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A Jungle Bridge
Comments, Thoughts and Pictures From Costa Rica
March 3, 2015
© 2015 Barry A. Stevens
RECENT NEWS
Here They Came – The VP of Costa Rica visits El Puente
Almost Done – What you did to help Bridge Kids attend school
Christmas Customs – Presents mailed to a Volunteer, and she learned a new Spanish word – “Aduana”
Homework On The Platform – a microscopic view
We are blessed with Volunteers – and it is fun for all
The Garbage Lesson – An impromptu teaching approach
The Grey Guy says “Goodbye”
We are back on SKYPE
HERE THEY CAME!
A VP of Costa Rica Visits El Puente
It started simply, with a visit on February 9 from three men from Casa Presidencial – the office of the Presidency of Costa Rica.
Luis Carlos, Johnny Vargas Navarro, and Rafael Gaita joined Nanci and I
at what we jokingly refer to as “our conference table” on the front porch.
We’d already had a call from the office of the President – they’d heard about El Puente, and were curious. We sent in the usual introductory material, the link to the CNN story, brochures, and more. So, they got right to the point. Vice Presidenta Ana Helena Chacón, would like to visit The Bridge on Wednesday, February 25, at 2 PM. The Honorable lady was to give us an hour of her valuable time. Along with her were to be a number of officials from various agencies, all dealing with the issue of ‘breaking the cycle of poverty’.
Tuesday – the day before the visit – a truck marked “Policia Transito”, carrying three men, pulled up at the house. I took them on a guided tour of the property. That took about two minutes. One identified himself as being from Casa Presidencial, and asked how many people we might expect tomorrow. “Anywhere from 5 to 50”, I explained. “We don’t know for sure.” He nodded his head. I asked if they wanted to go inside the house – he said “yes, but tomorrow morning”. They pointed to one of the men, wearing a blue security-looking T-shirt, and said he’d want to go inside and check the place out at about 11 AM. I suspect we had no choice but agree. Hide the uzies!
Onward!
Then came Wednesday! Nanci and I and Volunteer Kendra were scurrying around all morning long, getting things ready for the visit.
Kendra really blew it!
Kendra got going with the decorations – she demonstrates here her talents
for blowing up balloons – and so much more!
As more volunteers arrived, the pace quickened. We had until 2 PM, the scheduled time for the visit, lots to do, and it looked like we’d just about make it. Things were moving right along.
Then – at about 11 – the phone rang. The Vice-President apologizes, but they all will be arriving early, more like 1 PM, not 2 PM.! GULP! The pace quickened. Fine tuning was abandoned – simply making sure everything and everyone was in place was good enough. Forget showers and a carefully selected change of clothes. Run!
Then – the phone rang again! And just about as the first cars in the visiting group were turning into the driveway, we learned that they were arriving still earlier –at 12:15! By the time the incoming vehicle flow subsided, we had private cars, and vehicles from both the Fuerza Publica and the Policia Transito. The road near our home was blocked completely by all those cars as we started welcoming these distinguished visitors to El Puente! And then…
As this special lady arrived, she began to say hello to the people waiting at the gate. The Vice President appeared to take an instant liking to Yvonne, the little dynamo Bribri girl who could practically run the show at the Community Kitchen.
Nanci shows M. VicePresidenta and some of her contingency the materials we arranged on the presentation table. Things exhibited included El Puente coffee table YearBooks done by Volunteer Peter Stuempel, a coloring book created by ten of the Bribri children and Nanci in three languages – Bribri, Spanish, and English; work done by INA trade school classes – artesania, and the structure of the platform; Nanci even included a Spanish copy of “Little Soul And The Sun”, illustrated with fotos of Bribri children, special chocolate made from her own Talamancan trees and much more. Banners instigated and designed by Melissa and the Gledhill children and handled by everyone.
Nanci shows M. VicePresidenta the materials on display
Leaders of indigenous tribes have the same diplomatic status as leaders of a country. Following protocol, we introduce Timoteo Jackson, Leader of the Bribri, and his wife Pastora, to the Madama VicePresidenta.
“Timoteo and Pastora, meet Ana. Ana, meet Timoteo and his wife Pastora.”
The presentations to the assembled group began.
Nanci started off by talking about what we do at Maria gave an impassioned talk about the many years
El Puente, and the interactions we’ve had helping that she and her family had a hard time dealing with
the indigenous we serve in working with various issues for which she needed medical and other help,.
governmental services and how El Puente’s support has helped them.
Timoteo gave an equally passionate presentation on Ana Helena gave her thoughts – the government is very
dealing with issues with schools, government services, interested in supporting people living in poverty, and we
and how El Puente has served him and the people in can expect to see more on-the-ground activity from people
his community. working in governmental services.
Before leaving The Bridge that afternoon, a date was set for a return visit of many key government heads who want to speak personally to as many of our community as we can conjur up. Fortunately, the 18th of April happens to land on a Saturday soup kitchen day.
And later that day, the VP posted these thoughts on her Facebook page. First her words in Spanish, then with a Google Translation into English.
“Hoy también visitamos la organización no gubernamental "The Bridge" en Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Este centro colabora con población local en diferentes áreas, particularmente en atención integral de la niñez.
Creemos en este tipo de iniciativas como un forma de llegar directamente a la población y articular mejor al Gobierno Central con la sociedad civil. Regresamos a San José con el compromiso de apoyarles y beneficiar a más personas”
Translation by Google Translate:
Today we also visited the NGO "The Bridge" in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. The center collaborates with local people in different areas, particularly in comprehensive care of children.
We believe in such initiatives as a way to get directly to the people and articulate better the central government with civil society. We return to San José with a commitment to support them and benefit more people
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is one of the things that you wonderful folks have been supporting, and I can only say
“Look What You Have Done!
Thank You For Your Support!”
And as usual, we’ll keep you posted.
DONE – SCHOOL YEAR 2015
Pat yourselves on the back, guys & gals! This year you assisted 150 students as they moved forward with their lives. All of them received a full complement of backpacks and school supplies. What’s in a backpack?
The contents vary based on the grade level, but in general,
there’s a bunch of notebooks, a calligraphy notebook, pencils, colored
pencils, ball point pens, a pencil sharpener, scissors, glue, rulers, geometry set,
compass,erasers, and last but not least, a map of Costa Rica
This year, we were also able to fully “suit up” 67 Bridge Kids with uniforms and shoes.
Say “Hi!” to Richard, once again in the
School Program with your help!
These determined Bridge Kids are attending a total of 28 schools - 26 in Costa Rica, and 2 in Panama.
There's one in pre-kindergarten, then all the way up through high school. And - two have gone still further - one to a trade school in Bribri, and another to a university in San Jose.
Thank you for helping these great Bridge Kids!
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
A Merry Christmas – on January 30th
Kendra and I took the bus to Limon today. Leaving at 7:30 AM from outside our house, we took the bumpy ride to Limon, arriving at just about 9. The bus arrives close to the boat docks, so the walk to the Aduana Office was pretty short. (Aduana means “Customs” in Spanish) After a brief wait inside the office, Kendra presented the receipt she had been given from the Correo Postale – postal service. The nice lady behind the glass window asked us to take a seat while she looked up the box.
When she returned with the box, she motioned us back to the window and said “You need to pay for our service in taking the box to Aduana. We’ll carry it there, present it to them, and they’ll tell you how much it will cost. Then you pay whatever the Aduana cost is at Banco Nacional, across the street, and they give you a receipt. Bring the receipt back to them, and they’ll give you the box.” So, Kendra paid her Ȼ1,003 Colons ($1.89)
A nice young lad in a Correo Postale Uniform put the box on his shoulder, and he strode off, heading a short distance down the street, and went into the Aduana Office – we of course followed. He waited until the box was taken in by an Aduana worker, then, nodding his head, he walked out of the office. We waited our turn. When the man finally came over, he took the notice from Kendra. He asked to see her ID. She pulled out the copy of her passport. The man was somewhat flustered, since she was apparently supposed to have the original, not a copy. But, he shook his head, and opened the box. He dug through her many wrapped packages, in what was turning out to be a delivery of Christmas Presents. And this, when today’s date was January 30! He shook his head again, and continued. He looked at the name on the package, and He and Kendra opened quite a few more before I got a big laugh in the room by beginning to sing…
Feliz Navidad, ¯ boom boom ¯ boom-boom-boom ¯
I say I “began” to sing, because the laughter, from both sides of the counter, was nearly instantaneous.
As Kendra opened the gifts, he wrote the contents down on a pad of paper. I even got to open a couple addressed to “Barry & Nanci”. He didn’t bother asking for my ID. After he finished looking through the contents of the box, he excused himself, saying he’d go and compute the cost. After a brief wait, he said “It will cost Ȼ72 Colons” (13 and ½ cents). We paid the ransom, and the lad wrapped the box up with bright yellow tape. We left the building, and scurried back to the bus station, just 10 minutes ahead of the next bus to Puerto Viejo. After another long bus ride back, we returned home about 1:30.
Seven hours, and $2 and 2 cents later, 5 lb box in hand, we agreed we’d had an Interesting day.
As we settled into the porch at our house…
…Kendra presents… The Box!
She does have a really cool smile. She had Nanci video the “Second Unwrapping”…
HOMEWORK ON THE PLATFORM
A Microscopic View
We were blessed with a donation – a microscope – and this turned out to be a real fun curiosity!
Alejandro warms up the microscope – he had … the crowd gathers as he zeroes in on that most
captured a mosquito, and was getting ready for well-known of the flying creatures around here as it comes
a closeup view into view
Alejandro jumped in first, to explore the new tool. It soon became obvious that we’d need to find microscope slides. Nanci found the easiest solution by disassembling a small picture frame, and taking the glass out of it. Bingo! The slide is a little on the large side, but it does work fine. One of the solar-powered lights, donated by Muff Warren and The Institute for Energy Efficiency at the University of California, Santa Barbara, worked great for lighting up just the right spot.
Alejandro started out with various insects, and even looked at a sample of human blood (no doubt second hand) compliments of the mosquito.
The more he worked, the more of a crowd gathered, and they all took turns looking into the microscope to see what they could see.
Thank you for this donation! The Bridge Kids are loving it!
.
VOLUNTEERING
Fun for all and all for fun!
A Very Active Volunteer Family
In a previous newsletter, you got to meet Kent and Melissa Gledhill and their four children. They were volunteering by building some benches and tables, by repairing the doors on the back bathroom area, and by helping out at the Community Kitchen.
After that initial jump start, they’ve been building two new chicken coops to replace the ones here at El Puente that have been slowly losing the battle to the tropical weather.
But wait – there’s more! Their volunteer time here is not yet over!
Here, Kent is sitting down with Timoteo Jackson, Bribri tribal leader, and members
of his family as they work out the details of building an aqueduct to supply water