groups - named Hotel 1 to Hotel 9 (with only a little irony!). The rest of the day will be full of activity - tours of Fieldbase, administration, money exchange, id photo and swimming assessments.  We should all sleep well in our "Hotels" tonight.

The HCVs...pura vida!

Most of the Host Country Venturers (HCVs from now on) arrived at Fieldbase this lunchtime - there will be 2 more venturers who will join us on project in Nicaragua.  They played a trick on us, which we fell for hook, line and sinker.  They wandered down the path looking dejected and miserable, not even wanting to look up at us.  We were seriously worried, what could have gone wrong on the way from San Jose?

.. but then they broke out into singing, dancing and music. Wow.  These guys, from both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, will bring a real vibrancy to each project group, as well as their local knowledge, language skills and sheer musical talent.

Introductions were made, welcomes extended, lunch offered and gratefully received by our new arrivals. The guys will have the afternoon and evening to settle in before the rest of our venturers arrive at Fieldbase tomorrow morning, when expedition 12L will be ready to get out there.

12L – get to know your Fieldbase team #3, everyone else

Karen "Bugsy" Malone

Karen Malone - 5 things that you might not know about Karen, our Administrator

1. She is the most petite of our VMs at 4’11’’ 
2. She has lived in Koh Samui, Thailand
3. She is a trained beauty therapist – less useful on trek than some of her other skills but good to know
4. She has a daughter, Zoe and two sons, Jason and Ryan - who all encouraged her to do Raleigh
5. She was the first of our number to celebrate a birthday whilst on expedition

The Josster

Joss Samuelson - 5 things that you might not know about Joss, our photographer

1. He speaks very good Spanish – he studied it at University and has spent a year in both Argentina and Seville
2. He’s qualified to teach English as a foreign language
3. He dances like a whirling dervish - but only freestyle, don't ask him to follow direction during a ceilidh
4. He hails from Hastings; 1066 and all that
5. It was hard to find a picture of him - the photographer tending to be behind the camera - so here he is in black and white

Martina "Fishy" Fisherova

Martina Fischerova - 5 things that you might not know about Martina, our Accountant

1. She is from Slovakia – but has worked in UK for 4 years, living in London now
2. She has a frog phobia – when she met one in the staff room Martina jumped higher than the frog
3. She has a Canadian permanent residency and lived there for a year
4. She has a love of Salsa dancing and can give our K-dawg a run for his money
5. Her past experience as an accountant saw her work at Wembley Stadium

Ruth "the club singer" Carr

Ruth Carr - 5 things that you might not know about Ruth, our Comms officer

1. She studied archaeology at University, digging in Orkney
2. She is a Formula 1 petrol head, supporting McLaren – go Jenson!
3. She previously volunteered for a short term placement with VSO in India
4. She has an uncanny skill for knowing the right answer during the club singer round of Shooting Stars
5. Born and bred a Geordie she now lives in Uckfield in East Sussex, literally the end of the line

12L – get to know your Fieldbase team #2, it's logistics

Katie "the Vass"

Katie Vass - 5 things that might not know about Katie, our Logs Manager
1.    She is heading over to check out Brazil when she leaves Costa Rica
2.    Just before she left the UK she had a temporary job with an MP
3.    Born in Canada and spent the first 10 years of her life there
4.    She loves bananas – so that’s handy in Costa Rica where they are plentiful
5.    She combines a love of travel and photography -  a snappy traveller

Tracey "Moggers"

Tracey Moggeridge - 5 things that might not know about Tracey, our Logs support
1.    She appeared in a video with 80s pop icons “Big Country”
2.    She worked in Beijing during the Olympics there
3.    She has an addiction to marzipan, “mazapan” in Spanish, she’s looked it up and is already on the hunt
4.    She has an irrational phobia of daddy long legs, even more so than spiders
5.    She has completed a marathon, and is still running here at Fieldbase

"Grizzly" Phil

Phil Wilson - 5 things that might not know about Phil, our Logs support
1.    He has visited over 74 countries, and counting...
2.    He is left handed
3.    He hails from New Zealand – where apparently there is a Marmite shortage “marmageddon” (perhaps one of the reasons he’s never there...)
4.    He has a phobia of really tall people
5.    He has an ambition to be "King of Pong", referring to table tennis rather than unwashed t-shirts or long-drop toilets

Baby you can drive my Land Rover - 12L driver training

Anyone who signs up for driving duty here has to get to grips with more than just driving.  When we're out and about it's not going to be much good to rely on the AA or RAC to get us out of trouble.

Every driver needs to be able to perform a vehicle check before setting off to make sure that each of the Land Rovers (Bravos 1, 2, 3 and, wait for it, 4) is in good working order.  But if the unexpected does happen we need to be able to change tyres, jump start the engine and generally get unstuck.  And of course it's useful to have some driving tips to try and avoid getting stuck in the first place.

 The other important thing is to make sure you know where you're going - I know it sounds obvious but you'd be surprised.  There's a lot to think about, right hand drive, road signs in Spanish, sometimes we won't be on road at all.  So preparation is king and map reading skills and route planning essential.

After several days of fairly intense learning, practising and assessment the drivers are all ready and raring to go.

Bienvenido – the 12L project managers have arrived

Our numbers at Fieldbase have increased as the project managers all landed safely in San Jose last night.  They managed to get some brief but well earned sleep before taking the 2 hour bus journey to arrive here this morning.

They were welcomed by a traditional Costa Rican breakfast of Gallo Pinto cooked by Araceli, our cook and new best friend.  The queue for the shower is going to be a little longer, and the cooking pots are a good deal larger but the buzz about the place is the most noticeable difference. 

Everyone is catching up with the familiar faces that they met many moons ago on that training weekend in August (can't believe it was only a month ago!).

This week will be spent with various inductions, training and briefing sessions.  We kicked off with the swimming assessment, to understand each person's level and make sure that no-one gets out of their depth.

Some training sessions are mostly chalk and talk, 

and some will mean getting out there and learning things for ourselves.  

There is a lot to take in and learn but the adventure starts here.

Get to know your 12L Fieldbase team #1

Pedro aka P-rod

Pedro Rodriguez – 5 things that you might not know about Pedro, our Country Programme Manager
1.    If someone was going to play him in a film it would be Ben Kingsley (or Gandhi).
2.    He believes that his jokes stand repetition (we’ve heard the pun about intense/in tents several times already...today)
3.    He has been here in Costa Rica working with Raleigh for 4 years in a variety of guises as a volunteer, freelancer and now permanent employee
4.    He used to have long hair – all the way down to his waist
5.    He used to work in PR for the NHS and in that role he met a member of the royal family

Barney "Barnstormer" Harker

Barney Harker - 5 things that you might not know about Barney, our Deputy Programme Manager
1.    He scored a goal in front of a crowd of three thousand football fans – but unfortunately went on to lose the match
2.    Before Raleigh he has worked in youth and community services back in the UK for 10 years
3.    Previously he was a Trek Leader with Raleigh in India
4.    He loves his music and is a DJ in his spare time - his eclectic tastes run all the way from hip hop to heavy metal
5.    He is an avid supporter of Manchester City – so prefers his t-shirts to be pale blue rather than red

Keiner aka K-dawg

Keiner Jimenez - 5 things that you might not know about Keiner, our HCV Co-ordinator
1.    He’s studying computer science at the University of Costa Rica in San Jose
2.    He started as a volunteer with Raleigh in 2009
3.    Over the years he has slept in every room in Fieldbase
4.    Before volunteering with Raleigh he didn’t speak any English – and now he’s fluent
5.    He loves salsa dancing and is our resident, snake-hipped dance teacher