La gira

Training is hectic and quite disorienting. As soon as I actually get to a computer, I have so many things to tell and so much to share that I never know where to start and simply end up speechless. I think that's the biggest frustration at the moment, that I'm unable to adequately express everything that's happening here! So here's my attempt for redemption...

Our training group split in two for our first field trip, visiting various volunteers in their sites to see what the real deal is. My half was in the Zona Norte (North Central Zone) and the other group went to Guanacaste (North Carribean Zone). Monday morning we left for Caño Negro de Los Chiles, which used to be a Rural site (my program is Rural Community Development, just a reminder), but has recently been taken over by the Micro-Enterprise program because of it's significant increase in tourism.
It was beautiful (it's on a river and next to a protected forest), but surprisingly bigger than I expected! We met with a group of women (organized by a former PC volunteer for self-esteem classes) who make and sell jewelry to tourists. In the morning we visited San Gabriel de Upala, which was much more rural and decentralized. We only stopped by to talk with the current volunteer before moving on to Pejibaye de Gautuso, which is a future site for my group (as in one of us will live there). There we were part of a nutrition class and exercise program with the local school; it was great to play some futbol!

The next morning it was of to Sante Fe de Guatuso, which was a tough site. The volunteer, Thomas, will be there for another year, but 5 kilometers away lies a future site, Gallo Pinto, which is even more rural since that person will have to walk to Sante Fe to catch the bus at 5:15am! On the way there and back, we stopped in a city called Zarcero, which has this really cool garden.