Volunteer Abroad Blog

Tarquin and Megan just left our environmental conservation project in Costa Rica and decided they wanted to leave something behind to help out the center.  They knew that it was low in resources and realized that one thing the center really needed was a new saw.

They spoke to our coordinators and donated money for Camilo to buy a saw for the center.  On Monday, Camilo delivered the saw to Don Alvaro (pictured above holding the wrapped-up saw), the coordinator of the environmental conservation foundation, and he was incredibly thankful.  He was so greatful because it was something that the center really needed and he was thankful to Megan and Tarquin for working so hard during their volunteer placement.

At uVolunteer we are also getting ready to do our yearly projects donations.  Our coordinators have been contacting all of our projects asking what materials they need because we believe that giving resources is more useful than giving cash.  Check back for updates about our project donations.

The sad day always comes when volunteers have to leave, but our local staff in San Ramon, Costa Rica didn’t want to let them go without expressing our appreciation for their hard work.  Royce and I surprised two volunteers, Brett and Alexis, on their last day of community English classes to give them a little gift and send them off with a big thanks. Read the rest of this entry »

Author: Sarah HackmanHere are more of the the many festivals that take place in Costa Rica, May through September!May-Dia de los Trabajadores (Labor Day) - May 1President gives annual address to Congress.-Carrera de San Juan - May 17Popular cross-country race covering 22.5 kmJune-Father’s Day - Third SundayJuly-Fiesta de la Virgen del Mar – Saturday closest to July 16Celebrations include colorful fleet of decorated fishing boats and yachts in the Nicoya golf, carrying Puntarenas’s Patron Saint, La Virgen del Monte Carmelo. Special masses, parades, food, concerts, dances, sports events, fireworks in Puntarenas.-Dia de Guanacaste - July 25thCelebrates Guanacaste’s decision to join Costa Rica instead of Nicaragua in 1824. Folk dances, parades, cattle shows, bull teasing, and concerts in Liberia.August -Virgin de Los Angeles - August 2Honors Costa Rica’s Patron Saint, “La Negrita” with nationwide pilgrimage and religious processions to the Basilica in Cartago-Mother’s Day and Feast of the Assumption – August 19-San Ramon Festival - August 30A religious procession of 30 Saints from neighboring towns comes to San Ramon and are placed in the Cathedral. Parades, music, food and venders line the street, 2 weeks.-Festival Flores de la Disapora Africana - Late AugustCelebration of Afro-Caribbean culture in Puerto Limon.September-Independence Day – September 15Costa Rica gained independence from Spain on the same day as the rest of Central America in 1821. Parades, traditional dances, ect. Day ends when Freedom Torch that was carried from Nicaragua through Costa Rica arrives in Cartago and the entire nation pauses to sing the national anthem. In the evening there are there often faroles parades where children carry small lanterns through their towns and fireworks.Check back for the rest of the year’s festivities!

Author: Sarah Hackman

It’s that time again, when practically all of the world’s sports fans have one focus, the World Cup! Fútbol, arguably the world’s most popular and widely played sport, has the power to unite, and divide, sports fans of all generations and nationalities. Fútbol is a part of many countries’ cultures, everyone grows up playing and/or watching the sport. The majority of the countries where uVolunteer offers projects are crazy about fútbol. Volunteers in these countries have the opportunity to share in the tradition of the sport with the local people, especially while the craze of the World Cup is about to commence! The 2010 world cup begins on June 11 in South Africa, where uVolunteer has a wildlife game reserve volunteer project. The entire nation of South Africa no doubt will be consumed with the events of the World Cup.

No matter what country you are in, fútbol is a great way spend time with the local people. Go out to any field and start kicking the ball around and you are bound to attract company, or head to a local bar to watch a game and strike up a conservation with the locals. For a more structured way to relate to the people through sports, uVolunteer offers sports coaching/physical education teaching projects in Costa Rica, Bolivia, Ghana, Kenya, Peru, and Uganda. Although you will be teaching other sports, you will undoubtedly be asked to play fútbol all day long! Take advantage of this common thread that can unite you with generations young and old. Although the World Cup is only for one month in South Africa, it is always fútbol season in every part of the world!

Author: Sarah Hackman

Costa Rica has many holidays and festivals throughout the year all over the country. You are bound to have time to attend at least one festival during your Costa Rica volunteer vacation. Here is a list of festivities that take place from January through April!

January

-Palmares - Mid January
Traditional (no bloodshed) bullfights, live music, folk dancing, carnival with rides and games, bars and clubs; two weeks.
-Fiesta Civica – Late January
Playa de Coco’s annual festival with bullfights, rodeos, dancing and drinking.
-Fiesta de los Diablitos – Dates vary from December to February
Located in the Bruca Indian Village, locals reenact a fight between the Indians and Spaniards by performing a traditional dance with diablitos and bull costumes. Flute and drum music accompany the dance.

February
-Puntarenas Carnival – Early February
Week-long celebration with music, dancing, food and parades.
-San Isidro del General Fiestas - First week of February
Cattle Exhibit, agricultural and industrial fairs, bullfights and flower exhibition.
-Fiesta de La Fortuna – Mid February
Bullfights, carnival rides, food, crafts and dancing; two weeks.

March
-Día de los Boyeros - Oxcart Driver’s Day – Second Sunday
Colorful parade of oxcarts, competitions and the blessing of the animals and crops by local priests in San Antonio de Escazu.
-International Arts Festival - Second week of March
International theater, dance, concerts, and other exhibits in the Central Valley
-National Orchid Show - Mid-March.
Over 500 local and foreign species and hybrids for show and sale.
-Ujarras – Mid March
A religious procession from Cartago to the ruins of first church in Costa Rica.
-Saint Joseph’s (San José) Day - March 19
Religious celebrations nationwide; fairs and special masses.
-Saint Patrick’s Day (US and various countries) - April 17
-Tierra Blanca (Farmer’s Day) - March 15
-Semana Santa (Holy Week) - Late March/Early April
Official holidays are Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Processions and special masses take place all week.

April
-Dia de Juan Santamaria - April 11
National holiday honoring a young fighter from Alajuela who defended his country to the death against William Walkers forces at the battle of Rivas in 1856. Week-long celebration with parades, marching bands, dances ect. Especially celebrated in Alajuela, but recognized nation wide.
-San Ramon Festival – Mid April
10 days of carnivals, Pamplona-like running of the bulls, concerts, bars, tope, food and more.

Check back for a blog about the rest of the year’s events in Costa Rica!

Author: Sarah Hackman

It had been over fifteen years since San Ramon last had a festival of its own. The neighboring town of Palamares holds a huge festival every January, drawing people from all over the country. This year, however, San Ramon decided that it was time to have its own festivities once again! Kicking off with a Tope, or horse parade, last weekend and ending yesterday with a Ranchero concert, the festival was a success. Based just two blocks from the volunteer dorm, the 10 day event drew people of all ages from in and around San Ramon.

One of the staple events of every Costa Rican festival is the corridas de toro. Along with setting up food stands, bars, a small club and several rides, a redondel, or arena, was built to host the corridas. Bull fights in Costa Rica are very different from the traditional fights in Spain. They are no-bloodshed fights that keep spectators entertained for hours! The bravest enter the ring together and wait for one bull to be released at a time. Everyone runs around taunting the bulls, doing there best not to get caught if one decides to charge!

Two of our volunteers, Turner and Scott, came to volunteer as physical education teachers in Costa Rica. After teaching the kids at school sports from the US, the boys got a lesson in one of the most traditional sports in Costa Rica. Fueled with adrenalin, they hopped in the ring and joined in the corridas de toro. It was not long before the locals had the boys right in the middle of things. They gave the muleta, the small red cape, to Scott, who ‘took the bull by the horns’ and got face to face with the animal. The volunteers were a hit in San Ramon and on the nightly news and thankfully made it out of the arena without a scratch!

The festival officially ended yesterday, and San Ramon is already looking forward to next year when there will possibly be a Pamplona-like running of the bulls through the streets!

Author: Meaw Manu

This week, Thailand is celebrating its New Year. uVolunteer’s account coordinator, Meaw, is originally from Thailand and she shares a little something about her culture with us here!

“Sa wad dee Pbi Mai” is how we say Happy New Year in Thai. Thai New Year is the 13th -15th of April. Thai people know it as Songkran. Songkran (Song Kran) is an important holiday!! Mostly for Thais who are practicing Buddhists, it is a time to reunite with their families, go to the temples, visit and show their respect to older folks and above all, it is a wild and wet celebration!! Which means that during this Songkran Week, wherever you go on this Siam land you will definitely get soaked and cooled down, which I think is very convenient as April is actually the hottest month in Thailand.

Although the Water Festival is supposed to start on 13th April, Thai people are very serious about this festival, so much so that they begin throwing water a few days before the official date. This is particularly true in Chiang Mai and other northern areas; so do not get frustrated if a Thai person approaches you with a bucket of water ready to soak you – this is all part of the fun, so enjoy it!
Since we celebrate the Thai New Year so vigorously, this Songkran event can also extend into a weekend and is easily the longest holiday in Thailand. This extended period often signals a return to home provinces, time for family get-togethers, serious merry making, and massive water splashing.

Traditionally, on the first day of the Songkran festival, Thai people will go as a family to their temple in the early morning. Typically people will be well dressed and equipped with their family’s specialty dishes to offer to monks. After the service at the temple, Thai people will spend time with their family and extended family – this can be very much like a yearly family reunion. In some areas, Thai people will go to a certain pagoda with scented water to spray and bathe on the pagoda and Buddha images for good luck and merits.

The second day of the Songkran Festival is called “Wan Nao” or “Preparation Day” and is considered to be the Thai New Year’s Eve. It is traditionally believed that one should refrain from cursing, acting improperly or committing any malicious deed on the Wan Nao. Also, it is considered lucky to clean out the house and get rid of unwanted junk on this day.

On the last day of the Songkran Festival or the Thai New Year (Wan Phaya Wan), Thai people will visit their elder relatives and perform a ‘Dam Hua” ceremony gently pouring scented water on the elder’s hands, which is believed to show respect and love to them. This belief gives birth to how Thai people used to gently ‘sprinkle’ water on each other in the traditional Songkran Festival but in the modern times, the gentle pouring of water has evolved into the somewhat crazy water fight. Songkran has therefore become well-known as the time that Thai people spray and splash water at one another and have fun with no reservation.

If you are in Thailand, be prepared to join-in and take part in the world’s biggest water fight!! And please enjoy the festival, splash water on everyone (but make sure you don’t get too cold and get sick) and importantly do not forget to eat a lot of delicious Thai food for me…. Here in Costa Rica, I can eat a bit of Thai – Costa Rican food but I don’t think anyone would allow me to splash any water on them, well especially in San Ramon!!!”

For information about volunteer projects in Thailand, check out uVolunteer’s webpage.

Author: Sarah Hackman

Last night, uVolunteer held an activity for the San Ramon community English classes. uVolunteer offers free English classes to adults in San Ramon Monday and Wednesday and Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:30. Most of the volunteers who come to San Ramon end up volunteering to teach community English classes in addition to their daily project. It is an incredibly rewarding project and is usually one of the highlights of volunteers’ experiences!

Students and their families, uVolunteer and local volunteers and uVolunteer staff attended last night’s event. The activity started out with a fútbol competition. Students, volunteers and staff were divided into two teams and played for over an hour! Everyone enjoyed the friendly, yet competitive game. Fútbol is an important part of Costa Rica’s culture; everyone grows up playing the sport. The game was a great way for our volunteers and staff to share in this pastime and practice their Spanish.

Those who chose not to lace up enjoyed watching the competition and practicing each other’s languages with fellow classmates and teachers. After the game, everyone enjoyed grilled sausages and tortillas and juice. Everyone really appreciates a break form classes to socialize and play some fútbol and we are looking forward to hosting more activities for the community English classes such as this one!

Author: Sarah Hackman

Every year on April 11 Costa Rica honors its national hero, Juan Santamaría.

In the mid nineteenth century, American filibuster William Walker attempted to conquer several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica. The Second Battle of Rivas took place in Guanacaste, Costa Rica between Walker and his forces and Costa Rica on April 11, 1865. During this battle a brave, young, Costa Rican boy, Juan Santamaría, is said to have saved his country. Santamaría, a poor drummer boy from Alajuela, Costa Rica, was volunteering for the Costa Rican militia when he volunteered to set fire to Walker’s stronghold at Rivas. Santamaría was wounded and killed while performing this act of bravery. Years later, Santamaría began to be recognized as a national hero. Two large statues have been erected in his honor, one in Alajuela and the other in San Jose. Costa Rica’s main international airport is also named after him.

Although April 11 fell on a Sunday this year, today is also recognized as a holiday. Schools and many business are closed in honor of Santamaría. In the weeks before the holiday, students learn songs, poems and dances to honor their country’s hero. Several schools in San Ramon held assemblies yesterday afternoon for the students. Celebrations are particularly abundant in Alajuela, Santamaría’s home town, with parades, marching bands and other events. The memory of the drummer boy from Alajuela who saved his country lives on through these celebrations and in the hearts of all Costa Ricans.

Author: Sarah Hackman

Last week was Semana Santa, or Holy Week. The events that are remembered and celebrated during this week are of the most important for the Catholic faith. The week begins with Palm Sunday, leading up to Jesus’s death on Good Friday and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Costa Rica is a predominantly Catholic country and thus Semana Santa is widely celebrated.

Schools and offices are closed, so many families use this opportunity to take a vacation. The beaches are hot and packed during this week, as are the roadways. Those who choose to stay home often participate in the many religious activities held in their home towns. San Ramon is no different.

Most of the action in San Ramon takes place in and around the main cathedral in the town center. Besides regular masses and confessions held in each church, there are various processions, the Saturday night Easter Vigil, and the stations of the cross are acted out the morning of Good Friday. All of the events are well planned, beautiful and very moving.

The faith of the people here in San Ramon is evident in the numbers that show up for each of the events during Holy Week. The streets are packed with those following the two hour procession of the stations of the cross and there is barely room to stand in the church for the four hour Easter Vigil. The strong tradition of the Catholic faith in Costa Rica is especially evident during Holy Week, but is present all year long.