La luna de miel ha desaparecido….
Ok so the reality of living in San Jose is trickling into my life!
I cringe at the contamination daily…
I will always be a country girl…not accustomed to city life in any form!...ay! the smog that I am breathing in from the traffic…I see the black stuff puffing out of the passing buses/vehicles and cringe as I have to breathe that in! And the noise and the busy-ness and the men that call their cultural “piropos” to females in the street (whistle, call “macha/machita” (blonde), “rica” (hott), “gringa” (american gal) honk, just stare…and whatever else). I do not want to know what the water system is really like…all the water running by the roadside. The rivers are brown with mud runoff and who knows what else! “las aguas negras.” And the trash lies wherever it pleases!! Not all areas are dirty, and I overlook this….así es la vida…but by first impression you would think it is dirty!
And really, the thought of recycling or eating healthy doesn’t exist. This is not part of their education/knowledge. And there is not grand incentive for either! To eat healthy fruits and veggies (although it would seem simple living in a country of biodiversity) costs more that buying a loaf of white bread each day. And it takes more effort to recycle than to just discard it in the trash or on the street. This is an interesting concept because Costa Ricans value “appearance.” BUT it is appearance of themselves or their houses…not of the sidewalks per say. Interesting, eh?
So I confess that I miss my healthy, peaceful country lifestyle that I grew up in. Such a blessing! Thank you Dad and Mom! But every day I resolve to seek the beauty of the city of San Jose….which God has to show me. It could simply be another LASP student with whom I share a conversation during the walk from LASP to language classes. It could be the view of the mountains, which surround the valley of San Jose. Or it could be the little girl walking to school with her father in the morning.
(Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 25-26)
The beach is not like the pictures tell…
I went to the beach of Puntarenas with my family this weekend. Doesn’t that sound amazing?! Well, let me explain to you that it is “winter,” which is the rainy season, and there is a tropical storm passing through the coast. So the mini-get-away with the family consisted of a cozy cabin, swimming pools, and beach….all the while cloudy, drizzly, or rainy…(not to mention the glorious thunderstorm during the night!!). Yet, to my little brothers who had been set on this beach trip all week, what’s a little bit of rain or clouds?? NOTHING! They didn’t care that it wasn’t the ideal weekend for a trip to the beach.
I would say that it was worth it. I got to know a different province of Costa Rica, which became well known through the growth of tourism to its beaches. They pride themselves in their seafood and an ice cream combo called “Churchill.” Delicious food indeed! It was a relaxing weekend…refreshing to just walk on the shore and think and listen to the glory of God through the crashing waves. I even had the chance to RUN on the shore twice!! The first time I have “exercised” since I arrived. Also invigorating.
Monday, Sept. 27
Today LASP students visited the U.S. Embassy in San Jose. We listened to the perspectives of three female ambassadors. It was interesting to hear an American point of view after learning through the Latin American lens for a month in LASP classes/charlas!! And I was amused by one of the ambassadors. During Q & A … she asked us “And what is your final product after your time in Costa Rica?” She was clearly talking from her political/economical perspective…that there needs to be evidence/profit….Under my breath/to the people around me I replied: “Our lives!” Ultimately what matters from this experience for each participant is what he/she does with the knowledge and experienced gained through this intercultural dialogue, which is a daily process of soaking in the experience, reflecting upon it, and then living it out in a manner that glorifies God.
The past week, I have been meditating on the truth of Psalm 23….that the LORD is ENOUGH….
“El Señor es mi pastor, nada me falta…”
May you rest in the truth today that you lack NOTHING if you follow the good Shcpherd and put your trust the LORD!
Gloria a Dios,
Joanne
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sustainable Development – La agricultura orgánica
Wow what a field trip!! For the LASP charla on Thursday, we traveled 45 to Heredia, another province of Costa Rica, to learn about sustainable development first hand…out of the classroom…the best way to learn! We visited a ‘coffee’ plantation owned and operated by Roderick. He, his wife, Évila, and his two children live off of their own land. 75% of the food they eat comes from their own labor on the farm! Roderick took us up the steep terrain among the coffee plants to share with us about his farm….really his life…because everything he shared came from his holistic approach to life.
THE OPPOSITE: Mono-agriculture…
In order to be profitable in Costa Rica, the majority of plantations of the main products, such as coffee, pineapple, and bananas are cultivated as mono-agriculture. This makes for a large quantity of product to export, yet it is not the best way to manage the diversity of the land. Large agriculture corporations use chemicals to protect the plants from disease and insects, which then run off into rivers and water systems because the land lacks deep roots to maintain the water from the rains. The chemicals can affect the people through the runoff into water systems (like the indigenous Bribri tribe that we visited in Limón) AND the chemicals affect the people through the air….
FOR EXAMPLE:
Many banana plantations offer housing for the workers on their property. However, when the fields of banana plants are sprayed with chemicals from above in an airplane, the houses end up getting sprayed as well. Unfortunately, the chemicals fall on workers and their children in the plantation community as if they were banana plants. Consequently, they can extract sicknesses or even cancer from the chemicals…which are being used to maintain that “perfect” appearance of a long, fat, flawless yellow banana that is exported to us Americans!
CONTRAST to mono-agriculture, Roderick’s one-man farm showed us the difference in preserving the diversity of the land and developing fruits and vegetables organically. He is an example of acting against the consequences of consumerism NOW…not in the future when it is worse! He works to maintain equilibrium of the soil…the good microbes and the bad microbes in the top layer of soil (15cm deep), the roots of fruit trees stabilizing the soil among the coffee plants, the influence of the planets/moon with a biodynamic calendar….etc. He also grows a variety of vegetables and herbs in his greenhouse which he sells in the organic market each month. Instead of using the chemicals to grow the perfect plants….he uses his mind! Roderick also has a little project with sheep. The sheep eat the grass…but not the coffee plants; he uses the manure for fertilization; and he can sell the meat.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning from his holistic perspective of life! He is another example of living out what is “enough.” He doesn’t need to produce masses of coffee to survive…his perspective of “enough” is to be able to live off of the land and enjoy life with his wife and children. He has a dream to teach people about agriculture so they can continue his legacy and fight against the loss of diversity. His wife studied medicine and she would like to teach people about natural medicines and health…she called it “agro-salud” (agri-health). They work hard…this is the life of a farmer (any of you Beun’s would know!!) but have such a peaceful life filled with opportunities to reflect/meditate among God’s creation while working the land.
And after trekking through the field and greenhouse, Évila served us “cafecito,” which consisted of a spread of organic coffee, fresco (strawberry juice) papaya, jacótes, pineapple, and banana cake….all natural and fresh!!! I savored it all…it was cleansing to me because my mother does not buy fruit for our familia. I always get excited when I have the opportunity to eat fruit…kind of ironic that I am in the land of pineapple and banana and don’t eat much of it, eh? We have the coffee part down (coffee for breakfast and supper)…but I choose to be content; it makes me more appreciative of the few times when I do get fruit. I just have to buy fruit for myself/familia if I want it to be part of my diet! Typically, the people here do not think or KNOW about health and nutrition. And what is cheaper? White bread!
En paz, Joanne
THE OPPOSITE: Mono-agriculture…
In order to be profitable in Costa Rica, the majority of plantations of the main products, such as coffee, pineapple, and bananas are cultivated as mono-agriculture. This makes for a large quantity of product to export, yet it is not the best way to manage the diversity of the land. Large agriculture corporations use chemicals to protect the plants from disease and insects, which then run off into rivers and water systems because the land lacks deep roots to maintain the water from the rains. The chemicals can affect the people through the runoff into water systems (like the indigenous Bribri tribe that we visited in Limón) AND the chemicals affect the people through the air….
FOR EXAMPLE:
Many banana plantations offer housing for the workers on their property. However, when the fields of banana plants are sprayed with chemicals from above in an airplane, the houses end up getting sprayed as well. Unfortunately, the chemicals fall on workers and their children in the plantation community as if they were banana plants. Consequently, they can extract sicknesses or even cancer from the chemicals…which are being used to maintain that “perfect” appearance of a long, fat, flawless yellow banana that is exported to us Americans!
CONTRAST to mono-agriculture, Roderick’s one-man farm showed us the difference in preserving the diversity of the land and developing fruits and vegetables organically. He is an example of acting against the consequences of consumerism NOW…not in the future when it is worse! He works to maintain equilibrium of the soil…the good microbes and the bad microbes in the top layer of soil (15cm deep), the roots of fruit trees stabilizing the soil among the coffee plants, the influence of the planets/moon with a biodynamic calendar….etc. He also grows a variety of vegetables and herbs in his greenhouse which he sells in the organic market each month. Instead of using the chemicals to grow the perfect plants….he uses his mind! Roderick also has a little project with sheep. The sheep eat the grass…but not the coffee plants; he uses the manure for fertilization; and he can sell the meat.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning from his holistic perspective of life! He is another example of living out what is “enough.” He doesn’t need to produce masses of coffee to survive…his perspective of “enough” is to be able to live off of the land and enjoy life with his wife and children. He has a dream to teach people about agriculture so they can continue his legacy and fight against the loss of diversity. His wife studied medicine and she would like to teach people about natural medicines and health…she called it “agro-salud” (agri-health). They work hard…this is the life of a farmer (any of you Beun’s would know!!) but have such a peaceful life filled with opportunities to reflect/meditate among God’s creation while working the land.
And after trekking through the field and greenhouse, Évila served us “cafecito,” which consisted of a spread of organic coffee, fresco (strawberry juice) papaya, jacótes, pineapple, and banana cake….all natural and fresh!!! I savored it all…it was cleansing to me because my mother does not buy fruit for our familia. I always get excited when I have the opportunity to eat fruit…kind of ironic that I am in the land of pineapple and banana and don’t eat much of it, eh? We have the coffee part down (coffee for breakfast and supper)…but I choose to be content; it makes me more appreciative of the few times when I do get fruit. I just have to buy fruit for myself/familia if I want it to be part of my diet! Typically, the people here do not think or KNOW about health and nutrition. And what is cheaper? White bread!
En paz, Joanne
Thursday, September 23, 2010
El Paseo a Limón…
A weekend on the Caribbean Coast…
We traveled through the rainforest and the plains to arrive on the rich coast of Limón. Christopher Columbus beached on an nearby island where he viewed the indigenous people and what seemed to be gold….thus naming it the Rich Coast (Costa Rica). Limon is the poorest province of Costa Rica although 75% of commerce is imported/exported through the two main ports of Limón. Ironic that the wealth is clearly flowing through the province yet little of it is invested in the improvement of the local people. This has to do with capitalism and the private enterprises that seek to control trade. Talking to the people in San Jose, they will agree that Limón is poor and may say that the people do not work. Talking to the people on the streets in the city of Limón will say that they lack opportunity for work.
Part of the focus of this trip was to learn about poverty and how that relates to discrimination and racism. The majority of the people in Limón are Afro-Costa Ricans. But what is poverty really? Well, what lens are you looking through? A North American lens? A Christian lens? An indigenous lens? From the perspective of those who value relationships over material possessions, if one has family to support them, he/she wouldn’t consider him/herself to be poor. Or if you are a Bribri (an indigenous tribe), you would say that you are not poor as long as you have your land, your home, water, and the food that you raise/cultivate, and your people. Or is one simply classified as poor if he/she lacks God? And even if these indigenous people or Afro Costa Ricans do not consider themselves poor or discriminated against, they really are. If poverty is the lack of human rights, these people groups represent that in Limón. But then you could question what are human rights really…..if they include the right to work, shelter, water, food,….etc. these people are overlooked by the government. And World Bank loans that supposedly support development projects rarely take effect. Somehow the government uses the money for their own benefit and overlooks the poor.
Interesting stuff to ponder, eh? I am collecting my thoughts to write a paper over the weekend experiences. I also have a larger composition that will deal with poverty and lacking human dignity due at the beginning of October. I read Unica mirando al mar, a book about a community of people living in the San Jose dump and their journey through life. It is an authentic account of the life of a dump dweller. I am humbled by their attitude/perspective toward life. What we can learn from the lowly in spirit!
We visited an indigenous group – the Bribri – and learned about their daily struggle through the lens of Gloria, one of the indigenous women. They fight to protect their land, identity, and dignity. For 21 years, the Bribri have maintained an Iguana protection project to preserve the dying population of iguanas. It was amazing to hear Gloria’s story and her people’s struggle to maintain their land. Tree harvesters come to cut down rubber trees or cattle farmers let the runoff of their pesticides inundate the fresh water of the Bribri at the bottom of the mountain. The Bribri do artisan work as well to earn a little more. I was humbled to hear Gloria truly say that she is not poor, as long as they have their land (the forest where they communicate with God through the nature), home, water….that is sufficient. Gloria also told us their creation story, which was interesting with a few parallels to the creation story of the Bible.
Another through-provoking experience was the tour of the banana coorporation (Del Monte)…we watched the banana workers chop the bananas off the stalks, sort them according to size-preference of the country receiving them, cut them, spray them with a chemical that keeps them green longer, package them, load them…etc. We also entered a banana field where the process of growing begins. So many steps! Del Monte provides on-site housing, medical clinic, and schooling for children. The workers are paid per banana…a competitive work incentive. Unfortunately, because of the competition, if one loses his/her job, they cannot keep their house either, thus, having to uproot completely and search for another job creating instability for the children. I do not want to know how little the workers are paid. Yet bananas remain the most popular fruit in the U.S.
Cultural diversion….the trip was also relaxing and vacation-like…not all serious! We spent an afternoon on the beach (Cahuiti)…lovely and not scorching hot either. We dined Caribbean style: Rice and Beans….flavored with coconut….and chicken….delicious. One evening we danced to typical Caribbean music. It was a good bonding time for the group as well…with all the time spent together on the bus rides, in the hotel, the beach….It was frustrating to me sometimes because all the students convert to English when together. We I arrived home in San José, I felt like I stumbled over my words when I tried to talk to Mami!
And now it is back to the San José grind of classes, reading, writing papers, being with familia…”aprovechando”…making the most of each day!
May God give you peace today.
Joanne
We traveled through the rainforest and the plains to arrive on the rich coast of Limón. Christopher Columbus beached on an nearby island where he viewed the indigenous people and what seemed to be gold….thus naming it the Rich Coast (Costa Rica). Limon is the poorest province of Costa Rica although 75% of commerce is imported/exported through the two main ports of Limón. Ironic that the wealth is clearly flowing through the province yet little of it is invested in the improvement of the local people. This has to do with capitalism and the private enterprises that seek to control trade. Talking to the people in San Jose, they will agree that Limón is poor and may say that the people do not work. Talking to the people on the streets in the city of Limón will say that they lack opportunity for work.
Part of the focus of this trip was to learn about poverty and how that relates to discrimination and racism. The majority of the people in Limón are Afro-Costa Ricans. But what is poverty really? Well, what lens are you looking through? A North American lens? A Christian lens? An indigenous lens? From the perspective of those who value relationships over material possessions, if one has family to support them, he/she wouldn’t consider him/herself to be poor. Or if you are a Bribri (an indigenous tribe), you would say that you are not poor as long as you have your land, your home, water, and the food that you raise/cultivate, and your people. Or is one simply classified as poor if he/she lacks God? And even if these indigenous people or Afro Costa Ricans do not consider themselves poor or discriminated against, they really are. If poverty is the lack of human rights, these people groups represent that in Limón. But then you could question what are human rights really…..if they include the right to work, shelter, water, food,….etc. these people are overlooked by the government. And World Bank loans that supposedly support development projects rarely take effect. Somehow the government uses the money for their own benefit and overlooks the poor.
Interesting stuff to ponder, eh? I am collecting my thoughts to write a paper over the weekend experiences. I also have a larger composition that will deal with poverty and lacking human dignity due at the beginning of October. I read Unica mirando al mar, a book about a community of people living in the San Jose dump and their journey through life. It is an authentic account of the life of a dump dweller. I am humbled by their attitude/perspective toward life. What we can learn from the lowly in spirit!
We visited an indigenous group – the Bribri – and learned about their daily struggle through the lens of Gloria, one of the indigenous women. They fight to protect their land, identity, and dignity. For 21 years, the Bribri have maintained an Iguana protection project to preserve the dying population of iguanas. It was amazing to hear Gloria’s story and her people’s struggle to maintain their land. Tree harvesters come to cut down rubber trees or cattle farmers let the runoff of their pesticides inundate the fresh water of the Bribri at the bottom of the mountain. The Bribri do artisan work as well to earn a little more. I was humbled to hear Gloria truly say that she is not poor, as long as they have their land (the forest where they communicate with God through the nature), home, water….that is sufficient. Gloria also told us their creation story, which was interesting with a few parallels to the creation story of the Bible.
Another through-provoking experience was the tour of the banana coorporation (Del Monte)…we watched the banana workers chop the bananas off the stalks, sort them according to size-preference of the country receiving them, cut them, spray them with a chemical that keeps them green longer, package them, load them…etc. We also entered a banana field where the process of growing begins. So many steps! Del Monte provides on-site housing, medical clinic, and schooling for children. The workers are paid per banana…a competitive work incentive. Unfortunately, because of the competition, if one loses his/her job, they cannot keep their house either, thus, having to uproot completely and search for another job creating instability for the children. I do not want to know how little the workers are paid. Yet bananas remain the most popular fruit in the U.S.
Cultural diversion….the trip was also relaxing and vacation-like…not all serious! We spent an afternoon on the beach (Cahuiti)…lovely and not scorching hot either. We dined Caribbean style: Rice and Beans….flavored with coconut….and chicken….delicious. One evening we danced to typical Caribbean music. It was a good bonding time for the group as well…with all the time spent together on the bus rides, in the hotel, the beach….It was frustrating to me sometimes because all the students convert to English when together. We I arrived home in San José, I felt like I stumbled over my words when I tried to talk to Mami!
And now it is back to the San José grind of classes, reading, writing papers, being with familia…”aprovechando”…making the most of each day!
May God give you peace today.
Joanne
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Happy Independence Day!!
No classes today for LASP students….or any student of Costa Rica. We celebrated the independence of Costa Rica from Spain. Traditionally, the eve before, we went to the central park to listen to a band play patriotic songs and watch the children raise their “farroles” to light the way. (a farrol is a type of lantern….decorated like one of the national symbols. They also set off fireworks.
On Independence Day (Sept. 15) we watched the parade on the main street. All the area schools participated…the band and dancers represented their school. I liked the traditional dancers the best. The parade lasted 3 hours! Very hot for the children and youth who had to wear their school uniforms/costumes! I enjoyed the experience of another culture’s independence day….everyone unified in celebration. And we had prepared presentations about the national symbols for our Spanish classes at ICADS the previous day. This helped to have a backround/history about the objects/symbols we would see.
Please pray for me to take advantage of this grand opportunity to think in many different themes of life...and to process the teachings that I am learning in classes. There is much to process and understand about the world as a whole...and we focus specifically on the relationship between the US and Latin American...past, present, and future. Pray that I continue to seek my role in society as a Christian.
On Independence Day (Sept. 15) we watched the parade on the main street. All the area schools participated…the band and dancers represented their school. I liked the traditional dancers the best. The parade lasted 3 hours! Very hot for the children and youth who had to wear their school uniforms/costumes! I enjoyed the experience of another culture’s independence day….everyone unified in celebration. And we had prepared presentations about the national symbols for our Spanish classes at ICADS the previous day. This helped to have a backround/history about the objects/symbols we would see.
Please pray for me to take advantage of this grand opportunity to think in many different themes of life...and to process the teachings that I am learning in classes. There is much to process and understand about the world as a whole...and we focus specifically on the relationship between the US and Latin American...past, present, and future. Pray that I continue to seek my role in society as a Christian.
¡Mi primera vomita en Costa Rica….que RICA!
On Sunday, Sept. 12, I went with 14 other students to Cartago on a day trip. It was a lovely experience … until the end. But first the beauty of the experience:
8:30 AM: We took a bus from San Pedro to Cartago – about a 45 minute drive. Cartago was the ancient capital, the first settlement of Costa Rica. Therefore, we went to the ruins of two ancient buildings. We purchased meat, veggies, fruits, and snacks in the large market before taking another bus to another valley of Cartago. The countryside was fantastic – the mountains, greenery, flowers…I tried to soak it all in basking in the Son. I greatly appreciated the peace of the country, an escape from the noise of city life! We hung out at a recreational park. We swam in the swimming pool while Andrés and Caleb grilled our food. They prepared fajitas, which were delicious….however, I may have eaten too much, because after lunch (around 3 PM) I did not feel well. It was a very relaxing day.
Now the ugly part of the experience:
We waited one hour for a bus to return to Cartago…half of the time standing in the rain. And I began to feel nauseous. Finally, the bus arrived…already filled with people. Thankfully a lady made sure that all the gringos got on the bus together. We packed in like sardines…all standing in the aisle. An older lady saw that I did not feel well. She pulled a fruit (cas) out of her bag – a natural remedy for an upset stomach? – and gave it to me to eat. It was very citric/acidic. Walking through Cartago (in the rain), I just wanted to throw up, but couldn’t. The journey back to San José on the next bus ride seemed to be a duration! Thankfully I had Laura with me for the final bus ride! I still wanted to throw up…but couldn’t quite…not until after we got off the bus in Guadalupe. I threw up on the side of the street and already felt better! Laura accompanied me to the nearby supermarket to purchase Saltines and 7Up and then to my house.
8:30 PM: Home at last! I cleaned up and told Mami that I was sick. She made me Chamomile tea – their remedy. I tried to drink a bit, then fell asleep. Thankfully, I felt better in the morning! It all passed rapidly.
Even this tiny bout of sickness showed me the servant hearts of my LASP companions. All the chicas cared for me in one way or another! I am grateful for them! Gloria a Dios.
Mi familia: This week the fun with my little brothers included playing basketball in the living room. We used an inner tube (like you would us in the pool) for the basket, and we used a plastic ‘soccer’ ball for the basketball. One person would hold up the “basket” while standing on the coach while the two competitors would take turns shooting behind a line (the ‘foul’ line). The game was to score 20 points before the other…and you could earn different amount of points depending on the style of the shot! It was entertaining….(I think that Mami prefers that we play this in the garage because she told the boys the next day that they could play basketball in the living room).
Supper has diminished to be ‘cafecito.’ We eat something light or quick…usually bread….and drink coffee. My siblings drink Coke or juice. I enjoy ‘cafecito’ time because I usually get to converse with Mami and learning something of her experiences and wisdom after the boys leave the table. Tonight she shared about the healings she experienced with both of her boys when they were young. She also shared her perspective of the poverty in Costa Rica. I have to compose a paper about poverty according to the 6 interviews I must conduct with Costa Ricans and Afro-Costa Ricans. What a way to learn! By asking the people…I talked to a nun today and a black women in the Mall. Tonight I talked to Grandpa about poverty and the past/present/future circumstances of Costa Rica. We agreed that he will be the next president of Costa Rica with his ideas to fight against poverty.
This project on poverty intends to prepare us for our journey to the province of Limón this weekend. It is the poorest province, yet 80% of the country’s importation/exportation enters and leaves through this port. We will visit 3 industries: pineapple, banana, and coffee. And of course we will enjoy the beach a bit! I am excited to learn and experience Limón.
8:30 AM: We took a bus from San Pedro to Cartago – about a 45 minute drive. Cartago was the ancient capital, the first settlement of Costa Rica. Therefore, we went to the ruins of two ancient buildings. We purchased meat, veggies, fruits, and snacks in the large market before taking another bus to another valley of Cartago. The countryside was fantastic – the mountains, greenery, flowers…I tried to soak it all in basking in the Son. I greatly appreciated the peace of the country, an escape from the noise of city life! We hung out at a recreational park. We swam in the swimming pool while Andrés and Caleb grilled our food. They prepared fajitas, which were delicious….however, I may have eaten too much, because after lunch (around 3 PM) I did not feel well. It was a very relaxing day.
Now the ugly part of the experience:
We waited one hour for a bus to return to Cartago…half of the time standing in the rain. And I began to feel nauseous. Finally, the bus arrived…already filled with people. Thankfully a lady made sure that all the gringos got on the bus together. We packed in like sardines…all standing in the aisle. An older lady saw that I did not feel well. She pulled a fruit (cas) out of her bag – a natural remedy for an upset stomach? – and gave it to me to eat. It was very citric/acidic. Walking through Cartago (in the rain), I just wanted to throw up, but couldn’t. The journey back to San José on the next bus ride seemed to be a duration! Thankfully I had Laura with me for the final bus ride! I still wanted to throw up…but couldn’t quite…not until after we got off the bus in Guadalupe. I threw up on the side of the street and already felt better! Laura accompanied me to the nearby supermarket to purchase Saltines and 7Up and then to my house.
8:30 PM: Home at last! I cleaned up and told Mami that I was sick. She made me Chamomile tea – their remedy. I tried to drink a bit, then fell asleep. Thankfully, I felt better in the morning! It all passed rapidly.
Even this tiny bout of sickness showed me the servant hearts of my LASP companions. All the chicas cared for me in one way or another! I am grateful for them! Gloria a Dios.
Mi familia: This week the fun with my little brothers included playing basketball in the living room. We used an inner tube (like you would us in the pool) for the basket, and we used a plastic ‘soccer’ ball for the basketball. One person would hold up the “basket” while standing on the coach while the two competitors would take turns shooting behind a line (the ‘foul’ line). The game was to score 20 points before the other…and you could earn different amount of points depending on the style of the shot! It was entertaining….(I think that Mami prefers that we play this in the garage because she told the boys the next day that they could play basketball in the living room).
Supper has diminished to be ‘cafecito.’ We eat something light or quick…usually bread….and drink coffee. My siblings drink Coke or juice. I enjoy ‘cafecito’ time because I usually get to converse with Mami and learning something of her experiences and wisdom after the boys leave the table. Tonight she shared about the healings she experienced with both of her boys when they were young. She also shared her perspective of the poverty in Costa Rica. I have to compose a paper about poverty according to the 6 interviews I must conduct with Costa Ricans and Afro-Costa Ricans. What a way to learn! By asking the people…I talked to a nun today and a black women in the Mall. Tonight I talked to Grandpa about poverty and the past/present/future circumstances of Costa Rica. We agreed that he will be the next president of Costa Rica with his ideas to fight against poverty.
This project on poverty intends to prepare us for our journey to the province of Limón this weekend. It is the poorest province, yet 80% of the country’s importation/exportation enters and leaves through this port. We will visit 3 industries: pineapple, banana, and coffee. And of course we will enjoy the beach a bit! I am excited to learn and experience Limón.
Friday, September 10, 2010
“uno se acomoda al ritmo o al baile que le toquen”
"One determines the steps of the dance based on the rhythm of the song"
Week #2…The first full week of classes at LASP and at ICADS.
At the LASP Institute, we have classes in the morning from 8 AM to 11:30/12. Our mothers pack us lunches, which we eat there before heading to ICADS for language classes. At the ICADS Institute, we have classes from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM in groups of 3-6 people with a native speaker/professor according to our level/aptitude of Spanish. I walk with a few other students to both LASP and ICADS. We take the bus back home because it gets dark early (6 PM).
One of the themes of LASP is “aprendemos haciendo” (we learn by doing). What a blessing it has been to be immersed in a culture to learn and raise our awareness, especially as North Americans, middle class, private Christian university students!
In LASP this week, we established the foundation of our exploration through themes relating to Latinoamérica. Through readings and discussion, we recounted the history of Christopher Columbus through a lens different than the romantic story of colonization that has been instilled in my mind since elementary school. We learned about colonization from a Latin American perspective followed by Neocolonialism which came later. Aside from the readings with do, we have “charlas” where guest speakers share with us over various topics. This week Javier (a LASP professor and “tico” - Costa Rican) spoke to us about Costa Rica’s history up to the present day of Neoliberalism (different than that of the U.S.). Another day, Elmer (a Salvadoran) shared his story with us relating to the theme of poverty. Elmer grew up near a landfill/dump scavenging for food to survive day to day with his family. Hunger and poverty were his LIFE. (For us it is only a THEME). He was a teenager during the 12 year civil war of El Salvador. Through his life, Elmer’s refuge has been his imagination – his creativity. He is an artist –painter, and a writer. He did not share his story to gain pity or compassion on him or others like him, but was thankful for the opportunity to be heard…to have a voice. Consequently, he raised our awareness and encouraged us to care through relationships around us…serving with the gifts that God has given us…no necessarily through some religious or political organization, but through our own “temple” …because each of us is a temple of God. We have the choice to honor God with our temple…our life…to embrace our circumstances and press on, acting in faith.
In ICADS…we reviewed basic grammar concepts that are fundamental to gaining more knowledge and experience speaking Spanish. I enjoy these classes because there are only 4 students in my group. We have the opportunity to experience a different tico/tica professor (authentic language and context) each week. I am learning more to speak up and not care about making mistakes!
La cultura.…this week….
-I experienced the love of fútbol…which begins in the league of kids like my little brother and strong support from parents
-I killed my first cockroach in my room (Mami heard me from her room and chuckled to herself, “Bienvenida a Costa Rica JoJo!” (Welcome to Costa Rica Joanne).
-I ate a “cajita feliz” (happy meal) from McDonalds with my familia. I have not eaten those since who knows when…healthy me!
-Thursday I celebrated “Día del Niño” with my familia. A day to honor children! Que bien! The children celebrate in the school with candy and traditional dances. Grandma made a cake; we ate ice cream (my favorite!); my siblings and I received chocolates.
-I take a shower every morning. Costa Ricans value cleanliness.
-I watched a pirated movie with my familia with terrible Spanish subtitles!
-I enjoyed “cafecito” with Mami and passed hours after dinner learning from her life and perspective….
Que Dios le acompañe. (May God go with you). (A typical saying of a loving, caring mother...when I leave the house).
Week #2…The first full week of classes at LASP and at ICADS.
At the LASP Institute, we have classes in the morning from 8 AM to 11:30/12. Our mothers pack us lunches, which we eat there before heading to ICADS for language classes. At the ICADS Institute, we have classes from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM in groups of 3-6 people with a native speaker/professor according to our level/aptitude of Spanish. I walk with a few other students to both LASP and ICADS. We take the bus back home because it gets dark early (6 PM).
One of the themes of LASP is “aprendemos haciendo” (we learn by doing). What a blessing it has been to be immersed in a culture to learn and raise our awareness, especially as North Americans, middle class, private Christian university students!
In LASP this week, we established the foundation of our exploration through themes relating to Latinoamérica. Through readings and discussion, we recounted the history of Christopher Columbus through a lens different than the romantic story of colonization that has been instilled in my mind since elementary school. We learned about colonization from a Latin American perspective followed by Neocolonialism which came later. Aside from the readings with do, we have “charlas” where guest speakers share with us over various topics. This week Javier (a LASP professor and “tico” - Costa Rican) spoke to us about Costa Rica’s history up to the present day of Neoliberalism (different than that of the U.S.). Another day, Elmer (a Salvadoran) shared his story with us relating to the theme of poverty. Elmer grew up near a landfill/dump scavenging for food to survive day to day with his family. Hunger and poverty were his LIFE. (For us it is only a THEME). He was a teenager during the 12 year civil war of El Salvador. Through his life, Elmer’s refuge has been his imagination – his creativity. He is an artist –painter, and a writer. He did not share his story to gain pity or compassion on him or others like him, but was thankful for the opportunity to be heard…to have a voice. Consequently, he raised our awareness and encouraged us to care through relationships around us…serving with the gifts that God has given us…no necessarily through some religious or political organization, but through our own “temple” …because each of us is a temple of God. We have the choice to honor God with our temple…our life…to embrace our circumstances and press on, acting in faith.
In ICADS…we reviewed basic grammar concepts that are fundamental to gaining more knowledge and experience speaking Spanish. I enjoy these classes because there are only 4 students in my group. We have the opportunity to experience a different tico/tica professor (authentic language and context) each week. I am learning more to speak up and not care about making mistakes!
La cultura.…this week….
-I experienced the love of fútbol…which begins in the league of kids like my little brother and strong support from parents
-I killed my first cockroach in my room (Mami heard me from her room and chuckled to herself, “Bienvenida a Costa Rica JoJo!” (Welcome to Costa Rica Joanne).
-I ate a “cajita feliz” (happy meal) from McDonalds with my familia. I have not eaten those since who knows when…healthy me!
-Thursday I celebrated “Día del Niño” with my familia. A day to honor children! Que bien! The children celebrate in the school with candy and traditional dances. Grandma made a cake; we ate ice cream (my favorite!); my siblings and I received chocolates.
-I take a shower every morning. Costa Ricans value cleanliness.
-I watched a pirated movie with my familia with terrible Spanish subtitles!
-I enjoyed “cafecito” with Mami and passed hours after dinner learning from her life and perspective….
Que Dios le acompañe. (May God go with you). (A typical saying of a loving, caring mother...when I leave the house).
Saturday, September 4, 2010
¡Pura Vida!
Alaba al SEÑOR, nuestro Dios y Salvador que día tras día sobrelleva nuestras cargas. Salmo 68:19
(Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. –Psalm 68:19)
I have only spent 4 days in Costa Rica, but I have learned muchísimo thus far. This first week of LASP is Orientation. We (somos 34 estudiantes en total) spent the first full day (Wednesday) in a retreat center in Coronado. Our host families came to the retreat center to take us home in the afternoon. What an emotional and nerve racking time for many of the students. It was also exciting to hear the parents’ excitement for us and watch the greetings (a hug and a ‘kiss’ on the cheek). We drew our families out of a hat. All are Christian families that are carefully and mindfully selected by the LASP staff. I shall share about my familia later…
The second day of Orientation (Thursday) we met in the center of San Jose for a scavenger hunt in groups of 3-4 students. A major theme of LASP is “learning by doing” (aprender haciendo). This is exactly what we did to orient ourselves to the city. Learning….the main calles and avenidas, money exchange, post office, pharmacy, public phone booth, POPS (popular ice cream shop), market, Mall San Pedro, bus system, taxi, etc. We also learned our way to ICADS in Curridabat where we will go in the afternoons for conversational Spanish classes during the next 5 weeks. A professor of this school interviewed us individually to evaluate our current level of conversational Spanish. Finally, to bring closure to the experience, our smaller groups merged with 2 other groups to have coffee in a Café with one of the LASP professors.
-My new favorite Spanish word is “cafeteando”….which means to have coffee, which implies the value of relationships over time in Latin American culture – to make time to spend “cafeteando” with friends at a Café or in the house with family o neighbors. This concept I greatly appreciate about Latin Americans.-
The third day of Orientation (Friday), the LASP students met at the institute of LASP in Carmen where we will meet for Basic Seminar each morning for the next 5 weeks. The staff challenged us through a cultural exchange activity, which demonstrated how quick we are to stereotype a culture not our own or to easily discern the negative things about another culture before understanding its perspective. A director of the preventative police force spoke to us about security. The LASP staff and our host families also stress the importance of safety.
I also learned more about the Concentration of Advanced Language and Literature (ALL) that I will participate in with 11 other students halfway through the semester. We will spend the first 2 weeks of this concentration having class together at LASP with Profe Laura. We will read pieces of literature that represent prominent themes of Latin America. The following 3 ½ weeks will be a placement in the countryside working among the people in a school or a farm or other area of work. Spanish will be the tool for learning….because we value Spanish, we care about the people who represent this identity and will learn through interacting with the locals and our families. The final week of the semester, the ALL students will spend a week on an indigenous island with the Kunas learning how to communicate in our second language with people who share that commonality. I look forward to these experiences, but will enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Día por día.
Lastly, mi familia!!! I am blessed to have the opportunity to live in the center of bustling Guadalupe (a neighborhood of San Jose) in a simple house with Mamá Carmen, sister Giovanni, brothers Alejandro and Sebastian, and mini toy poodles Cookie and Sakumi. Everyone has a nickname, and I was welcomed into the family this way on the first evening together. I am now “Jo” or “JoJo.” A mi no me importa.
Giovi is 15. Ale is 11, and Sebas is 8. I am enthralled with having 2 little brothers because I only have younger sisters at home in Ohio. I have never had this experience! Ale plays fútbol (soccer) and Sebas loves videojuegos (videogames). In the evenings so far, we have played multiple games of Clue and Uno (in Spanish). Very fun! They also enjoy telenovelas and fútbol on TV. Giovi is a teen who hangs out in her own room watching TV in the evening or spends time with friends or her boyfriend. But the curfew is ALWAYS 9 PM, which is sufficient.
My mom is a single mother who works full time in school administration and manages the house as well. She is a great example of a Christian mother as I have observed thus far. She explains everything to me and is very patient. She is not the stereotypical Mamá that expects me to eat plate after plate of rice and beans. She would rather know what I do like and do not like of the meals that she fixes. So far we have had pasta with chicken, and soup of pasta, plátanos, and hardboiled egg. We eat white toast and drink coffee for breakfast. My lunch consists of a ham sandwich and a jam and butter sandwich on white bread. This is common. I will eat what she provides for me! I am grateful for a loving and welcoming family whom I get to be a part of (do what they do) for 5 straight weeks.
Gracias a Dios.
Wisdom for the journey: Be flexible; Be slow to judge; Listen first; Do not complain, Be grateful.
*pray that I can continue to be open minded and living out this wisdom!
En paz, Joanne
(Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. –Psalm 68:19)
I have only spent 4 days in Costa Rica, but I have learned muchísimo thus far. This first week of LASP is Orientation. We (somos 34 estudiantes en total) spent the first full day (Wednesday) in a retreat center in Coronado. Our host families came to the retreat center to take us home in the afternoon. What an emotional and nerve racking time for many of the students. It was also exciting to hear the parents’ excitement for us and watch the greetings (a hug and a ‘kiss’ on the cheek). We drew our families out of a hat. All are Christian families that are carefully and mindfully selected by the LASP staff. I shall share about my familia later…
The second day of Orientation (Thursday) we met in the center of San Jose for a scavenger hunt in groups of 3-4 students. A major theme of LASP is “learning by doing” (aprender haciendo). This is exactly what we did to orient ourselves to the city. Learning….the main calles and avenidas, money exchange, post office, pharmacy, public phone booth, POPS (popular ice cream shop), market, Mall San Pedro, bus system, taxi, etc. We also learned our way to ICADS in Curridabat where we will go in the afternoons for conversational Spanish classes during the next 5 weeks. A professor of this school interviewed us individually to evaluate our current level of conversational Spanish. Finally, to bring closure to the experience, our smaller groups merged with 2 other groups to have coffee in a Café with one of the LASP professors.
-My new favorite Spanish word is “cafeteando”….which means to have coffee, which implies the value of relationships over time in Latin American culture – to make time to spend “cafeteando” with friends at a Café or in the house with family o neighbors. This concept I greatly appreciate about Latin Americans.-
The third day of Orientation (Friday), the LASP students met at the institute of LASP in Carmen where we will meet for Basic Seminar each morning for the next 5 weeks. The staff challenged us through a cultural exchange activity, which demonstrated how quick we are to stereotype a culture not our own or to easily discern the negative things about another culture before understanding its perspective. A director of the preventative police force spoke to us about security. The LASP staff and our host families also stress the importance of safety.
I also learned more about the Concentration of Advanced Language and Literature (ALL) that I will participate in with 11 other students halfway through the semester. We will spend the first 2 weeks of this concentration having class together at LASP with Profe Laura. We will read pieces of literature that represent prominent themes of Latin America. The following 3 ½ weeks will be a placement in the countryside working among the people in a school or a farm or other area of work. Spanish will be the tool for learning….because we value Spanish, we care about the people who represent this identity and will learn through interacting with the locals and our families. The final week of the semester, the ALL students will spend a week on an indigenous island with the Kunas learning how to communicate in our second language with people who share that commonality. I look forward to these experiences, but will enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Día por día.
Lastly, mi familia!!! I am blessed to have the opportunity to live in the center of bustling Guadalupe (a neighborhood of San Jose) in a simple house with Mamá Carmen, sister Giovanni, brothers Alejandro and Sebastian, and mini toy poodles Cookie and Sakumi. Everyone has a nickname, and I was welcomed into the family this way on the first evening together. I am now “Jo” or “JoJo.” A mi no me importa.
Giovi is 15. Ale is 11, and Sebas is 8. I am enthralled with having 2 little brothers because I only have younger sisters at home in Ohio. I have never had this experience! Ale plays fútbol (soccer) and Sebas loves videojuegos (videogames). In the evenings so far, we have played multiple games of Clue and Uno (in Spanish). Very fun! They also enjoy telenovelas and fútbol on TV. Giovi is a teen who hangs out in her own room watching TV in the evening or spends time with friends or her boyfriend. But the curfew is ALWAYS 9 PM, which is sufficient.
My mom is a single mother who works full time in school administration and manages the house as well. She is a great example of a Christian mother as I have observed thus far. She explains everything to me and is very patient. She is not the stereotypical Mamá that expects me to eat plate after plate of rice and beans. She would rather know what I do like and do not like of the meals that she fixes. So far we have had pasta with chicken, and soup of pasta, plátanos, and hardboiled egg. We eat white toast and drink coffee for breakfast. My lunch consists of a ham sandwich and a jam and butter sandwich on white bread. This is common. I will eat what she provides for me! I am grateful for a loving and welcoming family whom I get to be a part of (do what they do) for 5 straight weeks.
Gracias a Dios.
Wisdom for the journey: Be flexible; Be slow to judge; Listen first; Do not complain, Be grateful.
*pray that I can continue to be open minded and living out this wisdom!
En paz, Joanne
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)