Research Dude

      I have been researching my butt off! Which is why I have not been able to update the blog. Apologies to all. So, to sum it all up I have experienced the intricacies of the CEN-CINAI programs. My favorite part thus far was a 2 day trip to aid in the distribution of powdered milk to families at or below the poverty line (program name is Leche). We, meaning Dr Lendezma and nurse Ilda, traveled to the boarder of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to town by the name of Boca Rio de San Carlos. During the 4 hour truck ride through the Costa Rican boonies we stopped at numerous communities to distribute the powdered milk. We would pull up in out white Ministry of Health truck and the mothers and children would gather round. We spent usually an hour giving the milk packages to the families. It was a very good system and no one seemed to be left without enough milk to last their family a month. The Leche program is designed to provide nutritional supplement to children and nursing mothers at and below the poverty line. I was very pleased to see the connection that Doctor Lendezma and nurse Ilda had with the communities. The trip was not just to distribute powdered milk, it was to pay a visit to the people of the communities that are truly cared for.

powdered milk packets

la puente 

Transportation 

       One of such visits was to a house in Boca Rio. A woman by the name of "Abuela" was the care taker for two children and a mentally handicapped daughter. Prior entering the wooden/dirt house Dr. Lendezma told me that these are the kind of people that keep him working for the Ministry of Health.  The children were hilarious. They were going wild climbing trees and hacking down coconuts for me to drink. They danced with a ferrel dog by the name of Walchi, and showed me a green parrot that they had captured, named Ronald. Abuela was still trucking. I am not sure how old she is, but the way she cracked jokes gave her an aura of youth. Abuela's daughter was such a hard worker. She clearly had her handicaps, but that didn't stop her from enjoying family discourse and scolding the children. 

      The next part of the trip was also unforgettable. We drove to a town that was having a fiesta. Apparently this town would be the last town in the San Carlos region to get electricity, and I was going to be there when they turned it on. It was a interesting combination of people. There were the overweight construction guys with huge aviators and big truck, there were ministry officials like Doctor Lendezma and techers all looking scholarly, and there were the community members who were burnt to the core by the sweltering sun. Yet, they all had the same grin on their face. When the light bulb flashed on to close the ceremony, everyone cheered and the feast began. So. much. pig. Following food an epic soccer game ensued, which I only participated in for mere minutes until I realized that I was completely incompetent by their standards.



to the fiesta








       Other than the Leche trip, I have been traveling around Ciudad Quesada visiting the CEN an CINAI facilities. I have been making detailed notes on how each daycare operates, and there are clear differences between such a standardized system. I have also been gathering data on each individual child development case. I am trying to see if daycare facilities have determining factors in increasing a child's overall development over the course of year.

          As for adventures besides that of my research, I managed to sneak a trip to La Fortuna last weekend. Over the course of the trip I took a zip line canopy tour, hiked to Arenal Waterfall, swam in the pool of Arenal Waterfall, and made a new friend that runs his own touring company (Red Lava Tours, check it out!). He is an awesome dude and I couch surfed with him for the weekend. The whole weekend cost me 40 dollars (including food and transit). What a steel! To top it all off, my new friend, Luis, said that he will be making sure to get me good deals whenever I come back, or when he has the time, take me on free tours himself. At any rate, I definitely have to go back to La Fortuna, next on the agenda is kite boarding in the famed meca of Lake Arenal.

zipping the canopy

La Fortuna Waterfall                                                          

Arenal Volcano

until next time, pura vida mae