Working on a community service project in a developing country was always a dream of mine. In July, my wish was fulfilled, but not satiated because I would love to do it all again. Thanks to a scholarship given by a local community organization, The Berkshire Taconic, I was able to afford to go on a two-week volunteer work program hosted by Global Volunteers. I had an incredible experience ranging from meeting local people and exploring their community to mixing and laying cement. The trip was an eye-opening adventure as I observed interesting similarities and differences between Costa Rica and our own culture and society of the United States.
Looking through the airplane window as my flight made its approach into the San Jose International Airport, I was amazed by the sight in front of me. Reading about and seeing something firsthand are two very different things. Prior to my trip, I had done some reading about Costa Rica, the culture, the climate, and through those readings I had developed a mental image of the landscape and the people. Within the first second of viewing this beautiful country all of my preconceived notions vanished only to be replaced by the reality before me, which seemed to be yet another dreamlike image: mountains and valleys of green, rustic houses scattered throughout the landscape, pastures of grazing animals, and fields of crops. The rainy season, essentially the winter from May through November, was in effect and in the distance one could see mist roll in and swallow up the mountain tops.
After a brief stay in the San Jose area, my teammates, nine Global Volunteers, and I piled into a mini-van for our five-hour trip to the countryside with our team leader, Kristie. Because plans change often in a rural country like Costa Rica, we had been given very little information about what we would be doing and where we would stay during our two weeks, so the elements of apprehension, anxiety, and excitement were intermixed.
We arrived in our host town which was in the Monteverde region, not far from the cloud forest, a high-altitude lush forest filled with spectacular vegetation. Los Tornos is a middle class, rural village northwest of San Jose. There was one village store, the "pulperia," which has the only phone in the entire town of around 150 residents. Beyond the store was the one room school building, soccer field, former community center, church, and farther down the road, the health clinic, which had been completed not long ago by another Global Volunteers group.
The purpose of my visit was to assist in building a new community center for Los Tornos. One of the main objectives of Global Volunteers is to be a 'servant-learner,' which means that volunteers are not to impose their beliefs or culture but learn and embrace the culture of Costa Rica while serving on a development project. Essentially, we did whatever projects were requested in the manner and fashion desired by the ‘Ticos’ (slang for ‘Costa Ricans’) conducting the project. Another important goal of Global Volunteers is to match the number of volunteers with the number of community workers, so that the project is not completed as a favor to the community, but as a joint effort with emphasis placed on community involvement.
By working alongside the local people, I got a good feel for the community and could see that there was a lot of pride and respect for one another. The people were all very friendly, polite, and patient as I spoke in broken Spanish. During the two weeks of working with Spanish speakers, I learned a lot of key words and phrases, and due to the nature of the project, I learned the names of tools in Spanish, many of which I do not even know the English equivalent.
The community was very hardworking and it was touching to see that men were volunteering their time at the project, even if it meant forgoing their occupation and pay for some time. The children, too, were anxious to work and include themselves in the action. Despite their young age and body size, they were able to carry and shovel equal amounts as the adults, a sight that worried us because they were doing much more than their little bodies could physically handle. But no one stopped them, and pretty soon even the young school girls joined in and no one objected. It truly was a community effort.
We worked through sun and rain, hot and cold, and lots of mud! Everything was done by hand and often demanded ingenuity. Unfamiliar with construction and especially the terminology, I learned bend metal rods into specific shapes, shovel out trenches for the foundation, move rocks and cement blocks, mix cement and mortar by hand, and lay cinder blocks. This list is just a sample of my new skills. The amount of tools and supplies was frequently limited due to lack of money, so several afternoons we gave our muscles a break, ending work early and waiting for the next delivery of supplies.
Despite our small number of workers and the size of the building, we made a lot of progress, and when it came time to leave, the building had really taken shape. Our group felt a significant tie to the community and to the country as well after seeing that we had really accomplished something constructive and tangible a part from the lasting memories and friendships we built.
The town of Los Tornos was relatively close-knit as most of the people with whom we worked were related to one another. Many families had up to 13 children and they were amazed to hear of our small families, consisting of only a few children. The school in town was obligatory until sixth grade. It consisted of one room within which children of all ages learned and worked alongside one another.
As another project, our Global Volunteers team was invited to go into the school to teach English. One day, the school teacher was not going to be there and the children could come for a lesson if they wished. To our surprise, about 15 of the 20 students showed up, some even in school uniform! I thought to myself that I could not imagine this happening in the United States unless it was mandatory. In contrast, the Costa Rican school children were extremely motivated, respectful, and supportive of one another. The ages ranged from six to 13, with boys and girls mixed, yet there were no disturbances as we taught them vocabulary ranging from body parts, to names of family members, to different foods. We could see that they were very bright and reflected Costa Rica’s 94 percent literacy rate.
After completing their school years, the boys usually go to work in the fields while the girls remain at home. It seems as though the women are not as liberated as they are here in the United States and are frequently confined to domestic tasks. In rural areas, women tend to marry around age 17 and men somewhere in the twenties. However, a neighboring family consisted of 17-year-old parents with two children, one already a four-year-old. Many of us in our group could not imagine having a child when the parent is, essentially, still a child from an American perspective, but then again we see the same thing in our own country. We were also amazed to see 13-year-olds no longer in school due to the need for them to work and assist the family. Their days usually began at five in the morning and continued on into the afternoon as they most often worked on the surrounding hills and mountains that were covered with coffee plants, sugar cane, banana trees, and grazing cattle.
In the town of Los Tornos, most of the buildings were made of cinder block covered in stucco. They were one story and had several small rooms. The kitchen was usually an outdoor room attached to the side of the house. There was running water, however no hot water where I lived. There seemed to be a lack of environmental protection especially with emission standards and the waste disposal system of burying garbage out in the backyard. In addition, much of the cloud and rain forests have been destroyed, however measures have been taken for re-growth and preservation.
Even with all those environmental problems, the natural environment and animal life is amazing. Flocks of parakeets flew overhead squawking while butterflies floated delicately through the air. There are hundreds of bird and butterfly species as well as thousands of plant species. We were able to see many of these one afternoon when my group took a trip to the cloud forest to see the lush vegetation and exotic plants. The cloud forest is characterized by 100 percent humidity which leads to the growth of epiphytes, plants growing on other plants. Mosses, ferns, flowers, and hanging roots and vines increase the density of the forest and help to create its magical appearance. We heard and felt the low rumble of nearby Arenal Volcano, one of the many active volcanoes in Costa Rica.
Our final night in the village, we could feel the impact that we had made on the community by donating our time, skills, and money to assist in constructing a project that would not have been feasible without us. The community organized a farewell "fiesta" for us and several community members gave us their thanks and said that Costa Rica and Los Tornos were now our home as well.
I have found that working in a small community, interacting with the locals, and getting to know them as friends, not only acquaintances, creates a whole new understanding for and perspective of the culture, one that passive observers would never be able to gain. Getting to know some local people and working with them within their own country breaks down the stereotypes and generalizations held prior to such an experience. My teammates and I were able to establish a connection and form new beliefs based on factual information and memorable events and experiences.
I admire the simplicity of living and the natural beauty of Costa Rica and its people. Knowing that I have met and seen only a small segment of the whole, I can easily say that it is a place where I would love to return. For the time being, I have my pictures and my memories that will make the trip last forever.
