Hi there,
Well, I think it has been quite a while since I last wrote, sorry for the delay. Lots has been happening since I got back to Costa Rica and I have even left the country once since then...
Well, my job duties are now specified. I am in charge of equipment, food, RMS, Nicaragua and then other duties that we all share: project identification, project visits, beeper duty (once every three weeks - yuck), etc.
YCI life is busy with a group now in the field, they arrived 2 weeks ago, more or less. There are only 2 groups with a total of 29 people in the field, but it looks like we are expecting 80ish people in 7 groups for December. So I think my social life is going to be crap for the next eight months.
Work has been going well on most levels, but I have been having a conflict with our new director. We think very differently, so it is taking more work than probably either of us expected to communicate and work together. At one point just before my Nicaragua trip, I was ready to throw in the towel and quit, but fortunately, I was not quite so rash. :) I talked it over with him and we are getting to understand each other a bit better. So at least now, I am a lot happier. We still have things to work out, but at least we are talking...
So, I decided it was now or never if I wanted to get to Nicaragua for a visit. So I went last week. It was a good trip and a full report will be available on our website (www.fog.org.ni) by next weekend. I accomplished most of the goals of our trip, except seeing our lawyer, and therefore several contracts I had hoped to sign with our community partners didn't happen, but maybe next time.
It was really a fun trip though, although sad in some ways. Meetings were postponed (one time, for not a fun reason - a community member in Reparto Schick was injured in a machete attack - very sad) a lot so I had some time for visiting friends.
Speaking of jobs, at least I have a job. The location of Nortel where I used to work has been shut down recently, putting many many of my friends out of work. I hope that things work out for them, although in some ways I wish I was there to get my layoff package too. :)
This weekend was very fun, as I hosted a dinner for the Costa Rican participants from my project in Guyana in 1992. Four people came and we had a great time - eating Guyanese food (it took hours to make the roti!), looking at photos, reminiscing, and catching up. However, Andrea and I made way too much food (my fault, as usual) and I think we will be eating dahl and curry for the next few months...
Well, everyone, whether you wanted to or not, has heard about this. World War Four, The Terrorist Threat, the Evil Afghans. Whatever. I feel very sad for the people in New York, mostly innocents that suffered needlessly for their government's misguided policies. Interesting to note that reasons for the attack are not often discussed in the media, nor is the growing opposition to war discussed.
Unfortunately, the attacks serve the purpose of the elite of the US that want to increase military spending, develop their missile shield (and militarise space), and coerce governments that oppose them to follow along nicely with the US hegemony and the US gameplan.
The saddest part is the suffering that the Afghan nation will likely suffer, a land of mostly innocents, formerly the friends of the US during the war against Russia, to find a man that has not yet been proven guilty. Even if he is guilty, a lot more innocent lives will be lost trying to find him. The US never learns their lesson. If it didn't work in Iraq, what makes them think it will work in Afghanistan? Saddam Hussein remains in power, and has not suffered at all from the embargo or the attacks, which continue to this day. The only ones who have suffered are innocent Iraqis. Millions have died during and after the Gulf War.
This is what makes me sad.
Well, on a happier note, I am really enjoying my french class, even though there has only been 1.5 so far (left early yesterday to cook for the dinner). French is starting to come back to me rapidly, but maybe not as fast as I would like. Now, I have to look for a guitar teacher, I feel stagnated in my progress...
Take care,
Rob