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GVI Wildlife Expedition in Costa Rica

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Latest updates from the GVI Wildlife Expedition project site in Costa Rica. Keep up to date on recent happenings and news from Costa Rica.

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Podcast Episode's:

Intern Voice - Keeping up with the Costa Ricans - part 1
<div class="MsoNormal"> <i>Written by Melissa Colleluori - GVI Manuel Antonio Community Intern</i> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> This week on Keeping up with the Costa Ricans…</div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Jess and I made a lovely start to our 6-month Costa Rican adventure.  First, by meeting the staff and getting to know everyone, by heading to the beach to see a sublime sunset. Then we got to visit the school of El Cocal where we will be teaching and then we started summer school so Jess and I had fun planning new and exciting activities for the kids of Boca Vieja!</div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Another part of our new life in C<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="144137404a0d94f0__GoBack"></a>osta Rica is just exploring the surroundings: by going to the beach, the waterfall, the pub quiz night and even finding little hidden gems around the house for example these cute hats!</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ2dRKlJRfA/Uv-hlmd07PI/AAAAAAAAAWk/35yjHo37wnY/s1600/Mel+and+Jess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ2dRKlJRfA/Uv-hlmd07PI/AAAAAAAAAWk/35yjHo37wnY/s1600/Mel+and+Jess.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div>

GVI Manuel Antonio Monthly Achievement Report January 2014
<div style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;"> <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/206467386/GVI-Manuel-Antonio-Monthly-Achievement-Report-January-2014" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View GVI Manuel Antonio Monthly Achievement Report January 2014 on Scribd">GVI Manuel Antonio Monthly Achievement Report January 2014</a></div> <iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_18893" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/206467386/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>

Staff Voice - Off And Running
<div class="MsoNormal"> <i>Written by Clint Ballinger - GVI Manuel Antonio Community Coordinator</i> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> After being away for a few weeks over Christmas and some days of preparation, getting the new volunteers here and settled in, the day finally arrived for the first day of “summer school”. The normal school schedule does not start until February, but of course we want to keep the kids active and learning, and keep the volunteers busy as well. </div> <div class="MsoNormal">  </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-veexI6Ttc9w/Uvpu_F04CnI/AAAAAAAAAWM/siLjCjZ3W1I/s1600/DSCF8652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-veexI6Ttc9w/Uvpu_F04CnI/AAAAAAAAAWM/siLjCjZ3W1I/s1600/DSCF8652.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal">  As we arrived on the first day of summer school, the new volunteers may have been nervous, and I had never run a summer school either. Furthermore, we were working in a different school and neighborhood than where we usually work, so I didn’t know most of the kids.</div> <div class="MsoNormal">  </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> When we arrived, there were 10 or more kids, so we were happy kids had voluntarily shown up during their vacations. We had a nice calm “get to know each other” activity planned, making one page biographies writing their names and favorite things in English and drawing them as well.</div> <div class="MsoNormal">  </div> <div style="background-color: transparent;"> <span> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> The kids were so happy to see us, focused on the exercise, and lovely with the new volunteers. It was a nice moment for everyone, a peaceful morning hour laughing with the kids, learning their names, favorite colors, favorite animals etc, and teaching them a little English along the way (not to mention the new volunteers began to learn some simple Spanish straight away as well). A moment that had all of us a little stressed turned out to be relaxing and rewarding. We then moved on to some sports, and the new week and new year is off and running. </div> <div> <br /></div>

Volunteer Voice - Connecting through differences
<br />  <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 390.65pt;"> <span lang="EN-US"><i>Written by Zachary Ortwine - GVI Manuel Antonio Community Volunteer</i></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 390.65pt;"> <span lang="EN-US"><i> </i> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 390.65pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">I have been volunteering in Costa Rica for five weeks now and it has been quite an adventure! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The volunteer project focuses on a small community called El Cocal, which is located right outside of Quepos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children of El Cocal come from a diverse background, and each day of volunteering is unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> One </span>of my favorite projects over the past five weeks was Columbus Day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">.</span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 390.65pt;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaxSmZj_ZMg/UvMDnVV4eBI/AAAAAAAAAV8/tnDNIhVAjQk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaxSmZj_ZMg/UvMDnVV4eBI/AAAAAAAAAV8/tnDNIhVAjQk/s1600/photo.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 390.65pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Columbus Day was a lot of fun and the children and audience got to learn about different cultures through skits and speeches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of my favorite costumes were the homemade (and very good) Native American style outfits in the picture shown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children learned about Native American history and taught the audience of family and friends with performances and speeches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is kind of rare to get as much community participation as we had for Columbus Day, so it was really exciting to see parents talking together and watching their kids’ performances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, the GVI volunteers also performed a skit to display the volunteers’ cultures and perspective as foreigners to El Cocal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the kids found parts of our skit to be funny and informative, and it was a great way to connect with the children and have some conversation topics. </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 390.65pt;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 390.65pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Many of the kids in El Cocal come from poorer and sometimes troubled backgrounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means a lot to the volunteers and the kids to develop relationships, show them attention, and to gain their respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it can be difficult to communicate, due to my limited knowledge of Spanish, but over time and by interacting with the kids it has been rewarding to gain their trust and respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also enjoyed learning Spanish and using it daily, and I know that it will be useful in future endeavors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Community projects are a real treat and I have had a wonderful time getting to know the kids and community of El Cocal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to spending my next three weeks volunteering and getting to know the kids better, and providing positive guidance in their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>

Volunteer Voice - Life's Great Ironies
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Written by Jess McGrath - GVI Manuel Antonio Community Intern</i> </span><br /> <br /> <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The GVI team have been busy this week with holiday activities in Boca Vieja, spending our days at the community centre managing holiday sport, English and craft activities. At night, the group are usually home doing their Spanish homework, cooking, cleaning, juggling, debating the correct way to cut tomatoes and practising Michael Jacksons moon walk. </span><br /> <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgqnzcJp2Ys/UuMDVDxRv4I/AAAAAAAAAVg/8vXH_meo7BI/s1600/DSCN9902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgqnzcJp2Ys/UuMDVDxRv4I/AAAAAAAAAVg/8vXH_meo7BI/s1600/DSCN9902.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Today, having temporarily lost half our GVI crew to a stomach bug, Liz, Clint and myself set off for the El Cocal community with high hopes of getting some much needed work done. When we arrived to find the electricity was out for the day, our plans to clean out the storage shed were quickly replaced with the setting up of the school basketball hoop (ie - attached one pole to another with pieces of wire), a bit of painting and a walk along the dirt strip that is the main street of El Cocal in search of some kids to tell about our upcoming soccer tournament. Instead we found a couple of boys who were more interested in challenging us to a game of ultimate frisbee. As we spent the next hour playing on the beach, I couldn't help but notice the giant houses that line the hillside of  neighbouring Manuel Antonio, with their ‘million dollar’ view of the El Cocal beach. Just one of life's great ironies I suppose…</span>

Staff Voice - Corona Cocalena
<i>Written by Kristin Cleaveland - GVI Manuel Antonio Staff Member</i><br /> <br /> <i></i><br /> <i> </i><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">In mid -November, GVI partnered with a local body boarding organization to set up our very first body boarding competition in El Cocal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>After lots of planning and making sure every detail was correct, Saturday came and we were ready for the competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The only question we had: “Were the kids actually going to show up?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There were mixed feelings, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>but we went in bright and early anyway (arriving at 6:30 am). We headed into what seemed to be a very quiet community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We walked to the beach, still worried the day wouldn’t go as planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What we saw almost made me cry right then! In the water were about 20 kids, practising for the competition while the rest were eagerly waiting on shore for our instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KD5DJ9RKBOg/UtYDl_0S1SI/AAAAAAAAAVI/f6NLZIVBpTw/s1600/_DSC0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KD5DJ9RKBOg/UtYDl_0S1SI/AAAAAAAAAVI/f6NLZIVBpTw/s200/_DSC0144.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Competitors congratulating their friend and opponent</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"> The rest of the day went smoothly and it was obvious how happy the kids were and how much fun they were having.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>As round results were announced, winners cheered and got prepped for their next ‘hit’ while others patted them on the back and gave them advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It was an amazing sight to see the change in attitude the children had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The same children who we have trouble dealing with in school and who don’t generally work well with other kids were listening to everything they had to do, complimenting the other contestants, and most of all, enjoying themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I didn’t hear one kid tell someone else they were better than them, which is usually heard about 10 times in a short class period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The competition was a huge success and I can’t wait to see how the next one compares! </span></div> <i></i><br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ag2fi46qLwQ/UtYDHynXkyI/AAAAAAAAAVA/NDT3t0RPyG0/s1600/IMG_9928b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ag2fi46qLwQ/UtYDHynXkyI/AAAAAAAAAVA/NDT3t0RPyG0/s320/IMG_9928b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating after a very successful event</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br />

New year, new web home...
<b>To all our GVI friends & family out there...</b><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Happy New Year!!!</span></b>  </div> <br /> We hope you've all enjoyed the holidays, at home with loved ones, on the road experiencing new cultures, out volunteering at GVI projects around the world, or wherever this blog finds you.<br /> <br /> Here in Costa Rica, to get ready for the new year, we've been reflecting on all the great things from 2013...<br /> <br /> In Jalova, from training sessions with our partners at the Ministry of Environment, environmental education for local children & adults, working hand in hand with our partners at PANTHERA to make our jaguar study even better -- and getting it in the news! -- to volunteers helping hatchlings to the sea, patrolling the beaches & working up close with sea turtles, Jalova olympics, holiday feasts, starting our new monkey survey, jaguar cubs on camera, great green macaws, and even agami heron sightings, 2013 has been a great year. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-My0CKGleyPE/Usi369AbjiI/AAAAAAAAAKk/1a9Z8Bq4syk/s1600/Puzzle(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-My0CKGleyPE/Usi369AbjiI/AAAAAAAAAKk/1a9Z8Bq4syk/s1600/Puzzle(blog).jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GVI volunteers helping local kids with our environmental puzzles at Tortufest (local annual turtle festival) </td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3GySeDajBNs/Usi4dSAcSaI/AAAAAAAAAK0/HRL0VvRELaw/s1600/Marcelle(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3GySeDajBNs/Usi4dSAcSaI/AAAAAAAAAK0/HRL0VvRELaw/s320/Marcelle(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GVI Staff Marcelle helping a local student learn to identify a jaguar </td></tr> </tbody></table> Quepos' 2013 highlights included our first-ever Under 18s volunteers; an incredible construction project to improve the school and provide a play area for the kids; a recycling program and helping the school win the Blue Flag Environmental Award for another year; volunteers participating in school events doing everything from singing & dancing to playing the cups; an incredibly successful bodyboard tournament fundraiser, and the inauguration of our new GVI classroom and library within the school -- 100% built, painted, decorated and filled with supplies by GVI volunteers & supporters.  We can't wait to start using it next year for our literacy, math, tutoring & art programs!<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZlUcMvMTJs/Usi2L8szKBI/AAAAAAAAAKc/8nSHUtWGuvo/s1600/Quepos+Xmas+%25281280x1049%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZlUcMvMTJs/Usi2L8szKBI/AAAAAAAAAKc/8nSHUtWGuvo/s320/Quepos+Xmas+%25281280x1049%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas from children at El Cocal school in the new GVI classroom!</td></tr> </tbody></table> Remembering all the successes and fun of 2013, we want to thank all of you out there who have followed us, supported us, volunteered with us and otherwise made GVI's Costa Rica programs so fantastic!  We are looking forward to building on all of these events and adding even more to make 2014 our best and most impactful year yet!  And.. even more exciting... <b>we'll be sharing it all with you very soon on a brand-new, soon-to-be-announced platform</b> --- keep your eyes peeled as we say goodbye to our old home here on Blogspot and move into our new updated version for 2014!<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Feliz año nuevo from Team GVI Costa Rica!</span></b></div> <br />

Monthly Achievement Report Jalova- November 2013
<div style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;"> <a href="http://es.scribd.com/doc/191173657/Monthly-Achievements-Jalova-November-2013" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Monthly Achievements Jalova November 2013 on Scribd">Monthly Achievements Jalova November 2013</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/crlogistics" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View crlogistics's profile on Scribd">crlogistics</a></div> <iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.708006279434851" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_44862" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/191173657/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-1ewbld2rhzinvzi702e&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>

Staff Voice: Every cloud has a silver lining
<div class="MsoNormal"> Written by – Heather Gilbert, Field staff<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Agami herons are cool. Like, really cool. They have a beak around three times the length of their head, and the plumage on their necks is glorious silver. They live throughout Central and parts of South America and can usually be found on the edges of swampy streams and lakes within tropical forest. Fortunately for us, we live in Central America within a tropical forest with many canals and streams (and swamps in rainy season!). So seeing an Agami heron should be fairly easy right? Wrong. For starters, the Agami heron is a nocturnal forager and we rarely get the chance to be on the canals after nightfall. Then there’s the issue of their scarcity. So few Agami herons are seen each year the IUCN has categorised them as Vulnerable to extinction.  They are threatened primarily by accelerating deforestation in certain areas of their range, such as the Amazon basin. Due to the very rare nature of this bird, our partners MINAE (the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment) have expressed an interest in learning more about this little-studied species and its population in Tortuguero National Park. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> With that in mind, a few months ago we began the now infamous “Agami Hunt 2013”.  With a little help from our excellent boat driver Jorge, we have been surveying various parts of a nearby canal where the last known Agami sighting occurred. Sadly, while Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Grey-necked Woodrails and Bare-throated Tiger Herons were plentiful, the Agami remained hidden to us. Being the canal bird project leader, my desire to see an Agami heron was great, and only grew with each passing survey.<o:p></o:p></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Then two weeks ago, it finally happened. We almost had to cancel the survey due to heavy rain but half an hour before the survey the rain stopped, and the stars came out. It was a particularly quiet night on the canals however, the rain seemingly sending all the birds into hiding. We had been out for just over an hour and were all getting restless and, let’s be honest, slightly tired. Then out of the blue, intern Dionthé said the classic “bird!”, and then “Agami!”. It took a few moments to grasp what she had said, and a couple more to confirm that the silvery blur in front of us was indeed an Agami heron. It’s safe to say I was more than a little excited by this sighting. I grappled for my camera and managed to get a few shots and then settled down with my binoculars to simply watch and admire this beautiful bird in its natural habitat.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iho4v-jum8Q/Uq5WhmglfuI/AAAAAAAAA5g/ae1cK_cEie4/s1600/AgamiFB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iho4v-jum8Q/Uq5WhmglfuI/AAAAAAAAA5g/ae1cK_cEie4/s320/AgamiFB.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Agamia agami</i></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div>

Thanks for a great Thanksgiving!
<div class="MsoNormal"> Coming from Denmark Thanksgiving is not a known celebration for me or for any Europeans. But the 28<sup>th</sup> November we celebrated the American Thanksgiving thanks to our enthusiastic Americans! This was my first Thanksgiving ever and it was going to be in the jungle, well why not?! I was so excited to be on duty with the experts. That stormy rainy morning I was up with Dionthé making apple fritters stuffed with apple saucy goodness for breakfast with scrambled eggs too. Best breakfast ever! </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ySWsTTPn0c/UqYn4CW2B1I/AAAAAAAAA44/Fyz6WOdCiUU/s1600/Breakfast(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ySWsTTPn0c/UqYn4CW2B1I/AAAAAAAAA44/Fyz6WOdCiUU/s320/Breakfast(blog).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staff and volunteers enjoy a very big breakfast!</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Due to the fact it was raining heavily and very stormy too the surveys were cancelled, so the whole Jalova family stayed in the kitchen with us. Duty team, Dionthé, Alex and I cooked and we cooked A LOT! With the help of Ryan too we made mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top, wild rice, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy… and the turkey?? This was my task and I understood it’s the most important role. NO pressure! Since I couldn’t get a Great Tinamou or a Great Curassow for the meal I made lentil burgers with a lot of chicken stock and shaped them like turkey legs. Success! Looked like huge nuggets though. </div> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MigeWCsuEoA/UqYoCju8_9I/AAAAAAAAA5A/348sHrsyB5A/s1600/team(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MigeWCsuEoA/UqYoCju8_9I/AAAAAAAAA5A/348sHrsyB5A/s320/team(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing Thanksgiving team looking proud with their delicious spread of food</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Everyone ate all day and ate till it hurt. For desert we had real pumpkin pie for brief done perfectly with the jungle oven. Dionthé also made chocolate fudge and chocolate marshmallow fudge after dinner. SUGAR OVERLOAD but sooo good! Best food day ever! Thank you for a wonderful filling day Jalova!<o:p></o:p></div>

Intern Voice: Leading the way to blood and gore....
<div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">Two of our six month interns recently completed their leadership projects on base, and the results were frightful! Here two other interns describe the dastardly events…<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">So we had Alex’s leadership project the night after Halloween – a fright night of bone chilling thrills and fun-filled Halloween mayhem! The night kicked off with everyone showing off their horrifically inventive costumes – a gang of zombie pirates, a black cat, an apocalypse survivor, a witch doctor and some random construction workers thrown into the mix… oh and a zebra.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">It was also chicken night so we ate our fried chicken by candlelight in the kitchen surrounded by spiders and bats in scary webs of mosquito net, monstrous coconut heads and a disturbing figure hanging from the rafters – this probably would have been scarier if we hadn’t named him Julio…<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">After dinner it was a trip through the haunted house – the atmosphere was tense as we waited for our turn to face the horrors within, I’m sure the screaming could be heard for miles – not that there was anyone around to hear us! A teenage mutant ninja turtle collected us and led us to the entrance where we faced our darkest fears…<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">Fun ensued for those who survived as we went on to play such games as murder and lime bobbing (very wet!) whilst eating ‘worm’ infested jungle flapjacks. We finished the night around the fire pit which was a perfect ending to a great night – thanks Alex!<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> <b><i><span lang="EN-US">-Written by Kat, six month intern<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> <b><i><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i></b></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq62Y3jo-vk/UqYkgN6jk4I/AAAAAAAAA4k/oCktaG_mqjg/s1600/costumes(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq62Y3jo-vk/UqYkgN6jk4I/AAAAAAAAA4k/oCktaG_mqjg/s320/costumes(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interns and volunteers show off their jungle-style Halloween costumes</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">One quiet Friday our peaceful afternoon was interrupted by a cry for war by Dionthé. It was up to us, the Five Nation Army (or volunteers) to defend our beloved flag from the experienced Staff. This battle would be the first of many to go down in history known as the Jalova Wars! The battle continued on the beach, our hands and feet racing across scorching hot sand, refusing to give up to the opposition. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">As the battlefield moved to the Coconut Plantation, coconuts were flying through the air in an intense game of bocci/boules, each team attempt to knock out the competition. With victory on the horizon, the final battle was the fiercest of them all with both sides leaping through the mud trying to leave the contenders in their wake. In a close competition with both teams determined to win, the staff rose triumphant from the mud to claim victory. Their flag now hangs for all to see in the kitchen, a gentle reminder to the Five Nation Army to never let history repeat itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <br /> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> <b><i><span lang="EN-US">-Written by Sarah, six month intern<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> <b><i><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i></b></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BECRw3plqQI/UqYkpsWw5jI/AAAAAAAAA4s/4eX12KZBP2o/s1600/wars(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BECRw3plqQI/UqYkpsWw5jI/AAAAAAAAA4s/4eX12KZBP2o/s320/wars(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both teams fly their flags high after an gripping (and muddy) afternoon of games</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> <b><i><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i></b></div>

Monthly Achievment Report Jalova- October 2013
<div style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;"> <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/186138960/GVI-Monthly-Achievements-Report-Jalova-2013-Oct" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View GVI Monthly Achievements Report Jalova 2013. Oct on Scribd">GVI Monthly Achievements Report Jalova 2013. Oct</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/crlogistics" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View crlogistics's profile on Scribd">crlogistics</a></div> <iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.772922022279349" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_5795" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/186138960/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-qjq1nfg82vnml80hxjz&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>

Volunteer Voice - Learning The Ropes
<div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 16.363636016845703px; font-style: normal;"> <i>Written by Pam Webber - GVI Manuel Antonio Volunteer from USA</i> </div> <div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 16.363636016845703px; font-style: normal;">  </div> <div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 16.363636016845703px; font-style: normal;"> I am beginning my second and last week volunteering at the school/community center in El Cocal, Costa Rica. Colorado was beginning to slide into Winter as I left for Costa Rica, so the return to Summer is a bit of a shock. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 16.363636016845703px; font-style: normal;"> Last week week in the community center I worked mostly with a group of little girls. They loved jumping rope, especially if two volunteers swing the rope. They worked on counting in English and Spanish. One of them, Angeli, looked exasperated when we did not swing the rope correctly and she missed. One of the volunteers said "lo siento", and Angeli ran growling to her for a hug. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NmEFVp0v4Rg/UouEE_yHGlI/AAAAAAAAATY/ELyGcWi4De4/s1600/Pam+on+project+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NmEFVp0v4Rg/UouEE_yHGlI/AAAAAAAAATY/ELyGcWi4De4/s320/Pam+on+project+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 16.363636016845703px; font-style: normal;"> Today I worked with some third grade boys, four of them. Boys at this age in a group are not my strong point. However we played a memory game with animal tiles. They did a great job of taking turns and making sure that I had a turn. <span style="background-color: transparent;">I am looking forward to seeing what happens the rest of this week. </span></div>

Intern Voice: Tortufest - A celebration of all that Tortuguero has to offer!
<b><i>Written by - Ryan Venne, Six month intern</i></b><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">On 31<sup>st</sup> October, Global Vison International’s Jalova Biological Research Station participated in Tortufest an educational event in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. We participated in a day event thrown by the Sea Turtle Conservancy of Tortuguero along with GVI and CORTEC (Canadian Organization for Rainforest and Tropical Ecological Conservation). The event was geared towards the children of Tortuguero although it was open to everyone whether they were tourists or local residents. It was held at the central park of Tortuguero and each of the organizations gave presentations about the work they did in Tortuguero National Park.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YRy-PBPZJZo/UolQDhKys-I/AAAAAAAAA4A/j3B9qIsD1jY/s1600/Stands(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YRy-PBPZJZo/UolQDhKys-I/AAAAAAAAA4A/j3B9qIsD1jY/s320/Stands(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GVI Jalova (far right) stand next to the STC and COTERC to describe our work to the local people</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-78MqiaPIxSA/UolPziDD1HI/AAAAAAAAA34/mN8yIwT_kYk/s1600/Puzzle(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-78MqiaPIxSA/UolPziDD1HI/AAAAAAAAA34/mN8yIwT_kYk/s320/Puzzle(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two volunteers, Ellie and Sophia, helping local children to solve our puzzles</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">Along with these presentations there were educational games, activities and face painting for the children. The face painting in particular was a hit with the children. However they also enjoyed the educational activities as they learned about the species of Tortuguero National Park, for instance we had puzzles for the children to make local species such as Jaguar, Sloth, Purple Gallinule and Northern Tamandua. We also had an exhibit of skulls that included local wildlife such as Green Turtle, Kinkajou, and Crocodile. We gave presentations on biodiversity and the Jaguar Project that is currently being conducted at Jalova. The Jaguar presentation included footage of jaguars captured on our camera traps. Afterward, many of the children tested their jaguar identification skills on some of the footage. This was perhaps some the children’s’ favorite part of the day as they developed their abilities as future conservationists. </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rByRAsICSZA/UolPlmmzgRI/AAAAAAAAA3w/T6x-_hSnsGw/s1600/Marcelle(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rByRAsICSZA/UolPlmmzgRI/AAAAAAAAA3w/T6x-_hSnsGw/s320/Marcelle(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our newest staff member Marcelle working with a local child to identify a jaguar</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> The Sea Turtle Conservancy gave presentations on Marine Turtles and their benefits to the community and environment as well as on sustainability. Then CORTEC gave a presentation on their conservation projects within the park. Tortufest helped the community by educating the youth on the park and its value as a biodiversity hotspot and eco-tourist destination. It also gave the children a chance to experience cross cultural exchanges with Spanish and non-Spanish speakers from all over the world. This is a beneficial opportunity for the children as they are growing up in a tourist town based on nature tourism. Tortufest was also beneficial for the volunteers who participated as they got a chance to interact and speak with the children of Tortuguero. </div>

GVI Manuel Antonio Monthly Achievement Report October 2013 - Continuation of Arts and Construction project
<div style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;"> <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/183602166/Quepos-Monthly-Achievement-Report-October-2013" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Quepos Monthly Achievement Report October 2013 on Scribd">Quepos Monthly Achievement Report October 2013</a></div> <iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_62686" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/183602166/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>

Intern Voice: Adventures in Nicaragua
<div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><i><b>Written by Mike Park, Six month intern </b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Myself and four other interns went to Esteli, Nicaragua for two weeks of Spanish school as part of our internship here at Jalova. After a twelve hour bus ride, we arrived in Esteli. We went straight to the school and took a Spanish placement test to see how we would be placed for class. After this, we were introduced to our host families and went back to their houses. Myself and two other interns, Matt and Tyler, stayed at a woman named Aida’s house while the other interns, Heather and Anna, stayed with a woman named Mercedes. In our house, there was also a little boy named Saih and a woman who took care of the house. They cooked delicious food for us throughout our stay such as chicken, pork, and enchiladas. The second day, we were split up into different classes for Spanish school based on experience that all consisted of one on one lessons or classes of two. </span><br /> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EleR42TcLbE/UolNtdv66hI/AAAAAAAAA3c/6Uc_HzTeCq0/s1600/Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EleR42TcLbE/UolNtdv66hI/AAAAAAAAA3c/6Uc_HzTeCq0/s320/Group.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike with some other students from the Spanish School on a trip to El Tisey</td></tr> </tbody></table> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After classes, Esther, a Spanish teacher, would take us on optional trips several times a week including a cigar factory, coffee factory, and a museum. At the cigar factory, they allowed me to roll a cigar. We also challenged some locals to a volleyball match in which we dominated them. Other afternoons were spent exploring Esteli’s shopping areas or hanging out at our host house. </span><br /> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWnN5cAhxdU/UolNydan9aI/AAAAAAAAA3k/Jze-2FjfUVQ/s1600/View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWnN5cAhxdU/UolNydan9aI/AAAAAAAAA3k/Jze-2FjfUVQ/s320/View.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The breath-taking view from atop a small peak within El Tisey</td></tr> </tbody></table> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We did have one weekend while there and were allowed to leave and go to other areas. Matt and Anna went to Miraflor where they stayed the weekend. I went to El Tisey where other students and I were given a private tour of the rock carvings and an amazing view of all the volcanoes in Nicaragua. After our stay in Esteli, we returned to Costa Rica refreshed and ready for our new placements.</span>

Quepos Monthly Achievement Report September 2013 - English Teaching Program
<div style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;"> <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/183377160/Quepos-Monthly-Achievement-Report-September-2013" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Quepos Monthly Achievement Report September 2013 on Scribd">Quepos Monthly Achievement Report September 2013</a></div> <iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_48915" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/183377160/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>

An Amazing Month!
Written by Jayne Shepherd - GVI Manuel Antonio Sports Volunteer from Australia<br /> <br /> <br />  <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">I have just completed a fantastic time on project in El Cocal on the </span><span lang="EN-US">Manuel Antonio </span><span lang="EN-US">Sports Program in Costa Rica.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">What an amazing month. Due to examinations at the school on my arrival my experience was a lot more varied than I initially expected. I originally signed up for the school sports program but managed to get involved in English teaching, an intercultural day production, painting the new classroom (with a little help from the students), and of course multiple sporting events including a football (soccer) competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>This meant that the daily bus, walk and then boat over to El Cocal from our house were always an adventure.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">House life was made all the more wonderful by our resident sloth and the cheeky monkeys (Squirrel and white-faced Capuchins) cruising through daily. The Capuchins were seen on more than one occasion trying to push the sloth out of the tree, much to our horror! </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sarz5e1xiyM/Un_4765Y86I/AAAAAAAAAS8/ddlw4ewqsjs/s1600/Jayne+Rafting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sarz5e1xiyM/Un_4765Y86I/AAAAAAAAAS8/ddlw4ewqsjs/s320/Jayne+Rafting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jayne rafting with other GVI Manuel Antonio volunteers</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">Free times on the weekend were also a blast with so much to do for such a small area. My highlights included walking up our road to a waterfall where we lept off the top into the water (or for those not so keen you could abseil down), visiting the world renowned Manual Antonio National Park just 5 minutes down the road and a day trip white-water rafting. I also enjoyed the numerous places to have a nice meal, play pool or watch sports on TV.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">I met some amazing people on the project, at our house and of course on El Cocal and I really look forward to seeing what else GVI in Quepos has in store for the future! <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>

Staff Voice: New Methods for Capturing Jaguar Behaviour
<div class="MsoNormal"> <b><i><span lang="EN-US">Written by – Sateesh Venkatesh, Field Staff Member<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <b><i><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.4pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Jaguars are among the most majestic big cats in the world although they are also among the most cryptic. On Tortugeuro beach we see signs of Jaguars almost every day but often never see the animals in person. But due to the revolution of camera trapping we can still collect value presence and behavioral data on the animals. Since 2010 GVI has been camera trapping along the beach and in the forest and over this time we have developed and altered our techniques. We see Jaguars in the forest and returning to kills but the gap in between these two times we have no records. In order to fill this gap we wanted to find a way to have a camera on the beach that can capture new hunting behaviors. In 2012 we thought of the idea to hide a camera in a log in the middle of the beach but could not figure out how to possibly get the camera in the log. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1qQJa7m-PM/Uk3mgPsHiqI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/_ytplm12-C8/s1600/Armando(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1qQJa7m-PM/Uk3mgPsHiqI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/_ytplm12-C8/s320/Armando(blog).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armando using his chainsaw skills to carve a perfect camera-shaped hole in this piece of driftwood</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.4pt;"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /><span style="text-indent: 35.4pt;">         The solution finally came in the form of Armando, a local who works on the nearby coconut plantation, and a chainsaw. With some expert delicate work with a large power tool Armando made a perfect camera-sized hole in large log. We started with the log placed on the beach at Mile 16 & 4/8 in the middle of the beach looking out toward the water. After a week set up in this location the only images we captured were our staff and volunteers patrolling for turtles in the night and the ocean slowly moving closer. As a result we decided to move our log, with the help of Minor the ranger, to a more active area of the beach at Mile 15. So far here we have captured three Jaguars passing by the camera and an Ocelot. If the camera continues to work and show successful results the hope is to set up more stations along the beach. The ultimate goal of being able to capture hunting behavior is still a possibility that we hope to achieve. </span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.4pt;"> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7WPDZPOC2E/Uk3mreXhpjI/AAAAAAAAA1g/tYm0vi-0yC4/s1600/LogCam(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7WPDZPOC2E/Uk3mreXhpjI/AAAAAAAAA1g/tYm0vi-0yC4/s320/LogCam(blog).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The camera trap all set up and ready to record any comings and goings on the beach.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>

Base Voice: You know you're in the jungle when....
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"> Our new volunteers and interns have successfully completed their first week in the jungle, so we asked them (and the resident staff) to complete the sentence “You know you’re in the jungle when…”. Here’s the results!<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you start to forget what day, month and year it is and start basing your schedule on when and where you can see animals<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Sateesh, staff member<o:p></o:p></i></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYpF3y7v6z0/Uk3jjqOH5pI/AAAAAAAAA1M/X20pArCrgL8/s1600/monkey(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYpF3y7v6z0/Uk3jjqOH5pI/AAAAAAAAA1M/X20pArCrgL8/s320/monkey(blog).jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young Howler Monkey picking up a snack right outside base</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"> …the sounds of the howler monkeys work as a lullaby<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Ryan, 6 month intern<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …the small town of Tortuguero feels like a city with bright lights<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Nicole, 2 week volunteer<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you want to go out in the pouring rain, just to look for frogs!<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Ellie, 3 month volunteer<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …scratching your bites is a constant, subconscious action<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Ian, Field staff<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …your room becomes a mini zoo because you have to share it with so many jungle creatures<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Sarah, 6 month intern<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> ...you’re always looking above for falling coconuts<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Kat, 6 month intern<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you shake out your bed before you go to sleep and aren’t surprised that insects and sand pour out<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Dionthé, 6 month intern<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you feel like you've lost a limb when you go out without your binoculars</div> <br /> <o:p></o:p><br /> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Heather, Field Staff<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you hear howler monkeys at 5am instead of roosters<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Sophia, 6 month intern<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you get woken up by a bat flying into the outside of your mosquito net<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Courtney, 3 month volunteer<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …roll-on mosquito repellent actually runs out<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Frank, Field staff<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you walk to the restroom with a head torch in the middle of the night and have to check the toilet for snakes<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Alex, 6 month intern<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> <br /></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MmLuPXuqjU4/Uk3jO-aPlFI/AAAAAAAAA1E/t4w6DZsvZyo/s1600/turtle(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MmLuPXuqjU4/Uk3jO-aPlFI/AAAAAAAAA1E/t4w6DZsvZyo/s320/turtle(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Green Turtle observed returning to sea during an early morning survey on the beach</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you ask not whether you will have a shower companion but what species they will be<o:p></o:p></div> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-Roddy, 1 month volunteer<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> …you go to bed happy after seeing the turtles have returned safely to sea<o:p></o:p></div> <br /> <div align="right" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: right;"> <i>-David, Field Staff<o:p></o:p></i></div>

Volunteer Voice - Serious Work
<div> <span><i>Written by Dave Booth - GVI Manuel Antonio Community Volunteer</i> </span></div> <div> <span> </span></div> <div> <span>Landed in Quepos. Friday 20th Sept 2013.</span></div> <div> <span></span> </div> <div> <span>After 20 hrs on 2 planes, 1 bus, a nights sleep and another 2 buses finally make it up a twisty road to the GVI house 3 clicks from Quepos.</span></div> <div> <span></span> </div> <div> <span>I had already met Nick (staff) and 4 other volunteers in San Jose the day before and then meet Clint, Kristin (also staff) and 3 other volunteers.</span></div> <div> <span></span> </div> <div> <span>Let the games (and serious work) begin!</span></div> <div> <span> </span></div> <div> <span></span> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0Hj-ctCPI/Uk4mwbR6yyI/AAAAAAAAAR0/YNBoDQ9DyE0/s1600/DSCF8155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0Hj-ctCPI/Uk4mwbR6yyI/AAAAAAAAAR0/YNBoDQ9DyE0/s320/DSCF8155.JPG" width="197" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dave participating in some serious work</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> <span> Early Tuesday morning we head over to El Cocal and to the Casa Del Sol community centre.</span></div> <div> <span></span> </div> <div> <span>Here come the children rushing in full of <span style="font-style: italic;">frijoles</span> (beans) and day 1 proper starts with a bang.</span></div> <div> <span></span> </div> <div> <span>Have a few games of playdough and (newly invented?) whiteboard football with a boy called Angel. I am sure he was adapting the rules to suit his winning score and test me out. 8-1 to him. He clearly knew I was a newbie and must of thought 'right lets have a go' at testing this guy out. <span> </span></span></div> <div> <span><span> </span></span></div> <div> <span><span>Looks like I am going to have to keep up with them and learn E<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">spañol </span>rapido!!</span></span></div> <div> <span><span></span></span> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hH53OZIIE2s/Uk4gLJKnbDI/AAAAAAAAARI/cNy7KQf-HRQ/s1600/DSCN9992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hH53OZIIE2s/Uk4gLJKnbDI/AAAAAAAAARI/cNy7KQf-HRQ/s200/DSCN9992.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping to make planet rings</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> <span><span>Will be great to be able to interact and communicate with them on a equal level and hopefully help all the children more than I can at present.</span></span></div> <div> <span><span></span></span> </div> <div> <span><span>Looking forward to the whole next 3 months and <var></var>adventures on each day as they come.</span></span></div> <div> <span><span></span></span> </div> <div> <span><span>Till next time. Dave</span></span></div>

Intern Voice: Has everyone been injured? Good
<div class="MsoNormal"> <b><i>-Written by Dionthé  Hingson, Six Month Intern</i></b><o:p></o:p></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal">             First week of the Jalova experience consists of a lot of training. Emergency First Responder (EFR) training was first on the list. Two days of training (both practical and reading) then one day with a written exam and a practical exam. These once strangers could now be responsible for saving my life. We could make the difference between a lifelong disability and short recovery, even between life and death. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">             Which is good because a lot of things are deadly here. From snakes that contain neurotoxins and haemotoxins, to the cuddly jaguars and branch throwing monkeys, even several of the frogs secrete neurotoxins in their skin capable of killing 10 adult humans or 20,000 mice. I think the mice or agouti is more likely. Even just a few days ago I shrank in the protection of my mosquito-netted bed from the scorpion crawling on my wall. <u><o:p></o:p></u></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iH9pvH9XeSw/Uk3fnVWvM4I/AAAAAAAAA04/NAFoTF2pE44/s1600/pic1(blog).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iH9pvH9XeSw/Uk3fnVWvM4I/AAAAAAAAA04/NAFoTF2pE44/s320/pic1(blog).png" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteer Nicole being expertly strapped up by interns Sophia, Alex and Dionthe</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal">             The great thing is that the training is super practical so as to keep us from boredom. When we are doing 14 mile walks on the beach in Costa Rica heat stroke and heat exhaustion are legitimate concerns. Food poisoning, and treating a snake bite are all things we need to be prepared to handle for ourselves and others. The practical made us a bit nervous as we approached our first scenario, excited and aware we went step by step through our training and were able to treat our victims from their various signs and symptoms which ranged from life threatening to treating for shock. We even learned to use the things around us to improvise when needed. Other training we are receiving is just as practical and includes turtles, jaguars, birds, duty, and machete. Hopefully the reason we do EFR training before machete training is because of sound judgement, not experience.  <o:p></o:p></div>

Intern Voice - Who Killed Bobby B. Fletcher-Brown?
<br /> <i>Written by Rhiannan Davies from Australia - GVI Manuel Antonio Long Term Intern</i><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">Social nights are an awesome way for members of any team to come together. And what better way to kick off tradition than with a classic murder mystery party? Which is exactly what we here at GVI Manuel Antonio did. Now, some advice when creating your own murder mystery party: it involves a lot of intricate planning. I´m talking extensive character plots and backgrounds, confusing and extensive relationships between people, as well as objectives per character, scripted confessions, voting slips, costumes, and more! Yet come the Wednesday and there we were; a gang-lord’s wife and daughter, a butler, a duchess, a homeless person, a failed professional surfer, out-of-work child star, a journalist, a sleazy businessman, and a professional 1920’s dancer. All having pizza together – who would ever have imagined?</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhJkrd0aEsw/UkGeNi3DTSI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Wc8ZUEapNH0/s1600/murdermytsery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhJkrd0aEsw/UkGeNi3DTSI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Wc8ZUEapNH0/s200/murdermytsery.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <span lang="EN-US">I must say everyone played their characters wonderfully. As the night went on beyond pizza, we had conflicts, a murder and accusations, questionings, manipulation of relationships, and one more murder before the ‘police’ arrived. After intensive questioning from the astonishing policewoman (I may have killed myself off to have time for a costume change), the murderers were revealed. As it turns out the Duchess (played by our lovely programs manager, Nick) killed Bobby B. Fletcher-Brown to cover up a secret affair, and desperate young journalist Thelma Winkley (GVI volunteer, Bethany) killed the homeless woman, Eileen Smith – played by yours truly. </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">As the evening wound down it was evident that despite the theme of the night it did bring us closer as a group. We worked together and had fun for the weekend, and it is still something we laugh about as a group. Just a word to the wise – giving yourself four days notice to plan something like this WILL result in an eventual blurred perception of reality and fiction. </span><br /> <br /> <span lang="EN-US"></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeWNJViHTlQ/UkGeX0QqoAI/AAAAAAAAAQw/hT0sGQ2NISc/s1600/christkristrhi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeWNJViHTlQ/UkGeX0QqoAI/AAAAAAAAAQw/hT0sGQ2NISc/s320/christkristrhi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>

Volunteer Voice - Expect The Unexpected
<div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; line-height: 24px;"><i>Written by Emma Burton from Australia - GVI Manuel Antonio Community Volunteer</i></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"></span></b></div> <div> <b><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></b></div> <div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; line-height: 24px;">When I decided that I wanted to spend some time this year volunteering in Costa Rica I really had no idea what to expect. I signed up for a six week program, knowing very little about the country and speaking absolutely no Spanish. After spending a month working on the project and living in Manual Antonio my advice to anyone who is in the same position as me would be: expect the unexpected. </span></span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ub7MueybUkI/UjMlwNVUXLI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/E4VQlrZCWjM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ub7MueybUkI/UjMlwNVUXLI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/E4VQlrZCWjM/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; line-height: 24px;">To give you a taste of what I have experienced in these past four weeks; I have walked alongside a sloth on my way to the beach and I have been a suspect for the murder of a teddy bear at our fantastic murder mystery night. I have been offered a slice if cheesecake from the pocket of a child; I have had an egg cracked on my egg because apparently that's a birthday tradition here (although it was not my birthday). I have watched a classroom be transformed into a hair salon for the afternoon and watched the locals (and volunteers) stop by for a free haircut. I have spent a Sunday night</span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; line-height: 24px;"> dancing around the house to a Spanish children's song, which I then performed in front of the whole school whilst dressed in a ridiculous costume. I have gone to the local shop in the pouring rain dressed in a toga and I have watched monkeys jump through the trees with bananas just in front of our balcony. And tomorrow I'm painting a seascape mural on a large fishing boat for the Independence Day parade. </span></span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; line-height: 24px;">I can't wait to see what weird and wonderful things the next two weeks bring! </span></span><b><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"></span></b></div> <div> <b><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></b></div> <div> <b><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></b></div>

Staff Voice: Forestry with the Rangers
<div class="MsoNormal"> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Written by – David Aparici, Field Staff Member<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">During the last week of August, </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ome of the staff members of the Jalova expedition together with the Rangers of Tortuguero National Park had the honor to participate in a plant taxonomy and forestry course organized by the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment (MINAE). This course lasted 2 days </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> helped us to improve our relationship with the rangers and MINAE. It was a very interesting course which focused mostly on forest plant identification. The course combined the theory and the practical aspects of taxonomy in a very dynamic way. We shared a lot of experiences with the rangers and MINAE. One of the aspects that fascinated us the most, was the vast practical knowledge that the rangers have. Most of them knew the majority of the tree species around the area by their common name, whether it would produce e</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">di</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ble fruits, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">During the course, we learnt the important parts of the trees, starting </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> the leaves, their position and if they are complex or simple. Already with this little information you can discard a lot of families which makes the identification of the target species much easier. Then it comes to special features of the tree (or its leaves) like the nectarium</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> which is a small cup found in some foliage in some trees. This tiny part of the tree has a very important function since it produces chemicals that atracts insects which can facilitate the pollination. Beyond the practical information that we learnt in the course, this was an excellent opportunity to form a stronger relationship with our partners.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUEnjgykPwE/UidnAf-_hUI/AAAAAAAAAz0/T0QK_MOgll8/s1600/Team(blog).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUEnjgykPwE/UidnAf-_hUI/AAAAAAAAAz0/T0QK_MOgll8/s320/Team(blog).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalova staff members with the local rangers on the successful completion of the MINAE plant identification course</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div>

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