The first of our Venturers have arrived: meet 13As Fabulous Ticos and Nicas

The HCVs met the Volunteer Manager Team with a conga line

En cada expedicion de Raleigh Internacional, sea en Borneo, India, Tanzania, o aqui en Costa Rica & Nicaragua, estamos privilegiados a tener Ventureros de los Paises Anfitriones (Host Country Venturers/HCVs). Durante la Expedicion 13A, estamos emocionados de tener 14 Costarricences y 4 Nicaraguenses. Keiner, el coordinador de los HCVs, era el mismo un HCV hace un par de anos, y trabaja sin parar para encontrar gente joven de America Central quien quiere hacer una diferencia en su medioambiente y conocer mucha gente de muchos paises diferentes.

On every Raleigh International expedition whether Borneo, India, Tanzania or here in Costa Rica & Nicaragua, we are privileged to have Host Country Venturers (HCVs). During Expedition 13A we are excited to be welcoming 14 Costa Ricans and 4 Nicaraguans. Keiner the HCV Co-ordinator who himself was an HCV a couple of years ago, works tirelessly to find young people from Central America wanting to make a difference to their environment, challenge themselves and meet many new people from many different places in the world.

Nuestros HCVs han llegado, y son/Our HCVs have arrived and they are:

Ignacio, Alejandra, Job, Luis, Adriana D, Adelina, Daniela, Berny, Jeannina, Esteban, Roger, Henry, Victor, Adriana C, Nathalia, Gina, Maikel and Nelson

Introducing the HCVs

An incredible entrance singing and dancing

El equipo entero de los Ventureros estaran llegando a Fieldbase el miercoles 30 de enero - les avisaremos tan pronto como hayan llegado, pero con la diferencia de la hora, puede ser el miercoles por la noche para ustedes si estan en europa. Estamos con muchas ganas de comenzar la Expedicion 13A!

The entire team of Venturers will be arriving at Fieldbase on Wednesday 30th January - we'll let you know as soon as they have arrived, although with the time difference it may be Wednesday evening for you if you are in Europe - we can't wait for 13A to get underway.

Tlaltecuhiti the Earth Monster: 13A’s Mural by Numbers

It is amazing what can be achieved with one white wall, 5 coloured paints, 5 numbers and 15 Raleigh volunteers:

Es increible lo que se puede lograr con una pared blanca, 5 colores de pintura, 5 numeros y 15 voluntarios de Raleigh:

Over the next 16 weeks our fabulous Expedition Artist, Holly, will be running inspiring art projects. Influenced by the environment, the amazingly diverse culture surrounding us and the history of art across Central America, Holly decided that the inaugural project of Expedition 13A would employ the 'artistic talents' of the Advanced Team at Fieldbase. We have recreated indigenous art in the form of the: 'Tlaltecuhiti Mural by Numbers.' 

Durante las proximas 16 semanas, nuestra fabulosa Artista de la Expedicion, Holly, estara poniendo en marcha los proyectos de arte. Tomando influencia del medioambiente, la cultura tan rica y variada, y la historia del arte de America Central, Holly decidio que el proyecto de 13A empleraria los "talentos artisticos"del Equipo Avancado, hubicado en el Fieldbase. Hemos recreado el arte indigeno en la forma del "Mural Tlaltechuhiti" en numeros".

Holly created a foolproof method: every space was numbered 1 for black, 2 for maroon, 3 for red, 4 for yellow and 5 for light yellow. Paint and brushes were left out and you just filled in the space. There were mutterings that paint by numbers may be everyone's new hobby - it is incredibly therapeutic! 

Holly creo un metodo infalible: cada espacio fue numerado de 1 a 5, segun el color necesario. La pintura y los pinceles estaban listos, y lo demas fue facil: llenar el espacio, nada mas. Hubieron murmullos de que pintar por numeros iba a ser el nuevo pasatiempo de todos - es muy terapeutico!

La Historia del mural/ History behind the mural:

The mural is based on a Vallejo Polychrome vessel with Tlaltecuhiti, the Earth Monster from the Nicoya region, Guancaste. Late Period VI [AD1200-1550]. Height 180mm.Collection of Museo de Costa Rica, San José.

El mural esta basado en una vasija Vallejo Polychrome, pintado con Tlaltecuhiti, el Monstro de la Tierra de la region Nicoya, Guanacaste. Periodo [DA 1200-1550]. Altura 180mm. De la Colecion del Museo de Costa Rica, San Jose.

Tlaltecuhtli the Earth Monster

Late Period VI [AD 1200-1550]

Nicoya Region, Guanacaste

Attributed to settlements in the North-West region of Costa Rica, the vessel depicts the deity, Tlaltecuhiti, who originated from Nahauti-speaking communities in Mexico. The design and motifs also suggest Mexico as its place of origin and other examples of this pottery have been found alongside artificially deformed skulls and filed teeth, associated with the Mixtec-Puebla region of the country. 

Atribuido a los asentamientos en la region nor-oeste de Costa Rica, la vasija representa la deidad, Tlaltecuhiti, lo cual origino en las comunidades de Mexico, habladores de Nahauti. El diseno tambien sugere que Mexico es el lugar del origen, y otros ejemplos de ese tipo de alfareria han sido decubiertos, junto a calaveras deformadas y dientes pulidos, los cuales estan asociados con la region Mixtec-puebla.

A Seated Figure 

Late Period V-VI [AD 800-1100]

Nicoya Peninsula

Jaguar Effigy Jar

Late Period VI [AD 1200-1550]

Nicoya Region, Guanacaste

The term ‘polychrome’ is used to describe the decoration of architecture and sculptures through application of patterns and colour. ‘Vallejo’ encompasses the aesthetic and plasticity of the vessel, which in this case, refers to the cream white slip, painted orange, red and brown-black colours; the emphasis on vertical lines and the bulbous shape of the vessel itself which is described as having incurved lips at the top, and abbreviated outcurving on the bottom. 

El termino "polychrome" esta utilizado para describir la decoracion de la arquitectura y esculturas por la aplicacion de los adornos y colores. "Vallejo" inluye la astetica y la plasticidad, lo cual en este caso refiere al area de crema y blanco, pintado en colores naranja, rojo, negro y maron; el enfasis queda en las lineas verticales y la forma bulbosa de la vasija misma, lo cual esta descrito en tener labios en curva por la parte arriba, y curva abreviada por la parte abajo.

In the thirteenth century, permanent settlements and chieftains in the Nicoya region of Costa Rica were controlled within strict feudal, social organisations by two primary groups: the Chorotega-Mangue and the Nicarao. The aesthetic links to the north, in Mexico, is indicative of very established trade and social practices and ceramics such as the Tlaltecuhiti vessel are primary manifestations of these relationships between communities and regions.  

En el siglo trece, los asentamientos permanentes y los jefes tribales de la region Nicoya de Costa Rica fueron controlados dentro de organizaciones sociales estrictas y feudales por dor grupos principales: el Chortega-Mangue y el Nicarao. Los vinculos asteticos al norte, en Mexico, son indicativos de un comercio bien establecido y de costumbres sociales, y ceramicas, tal como las de la vasija Tlaltecuhiti son manifestaciones primarias de estas relaciones entre las comunidades y las regiones.

The result: 13As "Mural Tlaltechuhiti" en numeros"/ 13As Tlaltechuhiti Mural by Numbers

Nicaraguan family and friends

Vinnie, Arlene and Eveline with their Nicaraguan family

You'll have seen from the blog so far that each of our Community projects, in La Arenilla and Los Loros, provide a unique experience for venturers.  Whilst we are there we join our communities wholeheartedly; be that at work, at home or at play. 

Andrea makes breakfast

Venturers have relished the chance to be shown how to make tortillas, milk cows and feed chickens.  Our groups have loved the chance to spend time in the classroom teaching english classes (heads, shoulders knees and toes anyone?).

Anna, Alex, Jose and Sarah - heads, shoulders, knees and toes!

The language of sport is of course universal with football and baseball providing great opportunities for everyone to join together and get to know each other on the field.  Card games, Ninja and clapping games are other ways to break down barriers.

Aishath and Floor make a new friend

And of course we work alongside members of the community to provide the water supply or houses.  The families that will benefit from the projects are fully involved very step of the way, from planning and labouring through to creating the structures that will maintain the facilities once Raleigh has moved on to other communities nearby.  They are literally side by side with us as we dig, pick axe and build.

Ben working with the people who will live in the house we are buiding

Time and time again venturers come back from this phase saying that the best thing was the time spent with their families, the characters that they met along the way and the appreciation of the community for the work that Raleigh has done.

X-Ray 5 with the whole community

Zulu 4 say hola!

Emerging from the mist...Zulu 2 send greetings home

Hello from La Arenilla - Zulu 5

Digging those trenches... Zulu 4

Here in Los Loros we're all living with our new Nicaraguan families.  For example I have 3 new brothers and 2 new sisters.  My dad is Gonzalo who is a big man who gives big hugs to the whole the family, and that now includes me.  After a hard days work we play games together in the evening and their favourite is definitely Ninja.  I took so many photographs of my brothers and sisters on the first night (they loved seeing themselves) that I ran out of camera battery straight away.  But it was definitely worth it.  My only problem here is that I want to learn more Spanish so that I can really talk with them, so I'm borrowing a phrase book tonight.

Zulu 4 showing us the Raleigh chain in action

The first two phases of Expedition 12L did a great job in building the water tank and bringing water down from the water source to the village.  Our last phase of the project here in Los Loros is to build more trenches so that we can connect the last few houses and a church to the gravity feed water system.  One of the last ones to get water will be my family's home. At the moment they have a long walk to collect water so I know that it will make a big difference to their lives.  We work together as a team, meeting at Ben and Diego´s house every morning to collect our tools - and use the tried and tested Raleigh chain to get the spades and pick axes up to the work site.

Matt is digging this trench building

We have 900m to dig but the thought of how my family's life will improve certainly makes the work easier to enjoy.  We´re probably about a third of the way through now, but we´re all determined to get it finished before we leave.

Suwen and Puck put their backs into it

by Suwen,  Project Comms Officer

Zulu 2...tired but inspired!

It's phase 3, two other Raleigh groups have already conquered Nicaragua's mountains, valleys and volcanoes.  Now it's our turn. We've been well informed; taken lots of zinc oxide tape (for blisters!!!) foot talcum powder and other professional trekking gear.  I think we all were well prepared, but still you have NO idea what the next 19 days will bring you.

Well today is day 5 and I can tell you it's pretty awesome.  At this very moment I'm in my tent listening to my trek playlist on my iPod which I made for those moments I would be in a dark place (hier ann de kust enz, voor de Nederlandse lezers). Totally not necessary!! It hasn't really been raining and we haven't got lost yet.  Of course it's only day 5, but this trek already can't go wrong for me.  The views are seriously amazing.  I'd like to take pictures the whole time but every pictures I take is nothing compared to the real thing ( I can understand you might want to throw up while you're reading is but I just can't really explain how beautiful things are here.)

We climb up mountains and end up in the clouds, 4 hours later we're in a sunny valley with 100 types of different green (I know another vomiting moment).  Every little village we pass we each get 5 oranges or mandarins, 20 different sets of directions to the next village, and the chance to fill up with water.  The Nicaraguans are so kind and generous, whole villages come out to have a look at us; this weird walking group with their houses on their backs.  The locals keep telling us that there is actually a bus that can take us to our destination...we've stopped trying to explain that we want to walk it all.  I say want because these past few days there haven't been any moments that we didn't want to walk.  I'm sure that they will come, but I'm also sure we'll get through them (we'll have to!)

So for all the mums and dads at home, your son/daughter is having the best time of their life.  Giving our booty an amazing workout whilst we're reflecting on our lives.  What else can a person ask for? We'll come back reborn...and really dirty!

To top things off with a last vomiting moment: it feels great to "get out there"!

By Hester, Project Comms Officer

Hello from X-ray 5

X-ray 4 (and a rooster) say hello from Los Loros

Still trekking...X-ray 1

X-ray 5 - building houses and friendships

In 2011 hurricanes devastated communities in Miraflor when heavy rain left many families homeless.  Raleigh has a longstanding relationship with these communities and was keen to get involved in the disaster relief initiative.

X-ray 5 are launching the project in La Arenilla.  They will lay new foundations, create adobe building blocks and build the walls and roofs of the new houses.  By the end of the expedition many families will move into new homes rather than live in makeshift accommodation.  This will make a huge difference in getting this community back on its feet.

At the moment X-ray 5 are divided into two groups; one group digging the foundations for the first house and the other group making the mud bricks. 

One adobe brick, two adobe bricks.....one hundred and sixty five adobe bricks....

Everyone is enjoying staying with their new, Nicaraguan families.  Max is proving a particular hit as he entertains all with his virtuoso guitar playing.

On Saturday afternoon there was a party to celebrate Max and Eveline's birthdays.  The whole community was invited, and the whole community came!

Twister!

The village was introduced to the Raleigh favourite of Ninja, which manages to transcend language barriers and makes everyone look just as silly as each other.  As a special surprise the community arranged a birthday cake for our lucky venturers which went down particularly well....after all you need an energy boost when there is construction work to be done!

X-ray 5 - rock stars?

Trekking - full time job for X-ray 1

What is your profession? For the past 8 days and the next 11 to come, the answer for X-Ray 1 is trekking, trekking, trekking!

We have re-named ourselves Wolf-gang. X Ray 1 just doesn't do us justice when facing the challenging terrain of these Nicaraguan mountains. There is no doubt that they are beautiful but to get to the top may not take blood, but it takes lots of sweat and yes maybe a few tears! Tears of frustration, but by the end of the phase only tears of joy! Success!

A lot of effort... but worth it for the view

Some of us have caught the trekking bug and have fallen in love with our nomadic lifestyle, others are taking it one day at a time knowing that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Unfortunately for me, 5 star luxury cannot be carried in a rucksack on my back so I cannot have the best of both worlds.  The beautiful sunrises and sunsets don't come with a spa treatment.  The morning sunshine on my tired legs will make do for now until I get home.

Today we have one of our longest days, 19 km so we better crack on. So far we haven't got lost and we can see Volcan Momotombo in the distance so if our map fails us (which it might) we will just follow the mountain home.

Volcan Momotombo - the way home

To all our family and friends wish us all the luck and strength in the world because we are going to need it!  Volcan Momotombo here we come!

from Anika, Project Comms Officer

Early starts and fond farewells...

Today is deployment day - the day when all Alpha groups head out to their projects.  It starts early with alarm calls at 3.30 am, that's right I said 3.30 AM!  And there was no avoiding it as Martina drove a Land rover around the campsite with both the horn and radio blaring - nice one Martina.

Ben and Sophie and a big sandwich

There was time to make a big sandwich for breakfast and another one for lunch and then belongings and tools had to be loaded on the buses.

Yorleny, Tigi and Patrice - watching over a lot of heavy rucksacks

Bonds have been formed over the past few days so there were fond farewells, best wishes and hugs as new friends said "Adios" for 19 days.  And a few venturers had a special goodbye for Splatches, the resident Fieldbase dog, who is keen to be everyones best friend.

Henry, Matt and Lilian say goodbye to Splatches

As the sun came up the buses headed off in different directions - to Playa Hermosa, Carara National Park, Nicaragua and the start of the Coast to Coast Trek.  Some will be travelling for a couple of hours and some for a couple of days, before they arrive at their destination and the work begins. 

On their way

Remember to leave your messages here and we will make sure that they are received by you loved ones whilst they are away at their projects - your kind wishes mean a lot to everyone.

Roaming 'round Nica

On Monday 20th August, fieldbase trio Björn, Jen and Carina set off on a road trip in the trusty Raleigh landy ‘Bravo 3’. Our goal was to visit all of the groups working and trekking in Nicaragua to deliver food, messages and support.

Day 1 – Challenge 1: Navigating the Nicaraguan border
After presenting copious amounts of paperwork, showing our passports four times, and having the vehicle searched, we breathed a collective sigh of relief when we rolled across the Nicaraguan border a mere two hours later! Reaching our destination of San Juan del Sur, we rested for the night before continuing on to La Tunosa to meet the trekkers, X-Ray 2.

Carina, Björn and Jen, San Juan del Sur

Day 2 – Happy trekkers!
Arriving in La Tunosa, we were greeted by the happy – and I should say, very clean - faces of X-Ray 2 who had reached their destination and had time to wash before our arrival.

Teydi, HCV from Nicaragua

Before settling in for the night there was a quick dash into the city of Esteli so that Zichari could replace his broken walking boots – it turns out that duct tape is a useless substitute for a boot sole! Having distributed the mail and blog messages to the delighted recipients, we ate a meal of macaroni cheese with fresh veg. With water melon for dessert, a very well fed group fell into bed at the grand old time of 7.30pm.

These boots are made for walking...

After rising at 4.30am we waved the trekkers off at 6am and set off for our next destination.

Day 3 – The Charlies - Raleigh's ICS programme groups
We visited Charlie 2 in the community of La Quinta, Miraflor, where the group is putting the finishing touches to a water gravity system to bring fresh water to the community. As well as completing the gravity system, the group are working with the local community to ensure that the system is maintained in the long term.

In the afternoon we had to make an emergency trip into Esteli to replace a child’s football after it had met a tragic end under the wheel of Bravo 3! Luckily, a new ball was obtained and a smile was returned to the faces of the local children. Having spent the night with a local family, it was another early rise before continuing our journey to El Portillo.

Day 4 – X-Ray 5 and their water project: latrines!
Awaiting us at El Portillo, Achuapa, was the very lively X-Men 5s who are working in the community to build eco latrines. We caught up with the PMs Becky, Leanne and Istvan and learned that the group have also been engaging in other work such as planting trees and helping out in the homes of their host families.

PMs Becky and Istvan

Having settled into the community well, the group are in high spirits and are very much enjoying life in El Portillo, spending time teaching at the local school, playing Mafia, and taking classes in Capoeira with Sofia.

Super loos!

Day 5 & 6  – Charlie 1
Continuing onto San Nicholas, Achuapa, we arrived armed with a large amount of paint to enable Charlie 1 to decorate the community centre that they are currently building. The group are working hard and are determined to complete the large building on schedule. Having designed a beautiful mural for the outside, we are sure that it will look fantastic come the opening ceremony.

Community centre, San Nicholas

Day 7 – Feeding the trekkers!
We headed to Cerra Negro Ranger Station to leave three large sacks of food in preparation for the trekkers’ arrival a few days later. The sacks contained delights such as macaroni cheese, pasta, tinned veg, biscuits and refried beans to ensure that the trekkers have the energy needed to keep going!

Cerra Negro is a volcano in the Cordillera de los Maribios mountain range in Nicaragua. It is the youngest volcano in Central America and as such is yet to grow vegetation, leading to its striking appearance and name meaning ‘Black Hill’. X-Ray 2 will scale the volcano as part of their trek and will no doubt return with some amazing photography to show for their efforts!

Cerra Negro

Day 8 – Home, Sweet, Home
After spending one last night in Nicaragua, we headed to Cartago to rendezvous with the Logs Manager, Nick, so that I (Carina) could continue on with the Costa Rican road trip. Björn and Jen returned to fieldbase to be welcomed home with a delicious meal of Lentil Dahl and homemade bread.

X Ray 5 Rock Achuapa...continued...

So, our time was upon us. Eighteen X Men, and a load of Charlies (1 and 2) undertook one last, nervous practice before our big debuts!

Up first was Thomas (actually on Friday night) playing guitar and singing the Libertines, and next on the Friday was Trae freestyling on the guitar with Fu from ICS on the flute...

Thomas´s solo

Adam and Trae (X-Ray 5) with Ant and Fu from ICS

Then, on Saturday night, the whole of the X Men (as X Ray 5 are now better known) sang "Where is the Love" by Black Eyed Peas with the words changed to a song about reforestation, in English and Spanish. A few new talents for rapping were discovered!

Following that, Trae, Chris and Leanne performed "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet, and then Adam swapped in to beatbox with Trae and some of the Charlies in a wonderful fusion of rock and hip hop, with a bit of body popping thrown in.

Leanne, Chris and Trae

Charlie 2 and the Agua song

The mighty X Rays are a bit of a talented bunch if we do say so ourselves! And amidst all the fun we´ve learned masses about our community here in Achuapa and hopefully helped them to think about how to become more sustainable in order to benefit generations to come.

X Men and Charlies say ta ta for now...

We waved off the Charlies this morning and are just about to trek up to our community in El Portillo to be welcomed by our families. Can´t wait - wonder if they'll recognise us from the stage....

Two Countries. One Expedition.

As a Raleigh participant travelling to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, it would be wrong to miss an opportunity to tell everyone back home a little bit about this part of Central America that Raleigh chooses to run its expeditions in, and has done since 2001. Raleigh and these two beautiful countries have formed an amazing two-way relationship – with the communities and ecosystems benefitting from Raleigh’s involvement, and Raleigh participants benefitting from all the amazing experiences the two countries have to offer – in terms of culture, history, people, breathtaking natural beauty and wildlife.

Let me not write about Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the same sentence any longer however – as both are very different and the task, challenges and benefits as a result are unique from one another.

Costa Rica, meaning ‘rich coast’, is a democratic, peaceful and relatively well-developed country, however what often goes unwritten and unspoken is the indigenous community who live in remote areas and as a result don’t benefit from the same excellent facilities for education, clean water and sanitation and power enjoyed by the majority of the population. As a whole, it is known as the happiest country in the world, a notable achievement and one they can be proud of – Raleigh’s aim is to ensure that this starts to apply to the whole country including these indigenous peoples with he community projects it runs.

Costa Rica is also one of the most bio-diverse nations on this planet, and as a result is protected by a huge national conservation system and a policy of sustainable development – which we at Raleigh also get involved in on our environmental projects.

Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America, is in contrast the second poorest in the western hemisphere. It is starting to increasingly benefit financially from tourism because of the beaches, scenic routes, the architecture of cities such as León and Granada, and most recently ecotourism and agritourism, particularly in Northern Nicaragua. Despite this, however, many communities are facing extreme poverty and have few basic amenities such as clean water and safe sanitation, hence Raleigh’s efforts in providing school buildings, housing and sanitation in the projects we operate on our expeditions. 

It is an honour and a privilege to be here in this part of the world and able to immerse ourselves in a mutually beneficial relationship with both of these nations. Gracias por recibirnos!

And so it begins...

Fifteen people.

One Farm.

One Fieldbase.

A shed (bodega) load of excitement, spirit, enthusiasm and ideas.

And an even bigger shed load of gallo pinto (om nom nom)...

That’s what it takes to kick off Raleigh expedition 12G/H to Costa Rica and Nicaragua - and the Advance Fieldbase team are here, checked in and raring to go to make this an amazing expedition!

Ross, Pedro, Roeland, Katie, Jen, Becky, Keiner, Dave, Björn, Krisztina, Nick, Amy, Emma and Leanne (plus Andy who’s arrived a week early, he couldn’t wait any longer!) are here at Fieldbase for some intense training on how to get everything and everyone to the right place at the right time (Logistics), keep the wonga in check (Finance), make sure everyone’s in rude health (Medics), make everything run like clockwork (Admin), show our viewers and followers what’s going on (Photographers) and keep you posted on EVERYTHING that’s going down across our many amazing projects that have been planned for 12G/H (that’s my job!).

Julian and Hector are also out here, 'next door' in Nicaragua, making plans for the arrival of the ICS team.

And of course, we've also been establishing the most important bits of running an expedition – the cooking and cleaning rota and how everyone takes their brew...

We’re all thrilled to be here and can’t wait to welcome the other Volunteer Managers in less than a week’s time and, of course, our Venturers on the 29^th June – you’re all in for a treat!

Hablar pronto!

 

You don't have to be mad to work here, but evidently, it helps...

Raleigh CR&N Videos

It's not long now until we have our groups back from their phase 1 projects and then we will finally have some photos for you. I know many of you are missing your loved ones, so to keep you going until they get back here are a few slidesows from the induction period. There are three slideshows - the Advance Volunteer Manager Induction, the Project Manager Induction and the Venturer Induction - all put together by our amazing photographer, Ale. We'll be adding more and more videos to our youtube channel over the next couple of months - 'RaleighCRN'.

Alpha 8: San Jose

 Another Alpha update from Miraflor, this time from Alpha 8's Rachelle who are in San Jose, assisting the community in the construction of a Community Centre.

Challenging does not begin to describe the first few days of our community centre works... The Nicaraguan sun beat down on us relentlessly as we toiled in the heat, levelling the slope in preparation of laying the foundations of the building on day five. A trip to the water hole was therefore much deserved leaving the group refreshed, relaxed and raring to go once again.

Our ‘foster’ families have been nothing short of amazing, feeding us far too much and taking far too good a care of us. Although the language barrier has been challenging for some, we have all learnt that laughter is an international language and it is fair to say that everyone has managed to bond well with their new Nicaraguan families. A discussion over the delicious rice, beans and tortillas came to the common consensus that what was, at first, an overwhelming experience, is now an environment where all of Alpha 8 are comfortable.

Work continues on the centre and next Wednesday we look forward to the visit of Bravo One on their road trip next week. To all our friends and family at home – we are well and having an amazing time!

Pura Vida!

Alpha 8 x

Sorry that we can't bring you any photos so far from the Nicaragua groups - next week as stated, Bravo One will be visiting and receiving photos from Alphas 6, 7 and 8. Rest assured once we have them, blogs will be update accordingly.