Ok well we are in San Jose now and have free internet in the saweet hostel we are in so expect mucho grande blogging...
Currently 5 people chilling in San Jose while the rest of the group have begun their journey to the south of Costa Rica, towards Puerto Jimenez. So yes, a couple of us have been hit by the feared TRAVELLERS TUM TUM. So we are recuperating trying to get better with DR. GORDO on NURSE duty.
Project phase - So, So.. We arrived in LOS COCOS {that is not really the name but our adopted title for the community we were working with} Amazingly kind and friendly people who seemed very grateful if not a bit shocked to see 14 girls wielding pick-axes and shovels. We had the honour of spending the 5 days in the house of The CUBAN DOCTOR and his family- includind cuatro dogs CURIOUS GEORGE, SHADOW, PSYCHO and random little dude. Extended family also included 1 MEGA pig, 3 piglets, 4 geese and around 428792 chickens. Oh, The Doctor also had human children Abraham Jessica and Marie. On the first night Jessica did a little traditional jig for us while Abraham aged 2, stole the limelight and threw some shapes on the dance floor gangster stylie. BUT to return to the project phase, 5 days of hard work, we received lots and lots of support and help from the locals and often had to take the tools out of their hands to prove that we were up to the job. Special mention to LIZS talents pick-axes skills and raking. Apart from flattening and cementing in the playground stuff, jobs also included painting the equipment, often multiple times after the kids hijacked the brushes and decided to attack a tyre with an array of clashing colours.
However, it must also be mentioned that it wasnt all work. Paddles in one of the largest lakes in the americas, with amazing views of two volcanos and this is despite the threat of the BULL SHARKS. But we have all got our limbs intact. We did a lot of chilling in the midday sun/torrential rain, sunbathing only to be disturbed by a tropical storm. Sun tans are coming on nicely. We managed to pick the one time to visiit when sand flies converge in their billions and there were swarms and clouds of them dive bombing us whilst we attempted to eat our 5 star cuisine cheffed up by the food group.
The end result was a bright colourful, safe playground which the community can enjoy and build upon. The village asked when we left to email them a picture of us with our names on us so that the children could know who the hardworking girls were who helped make their playground amazing.
love the ILL FOOD GROUP-Liz, Hannah, Gordy, Vicky plus special guest, Sophie
Friday, 16 July 2010
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
project phase-
after an early wake up on Ometepe Island, we crossed back over the lake and hopped on a bus in Rivas. First thing on the agenda was food - the most important thing in our lives at the moment. and i think we are all in agreement to say that the food group definatley did us proud, with a MASSIVE bag full of food and there were even more plastic bags to follow. We hopped back on the bus and about 20 minutes later arrived at the village, where we had an amazing welcome from the whole village, and they seemed very excited for us to be there.
we have all worked very hard this week, and have not only made the playground a lot better, but we are all confident and feel that it is a much more safe area as well for all the children to play in. we have also had a lot of keen villagers to help, and have impressed them with out skills to be able to pick axe, and have had to grab out tools back off them a number of times, as they are as keen as us to do the work. it is all looking a lot more happier now as well because we have re painted everything and its lovely and bright.
today we found out that we are the first ever world challengers not to just travel straight through Nicaragua, and the people of the village now know that we are wanting to make a difference in their country as well as others, so we have a very big claim to fame out here!!
We are heading off on a Tiki bus tomorrow morning, and have a 6 hour journey into San Jose - Costa Rica, something we are all very much looking forward too.
Lots and lots of love to all family and friends.
walker
we have all worked very hard this week, and have not only made the playground a lot better, but we are all confident and feel that it is a much more safe area as well for all the children to play in. we have also had a lot of keen villagers to help, and have impressed them with out skills to be able to pick axe, and have had to grab out tools back off them a number of times, as they are as keen as us to do the work. it is all looking a lot more happier now as well because we have re painted everything and its lovely and bright.
today we found out that we are the first ever world challengers not to just travel straight through Nicaragua, and the people of the village now know that we are wanting to make a difference in their country as well as others, so we have a very big claim to fame out here!!
We are heading off on a Tiki bus tomorrow morning, and have a 6 hour journey into San Jose - Costa Rica, something we are all very much looking forward too.
Lots and lots of love to all family and friends.
walker
Thursday, 8 July 2010
First couple of days.
After a very long 22 hour journey we finally arrived in our first hostel in Granada - Nicaragua, all very tired and ready for bed as it was around 5 in the morning English time, so some struggled to get used to the timings, but we are all pretty much used to it now. after having a quick breakfast at a cafe the food people went for a shop and when they returned we walked to get the local bus to the port where we caught a ferry to Ometepe Island, where I am currently writing this from.
Yesterday we were up bright and early to get our bus to La Cascada, which is a waterfall on the side of the inactive vocano on the island. It was around a 4 hour walk up and down overall, and when we got to the top, although it was raining it was a beautiful sight, and we had a quick lunch before going back down again. it was a good first expierence for a hardish walk and i think we have all learnt that walking boots are a definate necessity.
Off to the first project tomorrow and we are starting to round up our design group to start thinking about the building of the playgroud.
Much love to all the families, and will try to blog soon.
Walker
Yesterday we were up bright and early to get our bus to La Cascada, which is a waterfall on the side of the inactive vocano on the island. It was around a 4 hour walk up and down overall, and when we got to the top, although it was raining it was a beautiful sight, and we had a quick lunch before going back down again. it was a good first expierence for a hardish walk and i think we have all learnt that walking boots are a definate necessity.
Off to the first project tomorrow and we are starting to round up our design group to start thinking about the building of the playgroud.
Much love to all the families, and will try to blog soon.
Walker
Sunday, 4 July 2010
First night...in the sports hall.
After emotional goodbyes and an enjoyable and yummy bbq cooked to perfection by wonderful fathers, we set up our tents and crammed additional team kit and tents into what were already bulging rucksacks.
After a highly intellectual and self-evaluating discussion , team roles were decided, and we came to the conclusion that Vix and Hannah would be leading the team throughout the first stage.
Other roles decided which were prehaps unexpectadly volunteered for was 'Head Washeruper' for the whole 30 days who will be Luby. Sophie was enthusiatic about her new roles as 'Head Wakerupper' and 'Team Motivator' and the team is satisfied that she is qualifed to fullfill the jobs requirements.
We're about to pull out the gym mats to sleep on, after consuming a huge amount of pizza in the hope that fat stores will quickly build up. On that note we would all like to say goodbye,so long, farewell. au revoir, auf wiedersehrn. We will blog as much as we can. but could be out of contact for the next two days and possibly week due to travelling and the fact that we are camping on a volcano!
Lots of love to all families and friend, we miss you already (kinda).
Good luck Justin in the Sound of Music and team rule number 6 is 9th of July official Sound of Music appriciation day.
Walker, Watson, GB.
After a highly intellectual and self-evaluating discussion , team roles were decided, and we came to the conclusion that Vix and Hannah would be leading the team throughout the first stage.
Other roles decided which were prehaps unexpectadly volunteered for was 'Head Washeruper' for the whole 30 days who will be Luby. Sophie was enthusiatic about her new roles as 'Head Wakerupper' and 'Team Motivator' and the team is satisfied that she is qualifed to fullfill the jobs requirements.
We're about to pull out the gym mats to sleep on, after consuming a huge amount of pizza in the hope that fat stores will quickly build up. On that note we would all like to say goodbye,so long, farewell. au revoir, auf wiedersehrn. We will blog as much as we can. but could be out of contact for the next two days and possibly week due to travelling and the fact that we are camping on a volcano!
Lots of love to all families and friend, we miss you already (kinda).
Good luck Justin in the Sound of Music and team rule number 6 is 9th of July official Sound of Music appriciation day.
Walker, Watson, GB.
Monday, 28 June 2010
1 week to go.
Little bit excited, however we are not sure if this is due to the side effects of the newly formed 'malaria Mondays'. Everything is coming together, and we are all purchasing last minute stuff.
This blog is to try and get us to keep you up to date with everything that is going on. We will be jumping into every internet cafe that we find, and we will try as much as possible to share this adventure with you.
Anyway, over and out. Off to buy some zippy trousers.
walker.scarf.watson.
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