I have been learning a lot about the social service agencies available in Costa Rica. On Tuesday, I attended a lecture by renown Costa Rican social worker, Laura Guzman. She has been a social worker since the 70´s and is currenlty a professor at The University of Costa Rica which houses the oldest school of social work in Latin America. She shared about the historical aspects of the development of social and economic policy in realtion to its effects today. Like the US, CR has a welfare programs to financially assist those in need who meet criteria. IMAS is an agency that helpes the poorest of the poor. A needs assessment is done and if one meets criteria, assitance is provided. One downfall, the assessment is a wee bit biased and some people may not recieive adequate servies. Notice I said poorest of the poor; kinda like SSI,SSD and GR, if you report that you have assessts, you will not get help. Another program available is child protctive services, PATH. There is no adult protective services, although there are several Hogar de Anicanos available for seniors, or as they call it here , Ancianos, literally transalated: ancient. These homes are similar to retirement homes.
Another similarity is that Ticos pay into and can collect social security AND have healthcare! Did I mention CR has univesal health care!!! The bad thing is....like in the US, no work, no Social Security..hopefully we still have it when my generation and younger need it!
On the same note, social workers are recongized as part of the government and has a strong National Association of Social Workers (NASW). All social workers are represented by NASW and must register with the orgnaization upon graduating. If not there are high penalities, even jail time. One major difference between social workers here and the US is the salary. Try living on a thousand dollars a month in the US! It is manageable here.....my host family, for instance, lives on one hundred dollars a month and they do not meet criteria for IMAS! Thank God for the survivors intinct.
Needless to say, the lecture was quite informitive and left me with the continued desire to be a change agent, better still, it reminded me that people are the change agents and social workers empower the people to make change!
until next time.....Pura Vida!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
La Fortuna Pix
Lake ArenalLush, untouched terrain by the 1968 erruption
Typical Casado (Tico meal): gallo pinto, potato, meat (i chose beef with onion) salad and plantain
Group Pix sitting on lava and rocks from the 1968 erruption.
Thandiwe and Vocan Arenal
Typical Casado (Tico meal): gallo pinto, potato, meat (i chose beef with onion) salad and plantain
Sunrise
Hear the rumble....See the smoke!!! If it were dark, you could see 
the lava and red sparks light up the night sky.
the lava and red sparks light up the night sky.
Grecia Community Agencies
This afternoon myself and 3 other student's took a walk around Grecia and visited an Alcoholico Anonimo (AA) meeting and El Cruz Rojo (The Red Cross). The AA meeting was in English and it was quite normalizing to hear the same stories re: abuse and it's affects that I hear daily at home. There were 3 American men now living in CR (Costa Rica) and a native Tico. They were quite open in sharing the negative consequences of their actions although many have been clean and sober for years. They also shared various coping skills they use to overcome the daily urges to use. Many referred to their relationship with Christ, the Serenity prayer (see pic 4) and the fellowship of the AA meetings. Each of us were invited to share and to come back again because "we like newcomers." I just may take them up on their offer!
Our next stop was the Red Cross where we learned that this entity operates a lot different than in the US. It is an independent agency and receives on 15% of its funds from the government In addition to helping in a crisis, they also assist the local hospital with ambulance transportation, respond to emergencies like traffic accidents and accidents in the home. they also hold many educational meetings/service announcements for Influenza, HIV, Common Cold avoidances and Sex Education. Furthermore, Grecia's Cruz Rojo has 5 paid employees and 50 volunteers. Funds are raised via a multitude of fundraising opportunities and through in-kind donations like the ambulance below. The director (Last on left) was quite proud to share the generous contributions of the good old USA! Keep supporting the Red Cross for your funds reach people all across the globe!
Our next stop was the Red Cross where we learned that this entity operates a lot different than in the US. It is an independent agency and receives on 15% of its funds from the government In addition to helping in a crisis, they also assist the local hospital with ambulance transportation, respond to emergencies like traffic accidents and accidents in the home. they also hold many educational meetings/service announcements for Influenza, HIV, Common Cold avoidances and Sex Education. Furthermore, Grecia's Cruz Rojo has 5 paid employees and 50 volunteers. Funds are raised via a multitude of fundraising opportunities and through in-kind donations like the ambulance below. The director (Last on left) was quite proud to share the generous contributions of the good old USA! Keep supporting the Red Cross for your funds reach people all across the globe!
It just finished it's daily downpour of rain so tis time to leave the coffee shop with the FREE wireless that will be my home everyday for a spell..oh yes, i finished my tarea (homework!) time to go play :)
Pura Vida and Blessings!
Today was the first day of class and I had an oral and written exam...passed the oral with flying colors...the written left a wee bit more to be disired! Thus, I've been placed in the intermediate to advanced class. I found an delightful restaurant that has FREE wireless so here I sit, contemplating tackling my irreuglar past tense verbs homework. I just know how much you want to see pix and hear about my adventures so homework will have to wait!
Happy 4th of July a day late! I spent the morning at La Fortuna praising Jesus for the beauty of the earth i was able to enjoy. I had a nice time with God and nature, butterflies, crocodiles, ants, frogs, turtles and tons of birds. I took a nice and long hike to get a closer look at the volcano which errupted quite a few times on my trek...in sandals mind you cuz i didn't realize it was over 3 miles up a steep incline at times. AND i was alone cuz my two classmates and I didn't meet up. Needless to say, our Daddy was with me and carried me through, thirst and all. At the top I sat and reflected on how awesome HE is and will always be. I even had some praise and worship as I my voice echoed throughout cuz you know i was singing at the top of my lungs! I had happy thoughts of Martin, my Songster leader because he introduces with tremendous meaning for life applicable situations, somebody prayed, bown the knew, happy day etc...and some old time childhood favorites if on my soul, priase God i'm saved, let us come together praise the name of Jesus nad of course some Spanish favorites too, Dois esta aqui, Oh Ven, Tres Palabritas Sola...yes, i had my own church service and am still filled with HIS presence!
I've enjoyed getting to know my Tica family again. Costa Rican's refer to themselves as Tico's and they use the phrase "Pura Vida" to singify everything is going to be alright, essentially,Pura Vida means "pure life". A little about my Tica family. They are the same family who hosted me in 2007. We have kept in touch and it's great to see them again. My tica sister, Stefanie is 17 and my brother, Javier is 13. We have fun talking in Spanish, laughing about trying to figure out what each other is saying, preparing meals together and everything else in between. My Tica mom, Gina. is very old, all of 38 hahahah so it is quite funny for me to call her "mommy" tonight we're going dancing with my old instructor from 2007. Should be loads of fun! Pray for my Tica papi, Francisco because his body has too much acid causing his hands to swell creating immense pain. He's been surviving with the condition for a while and is looking forward to getting better.
I'm still figuring out this blog thing and will continue to keep you informed of all the fun and learning and post more pix too!
Pura Vida!!!
La Fortuna
Hola!!
I said i was going to start a blog so here it is! Feel free to tell others about it! Here is the first post, an email i sent to my family and a few friend this past Saturday.
Hola!!! Estoy en Costa Rica y tenia un buen viage!
Hello!! I´m in Costa Rica and i had a good trip. It was quite a task to get out of LA due to the luggage security machine breaking down causing us all to be late and creating much anger and anxiety in many passengers...then when i got Mexico City and had to go through customs AND immigration AND run around the airport to the main terminal, read info in Spanish, ask for help in Spanish just to have people say..i don´t know, hahahha, find my airline and gate to be their in 1 1/2 hours just to get there 15 min before take off..not to mention, try to find something to eat and spent $11 on a candy bar, bag of chips, water and peanuts! My most expensive dinner of snack ever. Needless to say i slept the duration of my 7 hour journey and upon arrival was greeted by Jean and have enjoyed every minute I've been here. For those of you praying for a specific thing...i´m still holding on!! :):):) Will need prayers a lot week 3!!!
This is the first time i´ve had to use the computer. My phone does not work here AND the phone system sucks for travelers so I can´t even buy a SIM card for my international phone i spent weeks searching for, how ironic! I´m in a city called La Fortuna which is home to Vocan Arenal a very active volcano. In fact, when i look out my window i see it´s beauty and splendor. I have seen and heard it erupt several time but last night seeing the lava flow and red sparks light up the night sky and hearing the rumble of the earth was breathtaking. it´s kinda funny cuz living in southern cal it is usually followed by the shaking of the earth...thankfully that didn´t happen.
This morning the good Lord woke me up at 5am just in time for the sunrise..also breathtaking and to top it all of, the volcano erupted again.! wow...pix to follow. I also went on a hike and saw the lush terrain of jungle after the last big explosion that killed 70 people in 1968 as well as the terrain that was untouched by the erruption. I walked over ash and molten rocks from it. of course, pix to follow. I´m at a beautiful resort and spa called Los Lagos (check it out on the web) and am headed to the natural hot springs that is actually heated by the volcano. I´ve eaten plenty gallo pinto (beans and rice) plantain (fried bananas) and fruit pineapple, watermelon, mango and papaya! some of my favorites Costa Rica foods! I´m here with a group of 18 and we leave tomorrow to go back to Grecia which is 3 hours away to begin intensive Spanish study..in fact, i´ve already been practicing!
The next two weeks i have better emailing capabilities and will upload pix and send more updates. i´m gonna figure out how to do a blog too so stay tuned....
I love you all and look forward to sharing my experince with you! write when you get a chance!!
Pura Vida and God bless!!
I said i was going to start a blog so here it is! Feel free to tell others about it! Here is the first post, an email i sent to my family and a few friend this past Saturday.
Hola!!! Estoy en Costa Rica y tenia un buen viage!
Hello!! I´m in Costa Rica and i had a good trip. It was quite a task to get out of LA due to the luggage security machine breaking down causing us all to be late and creating much anger and anxiety in many passengers...then when i got Mexico City and had to go through customs AND immigration AND run around the airport to the main terminal, read info in Spanish, ask for help in Spanish just to have people say..i don´t know, hahahha, find my airline and gate to be their in 1 1/2 hours just to get there 15 min before take off..not to mention, try to find something to eat and spent $11 on a candy bar, bag of chips, water and peanuts! My most expensive dinner of snack ever. Needless to say i slept the duration of my 7 hour journey and upon arrival was greeted by Jean and have enjoyed every minute I've been here. For those of you praying for a specific thing...i´m still holding on!! :):):) Will need prayers a lot week 3!!!
This is the first time i´ve had to use the computer. My phone does not work here AND the phone system sucks for travelers so I can´t even buy a SIM card for my international phone i spent weeks searching for, how ironic! I´m in a city called La Fortuna which is home to Vocan Arenal a very active volcano. In fact, when i look out my window i see it´s beauty and splendor. I have seen and heard it erupt several time but last night seeing the lava flow and red sparks light up the night sky and hearing the rumble of the earth was breathtaking. it´s kinda funny cuz living in southern cal it is usually followed by the shaking of the earth...thankfully that didn´t happen.
This morning the good Lord woke me up at 5am just in time for the sunrise..also breathtaking and to top it all of, the volcano erupted again.! wow...pix to follow. I also went on a hike and saw the lush terrain of jungle after the last big explosion that killed 70 people in 1968 as well as the terrain that was untouched by the erruption. I walked over ash and molten rocks from it. of course, pix to follow. I´m at a beautiful resort and spa called Los Lagos (check it out on the web) and am headed to the natural hot springs that is actually heated by the volcano. I´ve eaten plenty gallo pinto (beans and rice) plantain (fried bananas) and fruit pineapple, watermelon, mango and papaya! some of my favorites Costa Rica foods! I´m here with a group of 18 and we leave tomorrow to go back to Grecia which is 3 hours away to begin intensive Spanish study..in fact, i´ve already been practicing!
The next two weeks i have better emailing capabilities and will upload pix and send more updates. i´m gonna figure out how to do a blog too so stay tuned....
I love you all and look forward to sharing my experince with you! write when you get a chance!!
Pura Vida and God bless!!
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