Feliz CumpliaƱos Cuerpo de Paz!!!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEACE CORPS!!!!!!!!! Today Peace Corps turns 50 years old. Many volunteers are currently celebrating with members of the embassy in San Jose, eating cake and wearing fancy clothes. I just ate a bowl of plain beans and am wearing basketball clothes. I'm happy for them though.

Ok, next subject is C.O.S. It stands for Close of Service. I just returned from my COS conference, so I guess this means I'm actually about to close my service. Weird. My situation is slightly differnce since I am planning to stay a third year as a PCVL (peace corps volunteer leader), so I'm not freaking out as much as I would be if I was actually going back to the States, but still, it's a pretty crazy feeling knowing that my time living and working in this community is almost over. It became even more of a reality this week as I worked on work plans with teachers in the schools. I kept having to say, "Oh, I can't put that activity there because I won't be here anymore." I said it over and over again. Where did these two years go?!?!?!?

I am beyond content with my decision to stay another year. In fact, I can't imagine returning to the States at this point. Recently I've had more opportunities to spend time with staff members with whom I'll be working next year, and it's made me even more exicted about working in the office. To explain things a bit better, the role of a PCVL is to assist program managers and trainers to train new trainees, provide technical support to current volunteers, support staff on the administrative side of Peace Corps Costa Rica, and also spend 25% of work hours assisting a local organization or NGO in San Jose. I am still awaiting medical clearance to be officially approved as a PCVL, so I still don't know with which organization I will be working.

Lots of exciting stuff is coming up in these last few months of service (my official last day is May 27). In March I will be planning, planning, planning, and writing, writing, writing. Gotta plan out these last projects carefully and coordinate well with community members, as well as write my final reports for grant money and peace corps administrative requirements. They aren't lying when they say that getting out of Peace Corps taked just as long as it does to get in! In April I'll be helping my friend with the Copa Indigena, the first ever indigenous soccer tournament which ahs been going on for the last month or so. My friend Josh has spent his ENTIRE service organizing this historic event, and I will be one of many volunteers at the final games which are to be held at the brand new national stadium. This is a BIG DEAL!!!! I'll also be getting a special visitor from the States - one of the high school students who came here on the service learning trip last June is coming back for more...can't wait to see her!!!! Also in April I'll be climbing Chirripo, the highest peak in Costa Rica. I'm stoked except that I don't have any appropriate clothing for cool or cold weather, which is going to be a problem. There are other fun things around the corner but they aren't official yet so I'm not allowed to announce them. I will soon though.

The new trainees arrived in country today, which is pretty exciting. I really like getting to know new volunteers - everyone here is interesting in their own way, and it's fun sharing my positive experience with others, so I hope to have a chance to meet them soon!

I'm thinking of everyone back at home lots these days, and hope everyone is well. As always, I'll try to actually update my blog more often, but as you can see I'm pretty bad at this game. Pura vida!