LA COSMODENASHHHH!!!...What men want 69 SEXY TIPS

for finding WI-FI...

how moving out of your host family’s house will

BOOST YOUR SEX LIFE!

GET THE BODY YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED!

• Frantically sprinting towards departing buses• Involuntary sweating• Squating over PALI restroom toilets

APRIL/MAY 2015

RECIPES ARTICLES Playlists photos jokes

LIFE HACKS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE!!!

A p r i l F o o l s!Laughter can go a long way on this awkard, upredictable, emotional ride we call Peace Corps...

So smile more - it’s contagious!

February - May 2015

CURRENT EVENTS

Thoughtful stories, poetry & artwork from fellow PCVs

JOKES & ADVICE from your favorite fluffy bear

5 minute interviews! Who’s up?

MEET YOUR NEW VAC

REPS!

cheap eats and treats--for you and your pooch!

Be HAPPIER! Life tips from peers and staff

PODCASTS & PLAYLISTS

On a budget? Natural, easy- to find beauty

products

Life hacks that will BLOW YOUR MIND!

Changes for next issue & how YOU can help!

LA CADENA

Calling all Peace Corps Poets!Peace Corps Volunteers have an exceptional opportunity to cross frontiers—both physical and cultural—and share their experiences abroad through a unique lens. In the spirit of sharing this perspective, we are proud to announce the first annual Peace Corps Poetry Competition!

You are invited to submit up to three original poems that reflect your Peace Corps experience and demonstrate your host country pride.

Who is Eligible to Enter?All current and returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Peace Corps staff are eligible.

What Should I Submit?Submit up to three original, unpublished poems that highlight your volunteer experience and promote the Third Goal of Peace Corps. The poem(s) must be free of inappropriate content or copyrighted material. Entries must also be primarily in English, with footnotes explaining any words not in English.

Pablo Neruda once said, “Poetry is an act of peace.” Let’s make poetry an act of Peace

How do I Submit?Make sure to follow both of the steps below carefully to ensure your eligibility.

Go to www.peacecorps.gov/resources/returned/thirdgoal/poetry/ to enter your name and other qualifying information. The entire form will take you about one minute to complete.

Email your poem as a word document to poetrycontest@peacecorps.gov

Are There Prizes?There sure are!

1st place--RPCV and PCV category: Winning poems will be printed on a 17 x22” color poster. Posters will be distributed to winners, their countries of service, and will be proudly displayed at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C and regional offices throughout the United States. Winners and first runners-up will receive custom Peace Corps journals.

When Does the Contest End?Deadline for submission is 12:00 AM EST on April 30, 2015.

What Should I Write About?That’s up to you! Just make sure it is focused on some aspect of your Peace Corps service.

Suggested themes: celebration, cultural proverbs, nature, day-to-day life, food, life in site, locations/special places

Questions? Drop us a line at poetrycontest@peacecorps.gov

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover..................................................................................... 1Cover #2................................................................................ 2PC Poetry Contest............................................................... 3Table of Contents................................................................. 4Editors Note.......................................................................... 5Current Events...................................................................... 6Disclaimer............................................................................. 7Meet the Editos..................................................................... 8The Truth is Never Hidden................................................. 9We Need You Help!.............................................................. 10Our For Dulces..................................................................... 11TED Jokes.............................................................................. 12Ask TED................................................................................. 135-Minute Interviews............................................................. 14 - 23VAC......................................................................................... 24Love Your Host Family.......................................................... 25Chef TED................................................................................ 26-2710 Harsh Truths..................................................................... 28-29Podcasts!................................................................................. 30-34Animal Guide......................................................................... 35A Turban Story....................................................................... 36JFK........................................................................................... 37When You Lose Someone..................................................... 38-39Curlies..................................................................................... 40-41Tico 27 Compilation............................................................. 42-47Life Hacks............................................................................... 48-49Playlists................................................................................... 50-51The Weegee Guide................................................................. 52-53Guaycara Festival.................................................................. 54-58Calling for Submissions........................................................ 59Back Cover.............................................................................. 60

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ADD YOUR CONTENT TO LA CADENA ----------------------------------------- LACADENA730@GMAIL.COM

EDITOR’S NOTEQueridos Voluntarios,

We thank you for picking up, downloading, reading through, and enjoyiing the newest edition of La Cadena. At the end of the newsletter you will find the more properly placed, “We thank you for reading the newest edition of La Cadena” sen-tence.

This edition is a compilation of submissions from enthusiastic left brained volunteers who have no verguenza about showcas-ing their talents. From poems to paintings to advice and even personal anecdotes, this Cosmopolitan edition is an array of pieces we take great pride in. It’s a “No Burlando Zone”.

La Cadena is the traditionally the primary outlet we have to creatively express ourselves amongst ourselves - to celebrate the collective experience of Peace Corps, if not life. We pro-duce the content! We format the magazine! We read and enjoyit! We should treat it as the valuable chronicle that it is.

We hope that you enjoy the pieces we have crafted for you in this magazine and look forward to your feedback as we, PCCR, work collectively to make it more representative of our needs, our sentiments, our ups and our downs, our joys and everything in between.

Disfruten!The Editors of La Cadena

President Obama has removed Cuba from the List of State Sponsors of Terrorists as of April 14th, 2015. Cuba was first designated as such during the height of the Cold War in 1982.

The removal of President Raúl Castro’s country from the list leaves Sudan, Syria and Iran as the remaining black-list-ed countries.

Since 1979, Iraq, South Yemen, North Korea and Libya have also been cut off from US economic assisstance, arms sales, exports and other sanctions.

“Our hemisphere, and the world, look very different today than they did 33 years ago,” Secretary of State John F. Kerry said in a statement.”

Another Clinton on the Ballot

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is running for the presidency of the United States of America, again. Her attempt in 2008 coincided with that of Mr. Obama and, well, you know the story.This time around her campaign is focused on four “big fights:” 1) the economy of tomorrow, 2) strengthening fam-ilies and communities, 3) fixing the dysfunctional political system and getting unaccountable money out of it and 4) protecting the country from imminent threats and those that are on the horizon. Several political scientists are labeling her campaign populist, or repesentative of the everyday American.Senators Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are all vying for the Republican nomination.

Changes in US-CubaRelations

I.S.I.SOn March 13th, 2015, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi accepted the pledge of allegiance extended by Boko Haram, the Islamist extremist terrorist group ravishing northern Nigeria. This past April 14th, 2015 marked one year after Boko Haram’s kidnapping of 270 girls from the Chibok Government Secondary School in the Borno State of Nigeria. 30 have been returned to date.FOX News and Judicial Watch, the nonpartisan govern-ment watchdog group. report that ISIS has establshed a camp at Anapra, situated just west of Ciudad Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.The group, according to CBCNews, also just assumed responsibility for destroying ruins in the ancient Iraqi Assyrian city of Nimrud, destroying a site dating back to the 13th century BC. The Sunni organization’s aim is to create an Islamic cali-phate in the Middle East ruled by strict Sharia Law.

HEADLINES --FORMER IMF CHEIF, SPAN-IARD RODRIGO MATA DE-TAINED FOR FRAUD AND MON-EY LAUNDERING

--ANDREAS LUBITZ, PILOT OF GERMANWINGS FLIGHT 9525, REPORTED DEPRESSION. EURO-PEAN GOVT WAS AWARE.

--MUHAMMADU BUHARI ELECT-ED NEW NIGERIAN PRESIDENT AGAIN; WILL FIGHT CORRUP-TION

--PUTIN DEFENDS MISSILE DEAL WITH IRAN

DISCLAIMER La Cadena is a paper-based and online magazine published triannually by and for Peace Corps Costa RicaVolunteers with the intention of providing a venue for information exchange between and among Peace Corps Costa Rica volunteers, staff and other PCVs and staff around the world. Any opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors themselves and are not necessarily shared by La Cadena staff, the Peace Corps, or the United States Government. La Cadena welcomes pieces of the professional or creative genre, but all articles submitted will be censored by Peace Corps staff. In addition, articles may be edited for reasons of clarity and space. All staff members are responsible for the selection of articles published and/or not pub-lished in each issue. La Cadena wholeheartedly acknowledges the assistance of Peace Corps Costa Rica in publishing this magazine. We are grateful for the use of the Peace Corps office, the equipment, and for the special assistance of the staff in placing copies in PCV cubbies and mailing copies to Peace Corps headquarters. Submissions

Any piece of writing and photography may be submitted to:lacadena730@gmail.com. A digital version will be available at PCCR Google Docs. To request a hard copy please send an email to La Cadena, once confirmed your hard copy issue will be left in your Peace Corps HQ mailbox. Originals works will be returned upon request.

Would you like to tag....

FERNANDO BOTELLOTICO 26 CED

Would you like to tag....

LAUREN SANGUINETTICO 27 TEFL

Would you like to tag....

JALEEL JOHNSONTICO 27 TEFL

Would you like to tag....

DAVID DUESINGTICO 26 YD

The truth is never hidden By Christelle Domercant, Tico 25

Echoed in the distance The slushy sound of coldCradling this small voice of motivationThe truth cannot be hidden

Pondering, searching for the answer Confusion and despair Finding room for adaptation The truth cannot be hidden

It vanishes quicklyAt least for a moment then collapsesLeaving breadcrumbsThe truth cannot be hidden

Asparkoffireerupted The start of full consumption It was known all along The truth cannot be hidden

Under blazing heatSo it must be toldThe truth cannot be hidden

The cracking sound of dryness Slowly emerging into consciousness Living a reality from a dormant mind The truth cannot be hidden

Success is not written Money doesn’t bring happinessLife is not fair and…The truth cannot be hidden

Letting clarity rise Allowing acceptance of self Advocating for inner needs and wants From this day on the truth will never be hidden

Take a deep, yoga breath, find a comfortable chair and pause the spinning in your head.

It has come to our attention that this magazine, PERHAPS, has not been as effective at what it sets out to do … maintain your attention. This vessel is written, revised and published by and for you all, the Peace Corps Volunteer community of La Rica Costa. However, much like the projects that our Community Development co-workers are establishing, these communal initiatives must engage the target population and ultimately become something that we all are proud of.

Without constructive criticism and steady input from us, the volunteers, this vessel will be nothing more than the combined efforts of five members of the Peace Corps Costa Rica family. O sea, far from ideal. We the “La Cadena” staff are entering a revamping stage with you, the reader, in mind. There are several variables that are up for discussion and we are placing the power squarely on your shoulders. Three years after the establishment of the Peace Corps, the service organization we belong to in this Rica Costa was inaugurated. However, it is unclear when and where the name, La Cadena, was established.

The Chain, though, can refer to many things – the chain of American citizens advocating for interna-tional development and social change; the worldly chain that we, volunteers, fortify everyday between the United States and its 139 partner countries; or, from a micro standpoint, the chain that links vol-unteers with other volunteers, taking into consideration the technological limitations that existed in the initial PC years. All this taken into consideration, it is safe to say that the realities of the Peace Corps, its capacity abroad, the programs it implements and the breed of volunteer have all evolved since the 1960s. With such, it has occurred to us to implement our own ounce of change.

With the existence of the VAC newsletters, facebook communication, emailing etc, we at La Cadena need to hear from you what our niche should be. We are going to continue to publish the newsletter … pero es que, we are exploring a new alias.

Now, rather than having the four brains behind this machine make an executive decision, we are peti-tioning input from the diverse community which it serves. This being said, we want to know what you think. Do you like the name La Cadena? Would you prefer to see a new name represent this publi-cation? There is something to be honored about tradition. But there is progress in chainge. Which do you prefer? Let us know!

Write lacadena730@gmail.com with you input and responses to the following questions:

1: Would you like to see the name of La Cadena changed? And if so - what names do you suggest?2: How much of the publication do you read? 3: What would you like to see more/less of in this newsletter?4: What do you like, dislike about the publication?5. How often would you like to see the newsletter published?6. Would you prefer to receive the publication electronically?

OUT FOR DULCES“In a soda one Friday afternoon I spotted a family “Out For Dulces” and I couldn’t resist taking a photo of them. They did not have internet in their homes or email addresses. So instead I printed the photo and bought a frame for them. I then left the framed photo in the same soda for the family to eventually pickup. I never got their names, or any details of their lives. So many stories behind all of these faces we encounter each day. If we simply take the time to listen. What’s your story? “

- Doug Lyons

TED Jokes

PEPITO* JOKES

Llega Pepito con su Mamá y dice:- Yo ya no quiero jugar con Juanito al rompe-cabezas.- ¿Por qué?.- Porque al primer martillazo ya está lloran-do.

En la escuela, la maestra dice:- A ver Pepito, ¿cómo te imaginas la escuela ideal?.- ¡Cerrada, maestra!

Érase una vez Pepito que se puso a vender huevos dentro de una iglesia:- ¡Huevos, huevos, a 75 colones cada uno!.Y el padre muy molesto grita:- ¡Saquen a ese niño de los huevos!.Y Pepito asustado le dice:- ¡Padre, mejor de la orejita!

La mamá llama a Pepito y le dice:- Le dijiste a tu hermana que era fea, y esta llorando. Ve y dile que lo sientes.Entonces, va Pepito y le dice a la hermana:- Hermanita, siento que seas tan fea.

* Pepito, conocido en otros sitios como Jaimito, es un niño muy curioso cuyo propósito es realizar preguntas indiscre-tas o poner en evidencia situaciones incómodas o curiosas para los adultos de la casa (y de otras casas).

Memes are now Illegal in Россия

Ask TEDGot a question I gots the answer. Need advice, I will help you succeed. Want to tell me something; I’m all b-ears. Ask away at: lacadena730@gmail.com.

Ramona DowdellTICO 26

What’s the best strategy to become famous?

Write a column in a magazine no one reads, with the hopes that someone will notice you and offer you a break in the “biz”. Do you have a food allergy?

I thankfully don’t, but I do have an allergy to boring people.

What’s really the difference between cabbage and lettuce?!

The primary difference between these vegetables is that they are from two different plant families. While this is the most significant difference, there are also other dissimilarities between them. This includes their nu-tritional values and how they are eaten. (I just Googled it).

Anonymous

Why does anybody like creamy peanut butter?

I was feeding an elephant named Cookie, and an old peanut I was about to throw away started talking to me. I asked him that exact same question (weird right?). He said, “People like creamy peanut butter because they’re stoopidddd.” He then said his dream was to become part of a jar of crunchy peanut butter. I threw him to the elephants mouth...

Sancho Panza

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie pop?

To be exact, it takes 137 swirly licks. If you don’t swirly then it takes 205 licks. It’s all about the tongue swirl.

Rodrigo Gutierrez

Is there a God?

I think there is one...I’ll let you know when I die.

What is the meaning of life?

No se :(...

How can I force someone to love me?

Use these pickup lines and they work everytime, 60% of the time...

“Does this smell like chloroform to you?”

“Did your head hurt...When you fell from heaven?”

“I’m no Fred Flinstone, but I bet I can make your bed rock”

“Are you tired...Because you’ve been running through my mind all day”

“How much does a polar bear weigh?...Enough to break the ice.”

“I’m Batman”

“Nice legs; what time do they open?”

Why should I...???The dog....???Pizza or..???

5 minute interviews...

<<UP THIS ROUND>>

Marlee Cea Philip Nordeck Cory Samz

Marlee Cea Hometown: Cooper City, Florida Education: Undergraduate in Psychology with Women’s Studies mi-nor from University of South Florida. Current candidate for Masters in Sustainable Development from SIT.Work Experience: Mom and pop pizza shop manager in high school, crisis counselor in Tampa, segway tour guide in Seattle, Americorps NCCC volunteer in the Atlantic northeast region and current PCV.

PC Site: Los Jardines, San Ramon, AlajuelaTime in Country: 1 year and 8 monthsWho do you live with? Una compañera de trabajo de la escuelaFavorite Spanish Word: Diay!Current Projects: 5th and 6th grader Voces groups, “Como hablar de sexualidad con sus hijos,” workshop series, Green classroom projects with each grade in the escuela.

Tico

26y

outh

development

3 Words that describe….

• your site: nice, normal city

• your transportation situation: convenient, reliable and close

• your relationship with your community: friendly, comfortable and open

•a typical Saturday night in your site: still in my jams from the morning trying to cook something new while watching as many movies as I can before I fall asleep…at 9.

Post PC Plans: Head to South America with fellow pcvs, then finish my thesis and find a grown up job.

What you miss most from back home? Happy hours and Publix Subs

Would you ever do Peace Corps again? Not immediately but absolutely.

Finish these sentences!

Peace Corps is like... Spending one year in the dark feeling around for clues and the next year with the lights on surrounded by friends but listening to a countdown over loudspeakers. I don’t remember the last time I... shaved my legs.

I’ll never forget the first time I… after 10 minutes of flushing, had to ask for a bucket at a fellow pcv’s coun-terpart’s family’s house in order to get it all down.

As long as I live I will never again… eat rice with tuna in it.

Favorite place in Costa Rica: Zarcero

Favorite thing to do in San Jose: Find new stuff to do…it’s not easy.

Go-to drink: Here – fresco de Cas

Food you miss the most: good deli sandwiches

Dream job: Working for UNESCO or Oxfam, proba-bly.

Currently reading: pretending to read Extremely-Loud and Incredibly Close

Currently listening to: Some 1980’s love ballads at a café in San Ramon

Last Movie you watched: Lone Survivor

Give us a haiku! (3 lines of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables)

The time has come nowPlan, pack, ship, thank, love, hug, bye

Every moment counts!

What do you do when you are bored? Read or watch a movie

Fun fact about yourself: I just got a puppy!!

What keeps you sane? Keeping up with friends and family here and back in the states.

Lessons learned: Breathe, keep breathing it will all turn out one way or another. Don’t take yourself to serious-ly, no one else does.

Philip Nordeck Tico 27 - TEFL

“[Here is] a photo of me atop Chirripo, at a really cool waterfall, and on the beach, all at the same. I am pretty awesome--I know.”

Current Projects:

• Aerobics Class

• Community English Class

• Bachillerato Prep Course

• Listening Materials Project

Hometown: Littleton, Colorado

Education: B.A. Philosophy, English (University of Colorado, Boulder)

Work Experience: Frozen Yogurt

PC Site: La Lucha de Sabalito, Panama

Time in Country: 13 months

Whom do you live with? My Tico host-family: Car-los, Marielos, Alex, and Cristina. They’re awesome!

Favorite Spanish Word: Mae

3 Words that describe:

•Your site: Frescito, Chill, Coffee

•Your transportation situation: Bicycles All Day!

•Your relationship with your com-munity: Swag, Swag, Swag

•A typical Saturday night in your site: Asleep by 9

Post PC Plans: Get some delicious Mexican food.

What do you miss most from back home?: Shredding fresh blankets of sicky sicky gnar gnar in the Rocky Mountains.

Would you ever do Peace Corps again?: Yes

Finish these sentences!

Peace Corps is like... being covered in a lot of sand.

I don’t remember the last time...I forgot.

I’ll never forget the first time...I took a bus to San Jose. We drove under a bridge that was on fire.

As long as I live I will never again...eat bean paste.

What do you do when you are bored?: Being bored is for suckers.

Fun fact about yourself: I am in a PBS documentary about hot dogs.

What keeps you sane? This question is worded such that it presumes I maintain my sanity. To rephrase: I TRY to keep sane by riding my bicycle and meditating.

Lessons learned?:

• Always slightly jiggle the handle before-hand to ensure the toilet will actually flush.

• TeleTica is always with you...always. • When in doubt, respond with: “Rico!” “Pura Vida!” or “Si, verdad.”

• Don’t take anything in life too seriously.

Favorite Place in Costa Rica?: Las Tablas de Parque Amistad

Favorite thing to do in San Jose?: Leave San Jose

Go-to drink?: Water

Food you miss the most?: Proper grilled cheese

Dream Job: Professional Musician

Currently Reading: Foreign Affairs: “The Trouble With Race”

Currently Listening to: This American Life; Planet Money; Cultura Profetica; Kendrick Lamar; Excision; Bonobo

Last Movie Watched: Boyhood

Haiku:

Sit still. Breathe in. Breatheout Universe as it waves

to itself. Hi, me.

CoRy Samz

ti

o

28

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Education: Bachelor’s in Social WorkMaster’s in Social Work (Nonprofit Management)

Work Experience: A lot of restaurant experience, case work with homeless families and veterans, and university student development.

PC Site: Santa Barbara de Santa Cruz, Guanacaste

Time in Country: 9 months

Who do you live with? I live with my host family. My mom is third generation chinese (great chinese food) and my dad comes from a long line of Guanacastans. They have 4 kids, 18-29 years old, only one lives in the house. They are well educated and traveled. They’re pretty great! Come visit.

Current Projects:At the technical high school:- I’m doing a Life Skills and Mentorship Program with the 10th, 11th, 12th, and Special Education. - I’m helping kickstart the Bandera Azul Program- Paint 4 Progress: A regional mural painting project paired with youth development charlas. Paint was purchased in bulk through a grant written by our Regional Leader. Five volunteers are partici-pating.*With the Asociacion Desarrollo Integral, we are considering a courts 4 kids project.

Favorite Spanish [Phrase]: Entonces que?“Sometimes you just have to cut through the fluff.”

y uth development

3 words for:

Site: hot, rustic, JesusTransportation: When’s the bus? Relationship with community: can change dailyA typical Saturday night in your site: La Cueva Lion (I can hear the bar jamming from my bed...never been though, promise)

Post PC Plans:Look for jobs in international development or NPO/NGO consulting, extend in the PC or return to the U.S. and look for a job at a Universi-ty in Study Abroad or Service-Learning.

What you miss most from back home?There’s a little Italian restaurant in Mobile, AL--everything is hand-made, Yum!--or running on the Greenway in Athens, GA (I lived there for a year before coming here.) It’s a beautiful running/biking path that cuts through town and several parks and rivers.

Would you ever do Peace Corps again?I think I would. No job is perfect but there are few other opportuni-ties that I know of where I can be paid (even if barely) to experience life differently, meet incredible people (in country and volunteers), and to learn and grow so much, personally and professionally.

Finish these sentences...

Peace Corps is like... the first time I rode a roller coaster. I kept my eyes closed in the first loop, opened them just in time for a terrified photo, but by the end I was smiling.

I don’t remember the last time I... ate rice before coming to Costa Rica.

I’ll never forget the time I...tried to give the cheek kiss to my PST host dad on the first day. For some reason, I thought it was universal. Most awkward hug ever.

As long as I live I will never again...believe that ahora means now.

What keeps you sane? Other volunteers and friends back home.

Fun Fact: I’ve flown a plane.

Lessons learned: I like to have control more than I admit, but maybe somethings aren’t really worth the stress.

Favorite place in Costa Rica: “Aqui Es” an Argentinian restaurant near Parque Sabana en SJ.

Favorite thing to do in San Jose: I shouldn’t say go to Aqui Es, should I?

Go-to drink: water, lots of water and a gin and tonic.

Food you miss the most: Shrimp & grits, Salmon scramble and fried green toma-toes.

Dream job: A job at the Carter Center or to open a small cafe and enjoy a simple life.

Currently reading: Daring GreatlyCurrently listening to: HozierLast movie you watched: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Haiku:

I dedicate this haiku to my friends and fellow Tico 28ers,

Doug & Eli:

Life’s waves, assured strengthRemember, friendship remains.

Starbursts ~ Swedish Fish

VACDear Peace Corps Costa Rica,

If you haven’t heard enough from us already - hello again! We’re your 2015-16 Volunteer Advisory Council representatives. We collect your feedback, we order your T-shirts, and we even grill your Super Bowl grub! Our goal is to help you make your Peace Corps experience as meaningful and fulfilling possible by facilitating communication between staff and volunteers as well as organizing professional and social events throughout the year. With that in mind, we’re happy to announce our 2015 calendar of events:

♥ May 8th - Tico 29 Site Assignment Day and WelcomeVAC (Backpackers Hostel)♥ July - VAC National Meeting (all PCVs are welcome to attend)♥ July 4th - Join us at the American Colony Committee’s Independence Day Picnic Celebration!♥ September - Tico 30 Site Assignment Day and WelcomeVAC (location TBD)♥ November - VAC National Meeting♥ November 26th - Thanksgiving, thanks to the generosity of Embassy families!

Our collective success relies on YOUR participation. We sincerely appreciate your contributions, whether it’s attending a VAC National Meeting or suggesting new ideas for get-togethers. Please reach out to your regional rep or write to us at pccr.vac@gmail.com; our door is always open. Let us know how VAC can best serve the PCV community.

A big thanks to the 2014-15 VAC reps for all of their hard work and fresh ideas. We’re excited to pick up where they left off and try our hardest to make Peace Corps Costa Rica a better place.

Love and gallo pinto...

Love Your

Host Family

Like They

Love You!

A message from PCCR Training Staff

Our training communities are about to receive Tico 29. We admire these families who, for some years now, maintain their commitment to Peace Corps Mission and Vision.

During PST we do recognize monetarily their contribution every month, nevertheless we all would agree that the care and love they provide goes beyond any payment we could make.

They continue referring to our former Trainees as well as our Volunteers as mi hijo, mi hija; they treat you as a real child, and continue receiving you every time you come to San José.

Some of these families have enlarged their number and have, at times, a full house as, some of you, their hijos visit them or spend a couple of day with them.

They are generous and willing to share with you a clean bed, a warm meal and lots of acts of love.

We are requesting you, in this note, that you will show them your care, gratitude and love by bringing a token gift every time you stay with them or eat with them.

We appreciate all of you who have already done it. If you haven’t done it yet, we, the Training Team could provide some suggestions on how and what to do.

Some examples of what to do are: if you arrive at mealtime bring something you know they like and you would be happy to share with them. If you are only sleeping over, bring something that they don’t reg-ularly eat or buy, for instance cookies, ice cream, etc.

Some examples of what not to do are: arrive with food an eat in front of them and not share. Also staying over repeatedly with short notice or without offering anything in return is something you should not do.

We thank you for all the effort you put forth as volunteers, but we also ask that you do not forget the lov-ing people who help you succeed as Volunteers!

“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened”

John F. Kennedy

CHEF TED... Dog Biscuits for Peace CorpsPups

Ingredients:

- 2.5 cups flour, preferably whole wheat - 1 (or less) teaspoons salt - 1 egg- 1/2 cup chicken or beef broth, hot

Optional add-ins:

- Ground-up concentrado - Cheese - Wheat germ - Oats- Bacon bits (NOTE: If you find bacon bits to add to your biscuits, please send me a package via encomienda., for me. Not for my dog). - Liver powder (I think you can get liver capsules at the macrobioticas. I have never done this though).

Directions:

1. Mix everything together in a bowl, just mash it up. (Use blender preferably)2. Pour the mixture into a pan on me-dium heat (don’t forget some non-stick spray or oil lightly!)3. Cook for a couple minutes on each side, just like a pancake!

Hope your pooch enjoys!

by Adrienne Ostrove, Tico 26

Poor Man’sBean Tostadas

Ingredients:

- 2-4 corn tortillas - 1/2 to 1 cup of mashed beans - 1 sliced medium avocado- 1 diced medium tomato- 1 cup of diced lettuce- 1 tablespoon of cilantro- sliced onions (optional)- natilla (optional)- 1 lime

Optional Rich People add-ins:

- Shredded Beef- Shredded Chicken- Shredded Pork- Mas Avocado- Any melting cheeses (except Squeaky Cheese por favor...)

Directions:

1. Spread beans over tortillas and warm up in a pan at medium heat. Add cheese if If you were able to get some cheese add some on top. Wait 3-5 minutes until cheese melts or bottom of tortilla is nice crispy.2. Add all of the toppings, squeeze of lime, salt, pepper and TED’s Homemade Salsa*.

Provecho!

TED’s Homemade Salsa*

Ingredients:

- 6-8 jalapeño or Panamanian peppers- 3 cloves of garlic

CONTINUED...

- 1 large quarter diced onion- 1 large tomato- 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro- 1 lime- 1/4 cup of olive oil or cooking oil- salt & pepper (al gusto)

Directions:

1. Roast peppers, onion and tomato in a pan or comal.2. Dice all roasted ingredients coarsely or blend in blender.3. Add cilantro, oil, lime, pepper and salt and mix or blend. 4. Get some chips and dip in!

Provecho!

If have any recipes, you would like to share or see in the next issue. Be sure to send or request them to: lacadena730@gmail.com.

WORDS OF WISDOMFROM THE MOST WISE

Amanda Rabinowtiz - Peace Corps Guru / Fountainhead of Knowlegde / Winner at Life

Amidst photos of cute kids, cuddly animals, cherry blossoms, candid shots, character quizzes, and carefully posed pictures of friends near and far, I stumbled on the following article in my Facebook feed. I immediately thought it would make for a great article for PCVs whose mission is to make a difference by doing something meaningful. After each piece of advice, you can find my editorial comments in italics.

You can find the complete article at the following link; the online article also includes hyperlinks to several other articles that provide guidance and inspiration to those seeking personal and professional development.

www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/10-harsh-truths-that-will-improve-your-life-instantaneously.html

10 Harsh Truths that will Improve your Life Instantaneously

Everyone wants to make an impact and live a life they can be proud of – especially PCVs! But anyone who has ever known suc-cess or even been around the block a time or two knows that life comes with some hard realities. You’ve likely already experienced several successes and confronted a handful of harsh realities since beginning your journey with Peace Corps in Costa Rica.

Success takes hard work and commitment, but what happens when luck and success evade us? I’ve never met a subset of indi-viduals more committed, and more willing to work hard than Peace Corps Volunteers. Despite your best efforts, projects that you’ve been planning and relationships that you’ve been cultivating may not always go develop the way you imagined; your hard may not always pay off – at least not immediately or in obvious, observable ways.

Maybe we have to start looking at the hard truths that show us whether we’re standing in the way of our own success.

Maybe what’s needed is to spend some time rethinking, revamping, and restructuring our approach to give us the best chance at moving forward successfully. This is always a healthy exercise, and most PCVs have the benefit of time to devote to this difficult, yet rewarding task. Here are 10 harsh truths - they may not be fun to hear or think about, but they can help you improve your life immediately.

1. You can’t control a lot of things - but you can control how you respondIn life and in business, most things are outside your con-trol. But there is one thing you can always control--and that is yourself, your reactions and ideas. I have said this countless times in training and coaching sessions with Vol-unteers; we all recognize on a cognitive level the truth in the statement, but it is often still difficult to manage our emotional responses in the moment. Consider integrat-ing a virtual remote control into your routine; the remote control allows you to press pause when you find yourself in a situation that evokes strong emotions. A calculated and calm delayed response almost always yields more ef-fective communication and a more positive outcome than an immediate, emotional response. Ask yourself: will my response do more harm than good? If the answer is yes, press the pause button until you can respond proactively rather than reactively.

There is tremendous pressure on all of us to be happy. But life is sometimes difficult and painful. When you let go of the idea that only happiness has value, you can accept life in all its glo-rious complexity.

3. Nothing lasts forever - and that’s a good thing

Whatever the situation or emotion, there’s great freedom when you can learn to let go, make the experience a part of who you are becoming, and move on. Not even your Peace Corps service! It’s liberating to remind yourself that, while you chose to do some-thing different with your life vis-à-vis Peace Corps service, it too shall end. Accept the challenges that service offers, and invest in the opportunity for learning and intense personal growth.

2. Life isn’t always happy - but there’s value in both the bad and the good

4. We can do our best and still fail - and it’s not our fault

As leaders we have a tendency to be hard on ourselves. But when you let go of perfectionism you can accept that you did your best, whatever the outcome. Hope for the best and expect great things--and if that doesn’t happen, let it go. Insert the Frozen song; let it be your mantra.

5. You’re not everyone’s cup of tea - and that’s OK

It’s been acknowledged again and again that you can’t please ev-eryone. But if you focus on staying in favor with yourself, you can fly above the approval of others. This one is tricky, but par-ticularly relevant to Peace Corps service. There will always be the host family member who mocks you, the project partner who talks behind your back, the community member who befriends you all the wrong reasons; we don’t have to be everyone’s best friend to in-tegrate and be effective. While we should strive to be a role model in our communities and a responsible professional with our part-ners, we must accept that we will not please everyone all of the time. The experience is so much more than a popularity contest; it’s about being honest with yourself and others, and staying true to the mission.

6. The past is gone - but you can build a great future on its foundation

We’re all inclined to spend time analyzing the past. It’s valuable up to a point, but beyond that it’s just a recipe for paralysis. Hold onto what you have learned, let go of any pain, and move forward into the present--and from there, the future. This is true with individuals and with projects;learn from your mistakes and use the learning to inform your future actions.

7. The beliefs of others are not your concern - acceptance is

Each one of us is unique in our own way, and that is what makes this world so fantastic. What is right for me may be wrong for you--all we can do is to let go of judgment and accept one an-other for we are. Amen. This is the essence of being an ally, a coach, and a friend.

8. Some people and situations are harmful - and there’s strength in walking away.

Once in a while, you encounter a person or situation that’s just wasting your time, sucking precious resources and energy from your life. It may not be your place to judge, but that doesn’t mean you have to allow toxicity to hold you back. Just leave it behind you. I’ve always said: give energy where you get energy.

9. Deceit and games don’t fuel careers - trust is the key

Business is built on relationships, and like partnerships, marriages, or friendships, trust and authenticity are the key components. The skills you hone during Peace Corps service in developing confianza to foster productive part-nerships with Costa Ricans are readily translatable to the world of work post Peace Corps.

10. Many things you can’t choose, but you have a choice in everything you do.

You can make excuses, blame others, embrace the toxic and wrong--or you can follow a brighter path. It’s up to you. RPCVs often say that Peace Corps service is what you make of it; this relates not only to what you experience but how you perceive the experience.

When you let go of the bad ideas in your life, it’s not about weakness--it’s about realizing that you are import-ant enough to choose well and strong enough to let go of the things that may be holding you back. By choosing Peace Corps, you have chosen a road less traveled. This takes strength and courage. By channeling that strength in productive and positive ways, you can choose a prom-ising and empowering path for yourself, even in the midst of challenges.

www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/10-harsh-truths-that-will-improve-your-life-instantaneously.html

10HARSH TRUTHS

THAT WILL

IMPROVE

YOUR LIFE INST

AN

TAN

EOU

SLY

Podcasts Your New Best Friend

David Duesing

If you’re a Peace Corps Volunteer, I think it’s safe to say that you have a least some amount of free time in your life or that you spend many an hour on buses traveling on the less than expeditious roads of Costa Rica. Or perhaps you’re in an intellectual or entertainment rut an are looking for a new way to pass the time besides watching that first season of Dexter you took from someone’s hard drive for the eighth time or listening to In the Lonely Hour on repeat as you ride the bus to San José. No matter what your situation may be, there is a new medium out there for you, my love for which I really cannot exaggerate - podcasts.

I’m sure that sounds sarcastic - what sane person could possibly love something with such a nerdy and boring reputation? Well what sane person leaves family, hot showers and cheese to live abroad for two years only to earn less than half of federal minimum wage? We’re all a little crazy. Now let’s all be crazy for pod-casts.

Podcasts are a digital audio file (like an MP3) that you can download to a computer or smartphone and listen to whenever you want. As far as content goes, they’re like an audio-only TV show; each podcast has about one new episode per week, and all the content is aural. And much like TV shows, podcasts cover most any topic you can think of, from politics to technology to anecdotes to criminal investigations. There’s a podcast for everyone! And as long as you have a computer / smartphone / tablet and have access to the Internet, THEY’RE TOTALLY FREE!!!

How Do I Download Podcasts onto my Computer?

As far as I know, iTunes has a monopoly on the podcast market, so start your journey down the podcast rabbit hole by downloading iTunes for free (www.apple.com/itunes/download/) or, if you’re a normal person and already have iTunes, open iTunes, and click on the podcast tab (as shown below) –

EDUCATIONAL!

ENTERTAINING!

FREEEEE!!!!!

“Podcasts are probably the best invention ever” - Ghandi “Man needs but three things

to survive: air, water and

podcasts” - Socrates

“I podcast, therefore I am” - Voltaire

“He who does not know podcasts does not know life” - Galileo

“I would attribute my genius to podcasts”- Einstein

When you’re in the podcast section of iTunes, open the iTunes store (as shown below) –

Inside the iTunes podcast store, you can search for any podcast you could ever want! THE WORLD IS YOUR FREE AND UNLIMITED PODCAST OYSTER!! Just look for a podcast that might interest you, download as many episodes of it as you want, press play, and entertain your ears!

How Do I Download Podcasts onto my Smartphone?

I have an iPhone, so I can tell you how to download podcasts to an iPhone/iPod/iPad, but I believe the process is similar for other smartphones/tablets. And good news, it’s super easy!

First, open the App Store application, search for “Podcasts” and download the app FOR FREE! The app looks like this –

Your new favorite app!!

Once you download and open the Podcasts app, you can look through the iTunes podcast store, peruse the annals of the world of podcasts, find a few that you like and download as many episodes of those podcasts as you like!

And it’s all FREE!!!

Here’s what it will look like when looking through the podcast store in the Podcasts app --------------------->

Now go explore the world of podcasts!!

What Podcasts Should I Check Out?

This, my friends, is an exemplary question, and one that I am passionate about answering. Below I have included a list of a many podcasts that I have listened to or have had recommended to me which touch on a variety of topics. Please note, however, that my recommendations 1) are awesome and 2) represent only a fraction of all the podcasts that are out there. So feel free to check these podcasts out, but also feel free to explore other podcasts as well!

David’s Awesome List of Awesome Podcasts

General Interest / Educational –

1) This American Life

Possibly the best-known title among podcasts, This American Life delves into the interesting nooks and crannies of America, producing stories that range from comedic or exotic anecdotes to investigations into our nation’s political and social idiosyncrasies. Orthodox Rabbi mafias, a girl’s penpal relationship with a dictator, whatever! Seldom a miss, often a hit. This American Life comes out with new one-hour segments every Sunday night.

2) TED Radio Hour

Technology + Entertainment + Design = TED. TED talks, given by scientists, entertainers, politicians, authors and more around the world, are educational and entertaining lectures that explore all sorts of academic topics. The TED Radio Hour curates multiple TED talks that revolve around a single theme and presents them in a one hour podcast. A great way to learn about things you didn’t know you didn’t know! New podcasts are released every Friday.

3) Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me

Another constant chart topper brought to you by NPR, Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me is a podcast game show brings in celebrity guests every week to put their – and the listener’s – knowledge of current events to the test. Get caught up on some of the wackier things going on in the world today while also getting a good laugh out of it. New 45-minute episodes come out every Saturday.

4) Stuff You Should Know

Join Josh Clark, Charles W. “Chuck” Bryant, and my personal favorite, Gerry, as they unravel almost every topic under the sun. Podcasts include “How Stem Cells Work,” “How Pinball Works,” “How Sushi Works” and “How Sign Language Works.” With upwards of 600 episodes, you’ll never run out of Josh and Chuck’s positive banter and botched pronunciations. Check out their new podcasts every Tuesday and Thursday. Length varies from 30 – 60 minutes.

5) Radiolab

Although I don’t listen to Radiolab, everyone else does. As the people at Radi-olab put it “On Radiolab, science meets culture and information sounds like music. Each episode of Radiolab is an investigation – a patchwork of people, sounds, stories and experiences centered around one big idea.” If you love sci-ence, entertainment and learning, check this podcast out ASAP. New episodes come out every other Tuesday.

6) Invisibilia

The newest brainchild from NPR, Invisibilia explores the invisible forces that control our lives. The hosts explore topics such as what makes us experience fear, what it’s like to mesh human and computer life, and how blind people are in-novating new ways to see. If you’re up for a challenge, try to successfully distin-guish Lulu Miller’s voice from Alix Spiegel’s (they’re the exact same). Invisibilia finished its first season and is not producing new episodes as of this publication.

Criminal Investigations

7) Serial

8) Criminal

This is just my opinion, but Serial is the best podcast out there. This American Life veteran Sarah Koenig explores back annals of a murder case from Baltimore. Adan Seyid was accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999 when they were both 17. Although Adnan has been serving time in jail for the last 15 years, the case is anything but straightforward - suspicious drug dealers, shady lawyers, previously unknown alibis, and that Best Buy. Serial also broke convention by opening a real case and investigating it in real time. Listen to Seri-al, become a part of the investigation, decide for yourself who is guilty.

Although it does not follow the “if it bleeds, it leads” thrill of Serial, Criminal inves-tigates a new case every month, revealing some of the more morbid and confusing aspects of the criminal world, if not also human nature. An 8 year old ax murderer, a professional suicide assistant, teenage computer hackers, an alternate ending the Michael Peterson case. Phoebe Judge’s voice may be soothing, but her stories aren’t. New episodes are released once per month.

Stories and Anecdotes

9) Snap Judgment Join Glen Washington - the 21 century’s best beatnik - as he leads you through some of the most interesting anecdotes you’ll ever hear, from personal accounts from the Zodiac killer’s son to Cold War era CIA agent’s missions in Russia to a friendly ghost who haunts an LA house with his ectoplasmic words of inspiration. Stories revolve around a central theme and last around one hour. New episodes every Friday. And no way is this the news. You could be on a train to Peru and oversee your neighbor taking a selfie of herself with a copy of th Talmud in Korean and you would still not be as far away from the news as this is. But this is NPR.

10) The Moth

Composed of true stories as told by those who experienced them, The Moth spans from hilarious to emotionally moving to uplifting. A Boston newbie’s welcome to the city via a shark cage adventure gone awry, a priest’s experiences working with con-victed murderers, a woman’s weekend at a clothing-optional spa, a father concerned about his daughter’s invisible friend who’s too busy to play with her - stories run the gamut. Dan Kennedy gives us a new episode every Tuesday.

Money / Finance

11) Planet Money

Planet Money explores the interesting side of money - none of that stock market and 401(k) boringness. The secret and oligarchical history of fondue? Planet Money cov-ers that! A New Jersey vineyard’s attempt to survive? Got it! Where does that Viagra spam mail come from, and can you actually buy Viagra from those emails? Planet Money will answer that for you! You can enjoy new episodes every Wednesday and Friday.

12) Freakonomics

From the authors of the book of the same title, Freakonomics covers “the hidden side of everything” by focusing not so much on strict economic issues so much as the odd connections and explanations behind various everyday and not-so-everyday phe-nomena. Why did the number of cobras in New Delhi double after the government started offering a reward for dead cobras? Let the freakonomists answer that for you! Freakonomics releases new episodes every Thursday.

13) StartUp

StartUp is so meta it hurts, and I love it. Alex Blumberg left his job at This American Life and Planet Money to try his hand at starting his own podcast production compa-ny, but before making his own podcast company he made a podcast about the process of making his podcast company. SO META. It may sound convoluted and boring, but Alex reveals the birth of a startup company with unbelievable transparency, giving you insight into what exactly it means to start your own company. Will he fail? Will he succeed? Listen to find out.

News and Current Events

14) Voice of America / Voz de América

Available in English, Spanish and many other languages, the Voice of America comes out with 30-minute segments daily that follow current political, economic, and entertainment news. Keep yourself up-to-date with current events and hone your Spanish comprehension skills at the same time while listening to the Voice of America in Spanish! Content is largely US-centric, but the podcast does cover international news as well.

¡ANIMALES!Have you ever wanted to be a naturalist and a tour guide? Here are some fun facts you can use to impress your friends when you take them to visit Costa Rica’s rainforests. These animals can be found in parks such as Manuel Antonio, Monteverde and Corcovado.

BY ELISE KIGNER

Perezoso/sloth – Sloths make their home in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. They spend a lot of time hanging upside down. Even though they appear defense-less, they don’t have many predators because they blend into their surroundings. Because sloths move so little, they make a good habitat for moths, beetles, cockroaches, fungi and algae. Sloths eat mostly leaves, and they digest them slowly. Digestion can take a month or more! They come down from the trees about once a week, to use the bathroom.

Mono carablanca/white-faced capuchin monkey – These monkeys are also found in the rain-forests of Central and South America. They mostly eat fruit and insects, though the population in Guanacaste is noted for eating squirrels, magpies, parrots and baby coatis. They live in groups of up to 40 monkeys. The capuchin has been observed using tools to get food, and defend itself. They are very smart, and can be used to aid people with disabilities. Marcel on the show Friends is a capuchin!

Mono aullador/howler monkey – Howler monkeys live in the rainforests of Central and South America too. Like some people I know, they communicate by screaming. The howl can be heard clearly for 3 miles, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. They also have a far-reaching sense of smell, sniffing out food up to 2 kilometers away. They eat leaves, fruit, flowers and nuts. Howler monkeys typically live in groups of 6-15.

Zompopa/leafcutter – Leafcutter ants can be found in parts of the southern United States, Mexico, and South and Central America. Leafcutters are farmers. They get their name because they cut off pieces of leaves, and carry them on their backs for up to 2 kilometers. Worker ants typically carry leaves that are three times their weight! They use the leaves to grow a fungus. The fungus is fed to the larvae. Adults eat sap.

Lapa/scarlet macaw – Scarlet macaws live in Mexico, Central and South America. The Central American scarlet macaw is larger and has blue instead of green on its wings. In captivity, they can live up to 75 years. They eat mostly fruit, nuts and seeds. (Though the one I know feeds on pinto, like any good Tico.)

Mariposa morpho/morpho butterfly – These butterflies live in Mexico, Central and South America. This butterfly is blue not due to its pigmentation, but because of light-reflecting scales on the back of its wings. The other side of their wings is brown, so they can show this side when they want to be camouflaged. Adult butterflies drink rotting fruit, fluids of decom-posing animals, sap, fungi and wet mud.

Danta/tapir – Tapirs live in Southeastern Asia, Central and South America. They weigh between 300 and 700 pounds. They are related to horses and rhinoceroses. Tapirs are excellent swimmers, and may go to the water to mate. They eat fruit, berries and leaves.

Tarantula – Different species of tarantulas live in Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia and North and South America. Most species are not dangerous to humans. The biggest tarantulas eat mice, snakes, lizards and birds. One tarantula predator is the wasp. A wasp stings the spider, paralyzing it. It lays an egg in the tarantula’s abdomen. The wasp larva hatches and then consumes the spider from the inside.

Goal 2 – A TurbanStoryLast night I was playing basketball in a Costa Rican league when someone tore off my turban. I don’t think that has ever happened to me before as an adult with another adult. Needless to say, I got mad. I got really mad. I wasn’t even defending the guy who did it. I had my back to him and he decided it was a good idea to screw with me. My turban has fallen off playing sports before but that was the first time anyone had ever done it to me intentionally. It wasn’t really shocking though. Growing up as a Sikh, I’ve become relatively accus-tomed to the wide array of reactions sporting a beard and turban can elicit. In some way it has become part of the reason why I value my service; I have the op-portunity to serve as a role model for people who face discrimination based on their appearance.

I’m not Indian. My parents converted to Sikhism before I was born. However, if you were to look at me, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell. My family has been in the United States for about four generations after es-caping pogroms against Ashkenazi Jews in Europe. So, I feel like an American. However, when I have an extra screening at TSA to have my turban patted down, when my father carries pepper spray to go on a walk, when a Sikh professor from Columbia University is physically attacked, and when I’m greeted around the US/Costa Rica with cries of Osama (mostly intended to taunt in the US and awkward friendliness in Costa Rica), those experiences seem to mock my “Americanness.”

So, why do I still wear a turban? It is because I have a deep respect for an idea the turban represents, which is also present in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal….” Sikhism came about in part as a rejection of the caste system that existed in India and the turban is a visual rejection of that system. Kings and the upper class wore turbans as a sign of their so-cial standing. By wearing a turban, Sikhs are effectively saying that we are all of equally high standing.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I’m often the only con-nection locals have with Americans and almost assur-edly the only representative of Sikhism. As people get to know me in the community I serve, mutual respect tends to grow out of that relationship. So last night when my turban was removed and someone began to shout in Spanish that I shouldn’t be wearing that thing in the first place, people from my community came to my defense. A teammate’s mom called for respect and that’s all I seek to engender. I want to continue fostering respect and understanding in my community and at home.

If you want to learn more about Sikhism check out this page on BBC:

www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/

RISHI

KHALSA

TICO 25

“Not merely peace in our time, but peace in all time” - JFK

Now, don’t cheat. No using Google or Wikipedia. Can you tell me what happened many years ago on December 7th, 1941? It was of course, “A date which will live in infamy,” and so I am sure you know the answer.

That’s right! You got it! You are such a precious student. Scratch ‘n Sniff smiley sticker for you!

This past December 7th, 2014 marked the 73rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the beginning of America’s involvement in the Second World War.

Now, can you tell me what happened on Dec. 7th, 2014? It might be a little more historically obscure - and a lot more peace-ful - but another battle took place on the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks. For those who took part, this date will also live in infamy. But unlike the previous December 7th, this one was happily anticipated and joyfully celebrated.

Give up? Well, I will tell you! On December 7th, 2014, several Peace Corps volunteers, including myself, participated in the San Jose Mara-thon, running 26.2 miles through the streets of San Jose, Costa Rica, along with nearly 500 other participants from around the world! Hey, now you know your history just a little bit better!

When did you have the best meal of your life? How about the best tasting beer you ever drank? We can tell you ours: December 7th, 2014. After the race, we ate everything on offer. We sipped ice cold beverages and giggled like children, excited about our victory. But this was a different kind of victory. It was a win-win for all with no losers and no casualties.

And unlike 1941, this victory was shared by the Japanese. A group from the Japanese Overseas Coop-eration Volunteers was on hand to help us celebrate. JOCV has a very similar mission to Peace Corps. Our Japanese counterparts spend nearly 2 years volunteering in rural commu-nities. They were a great addition to the party and we shared volunteer stories in our common 2nd language: Spanish.

Exactly seventy-three years prior, the Japanese military dropped bombs on American ships in Pearl Harbor, and what followed was the mad-ness and sadness of WWII. Now the Americans and Japanese were celebrating their commonali-ties in a spirit of friendship. During the festivities, I wondered to myself if any of the other volunteers, from either the United States or Japan, recog-nized the significance of this moment in time. “Look how far we have come,” I thought to myself. There we were: enjoying, swapping stories, and feeling our shared sense of being citizens in the world. The evening was enjoyed by all.

And so thank you for your continued work and

service.

Despite the tragic history the United States may have with many other countries across the globe, as volunteers we continue to act as ambassadors of peace, and in so doing, we have the power to change history.

- DOUG LYONS

I suppose that gets right to it, doesn’t it? You already know what this is about, but I’ll start from the beginning anyway.

I can start with saying that last week my Mother and sister were scheduled to visit me; it would have been my Mother’s first trip abroad (since perhaps Canada, 30 years ago). I had pushed for it. My mother was excited for warmth and adven-ture. I had it all planned out. But…my Mother has been sick, and had to make the decision not to come. She was sched-uled to arrive on March 21st and head home on the 26th, but March had other plans.

On Wednesday March 25, 2015 I was at my house tutoring my niece Diana. She’s in the 4th grade and got some bad marks as of late in English, so she came over to get some studying in. She brought me something similar to pixie sticks, we went through nearly an entire pack together, and we played some spelling games. She shared some grand ideas about wanting to have a cousins sleepover at her Tia Allison’s house; we could pull all the mattresses outside and watch a movie and eat popcorn, and then stay the night and wake up to an American breakfast of my choice. My dogs were here, my niece was here, and my cabina was feeling more like home. Then I looked down and saw a text from my Mama…saying that my Father’s Mother, my Grandma Bustin, had passed away earlier that day.

Blow number one. While I was reading this through for the 3rd time, my niece was trying to spell the word green while simultaneously practicing the Lord’s Prayer in English—stu-dents learn it in English in elementary school. She was re-peating it over and over, so I just put my phone down and said it along with her. I remember it well from my upbring-ing, one of those things a Catholic kid can never forget. If you should know one thing about by Grandmother Alice, it’s that she was a strong woman of faith, through and through; a grandmother who never missed a Catholic rite of passage in my childhood; who went to church as many days a week as she was able; a proud and devout Catholic woman. It was one of those moments, something I’ll remember, that down in Costa Rica when that news arrived at my fingertips, there was already a round of “Our Fathers” ringing out. I just went about the study session, finished it up, waited for my sister Karolina to come by, and then I walked back up to my house with my dogs, Camila and Boni.

I started messaging my sisters; we didn’t really know what to say to each other. None of us had seen her in awhile, per-haps my younger sister most recently… I just felt even fur-ther away in that moment. My sisters in different states, my Mother in another, and me just a bit further south.

When Someone at Home Dies During Your Peace Corps Service

Allie Bustin

I stayed up late, trying to make it seem real to me, to pro-cess this at 25, alone and in a foreign country. Though I am serving in a country that is closer to home than most coun-tries of service, it was one of those things I wasn’t ready to process…of course, that can be said regardless of distance. I didn’t know what I should do. So, I went to bed, and the next morning I woke up early and went down to the road to meet my Co-Teacher. She pulled up, and I got in like any other day. We didn’t say much, and then halfway down the road I blurt-ed out that my Grandmother had died, my father’s mother. My co-teacher was sympathetic, I felt very robotic, and then we went on with the day. I was walking around giving oral exams in quite a haze, forgetting my coffee in places, and calling kids by the wrong names (I am excellent with names).

It was a lite day in Acoyapa, exams and treats before the Eas-ter vacation. We headed back to Mansion after the tests and I asked to be dropped off at my host family’s house. I washed my face and paced with the pups a bit (who had made the trip from my home to meet me), and then walked the block to the high school.

I practiced some oral interviews with a class of juniors, made jokes to ease their nerves (they all gasped and feigned tears when I walked in), and talked a lot about the Hunger Games and The Fault in Our Stars, all while insisting that reading is indeed not boring, contrary to their memorized responses. A few took turns giving me tours of the campus in English, each more detailed than the last. We finished up and I went and had my coffee and empanada in the kitchen. The French teacher sat with me and we threw a few phrases back and forth. I finished up, said “salut” and walked back for more interviews and tours. After class ended my co-teacher, Vic-tor, called a meeting with all of the English teachers; they wanted to better plan my schedule for the year. As Victor was detailing all of this I reached over and unplugged my phone to see a text message, again from my Mama…this one saying that her mother, my Grandma Corbin, had passed away that morning.

Blow number two.I dropped my phone and said, much too audibly, “what is happening!”. The English teachers were streaming in, so I excused myself. I could not bring myself to call my Mother in that moment. I paced. I called Luke at work, and blurted it all out. I said I had to come home. I just kept repeating it. I walked back into the classroom, ex-plained this unexplainable moment, this unexplainable span of 24 hours, and I walked back to my host family’s house. The next few hours are a blur. I called my Mom. I called the Peace Corps office. I called my regional leader. I called my Program head.

I had trainees arriving at my house in 2 hours; they were al-ready on the bus on their way to me. They got new assign-ments, thanks to some quick calls and maneuvers by the TEFL team & my Regional Leader, but I had to get them go-ing in the right direction.

I waited for them at the bus stop, on a mission. The bus one of the girls had to catch came right before the bus from San Jose. She stepped off one bus and I herded her onto another as I stood in the path of the second bus. I gave the bus driver her stop and told him to tell her when to get off, then I turned around and introduced myself to the second trainee as the bus doors closed. She asked what had happened, why this change was hap-pening…so, I just blurted it out. It sounds like an exaggeration right? Or a bad joke. Two texts; the first at 7:56 PM on Wednes-day, and the second at 3:00 PM on Thursday. With that second text I suddenly had no Grandparents, as if the universe wanted to make the jump to the next generation, and there was no time to waste. Less than 24 hours. And now, 3 hours later I was on the move. It was good to be busy. I spent a bit of time with the second trainee, and it seemed as though the news had traveled fast, or I was just passing every single one of my family mem-bers in the street on that short walk . I was manic, I probably seemed too normal, but I was buzzing with adrenaline and dis-traction. A few questions later and we got a ride from my family to Nicoya. And she was off.

I asked my Mother if I could come home. A question I did not want to ask, regardless of what some may think...I’ve been met with some rather cold responses to that decision, but I don’t re-gret asking. It was not an easy question for me. I knew it would put my Mother out (because I was not raised by my Grand-mothers, this situation didn’t qualify as a PC “fly her home” situ-ation), I knew it would be an added stress, but I also knew 100% that I needed to be home in that moment. I know I am lucky that it was even a possibility, and in that moment I took full advan-tage; I wanted to say goodbye to my Grandmothers. I needed to be there, somewhere where it could feel more real, somewhere I could be of use to my little family. So, that night I purchased a ticket for the following day. I bought the ticket at 9:00 PM and was set to fly for Baltimore at Noon the next day.

I walked home after dark and put all my food in my tiny dorm fridge freezer. I packed a bag full of things I don’t wear here. I charged my phone. I grabbed a book. I fell asleep for a few hours, and at 4:00 I awoke to my alarm. I tried to eat some-thing and then walked down to the bus stop. I hadn’t had time to buy a ticket the night before, and when I got to the bus driver he said “solo de pie”—standing room only—and I nodded and got aboard. I was crying intermittently, sending texts, and gen-erally feeling wiped out. Tired, sad, disappointed, appreciative, disgusted, confused, and blank. I stood for the entirety of the 4 hour bus ride, and suddenly I was at the airport. 24hours after the most recent news, I was home.

The next day I drove my Mama to Maryland. Another 4 hours. There was snow on the ground when we arrived at my Grand-mother’s house.

I won’t regale you with many more intimate details of my family, or funerals for that matter, but I will devote a chunk of this space to the women mentioned above, my two grandmothers. I was closer to my maternal Grandmother, but my paternal Grand-mother is of equal importance to my life and family history.

My two sisters and I, and our parents, we are what connect these two women. These two women that lived long lives, and raised families, and went through hardships; the timing of their passing is significant because of how they were connect-ed through the universe. It made me feel as though my little family, with whatever flaws, must have had a purpose, to bear this connection.

So, to Alice Marie Homan Bustin, wife to Paul Frances and mother to Peggy, Ann, Mary Lou, Paul Michael, and Nancy, who lost her husband on her 40th birthday, and sold the fam-ily farm and went to work at the Post Office to support her family, who was of strong faith, and always had yogurt in her fridge, and in whose home I always slept on a very old green couch, who had a full size table in her living room devoted to framed photos of her family, who watched me fish at the family reunion, who always drove a Cadillac, and had large Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls perched in one room, at whose house I remember searching for Easter eggs and playing with my BOP IT for hours on end, who wrote me letters in college, and never stopped reaching out, I’ll say an Our Father or two for you. To Alice Marie from Allison Marie.

To Malora Janice Knotts Corbin, wife to Delmont and mother to Sherry and Steve, who cared for her husband at her home until the day Alzheimers made him slip away nearly 14 years ago, a nurse of 43 years, who started a diet on Monday and ended it on Tuesday, who gave the greatest giggle after a pause, who I Skyped while I was studying in Paris, and Facetimed from Costa Rica, and who introduced me to bacon (and al-ways made a pack when I visited), who loved cloves flavored candy and romance novels, who would answer “fat and sassy” whenever you asked “how are you?”, who loved every meal I ever made her, and always took a second cup of coffee, I’ll see your face every time I look at Katie, I’ll put a house down in Swallow Falls, and I’ll sing Country Roads even more fre-quently with you in mind.

I was home for 4 full days. I kept thinking of a moment from my Peace Corps interview, way back in September of 2012. The recruiter asked if there was anything that would keep me from completing my service..I hesitated for a moment and then said, quite candidly that if my Mother was sick, or if Malora got sick...I couldn’t finish the thought… I wasn’t sure what I’d do. Well, here we are, 2.5 years later, and so much has happened, so much has progressed, so much has ended, and so much has begun. And here I am. I flew back to Costa Rica on Wednesday April 1st, kicking off 16 hours of travel. Going back through the vortex from my US life to my Tica life in this instance…was at first jarring, and then, it felt as if it had never happened. In those 4 days I was home I received messages from my host family and from so many volunteers, my Peace Corps Costa Rica family. What a weird time, a time I’m not sure I’ll recon-cile anytime soon, there will be questions and “what ifs” and guilt (oh the catholic guilt) and struggles and shifts, but I have my family here; a reaffirmation I so needed. So, thanks to those who reached out, to those who offered words, or rallied and picked up slack for me, or shuffled their plans, or even those who’ve read this to the end.

Dear Curlies,Tired of frizz in your hair, here’s a suggestion: take an aloe vera leaf, squeeze the juice out of it. Don’t worry about getting your hands messy. Add your favorite oil to the mix, add some water and massage it on your hair.

Tangled hair, well try this? You are combing your hair and noticed a lump of hair weaved together. You don’t know what to do. It is bothering you. You try taking it out with a comb and it hurts. Well, take that conditioner of yours, use a generous amount and slowly massage the locked hair. Slowly and gently, try to pull

Prevent tangled hair

The best way to deal with tangled hair is to prevent it from happening. You notice your hair is getting a little drier than usual, do the following: use an empty spray bottle, add some wa-ter in it and maybe your favorite (oil – those with dry hair) (aloe vera juice – those with oily hair), spray a little bit on your hair and you are done. Go ahead and start your day, there is no need to wash your hair because you hydrated it already.

If you have lots of time on your hands now, then try washing your hair with conditioner or co-wash. Caution: if you have oily hair and you wash your hair with shampoo everyday, you are really damaging your hair and the effects of shampoo are worse if you live in a hot re-gion.

I want to shift away from the usual hair tips to also give you some advice about maintaining beautiful skin. We are fortunate to serve in a country where we can find almost everything fresh. Making your favorite scrub takes only a little imagination and dedication. Here are some scrubs that I make in my spare time.

Coconut Based Scrub - it is under appreciated here in central valley but well used in Limon. You worry about soft skin, well coconut oil has the answer. You can get this oil at room temperature and add some sugar (brown and white) and your favorite fragrant fruit ie lime and orange peels.

1)

Coffee Based Scrub

There are lots here in Costa Rica and they’re cheap, too. How about doing that coffee scrub you always wanted to do. All you need really is coffee, your favorite oil and some honey.

This is probably the last letter I will write to you since I am closely approaching my COS date of July 24. I want you to feel inspired to take care of yourself naturally and beautifully. Please feel free to reach me on Facebook, email: christelle.domercant@gmail.com

To anyone interested, I will be leaving some homemade hair balm at the Peace Corps office as a token of my appreciation for contributing to La Cadena and reading my letter to curl-ies. Supplies are limited.

Stay safe and let your curls be free,

ChristelleTico 25

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7Dearest 27ers - Congratulations on surviving your first year in Costa Rica!! In celebration of your accomplishment, the following are a series of creative pieces submitted

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Life’s a beach, we’re just playin’ in the sand.

From Lauren:

1. Breathe—in time everything heals.2. Smile at strangers—even if they think you’re weird. 3. Pick your battles—not everything is worth a fight.4. Sometimes you have to adjust your expectations.5. Do numbers 3 & 4 in moderation and in the right circumstances. Know what’s important to you and hold onto it. 6. Music can fix nearly any off mood. (Good food, beer and company also help.) 7. People light up the world. 8. They can also darken it, but don’t lose your faith in humanity because of that—love always wins. 9. You can be happy anywhere—you manifest your happiness.10. Be aware of your emotions. Sometimes you just need to feel and do it deeply. 11. People, places and things are simply just differ-ent. Let things be the way they are and appreciate them in their natural forms. 12. Stop waiting. Do, say and feel what you want—life is now.

From Ashley:

1. Sometimes the scariest choices are the most re-warding.2. It’s okay to make mistakes—laugh at yourself, pick yourself up and learn from them.3. It’s all about perspective; change your perspective, change your life. 4. Don’t sweat the small stuff.5. You can’t control what people say, but you can control how you react to it.6. Take vacations, you’re only young (and in Costa Rica) once.7. Sometimes the journey is half the fun—don’t rush to your destination.8. Don’t make judgments about other people; you can’t know their struggles.9. Sometimes things don’t go the way you planned, don’t let that break your spirits—let it go, make a new plan and keep moving forward.10. Just because one door closes doesn’t necessar-ily mean another one will open. Find another door, open it yourself—you are in control of your own destiny.11. Never stop exploring. There’s a whole world out there waiting to be experienced.

Some tidbits we’ve learned from surviving year one of our PC journeys:

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ORIGINAL ARTWORK

by Derek Maisel

“Every child is an artist,

the problem is staying an child when you grow up.”

– Pablo Picasso

DEAR MR. COCKROACH,

OH, WHY HELLO THERE. I DIDN'T SEE YOU COME IN. IF YOU COULD JUST NOT... STEP... OVER THERE THAT WOULD BE GREAT... OH... WAIT... NO... NOT... NOT TO-

WARDS ME.

LISTEN, I NEED TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. YOU'RE KINDA REALLY NOT INVITED TO THIS PARTY.

YEAR, I KNOW, YIKES! AWWWWKWARRRRD. ITS JUST THAT... HEY... I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE LOVES BROWNIES. AND SHOOT, I SEE ALL THESE

LITTLE ANTS THAT ALREADY CRASHED THE PARTY TO GET IN ON SOME OF THESE CRUMBS THAT I HAVE YET TO SWEEP UP. BUT YET, MAN, SERIOUSLY, YOU

NEED TO GO.

IT’S NOT THAT I'M DISCRIMINATING, ACTUALLY, I'M GIVING YOU AN OUT. THIS LITTLE ANT PARTY...

YO, MAN, I’M GOING TO BE REAL WITH YOU. IT’S NOT GOING TO END WELL FOR SOME OF THESE GUYS.

SO, JUST LEAVE NOW ON YOUR OWN WHILE YOU KNOW, ALL YOUR LEGS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL

AND SUCH.

AND MAYBE LIKE, WHEN YOU LEAVE YOU CAN LIKE, LET ALL YOUR PRIMOS KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN BREAK INTO THE TACO STAND, DOESN'T

MEAN YOU SHOULD.

THANKS BUHHBIE. NOW... WAIT... SERIOUSLY... GET... GET THE FLICKITTLY FLACK OUT OF MY HOUSE.

CHRISTINE TORNABENE

Thin

gsto

beHa

ppyA

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.com

Celebrating the little things in Peace Corps life. An ongoing list of things that bring one joy.

o Peace Corps pets! Dogs, cats, birds, cockroaches, whatever. o Having a family in another country. Whether, for you, that means friends in your community, PCV friends, or a host family; the love and support of a family provides untouchable joy. o Cafecitos with old ladies. o Seeing the happiness you have the potential to bring to your community, just by being yourself! o Bachata. o Speaking a different language than your own every single day and still surviving! Think about it; you pay rent, go to the post office, maneuver many awkward moments, make friendships, work, etc. all in Spanish. You are a rockstar! o Having the opportunity to experience something new at least once daily. o A good pump up song! Need a new one? I heard Timber is pretty good. o There are only 6,818 currently serving volunteers. You are doing something that most would/will never do. o Peanut butter fixes. o Vibers existence. o When Kolbi´s internet actually works. #milagro. o The excitement you feel in your stomach when you are about to see PCV friends you haven’t seen in months. o Feeling proud of yourself.o Koala hugs. o Cooking for community members. o Someone telling you you are special just because. o Hugs from children. o When something exceeds your expectations. o That, whatever you struggle may be, and however awful you feel in the moment, you are becoming a better you because of it.

Que esten felices, PCVs. Xoxo,

-Lia Jane

This was inspired by the website, thingstobehappyabout.com. I encourage you to check it out!

8

L IFE

HA C KS

Fill a bucket with water, you’ll need about a gallon

Dump the water (fuerte) into the toilet bowl until the bowl in

almost full.

Because of the shape of the toilet bowl this blast of water will push everything down.

Repeat as need, you may need more or less water de-pending on… well, you know.

#1. How to flush a toilet without run-ning water

*Go to myfridgefood.com.** Enter all the food you already

have in your refrigerator.*** Choose a new recipe to

Numero DoS:How to make New

recipeS witH fooD you alreaDy Have

#3.HOW TO HIDE YOUR

MONEY FROM THEIVES

Going somewhere a little peligroso or with big crowds? Worried about your cash getting swiped? Roll it up and put it in an

old ChapStick container.

Stay away from pickpockets with chapped lips.

HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR CHARGERS

1.Take apart an old pen. If you buy your pens at Mundo Magico it should be easy to find one that no longer works.2. Spiral the spring around the base of your charger.3. Cover with electrical tape (or any tape really) to keep the spring in place.

NUMERO 5. How to stop your mosquito bites from itching

- Heat a spoon (be really Tico and heat it by stirring your coffee)

- Press the hot spoon again the mosquito bite. The heat will destroy the protein that is causing the itching.

How to unclog a toilet without a plunger

1. Squeeze at least three squirts of dish-washing liquid (if you can find that in Costa Rica, if not use shampoo) into the bowl. The chemicals can help to break up the debris. 2. Pour around four cups of heated water into the bowl. 3. Let everything soak for at least 30 minutes.4. Flush.

DECIDED TO GET FANCY AND TRADE IN YOUR CLOS FOR A REAL BOTTLE, ONLY TO REALIZE THAT YOU DON’T HAVE A BOTTLE OPENER? DON’T WORRY; ALL YOU NEED IS A FORK AND A SCREW.I. LOCATE A FORK (IF YOU CAN’T FIND A FORK THEN YOU HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN GETTING YOUR WINE OPEN.)II. LOCATE A SCREW-- TAKE APART SOMETHING IN YOUR HOUSE IF YOU NEED TO, GETTING TO YOUR WINE IS PRIORITY #1III. TWIST THE SCREW ABOUT HALFWAY INTO THE CORKIV. USE THE FORK TO PULL THE CORK OUT

PROVECHO!

#7. HOW TO ASSEMBLE AN IM-PROMPTU CORKSCREW

XIIHOW TO EASE THE STING OF A JELLYFISH

(WITHOUT ASKING SOMEONE TO PEE ON YOU)

4

HAVE VINEGAR HANDY? SPRAY OR POUR VINEGAR WHERE YOU WERE STUNG, IT

HELPS RELIEVE THE PAIN.

try

COURTESY OF ASHLEY KNAGGS’ LIFE, REDDIT AND PINTREST.

#3 #7

#4#8

#2 #1

Playlists by DJ LoSang Mixes for every mood during the Peace Corps rollercoaster ride of emotions.

Whatever you’re feeling, just put on some jamz then dance, sing, scream or cry it out.

breathe, listen & feel.

collaboration by Ted & JJ

WORK IT OUT

(background music to Shaun T and Tonya, while you’re on a run or need a

pump up before a meeting.)

• Till It Hurts–Yellow Claw ft. Ayden • Five hours–Deorro

• Say My Name–Odesza• Original Don (Flosstradamus Remix)–Major Lazer

• Monster (Dotexe Remix)–Nightcore • God Is A Girl–Nightcore

• Take Me Home remix–Cash Cash ft. Bebe Rexha• Wrecking Ball (Cake Up Remix)–Miley Cyrus• Clarity (Vicetone Remix)–Zedd ft. Foxxes

• Alive–Krewella• Higher (Extended)–Just Blaze & Baauer Ft. Jay Z

• Dear Boy (Dave Edwards Remix)–Avicii x Daft Punk • Outside—Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding

• Groove—Oiki• Last Chance—Kaskade & Project 46

• Lick It—Kaskade & Skrillex • Bad ft. Vassy—David Guetta & Showtek

Decompress

(when you’re feeling a little “dippy” on that scale of vulner-able, going through a break up or feel super “pura vida.”)

• Hide And Seek—Imogen Heap• State Of Art (A.E.I.O.U)—Jim James

• This Life—Edward Sharpe and the Mag-netic Zeroes

• Born Free—10 Ft. Ganja Plant• You Got It Bad—Usher

• This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody)—The Lumineers

• Low Low Low—The Heartless Bastards• Broad Ripple Is Burning—Margot and the

Nuclear So So’s• Young and Beautiful—Lana Del Ray• I’m Not The Only One—Sam Smith

• Lay Me Down—Sam Smith ft. John Legend • Pillow Talk—Wild Child

• Show Yourself—Ayla Nereo• Oh Love—Ayla Nereo• Let It In—Ayla Nereo

• Live Inside A Dream—Ayla Nereo and The Polish Ambassador

Playlists by DJ LoSang Mixes for every mood during the Peace Corps rollercoaster ride of emotions.

Whatever you’re feeling, just put on some jamz then dance, sing, scream or cry it out.

breathe, listen & feel.

collaboration by Ted & JJ

The Caribbean Breeze(featured playlist by JJ)

• Saca, Prendre y Sorprende – Cultura Profetica• Rambo Kanambo – Vybz Kartel• Asi Fue (Live) – Dread Mar I• Mi Verdad – Mana & Shakira

• Dile – Baby Wally• Mi Hermano Menor – Aspirante

• Before I Leave – Jah Cure• Tu Amor Me Hace Bien – Marc Anthony• Amores Como El Nuestro – Jerry Rivera

• Triste Palomita – El Roockie• Solo Por Ti – Jowell Y Randy con Cultura Profetica

• Smile Jamaica – Chronixx• Beautiful Lady – Gyptian

• La Flor (Vivo) – Nonpalidece• Verde, Amarillo y Rojo – Gondwana

• Be Your Girl – Teedra Moses (Kaytranda Edition)

THE WEEGEE GUIDE Determined not to lose contact with the world outside my world during my Peace Corps ser-vice here in Costa Rica, I have made reading the news from around the world another of my personal missions. My favorite source, and this is not meant as an advertisement, is the MSN streaming service available on my Surface. The Surface turned out to be an instrument of torture when I tried to use it to download and upload the VRF – but, that is another story. Anyway, from it, and thanks to the Wi-Fi in my apartment, I can read newsfeeds from major and minor news providers. If you don’t have Wi-Fi, you have my shoulder to cry on.

I’ve always known that he/she/we who creates the headlines is usually not the same he/she/we who writes the article. That is my opinion. I didn’t do any scholarly research to write this article, so don’t expect to find any footnotes here. I swore off footnotes a long time ago. So, just consider my opinion a primary source. After all, most of us are friends, and if you can’t trust your friends, who can you trust?

Sunday, March 29, 2015, an article titled ‘The Weegee Guide to New York shows mid-20th century city’ caught my eye. (The headline writer should have used more capital letters in my opinion.) I don’t know why it took two people to write this piece, but it did, and they are Beth J. Herzog and Mark Lennehan who I can only imagine are 21st century reporters who bravely toil away endless hours in the outer limits of the world-wide web.Weegee turns out to be the alias of one Arthur Fellig, a mid-20th century photographer whose work is now on exhibit at The International Center of Photography. Let me expand and clari-fy. Photos that Weegee took during his lifetime are on exhibit with photos taken of the same location in today’s world.

My favorite is “Derelict sleeping on the sidewalk outside police headquarters” that Weegee took in 1945. The contemporary shot shows a woman walking on the same spot. This has got to be a photo of the world’s best dressed derelict. The guy is face down on the sidewalk. Lucky man because his face is resting on his hat that looks like a grey fedora. He is wear-ing what looks like a fairly new navy blue overcoat, grey slacks and shoes that have been shined recently. I’m just making up the color scheme because the photo is in black and white. What’s the harm in a little literary license here and there?

He does not look like he has ever lived under a bridge or cooked mulagatawny stew over an open campfire with his fellow rail riders. His clothes appear to be clean and pressed. He looks neat and clean and perfectly relaxed lying there on the sidewalk right in front of one of New York’s many police stations while he goes unnoticed by passersby, including New York’s finest. “How can he be a derelict,” I ask myself. This looks likes like a man who has gone astray like a sheep who has taken a different path from the rest of the flock. I want to make up a whole life history for him. Maybe he had a heart attack or a stroke, and his life is slipping away while the world ignores him.

Maybe that just isn’t true. Maybe 1945 jargon for a man dead drunk on the street is “dere-lict.” He’s not labelled a bum, hobo, junkie, nutjob, or wasted Wall Street banker. I like the alliterative sound of wasted Wall Street banker. Anyway he’s just a derelict in all his finery, completely relaxed and sleeping it off in public. The great Weegee considered him important subject matter. So, we can assume that the man’s life was not completely worthless. Hell, he’s famous albeit anonymous. If that picture were taken today, that man would have his own Facebook page, Instagram and a million followers on Twitter. He might even sell homemade stuff on Etsy. His wife or husband would KNOW right away.

Secretly I wish I could get that relaxed and be comfortable sleeping on the sidewalk. If you had trouble sleeping on the world’s best orthopedic mattress in a cool, quiet room, you might have that fantasy, too. I almost fell asleep on an airplane once upon a time. That was in economy coach no less. Just as I was getting relaxed and drifting off one of the flight atten-dants tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I wanted anything to drink. I nearly jumped out of my skin from fright. That tap on the shoulder has resulted in a lasting injury that pre-vents me from sleeping while being a passenger on any type of moving object. I know that’s a little farfetched, but that’s my story. Don’t even suggest it. I have already tried transcenden-tal meditation.

Sleeping on the sidewalk is also out. I’m just guessing that there is a PC rule/guideline/law that would be violated if I tried that. Although I wear hats, I don’t have a fedora, and I can’t af-ford to buy one on my current stipend. If you agree with that statement, once again, you have my shoulder to cry on. Maybe I’ll just try counting derelicts instead of sheep at night. But, I’ll make sure I count 1945 derelicts who are well dressed and relaxed in any environment and just on temporary leave from their own reality. That sounds like a plan. That sounds like you and me. I could also add a little thank you to Weegee who has found his way from 20th cen-tury photo archives into the psyche of a 21st century PCV. Seriously?

******************************************************************************************

More Musings...

Here are a few other AP headlines that are just too precious to toss:‘Bleisure: Korean barbecue, karaoke for biz travelers to NYC’‘After years of mediocrity Tulsa emerging as hipster hub’‘Tourists flocking to Cuba before the Americans come’If you knew that “bleisure” is a corruption of business and leisure, you are one up on me. Whose language is this anyway? OMG, Tulsa! Cuba, anybody? I am so down for it! (Smiley face)

By Gerry Lester, TICO 27, TEFL

Festival Guaycar 2015 highlights the talent of the local community in the gymnasium of the Sports Complex Polideportivo (refurbished with Peace Corps) and fulfills the first step in real-izing the Vision developed with the community in the Peace Corps sponsored Project Man-agement Workshop. Rio Claro is the center for Culture and Commerce for the Southern Region of Costa Rica.

Date: 10 January, 2015

Location: Rio Claro, Guaycara, Golfito, Puntar-enas, Costa Rica

Detailed description of the event:

I’ve been a Community Economic Development volunteer with Peace Corps in Rio Claro, Costa Rica for 16 months. In Peace Corps you’re as-signed to live and work with a specific communi-ty for 2 years of service. The goal is to integrate with the community, earn their trust, and devel-op sustainable projects with the community to develop the economy.

Rio Claro is in the southern most region of the country - the Zona Sur. The region is known for having 2 seasons - rainy and more rainy. Rio Claro is the center of Guay-cara, the local county which includes the surrounding communities. We sit along the Inter-American Highway that leads to the Panama border, at the junction for the road to Golfito.

In Golfito you’ll find the ‘Zona Libre,’ a duty free shopping zone developed by the Costa Rican government in an attempt to provide relief from the devastation the region experienced when the banana industry deserted them 20 years ago. So almost all traffic goes through Rio Claro, heading either to the Zona Libre or to the Panama border but never stops in Rio Claro.

“Rio Claro es para pasar, no para parar” (Rio Claro is for passing, not stopping)

The first project for which I got enthusiastic community-wide support was for repairing the gallery seats in the gymnasium of the large Sports Complex or Polideportivo. The gymnasi-um is a court covered by a big roof with a gallery for seating to one side. It is managed by the Sports Committee of Guaycara. After years of neglect, the wood of the bleacher seats had rotted away and the metal was rusted and corroded.

The community members involved in this project included the owner of the hostel located directly across from the gymnasium, and several musicians and their friends. The owner of the hostel, Eddie, went out into his land, cut down trees and created the planks we used to replace the rotted wood. We disassembled the wood, repaired and painted the metal struc-ture with non corrosive paint,then replaced and painted the wood and bricks for the entire structure.

Another community member and musician is Walter Padilla or, as he’s known locally, Gualo Patiña. Relating to my previous life before Peace Corps, Gualo is a combination of my broth-er George and my friend Jay.

We disassembled the wood, repaired and painted the metal structure with non corrosive paint, then replaced and painted the wood and bricks for the entire structure.

Using this refurbished gymnasium to host the first ‘Festival Cultural Social and Artistic’ of the region on January 10th, 2015 we set goals for the project:

- Create a center for culture, not as a place but as part of the community fabric.- Give Rio Claro an identity, uniting the community with a vision for the future.- Bring together and showcase the talent that exists within the Region.

Working with the local City Council (The Development Association of Rio Claro) we applied for and received the necessary permissions from the Municipal Government, Ministry of Health, The Red Cross, the Police Force, and the Sports Committee of Guaycara. With the help of the community, friends and family we:- Rented sound and lighting equipment for the festival- Rented musical equipment for rehearsals and the festival - Hosted and fed over 65 musicians, provided housing and transportation for many of them - Paid for taxis and sanitation- Provided electricity and decorations for the gymnasium and the stage

Music plays a big part in defining the culture of the region and it was the music that made the biggest impact by including local and international musicians. One group, a chorus from the US touring Costa Rica drove here from Quepos (3 hours away) and six hours back to the capital - just to be part of the festival. They’re a great group of musicians and even offered to sing in the center of Rio Claro before the festival to help drum up attendance.

The Festival line up included:

The Juniata College Concert Choir opened the show Rio Clareño chanteuse Jeimmy Lopez . Grupo SkapeCreArte - Theater performance.After a pause, we opened the second half with David Henke, a classical guitarist.Rasta Seqeera - a local ska/ rasta groupSurprise appearance by JoaoAmong others...

Andrew Christopoulos - original material. It was a personal joy to have my nephew (my brother George’s son) here to participate in the event. As a musician, Andrew integrated with the community immediately upon arrival and performed original songs in the festival. He inspires me and helps me remember the pow-ers of music and how it creates community.

Walter Rios - Walter’s voice is so pure and lyrical that he captures you in his song in a beautiful way. Wal-ter has been playing music here all his life. In fact, 3 of Walter’s children performed in the Festival. One is Gualo Patiño.

Gualo Patiño - really gave his all for this festival. He played guitar or drums with 3 of the acts and put to-gether a band to close the show. And it was spectacular. Our goal for the event was 100 attendees. By the end of the night all of the gallery and the chairs were full with well over 300 people. Gualo’s performance was a clear demonstration of the talent and hard work that went into the festival. Besides performing, he coordinated all of the musicians, practiced with many of them and made sure they were there and ready to perform. He rented the equipment they needed to be able to practice and motivated them to be better musicians.

The local economy benefited from the festival. For example, Nomadas, Eddie’s hostel saw significant financial benefit. They served more than 80 meals throughout the weekend, and specifically during the festival itself. And all of his beds were full for the duration of the week-end. Other businesses and taxis in town saw the benefit of increased economic activity. And more than anything, the festival served as an example for what CAN be done. The communi-ty is motivated to continue working with the vision to improve the economic and cultural cli-mates in Rio Claro, Guaycara.

- James Christopoulos, Tico 26

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