So only tomorrow left of my first week in the center where I am volunteering. The oher girl has been sick the whole week so I haven't had anyone to tell me things so that I actually get them.
The nuns who work there don't speak English, so no one has really explained me how the center works or anything about the rules.
Today I really enjoyed being there. I walked one girl to school, and played in library with few girls for two hours. Many of the girls really seem to like me. Eventhough I am not really able to speak good Spanish with them. But I am learning. Que tuanis!
Like there is that one girl who is 5 year old. She is really aware with new people. And so far she has just been avoiding me and calling me fea (ugly girl). But today, she was sitting on my lap and talking with me and playing with me. It made me so happy.
Tomorrow after work I will go to Raquel's house and stay there over night and then on Saturday night our 14 hours bus ride to Panama will begin. Wish me luck..
I bet it's going to be an awesome trip. So, Sunday-Thursday I will be in Panama!
perjantai 26. maaliskuuta 2010
maanantai 22. maaliskuuta 2010
La Jornada de Trabajo Social
Yesterday I participated social work day. It was organised by ACI and we were working disabled kids school. There were some international volunteers like me and then those Costa Rican volunteers who are going to Europe or somewhere.
Of course, I got lost on my way there in the morning, again. I thought I took the right bus, but no. I ended up on some little roads of Escazú forest and then it was already the final stop. It seemed like I wasn't the only confused one. Luckily another bus came from the forest and since it said Escazú-San Jose I decided to jump in. It was the right bus. Anyway, I was gonna arrive late so I had to call Jonas to tell that I got lost, again and will be late. I got the directions to the school and waited for the others there.
There were three different work groups 1) fiesta, 2)painting and 3)cleaning the old school. I was on the last group. Basicly I just sat on the sun outside with toys and water and cleaned them. And maybe played a little bit with some cool toys...
I met so many new people. It made me really happy. I was a bit worried on how I will get to know the other volunteers but yesterday was a great day to meet people.
The fiesta group organised a little party for the kids and we ate pizza. After that it was time to continue work for a bit. The channel 7 (I think) was also there. So we made it to the news. That camera guy was filming me like for two minutes, it was so weird! Maybe I made it to the Costa Rican television..
After we left the school, which was btw huge and gorgeous, we went to ACI office to have a little party. So just ate, drank something and danced and talked with other people. I had a long discussion in Spanish!
At the moment there is Fía in San Jose which is National art festival, so we went there. Luckily one boy had a car so we didn't have to take busses. I stayed there only for about 10-15 minutes because my stomach ached so bad, then I just took taxi home.
Today I was supposed to go to Volcan Poás with Raquel as a part of my orientation program. But at night Raquel called me that she is sick too, so we just decided to do the trip some other time.
Just a side note, it gets dark here realllllly fast. I have been looking out the window in every two minute or so, and it is amazing how the sky changes!
So about today. There would have been Gallo Pinto Day in San Jose but my stomach is still a little messed up and I feel a bit weak so I decided not to go. Eventhough I wanted to go sooooo bad. Some people that I met yesterday were going and asked me to join. Instead, I have been sleeping and just hanged out home the whole day. Lame, I know.
And work begins tomorrow.
Photos later!
Of course, I got lost on my way there in the morning, again. I thought I took the right bus, but no. I ended up on some little roads of Escazú forest and then it was already the final stop. It seemed like I wasn't the only confused one. Luckily another bus came from the forest and since it said Escazú-San Jose I decided to jump in. It was the right bus. Anyway, I was gonna arrive late so I had to call Jonas to tell that I got lost, again and will be late. I got the directions to the school and waited for the others there.
There were three different work groups 1) fiesta, 2)painting and 3)cleaning the old school. I was on the last group. Basicly I just sat on the sun outside with toys and water and cleaned them. And maybe played a little bit with some cool toys...
I met so many new people. It made me really happy. I was a bit worried on how I will get to know the other volunteers but yesterday was a great day to meet people.
The fiesta group organised a little party for the kids and we ate pizza. After that it was time to continue work for a bit. The channel 7 (I think) was also there. So we made it to the news. That camera guy was filming me like for two minutes, it was so weird! Maybe I made it to the Costa Rican television..
After we left the school, which was btw huge and gorgeous, we went to ACI office to have a little party. So just ate, drank something and danced and talked with other people. I had a long discussion in Spanish!
At the moment there is Fía in San Jose which is National art festival, so we went there. Luckily one boy had a car so we didn't have to take busses. I stayed there only for about 10-15 minutes because my stomach ached so bad, then I just took taxi home.
Today I was supposed to go to Volcan Poás with Raquel as a part of my orientation program. But at night Raquel called me that she is sick too, so we just decided to do the trip some other time.
Just a side note, it gets dark here realllllly fast. I have been looking out the window in every two minute or so, and it is amazing how the sky changes!
So about today. There would have been Gallo Pinto Day in San Jose but my stomach is still a little messed up and I feel a bit weak so I decided not to go. Eventhough I wanted to go sooooo bad. Some people that I met yesterday were going and asked me to join. Instead, I have been sleeping and just hanged out home the whole day. Lame, I know.
And work begins tomorrow.
Photos later!
lauantai 20. maaliskuuta 2010
Orientation Week & Spanish Classes
So this first week here was a orientation week for me. I had private orientation meetings and Spanish classes at the ACI office since I arrived at different time than the other volunteers.
People at the ACI CR office seem to be really nice. I especially like Raquel, who is 19 year old Costa Rican girl. She doesn't work at ACI everyday but goes to university at the time. She was my guide for the first days. So in the mornings she came to pick me up and then we went to the office together and same in the evenings. On Tuesday evening I already came back alone! Hurray.
My Spanish teacher was a young guy called Lester. He was really nice and a good teacher. He only spoke Spanish and explained everything in Spanish as logn as I understood him. I feel like I learned a lot. And he told me that I was a good student. Apparently he also told that to the people working at ACI office since some of them mentioned that I was told to be a good student and that my Spanish has improved in a week. Well I mean, I still don't know much, but I am a lot better than a week ago.
Lester and me.
What else. Well, I visited my project with Jonas (my contact person at ACI). I got to know that there is another volunteer at the project, Hannah from Germany. She has been there since August already. And the center is run by nuns, which I didn't know...
Apart from orientation and Spanish classes I haven't done much. I get home at 5-6 in the evening and I am too tired to do anything special.
Yesterday on the way back home I got lost. I took a bus to Escazú but not to Escazú centro, so I ended up to San Rafael. I realized I was going wrong way and jumped of in front of Plaza Colonial and called home. Then one of my host sisters came to pick me up.
Alright, tomorrow I am going to some volunteering event organised by ACI. Should be nice, I will meet other volunteers too! And on Sunday I will go to Volcan Poás with Raquel!
I am already travelling to Panama in a week! I will be there from Sunday to Thursday.
People at the ACI CR office seem to be really nice. I especially like Raquel, who is 19 year old Costa Rican girl. She doesn't work at ACI everyday but goes to university at the time. She was my guide for the first days. So in the mornings she came to pick me up and then we went to the office together and same in the evenings. On Tuesday evening I already came back alone! Hurray.
My Spanish teacher was a young guy called Lester. He was really nice and a good teacher. He only spoke Spanish and explained everything in Spanish as logn as I understood him. I feel like I learned a lot. And he told me that I was a good student. Apparently he also told that to the people working at ACI office since some of them mentioned that I was told to be a good student and that my Spanish has improved in a week. Well I mean, I still don't know much, but I am a lot better than a week ago.
Lester and me.
What else. Well, I visited my project with Jonas (my contact person at ACI). I got to know that there is another volunteer at the project, Hannah from Germany. She has been there since August already. And the center is run by nuns, which I didn't know...
Apart from orientation and Spanish classes I haven't done much. I get home at 5-6 in the evening and I am too tired to do anything special.
Yesterday on the way back home I got lost. I took a bus to Escazú but not to Escazú centro, so I ended up to San Rafael. I realized I was going wrong way and jumped of in front of Plaza Colonial and called home. Then one of my host sisters came to pick me up.
Alright, tomorrow I am going to some volunteering event organised by ACI. Should be nice, I will meet other volunteers too! And on Sunday I will go to Volcan Poás with Raquel!
I am already travelling to Panama in a week! I will be there from Sunday to Thursday.
tiistai 16. maaliskuuta 2010
First Weekend in Escazú
So I came on Saturday. In the evening we went to San José downtown with my hostmom and two of my host sisters. Walked around a bit and went for a coffee. Well actually I got banana con leche. Mm. It was so good. Like a milkshake kind of thing.
Then on Sunday there was a fiesta called "El Boyero" in Escazú. There were lots of oxen pulling colourful carriages. I learned that the paintings in the carriages are handmade. They were so pretty.
There were also loots of food stands and way too many people. It was such a crowd there. My hostmom took us there by car and it looked impossible for me how she managed to drive there! I must say I was impressed.
So here I have some photos from the fiesta. I will put more photos to a photo website and put a link here. I think it is easier like that..
My hostmom, and two of my host sisters Daniela and Mariana.
After fiesta we went to Santa Aná where my hostmom's mom lives. We walked around a bit and had lunch there. I don't have many photos from there. It looks amazing though, because the road to Santa Aná goes down in a valley and you can see all the houses and flowers and colours and mountains that surround it. Soooo pretty! I wish to get a photo of the valley sometime.
Then on Sunday there was a fiesta called "El Boyero" in Escazú. There were lots of oxen pulling colourful carriages. I learned that the paintings in the carriages are handmade. They were so pretty.
There were also loots of food stands and way too many people. It was such a crowd there. My hostmom took us there by car and it looked impossible for me how she managed to drive there! I must say I was impressed.
So here I have some photos from the fiesta. I will put more photos to a photo website and put a link here. I think it is easier like that..
My hostmom, and two of my host sisters Daniela and Mariana.
After fiesta we went to Santa Aná where my hostmom's mom lives. We walked around a bit and had lunch there. I don't have many photos from there. It looks amazing though, because the road to Santa Aná goes down in a valley and you can see all the houses and flowers and colours and mountains that surround it. Soooo pretty! I wish to get a photo of the valley sometime.
lauantai 13. maaliskuuta 2010
The Longest Trip Of My Life.
Now I am safely in Costa Rica writing this at my bed. Coming here took a bit longer than it was supposed to..
My flight from London to Miami got hit by lighting during the take-off. After that we were flying around somewhere for some hours to get rid off the extra fuel so that the airplane would be able to land. So they were just letting the fuel to go into the air and sea. How sad is that...
Well, then we waited for some hours in London and I had to change my flight from Miami to San José because there was no way I could ever catch that plane. Virgin Airlines got me a hotel for the night in Miami and new flight to the next morning.
We fianlly took off from London at 8pm. (The flight hit by lighting took off 8 houts earlier...) On the way to Miami I got real sick with all the turbulence. Luckily I didn't get sick until like an hour before Miami.
In Miami there were about 10 of us who were placed to Marriott for night. I got a nice suite from the 5th floor. Because of the time difference I wasn't really tired and planned on walking around a bit. Then I realized the bathtub in my suite looked way too good and I just got the longest bath of my life. So nice.
I will but up some photos of my room later. Haha.
After few hours in Miami it was time to get to the airport, again. I was dead tired of carrying all my bags around. The flight to San José was bad. Turbulence almost all the time. So I got sick, again.
In San José the host family and Jonas from ACI Costa Rica were waiting for me. Well, we just had to find each other first. While walking around looking lost I got many offers for taxis AND becoming a hooker. Then I met my hostmom and one of her girls as they walked to me and asked if I am Raila. Sí, soy Raila.
First impressions: colorful, noisy and hot. Family seems to be really nice! And I like this house, and the dog.
ALright, time to get the rest of my stuff on the shelves and so.
PS: I got into every single extra security control you just can imagine. + I forgot I had waterbottle in my bag and ALL my stuff got checked again, item by item.
My flight from London to Miami got hit by lighting during the take-off. After that we were flying around somewhere for some hours to get rid off the extra fuel so that the airplane would be able to land. So they were just letting the fuel to go into the air and sea. How sad is that...
Well, then we waited for some hours in London and I had to change my flight from Miami to San José because there was no way I could ever catch that plane. Virgin Airlines got me a hotel for the night in Miami and new flight to the next morning.
We fianlly took off from London at 8pm. (The flight hit by lighting took off 8 houts earlier...) On the way to Miami I got real sick with all the turbulence. Luckily I didn't get sick until like an hour before Miami.
In Miami there were about 10 of us who were placed to Marriott for night. I got a nice suite from the 5th floor. Because of the time difference I wasn't really tired and planned on walking around a bit. Then I realized the bathtub in my suite looked way too good and I just got the longest bath of my life. So nice.
I will but up some photos of my room later. Haha.
After few hours in Miami it was time to get to the airport, again. I was dead tired of carrying all my bags around. The flight to San José was bad. Turbulence almost all the time. So I got sick, again.
In San José the host family and Jonas from ACI Costa Rica were waiting for me. Well, we just had to find each other first. While walking around looking lost I got many offers for taxis AND becoming a hooker. Then I met my hostmom and one of her girls as they walked to me and asked if I am Raila. Sí, soy Raila.
First impressions: colorful, noisy and hot. Family seems to be really nice! And I like this house, and the dog.
ALright, time to get the rest of my stuff on the shelves and so.
PS: I got into every single extra security control you just can imagine. + I forgot I had waterbottle in my bag and ALL my stuff got checked again, item by item.
sunnuntai 7. maaliskuuta 2010
5 days left in Finland!
It has been such a lovely weather here for the last week or so.
And this weekend has been really nice.
On Friday we had family friends visiting and we ate cheeses. Just like in France.
Yesterday we went shopping with mom. At the end I bought everything I tried on. Oops. So I have new pants, shirt, tank top and sweatshirt.
After that I was walking on ice with mom. (And taking pictures, of course.) So pretty out there!
And this weekend has been really nice.
On Friday we had family friends visiting and we ate cheeses. Just like in France.
Yesterday we went shopping with mom. At the end I bought everything I tried on. Oops. So I have new pants, shirt, tank top and sweatshirt.
After that I was walking on ice with mom. (And taking pictures, of course.) So pretty out there!
keskiviikko 3. maaliskuuta 2010
New countdown has began!
So as many people know, I didn't go to Costa Rica yet. I was sick. It took a while for the doctors to figure out what was wrong but now I am better and still recovering. Costa Rica agreed to take me there already so I am happy.
In the end of January I went to the orientation training to Helsinki which was nice (and mandatory if I still wanted to go to Costa Rica later). I got to meet other volunteers, they are going to europe though, and we had some discussions about our expectations and fears and so on..
After that I have mainly just relaxed, slept and read while I have been at home. (And met so many doctors.)
I have also studied Spanish and read about Costa Rica..
Some of the books I have been reading.
I will be flying to San José on 12th March. NEXT WEEK! Those flights look pretty awful. Helsinki-London-Miami-San José. And this nice journey will take about 20 hours. Wish me luck..
Right now my biggest worry is how to pack and what to pack. I can't take backpack because of my god damn twisted collarbone so I am taking a suitcase. My goal is to pack as light as possible. Easier said than done..
Time to get back to my suitcase and scale.
Adiós!
In the end of January I went to the orientation training to Helsinki which was nice (and mandatory if I still wanted to go to Costa Rica later). I got to meet other volunteers, they are going to europe though, and we had some discussions about our expectations and fears and so on..
After that I have mainly just relaxed, slept and read while I have been at home. (And met so many doctors.)
I have also studied Spanish and read about Costa Rica..
Some of the books I have been reading.
I will be flying to San José on 12th March. NEXT WEEK! Those flights look pretty awful. Helsinki-London-Miami-San José. And this nice journey will take about 20 hours. Wish me luck..
Right now my biggest worry is how to pack and what to pack. I can't take backpack because of my god damn twisted collarbone so I am taking a suitcase. My goal is to pack as light as possible. Easier said than done..
Time to get back to my suitcase and scale.
Adiós!
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