Beauty Pageants and Catechism Halls

I thought I would talk a little bit about the culture before boring you with details of my work here in Costa Rica (actually this is just a front for me wanting to talk about some crazy Costa Rican stuff).

My anecdote for today has to do with Costa Rican fundraising endeavors. You are all aware of how we fundraise in the States. It usually involves somethign for the whole family, generally involves some sort of entertainment for all age groups. This could include a block party, a charity sporting event etc. When it is not an event for children it usually involves a black tie affair complete with a scrumptous dinner and some sort of high cultural intrigue...maybe a classy band, maybe a night out at the opera, something artsy who knows. Anyways Ticos have a different sort of fundraising technique. I will share with you the story of my first cross-cultural fundraising colaboration with my community. Background info: they are trying to finish constructing a building that will be where they hold catholic church events (catechism, etc). They have some of it built from funds they collected from the community but they did not suffice and so the we needed to raise more money for the building to be finished.

Ok so the idea was to have a beauty pageant...interesting idea for a church fundraiser but hey I am open. So we had to get soem girlies to volunteer and then they had to get someone to sponsor them by giving them a minimum f 10,000 colones (a little less than $20). We had a bit of a hard time getting girls in the right age category so it ended up being 3 old maids...21-25 year old women who aren´t married or don´t have kids ( I was included in this bunch!!!) and 3 younger ladies...or 12 year olds. You might think that maybe a 12 year old can´t compete with a 25 year old, but I mean hey that´s the way the cookie crumbled. Anywho I had to go fulfill my responsibilty of soliciting money so my host mom offered to come and help me. So...

One morning she wakes up and tells me she´s not going to work because we are going to go ask for money. she told me to take a shower put on nice clothes...especially a nice shirt (meaning a semi-low cut shirt if you catch my drift) and to put on some make-up and perfume so we can go. I did as she asked ( my shirt was not that low...so don´t go judging me!!!) and we left. We get down to Aguas Zarcas and start looking for the "rich guys". We went to businesses like ceramics warehouses and tool stores and lawyers offices to ask for money from the owners. I don´t speak one word the entire day, just sit an d look pretty literally. My host mom walks into these places and says we are doing a Reinado de Muchachas for the church in Garabito and we´d like to know if you would help. I brought on of the contestants so that you can look at her. At this point the "gentleman" would look over at me...look me up and down and take a 10,000 colon bill out of his wallet and we would say thank you and leave. If that does not seem akward to any of you let me just tell you that it really really is!!!

This story doesn´t end there though. We´ll skip forward to the night of the event. The contestants are anounced we walk in and sit at a table in front of the whole crowd. Since the building is not finished most of the people are outside, where they can see everything but where they don´t technically have to pay and entrance fee. Anyways they sit us in front of everyone and then say now you can come inside and pay 500 colones to dance with the candidate of your choice. This trail of men come in paying their 500 colones (like 75 cents) and walk toward the 3 of us who are actually of age. Needless to say they got all their 500 coloned worth whirling us around the floor (an aside: those who paid were not the most gentlemanly of the group) until finally dinner was served to the contestants and we were allowed to sit in peace. I tried to eat for as long as possible though that was hard when all these hungry men are staring at you so that you will stop eating and they can continue enjoying your company. I will not continue on about the rest of the night, but we´ll say I left when I had my sufficient fill of drunken men being in my general vicinity.

In conclusion, I wouldn´t say that this form of fundraising we be that which I employ in my next 2 years. I think I will go more for the family fun ruite instead, but all in all it was definately a learning experience and colorful cultural exchange!!!

Also included here for your reading pleasure: Costa Rican home remedies section

Yes we all have them...lemon and honey for a sore throat, cranberry juice for a urinary tract infection etc, but at some point the failure of our home remedies or the severity of the illness tends to lead us to abandon the remedy and look for a qualified doctor. Here are a few remedies that I have been offered to try and other volunteers may or may not have tried (aside: Kathryn Rouillard...fellow RCD volunteer and future Tica in Training has tried multiple of these...you decide if there is cause for intervention!!!)

1. malaise--urinary tract infection...cure--a combination of icy hot and salt lathered inside the belly button
2. vomiting and/or diarrhea--having a local woman come to the house and push out all the balls in your blood....definition of balls in your blood....tendons in your arm, lymph nodes in your neck, spinal medulla, knuckles etc. This must be followed up by drinking a cup of coffee wityh equal parts sugar and salt...its better if it makes you vomit because that means you are truely cured.
3. swollen appendage--rub the belly of a toad...CANNOT be a frog...over the injured limb
4. swollen tongue...as in your air passage is being obstructed and you may possibly suffocate...place a towel in the mouth to keep the tongue from growing and tilt the head backwards (yes even though it seems counterintuitive to lean the head backwards due to the possibility of the tongue obstructing the airway and suffocating the patient this is an absolute must)

More to come!!!