Bridges & More

Bridges & More: The Last Newsletter

2009-10-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Although not published until today, the following newsletter was begun in September.

Bridges & More Newsletter # 16 September 25, 2009

My usual plastic chair on the side stoop of the casita has been vacant for over two weeks now. Here in the U.S. the mornings are getting chilly and the light has taken on a golden cast. It’s hard here to remember the water-saturated heat of Costa Rica’s overcast wet-season days.

In San Josecito this year’s rains bring a lot less hardship: yes, I’m talking about bridges! Three new bridges have been built in one short year: the Isidro Nunez Bridge and the Puente Santa Lucia are complete, and the main public bridge across the road that runs from San Josecito to San Isidro is almost done.

Isidro Nunez and his family have dreamed of a bridge for many years. The engineering challenges and the length of the bridge made it prohibitively expensive, and the family’s devotion to traditional farming methods yielded nothing in the way of extra cash. Isidro’s stormy face was witness to his growing agitation as he and Ester grew older, less able to navigate the steep, muddy roads and tattered precarious foot bridge they’d relied on for twenty-three years. Three of their daughters and two of their sons hiked the distance daily to get to school and jobs, but dona Ester grew increasingly isolated in their tiny farmhouse, daily cooking and tending to her flowers.

Danilo Nunez spoke to me once of his feelings of helplessness as he walked his mother down the road across the flimsy hammock bridge, and witnessed the pain in her face and the frequent stops she had to make to recover her composure. First the possibility, then concrete plans for the bridge began to unfold. Bridges & More donated the first $7000, and then found someone who would provide a loan for the rest. Danilo was there at every step of the process. He worked each day with the engineer and his crew as the bridge began to take shape. His brother Geovany and father Isidro also worked when they could.

When I arrived in mid August, the bridge was almost finished: it still lacked the side-guards, because costs had exceeded expectations and they were unable to finish. But the bridge is a reality, and though I found it a little scary to cross it (it’s way high up over the rushing river, very narrow, and the panels move under the wheels of your car!) I can attest that IT WORKS!

A story from Ademar (Enrique) Nunez illustrates dire need for a main road bridge: Ademar’s wife Marion, mother of three, was taken very ill with cholecystitis. The rains had begun and were falling hard as the family maneuvered her down to the river. The crossing required three Nunez brothers: Luis carried Marion, holding her above the rushing waters. The other two held onto Luis to keep him from being washed away. They made it across, but they might not have!

October 7, 2009

Well, I’m back from whatever it was I was doing while I wasn’t finishing this letter. I suppose, after the success of the bridges, the next most pressing thing to report is that this is the final newsletter for Bridges & More. The board met on September 23, and we all agreed that the purposes for which the organization had been formed have been met. I’m not a publicity/fundraiser type of person, and this aspect of operations has always been agonizing to me. Furthermore, the administrative tasks involved in running a non-profit are time consuming, and I worry that I’m not doing them correctly. We’ve never been in a position to hire professionals—accountants, lawyers, etc. I only just discovered in the process of dissolving the corporation that the reports I’ve been filing every year to the state are not sufficient, and that I was supposed to have registered and filed far more detailed yearly reports to the state attorney general’s office. So to dissolve the corporation I had first to register it, file four years worth of reports, and then file an additional petition for dissolution. It involved a lot of internet research, phone calls, wasted paper, and pulling my hair out!

Now, the reason we formed in the first place: San Josecito is changing, growing, flourishing. The church is nearly finished, and is now being used for mass and liturgies. Although Bridges & More never did succeed in getting the Costa Rican equivalent of non-profit status for the community group Puentes y Mas, we paid the legal fees for the formation of another non-profit, the San Josecito Development Association. We provided the opportunity for various residents to try their hands at small business ventures, and though none of them really panned out, I think it was a valuable experience for those who participated, and gave them a new sense of possibility for what might be undertaken in the future. I think in some ways we helped unite the community to work together on common problems, and to value the precious natural resources that bless the valley we live in. I’m hoping this awareness informs future decisions as the challenges of further development continue.

As to the individual stories I’ve reported over the years: Milena Nunez graduated from high school and is working in a restaurant in Dominical. Her hopes to study art at a university level continue to be just that: hopes. I hope with her. Marion (who got carried across the river) nearly died in surgery on her gallbladder, and the doctors had to work for three hours to restore her. The operation wasn’t completed, so she returned a week later to try again, and this time the operation was successful. She’s fine now. Little Pamela Duarte made a miraculous recovery after the doctors had given her up for dead: the nurses encouraged Ronny and Beatriz, who went to the doctors and asked for one final procedure that had not been tried. It worked. This tiny being struggled so hard for her life, we all look forward to seeing how she lives it, and what it is she wants so badly to get done here! Look for a photo of her below. At risk of political commentary, I must stress that either she would have died or her family would have been bankrupted under our own system of health care.

Finally, I want to thank all of you who have encouraged me and contributed to the efforts of the past four years. I am very grateful: for your help, for the experience, and for the richness of community I’ve experienced as a result of our efforts.. Best wishes always to all---

Elizabeth

Pamelita de los Angeles Duarte Picado

All Three Bridges in One Year!

2009-10-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Bridges & More has contributed extensively to the Isidro Nunez Bridge, and more modestly to the Puente Santa Lucia. The Nunez brothers were the driving force behind the Puente Santa Lucia: below Ademar stands on the edge looking happy!

Building the Isidro Nunez Bridge

Below, plucky Milena can't wait for the panels.

Isidro watches as Danilo begins

the first crossing.

It looks even narrower

when you're driving it.

Below: The church is almost complete, and is now being used for masses and liturgies,and
the bridge on the Main road of San Josecito, was almost finished when I left there in early August.

A Quick Update from Stateside

2009-07-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
Just talked to friends in Costa Rica, and here's the latest:

The Isidro Nunez Bridge is almost finished.

The Municipality has finally started building the bridge for the main road passage over the Morete (I really started to think it would never happen!), and in so doing has provided work for at least one San Josecito neighbor, Ademar (or Enrique) Nunez.

Pamela is still hospitalized, but is making good progress. She had the operation to re-unite her intestine last week and did just fine, continues to improve.

Last, but not least, my friend Hector asked me to tell everyone about the property that his family has decided to put on the market. This is 3 hectares (about 7.5 acres) 1 hour south of San Jose. It is a cooler climate than our steamy San Josecito, with mountain views, a river running on one border, lots of fruit trees and coffee plants, two springs, three natural pools, a main house and a cabin/restaurant, and a lake with tilapia. I've been to the area and it's lovely! If I weren't so darned land poor right now I'd buy it myself! They're asking $170,000.

Also worth mentioning, Isidro Nunez needs to sell a lot or a small "farm" area in San Josecito to pay off the bridge loan.

Please contact me if either possibility interests you!

I'm going back to CR in August and will get some pictures of the land to post.
Till then, happy summer,
Elizabeth

Costa Rican Insects

2009-05-31T15:41:00.000-07:00

I'm home again, having fun editing pictures. Insects in Costa Rica are amazing. Below find:
1: Mantis
2: Bee on Orchid
3: Damsel Fly
4. Carbunco

New Babies--an update on Pamela and Colmillo

2009-05-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

5/20/09 A Quick Update on the Last Newsletter

This is primarily for those of you who sent prayers or good energy to little Pamela de Los Angeles Duarte Picado: since the day of the last letter (5/12) Pamelita has made a complete turn-around. She went through two more operations, the final one lasting 5 hours. The doctors said nothing more could be done for her. Now intestines which appeared to be dead are healthy again. She recently was removed from the oxygen supports, so Beatriz can be with her all the time now. And in a couple days she will taste mother’s milk for the first time. The doctors are calling it a miracle. Ronny and I talked today. He says the family is ecstatic and very grateful, and asked me to thank everyone who prayed in whatever manner, and in particular to thank Robin and Catherine for their kind email.

I have no photos of little Pamela to put on the blog, but a week ago another baby was rescued from the road here in San Josecito: a 2-day-old zaino, or collared peccary. Alvin Nunez and I were on our way to Cortez to take care of some business, and when he saw the baby Alvin yelled for me to stop, and proceeded to chase the little thing. He asked me if I had a towel, because even the littlest baby peccaries are ferocious and have razor-like teethe. He threw the towel over it and we took it back to my house. Since then Alvin has taken it to his house and has been trying to get it to bottle-feed, but it doesn’t want the bottle. It will suck at mangoes, and now has begun to eat bananas, but for this baby too survival was pretty iffy. I bought it some vitamins and specially formulated milk yesterday in San Isidro. When it’s out of its cage now it follows Alvin as though he were its mother. I wanted to call it Dulcinera after the character in “Man from LaMancha,” but they’ve been calling it Colmillo, which means “tusk,” and it already answers to this name. I’ll try to get Colmillo’s photos on the blog soon: (http://bridgesnmore.blogspot.com/).

The date for my departure is arriving quickly. I hope to get at least a small taste of spring, which is all we get on Cape Cod in any case.
Pura Vida,
Elizabeth

Now May 21--last night Beatriz and Pamela were featured in a sort of miracle story on Channel 13!

Bridges & More Newsletter # 15

2009-05-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here's Sadie. Below Bravo stares malevolently from the overhead kitchen beam.

Matilda Warthog (below) has found a place in my heart, while El Bandito (right) is calling on me to expand my horizons.

May 12, 2009

Hello from San Josecito de Uvita. The rains have started, the river is again robust, but the heat is still intense. The humidity is such that, even when the sun is out, I wonder how the air can hold it. I’m trying to keep sweat off the computer as I write.

First: a retraction: I called the noisy guaco a collared forest falcon. They look similar, but they’re different: the guaco is the laughing falcon.

Since I last wrote construction has begun on two bridges: both privately initiated. The Guillermo Nunez family has to negotiate two branches of the river to get to their home. The second branch, the one that’s not on the main road, is finally getting a bridge that will accommodate small cars. It’s a family initiative, and the work of Luis Nunez, who is a talented welder, has made the project possible. Bridges & More contributed $700 to this bridge.

The bridge to the Isidro Nunez farm has to span a much wider and deeper canyon, so has required professional engineers and a lot more funding. It too is progressing nicely. Bridges & More contributed $7000 to the I. Nunez Bridge. The reason for the large discrepancy in the amounts was that I heard nothing about the intentions to build the G. Nunez bridge until after we’d already given away almost all our money to the I. Nunez project. I’ve got photos of both bridges and I’ll post them on the blog.

Meanwhile the bridge that the municipality was supposed to have finished before the rainy season is in limbo because the Emergency Commission has undergone an emergency purging after the extent of its corruption was revealed. So, it’s the same old story the citizens have been getting for years: the funds are there, everything is ready to begin your bridge, but we wait only for (fill-in-the-blank) to be (approved-cleared up-attended to-WHATEVER!).

Here on the road things are changing. Property further down from where I live, near the school, has been chopped into little lots and much building is going on. The road, which underwent great improvements last year with installation of culverts and reinforcements to get rid of the necessity to drive through lots of creeks, is now suffering from lack of funds and is in danger of collapsing at one of the culvert sites where the money ran out before the project was finished, and is almost impassible during heavy rains at other sites. I feel like I’ve done what I can, and from now on will smile and give my money each year, and let others worry about it. I still have Matilda Warthog, who can get through just about anything!

After a very difficult pregnancy Beatiz Picado (and Ronny Duarte) gave birth by C-section to Pamela de los Angeles Duarte Picado at 7 months. Since Pamela’s birth complications have arisen and she has been operated on four times in the last two weeks. Today, after the doctors said she had no chance, she rallied, and they are going to operate again. Those of you who pray, please keep her in your prayers. And those who don’t please send light and good thoughts to all the family (Beatriz, Ronny, Fabiola, Samanta, and Pamela) who have been through great worry and displacement due to B’s need to be always near a hospital. I recently found their little dog wandering skinny and homeless, full of torcelos (larvae from Bot Flies that hatch in the flesh and devour it). He’s at the vet until his infections clear up, and I’ll bring him back to my house to stay at least until I leave at the end of May.

Speaking of dogs, my ferocious cat Bravo has had to adjust to a rambunctious puppy who arrived one night badly in need of food, affection, and a flea bath. She has stayed, been spayed, named (Sadie), and drives me crazy on a daily basis by being underfoot, jumping up, gnawing on everything, and just generally being a puppy. She appears to be half hound, half German Shepherd, and is very sweet natured. Alvin Nunez, my full-time worker, will watch her when I am not here. Who will watch Bravo is more of a problem, as Ticos all seem to be either allergic to or not fond of cats. You don’t see many around, and I think they’re mostly killed by dogs, owls, or larger cats such as ocelots and pumas. Anyway, Bravo has survived thanks to his fierce nature (Sadie though young already possesses a myriad of scars on her snout!), and is also rather sweet in his own grumpy way. Find Sadie and Bravo on the blog as well.

My car problems are at least temporarily solved: today I have two clean functioning cars in the garage that Alvin just expanded. I am knocking on wood as I write this, but the problematic Geo Tracker I bought has been traded back to the dealership for a smart little two-door bright red Tracker. It needed brakes, tires and a new timing belt, but hey, it’s got personality. I’ll put pictures of Matilda Warthog and the new guy (El Bandito) on the blog too.

Our most recent activity should have happened last week: a workshop for parents about the benefits of reading to their kids. We had a professor/author lined up months in advance and he seemed keen on doing it. Then I got an email cancelling his attendance. In spite of this, a small children’s library has been started at the school and the children are checking out books to take home at night for their parents to read to them.

San Josecito had a large crop of visitors from Cape Cod recently. Tom Fettig and Kristin Knowles have their house here, and they visited with their two recently adopted children Jack and Sasha, and also brought along my friends Karyn Morris and Ken Horton. Additionally Stefanie Matfield from the Cape also visited for a week. The pristine river behind my house was a big hit. Ken has promised to return and help me work on Matilda Warthog (I was going to sell her, but we’ve had a reconciliation and we’re both working on our issues), and Karyn has offered to do one fundraiser a year for Bridges & More.

I should mention that Karyn’s offer came in the wake of my telling her that I felt Bridges & More has accomplished a lot of what it set out to do, and that I am tired and thinking about dissolving the non-profit. It’s too much for me to try to do the field work here and the corporate and fund-raising work at home. I’m getting old enough to be confused at any rate, and having business and commitments in two countries is impossibly complicated. So Karyn’s offer is much appreciated, but I’m still not decided on just what I’ll do.

Best wishes to all for a lovely spring,

Pura Vida,
Elizabeth

Those Bridges are Finally Getting Built!

2009-05-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

The larger of the two projects, the Isidro Nunez Bridge, is scheduled to be finished by the time the rains really get going. Isidro and family had almost given up on staying on their farm, so the bridge comes just in time.
At right, engineer Guillermo Zuniga; Below two shots from two consecutive weeks.

Below, the Guillermo Nunez Bridge, the smaller of the two current projects.

Estiben Nunez will attend school more regularly with the construction of this bridge
and the one the municipality has promised.

Newsletter # 14 January 2009

2009-01-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

At a small party: divng for sweets from the Pinata

With great help from the Roots and Shoots club at the Lighthouse Charter School and from friends of all stripes we had a truly enjoyable fundraising evening last November, with homemade tortillas and taco fixings, and games for children, a viewing of the movie from Cavu, Nuestras Aguas, Nuestra Vida, which features some of the folks here in San Josecito that I write about regularly. Attendance was a little low, and we made more tacos and fun than we made money, but I’m happy with the results. The children played so well together, and there was so little arguing and whining, that I was reminded of the Tico family gatherings!

I’d meant to write long before now—it’s well over a month since I arrived on 10 December. The weather has changed from comfortably cool, sometimes rainy, sometimes sunny to hot dry summer; then with the earthquake two weeks ago it changed again to hot, overcast, and sometimes rainy. Everyone awaits the “puro verano” (or pure summer) with its clean blue skies and hot beach weather, some with anticipation for the picnics and swimming, others because their beans are ready to harvest and they need clear weather to lay them out in the sun to dry. Well, the cicadas seem to think it’s summer, shrilling so powerfully and insistently that it’s hard to make oneself heard above them; and Luis Nunez said the army of ants that arrived yesterday morning to march for hours through and around my house herald true summer. But this morning the guaco (collared forest falcon) announced loudly and insistently that rain is coming. It’s hard to know who to believe here in Costa Rica.

With room for family variations, Christmas was celebrated by all with days of feasting, visiting, fireworks, karaoke, gift exchanges, and dancing. Presents are exchanged on Christmas Eve, after an afternoon of hanging around talking, playing games, and cooking. The meal having been eaten, everyone gathers in one place, and one of the family elders addresses the crowd (yes, families here are crowds!) with welcome, with gratitude for another year together, with special welcome for visitors (such as dona Eliza), and finally with a formal prayer, sometimes quite lengthy. Then family members take turns distributing presents, and the recipient is subjected to chants of, “Abrelo, abrelo, abrelo,” (open it) while he or she does just that. The gift then has to be held high for everyone to see amidst whistles and cheers, or in the case of underwear or negligees, whistles and catcalls. It makes for a long night, especially when the fireworks, karaoke and dancing get going and the guaro (distilled sugar cane juice) starts flowing. I usually make my excuses sometime around 9 pm, get in Matilda Warthog, my old landcruiser, and head for the upper reaches of the village where my little house stands quiet and all alone above the river. But the celebrations don’t end there: they just keep going until January 1st is history and whatever weekend comes next has passed. Then, finally, it’s back to business as usual.

This year I was asked to attend a number of birthday celebrations, as well as the first communion Fabiola Duarte and Demaris Nunez. What seemed to me like a very long church ritual in the morning was followed by a birthday party for Fabiola’s little sister Samanta (turned 5) in the afternoon. Birthdays parties last forever here, with hours of games for the children, small snacks of chips & beans, Jello, sausage slices, “frescos,” etc. brought out and passed around at intervals. When finally the pinata is introduced, you know that presents, ice cream and cake will follow within the next couple of hours! The kids take turns with the stick, and a fair amount of whacking usually has to take place before the tough paper mache donkey (or Dora, or Spongebob Squarepants,or…) breaks open to drop the candies and peanuts that everyone (including grandmas) makes a dive for, children piling on one another to get to the sweets, confetti sparkling in their hair. The photo above is of a very small group--it gets wilder the more people there are!

Since the arrival of the 2009 I’ve been mostly trying to keep my head above water with personal business. My dear Matilda Warthog has once again spent two weeks in the shop and had her transmission replaced for the second time since I bought her 4 years ago. Much as I love her, she now sports a “Se Vende” sign in her rear window, and I recently went up to San Jose to buy a newer car—this time a ’96 Geo Tracker 4-wheel-drive. It’s a lot easier to drive and I love the air conditioning, power steering, and softer ride (Matilda drives like a tank). But it feels a little as though an era ia coming to an end.

I’m sitting out on my side porch enjoying the first day I’ve had at home in weeks. The forest falcon has begun calling loudly again, a soprano “Gua-co, Gua-co, Gua-co,” and a nearby toucan competes with equal racket, “Tweetle-EET-de-DEET-de-DEET.” Cicadas shrill, the river noise below is constant. The cat sleeps on the green table Milena painted with butterflies and heliconias. A blue morphos butterfly lands nearby, its huge, slowly moving iridescent wings flashing now violet, now lapis lazuli in the bright sun. A tanager flashes red, a flycatcher yellow. I am endlessly amazed and entertained by nature at such close quarters. The people who live here take it for granted, don’t even look up when the roaring howler monkeys compete for attention in a nearby tree. Some seem to think the river with its rich supply of shrimp and fish is impervious to abuse, and we have already had two instances of river-poisoning this year. I was bathing in the river January 2 when I found a single dead shrimp. That night Alvin showed up practically in tears with a whole bucketful of dead shrimp, and my skin began to itch. It itched for two weeks. Someone had a good meal of shrimp, and kilometers of river now start all over again with just a few tiny brave survivors that have come down from the streams to repopulate.

On a happier note, I was able to get a loan to offer to don Isidro Nunez to build the bridge his family needs to be able to remain in San Josecito. When I initially told him I had the money to lend him and he could begin the procedures to start the bridge, he went silent and looked very serious. When he finally spoke it was to say, “I’m frightened!” He could not seem to believe that something this good could happen after so many years of struggle and disappointment. But the next time I saw him the fear had given way to smiles, and the sight of the usually surly don Isidro smiling is something to behold! Bridges & More is donating $7000 to the bridge, and the remainder will be built with the loan, which will be paid back when don Isidro is able to sell a lot on his property.

Crossing the River to the Isidro Nunez farm in

is not too hard in the dry season

Stunts on the Current Nunez bridge

Additionally, it appears that the other bridge—the one on the public road where it meets the river—is going to go forward, paid for and built by the municipality. I’m a little like don Isidro here, afraid to believe it until I actually see the heavy equipment and cables being hauled in! But it looks promising. And new neighbors from the north continue to build houses here in San Josecito. Everything is changing, the road gets busier, we have more visitors to the river, and down below Uvita (a one-corner two-cow town when I arrived four years ago) is mushrooming into the commercial center of the south Pacific. I hate going down there now—it’s loud and the traffic is scary because the big Costanera highway continues to roar through it as though this section were not filled with turning cars, stray dogs, children, pedestrians, and campesinos on horseback.

I’m looking at the possibility of setting up a system of walkie-talkie communication from along the road to help with the river vigilance. Folks here are angry about the poisoning and eager to catch the perpetrators in the act—it will require two witnesses to the act itself to make a case against anyone.

January is vacation month for the school children. When they start back I’m hoping I’ll have time to help get a read-aloud program started, along with a small library of children’s literature and a workshop for parents on the benefits of reading to their children. Meanwhile a two-day festival is being planned to raise money to finish the church, and to pay off debts from the phenomenal work that was done on the road to eliminate the creeks we were daily driving through before last winter. A whole lot of structural work was done, with materials largely supplied by the municipality and labor supplied and paid for by the village. The road surface is already in need of more work after the winter rains, but we can’t really start that until we pay off the debts we owe. If everyone would give it wouldn’t be too expensive for anyone, but as always there are those who want to own a piece of paradise without having to give anything in return!

Of the loans we’ve given, there have been mixed results: Guiselle’s chickens are producing eggs that I buy every week, but she has lost a lot of hens to the tayra, or talamunco, a large black creature from the weasel family. I’d thought the hens were going to be enclosed—that was the plan—but Alvin said something about their being too fat to all fit in the enclosure. I should get up there to take a look at it, but like I said, I’ve been pretty busy. Beatriz has not gotten back to her huerta since the hurricane damage the winter before last because she and Ronny have been too busy trying to raise money for the church, and because her pregnancy with their third child is complicated and requires no strenuous activity. Alvin’s investment in a calf to raise was followed by a huge drop in the cost of cows, so he’s waiting for the price of beef to go up again.

Well, this is getting long and you must be getting bored. I’ll put a few more pictures on the site ( http://bridgesnmore.blogspot.com/ ). There are lots of things I’d like to add, so maybe I should plan to do more blog postings so there’s not so much to say all at one time! For now though, I’m off to wash Matilda Warthog and adjust her idle down a bit. Following that, I’ve promised myself a dip in the river—it’s a great day to sun on the rocks.

Pura Vida!
Elizabeth

Bridges & More Newsletter # 13

2008-11-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

November 5,2008

Well, the nation can finally exhale. I have never been as drawn into an election nor awaited its results with such hope and trepidation as with this one. Dare we hope we can get on with our lives now?

I have been in Massachusetts taking care of the gringo half of my life since September. I’ve shared some wonderful times with my son Ben and am happy that he seems to be putting some of his problems behind him. As well, I’ve been doing some painting and fix-up on my house here, and readying a small house I bought for rental--busy enough, and now busier as Julie Rich and I prepare for a Bridges & More fundraising fiesta. Remember Julie? She, Todd and their two children Zeno and Freya spent eight months with me in San Josecito working on projects I wouldn’t have been able to do myself, and you can find some of these in previous postings

The great thing about this fiesta is that after two years of running into roadblocks on the Bridges part of our raison d’etre (we’ve focused on the & More part) we are now raising money for a bridge. It will not be the sweet little swinging hammock bridge we originally envisioned, because needs have changed. Most folks use cars now in San Josecito, though as recently as the nineties they were still conducting business on horseback or on foot. Now an aging couple, don Isidro Nunez and dona Ester Quesada, traditional Tico subsistence farmers, can’t negotiate the rugged muddy slopes and rickety hammock bridge (photo at right) the way they once did. Don Isidro nearly sold the entire farm a few years ago to a developer from Boston—it occasioned some real alarm on the part of his neighbors and his sons Giovanny and Danilo who want to continue farming the land.

The deal fell through, and Isidro has had to consider other options. One of these is to sell a parcel of land from the farm to finance building a small bridge for cars. The problem here has been circular: it’s all but impossible to sell the land until a bridge has been built, and there’s no money to build the bridge until the land sells. That’s where Bridges & More comes in: we are not sufficiently endowed to finance a car-sized bridge. Right now we can offer only $5000 toward the projected $60,000 total cost of the project. I have committed a personal loan of $20,000 to be repaid when Isidro sells the land. That still leaves the project very short-funded. We hope that we can raise a couple thousand more to add to the kitty with this fundraiser.

The fiesta itself will take place on Thursday, November 20 from 5 to 8 pm at the Orleans Methodist Church, and will include tortilla-making, children’s games & prizes, and salsa dancing lessons. It will be preceded (from 4-5) by a showing of Cavu’s film Nuestras Aguas, Nuestras Vidas, a fascinating look at the problems posed in our area by irresponsible development. The film includes scenes from the only other surviving traditional Tico farm in San Josecito, the Guillermo Nunez farm. After the Fiesta, at 8 pm, I”ll make a short slide presentation of the work Bridges & More has done over the past two years. For tickets call me at (508)240-5699 or visit Main Street Books in Orleans).

Meanwhile I worry about the remaining money (maybe $33,000) needed to build the bridge that will allow these good folks to stay on their farm. I know nothing about grant-writing. Is there anyone out there who does, or who has other ideas? The family farm, in Costa Rica and elsewhere, is a vanishing species. Don Isidro and his sons use traditional methods to eke a living from rugged land they inhabit, planting and harvesting their beans, corn and rice by hand, growing and processing their own sugar cane, raising the few animals they need. I was fortunate to get a tour of the farm from Danilo one day, and to see the hydro-generating system they’ve maintained in a creek below their house. The typical Tico farmer stewards the land carefully, and maintains a healthy segment of rainforest that encourages wildlife to thrive and water systems to remain intact. If this farm were developed, tons of earth would be displaced, run down into the Morete River, and end up in the Parque Nacional Marina Ballena, choking out the mangrove estuaries and further destroying the coral reefs. More wildlife would be driven out or the area, the once vast biodiversity of the area further reduced.

Overall San Josecito has done well in preserving and restoring its rich biological treasures: the Walter Odio family began their eco-tourist forest preserve Rancho Merced many years ago, and it is now designated a national wildlife refuge. More recently the Duarte brothers committed a section of their land holdings to their own forest preserve, Oro Verde, where tourists can purchase a three-hour rainforest tour on foot, or a road and river tour on horseback, followed by a traditional Tico meal. I saw my first howler monkeys and sloth on one of these tours. As traditional farming disappears throughout Costa Rica, I can picture the Isidro Nunez family augmenting their meager income by providing tours of a working farm. It’s a far happier vision than that of ostentatious cement houses crammed into the verdant hillside….

Well, I’ve written enough. I’m looking forward to getting back to San Josecito to see all my friends, to check on Guiselle’s chicken project, Beatrice’s huerta, Alvin’s cows, and my own trees. I have some children’s books to carry with me to start a community library in La Escuela de San Josecito, and some ideas to help encourage the children in the village to read for pleasure. In February three of Isidro’s and Ester’s daughters will graduate from high school! I know one of them (Milena) is hoping to study art at the university level. Most of all, I hope I will see a bridge span the river between the road and the Isidro Nunez farm before another rainy season sets in.

Best wishes all for a happy Thanksgiving. I’m sure I’ll be reporting back before Christmas, and will pass along more holiday wishes then.

Con mucho gusto,

Elizabeth Kushigian

President, Bridges & More

PS In reviewing the blog I notice that I never did add photos of the hike down to Isidro’s generator, which Bridges & More helped repair with a small grant last spring. I’m adding them now.

PPS Thanks to all of you neighbors who did your part to get the road repaired. Many still have not helped, and the community still owes money to contractors. How about it? Send checks made out to “Bridges & More Inc.” and marked “Road Fund” to:

Bridges & More

PO Box 1642

North Eastham, MA 02651

PPSS The Tico Times (www.ticotimes.net) October 31 has a good article about our neighbors' non-profit Cavu, which has aided hugely in halting destructive development in our zone by flying officials overhead for a perspective they would not get otherwise, and by making movies like the one we'll be showing on November 20.

Hydo-Generator Repair at the Finca Isidro Nunez

2008-11-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

Last spring Danilo Nunez asked me if Bridges & More could loan his family some money to repair their electrical generator, which is powered by the creek below their house. I'd never seen the generator, only the primitive cable-pull they engage at the house when they want to turn on the power. So my friend Carol Sewell and I grabbed this opportunity to drive down the little easement road that descends steeply to the river, crosses, then climbs up the other side to Danilo's home, the Isidro Nunez farm. In the end Isidro decided not to borrow money for the generator because he hoped he could borrow money for a bridge, and didn't feel he could do both. Carol donated the cost or the generator repair to Bridges & More and we awarded it as a grant to the Nunez family farm. Thanks Carol!

I've collected some photos from our tour of the "hydro-generator plant." Above see Carol's Landcruiser, which has just crossed the river and is about to begin the climb up to the farm. At left we've climbed down to the creek where the generator system lives, and Isidro is resting on a rock.

In the next series of photos Danilo traces the path of the water as it is channeled downstream for filtration before entering the generator.

First chicken wire

then gravel

The Generator

Danilo & Isidro examine the plant

The faulty
part

A close-up.

Bridges & More Newsletter # 12: 9/1/08

2008-09-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

I’m sitting in the living room of Nereyda, Carlos’s aunt, with 2 hours to go before Hector’s taxi arrives to take me to the airport. Carlos and Cindy’s apartment, my former San Jose home, has been upended and cleared out, so Nereyda kindly opened her doors to me. As well she has shared with me her delicious recipe for pastel de yucca, one of the most comfortable comfort foods I’ve ever encountered. I’m still collecting for that Costa Rican recipe book…

My visit to San Josecito was only of 3 weeks’ duration this time, owing to family commitments and a final operation on my eye when I arrived in San Jose. I, who was formerly legally blind, now function quite well without corrective lenses. Amazing.

Over the past year two San Josecito vecinos have died: William Aguero Aguero, caretaker for David and Jordan Smith, was recently killed on the highway at the entrance to our road. William’s wife Guisella and their two little boys continue to live and work at David and Jordan’s finca. And Danny Brower of Arizona, who along with his wife Sharon was building a home in San Josecito, died suddenly of an aneurism. I join all of San Josecito in extending my deepest sympathies to Sharon and to Guiselle and her boys. On a happier note, Ademar Nunez and his family (Marion, daughters Juliana & Aljondra, and new baby Jared) have returned to San Josecito and are living in the house Julie and Todd occupied last year.

Other than the excess of mud and biting bugs, I’ve enjoyed being in San Josecito’s rainforest climate during the rainy season—it’s so green and lush. True—I’m clearing out before things get really bad! But I was present for some pretty formidable deluges, and am pleased to report that the costly road work that reduced the number of drive-through creeks en route to my finca from five to one now allows long-time residents to access their homes even in the heaviest downpours. When I left there were still workers from the municipality busy building fortifications to widen one section of the road that has eroded to a dangerously narrow ridge. Other than that, work has been suspended for the rainy season and will be resumed in January.

Below is an example of a drive-

through creek in the dry season

Above, the creek past Oro Verde in March '08

Below, the same creek in August '08

San Josecito's favorite waterfall and dipping pool is still intact and visible from the this same site on road.

The church has pretty much reached its final form, ceramic tiles for the floor have been ordered, and the community continues its efforts to raise money to apply the finishing touches.

Beatriz’s huerta was badly damaged by a falling tree during hurricane Alma, and awaits work by a welder. Bridges & More is happy to be able to help with a small loan. Meanwhile, the chickens we helped Guiselle Nunez buy last March are now producing delicious local eggs. Gueselle has already fully repaid her loan, and her husband Alvin has applied for and received a loan of his own to buy two cows. A new farmer’s market has opened down in Uvita on Saturdays, and I’m encouraging Guieselle to get some eggs down there to sell. Natural local eggs are a popular product, and farmers run out early.

One of the most exciting developments in the past year is the production of the DVD Nuestras Aguas, Nuestra Vida by David and Jordan Smith’s nonprofit corporation Cavu. San Josecito is hugely fortunate to have this dynamic and talented couple as part-time residents. Cavu uses stunning video photography and David’s piloting skills to capture the formidable environmental challenges posed by unregulated development. In this most recent production one travels above the hills surrounding San Josecito to see the ravaged forests, eroding mountains, and sediment-choked bay of the stunning national marine park Marino Bahia Ballena. We hear familiar local persons interviewed, visit the Guillermo Nunez farm across the river in the highest reaches of San Josecito, and watch the family process sugar cane in its traditional trapiche. And, most important, the film conveys the urgency of the community’s effort to preserve its natural environment and its waters. For a great trailer, visit:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=URbCyLgwN7g&feature=related

You may recall our original goal of building foot bridges to allow the two branches of the Nunez family living on the other side of Rio Morete to access schools and work during the rainy season. This goal was postponed because we discovered that residents wanted car bridges, not foot bridges, and we didn’t feel we could raise sufficient funds to accomplish this. Additionally, the municipality promised a bridge on the main road leading to the Guillermo Nunez farm, and a bridge to the Isidro Nunez farm was complicated by access disputes.

The municipality hasn’t yet come through with the bridge on the main road. I think it will happen as development up above the river continues, and as more people begin to use this road to get to San Isidro. My hope is that it will be a small bridge, inadequate for the machinery of major development. There has been talk at a federal level of using our road as another major highway between San Isidro and the coast. We all hope this doesn’t happen.

Meanwhile, Isidro Nunez and Dona Ester are aging and increasingly need winter access to the highway and to the new hospital in Cortez. Danilo, one of the younger boys in the family, described to me his feelings of helplessness as he watches his mother’s pain while she slips and slides on the steep roads and paths to the rickety foot bridge the family has used for decades. I feel a personal commitment to do whatever I can to get the bridge up before the next rainy season. Access disputes have been ironed out. Isidro hopes to sell one or two lots on his land to finance bridge construction. But sales are slow right now, and the sale would be much easier with the bridge already in place.

Above, the Isidro Nunez family, with Don Isidro behind Dona Ester at center, Danilo at right. Note Milena's paintings in the background. Below, me copping a silly pose on the old footbridge they now use on high-water days.

Subject to Bridges & More board approval I hope we can offer the Isidro Nunez family a grant of $5000 toward constructing the bridge. Meanwhile, I have offered Isidro a personal low interest loan to be repaid when the bridge is complete and a lot has been sold.

As I prepare to finish this already-too-long letter, it’s now a week later and I’m back in the U.S. watching the edges of Hurricane Hannah blowing past. In all I feel a combination of excitement for possible developments in San Josecito in the year ahead, and deep worry for the Uvita environs as a whole as forest is cut, hills are scalped, and tons of earth continue to wash down into the bay where they choke the little remaining life out of the coral reefs. Let me hear from you! Wishing you all a happy autumn,

Elizabeth Kushigian

My Spidery House

2008-03-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

Bridges & More Newsletter # 10 03/05/08

I’ve always been a bit arachnophobic, but there is something about the huge brown tarantulas that transcends spider. Maybe it’s their calm manner of holding a spot, without movement or apparent alarm. At any rate, I’ve had two tarantulas in my house in the past 3 days. I killed the black one immediately (I know this is not politically correct, but hey…). The brown one, much bigger, was living behind my suitcase in the bedroom, and I simply replaced the suitcase and left it there. Then Alvin told me that they like to steal pieces of skin from sleeping people, and leave a terrible oozing wound behind. When I went to find it again it was gone...perhaps it’s still somewhere in the house.

Already the last of my three months in Costa Rica is upon me. January was idyllic, with long swims and much sunning on the rocks of the river. February was hectic and exhausting with weekly trips to San Jose for eye operations (I got lens implants (as with cataracts) in order to see without glasses), lots of car troubles, property title problems, disturbing news from home, and rumors of a very real threat to our river in the form of gravel mining. Today is my first quiet day at home in perhaps a month. Alvin and I were finally able to walk up through the tree plantation. In only three years some of the trees have grown large enough to form a canopy and to develop personalities of sorts. The Mayo Blanco, for example, is a rainforest tree, casts a cool shade, and has a jungle personality. The amarillones give a dappled shade and have a light, happy quality about them. The teak is heavy. The huge brown leaves rotting on the ground below them hide terciapelos, or fer-de-lance, an aggressive and very poisonous viper. Alvin reported killing 7 of them during his last teak maintenance.

Bridges & More’s sister organization Puentes y Mas had its annual board meeting on February 23rd. We had a good attendance, and now all the members except me are Ticos and year-around residents of San Josecito. I was moved by everyone’s interest and desire to participate. We agreed to resume our river vigilance now that summer (the dry season) is here, with its heat and cars full of visitors arriving to fish and swim. We’ve already had one reported incidence of poisoning down near the highway. This is apparently a fairly common practice among certain Costa Ricans aimed at an easy catch of fish and river shrimp. Unfortunately it results in massive destruction of river life. We hope that with a certain amount of vigilance we’ll get a reputation that discourages the people who do this type of thing.

In addition to vigilance, we agreed to participate in a petition drive in the three towns that surround the national park of Bahia Ballena, or “Whale Bay.” Two rivers, the Morete River (also known as the Higuerón River) and the Uvita River converge just above the coast to flow into this beautiful bay. Costa Rica’s only national marine park, Bahia Ballena is home to myriad species of marine life, estuaries and mangroves. Humpback whales return every year from the north to give birth in its warm protected waters. Now that the rampant development that has already destroyed much of the country is arriving in our backward little area, several applications for concessions to mine gravel from the two rivers have been filed. Such activity would further compromise coral reefs, would erode river banks and estuaries, and would raise large amounts of sediment that would be carried to the bay, thus affecting both plant and animal life there. Already the bay, which used to be a sparkling blue throughout, shows brown a good way out because of the run-off from roads and new home construction. Furthermore, the section of the Morete River under consideration for mining runs through Rancho Merced, a national wildlife sanctuary run by the Odio family of San Josecito.

For all the above reasons, we’ve written up a fact sheet and petition and have begun circulating it in Uvita, Bahia Ballena, and Playa Hermosa. It took awhile even to verify the rumors. President Oscar Arias has recently enacted a measure that would do the Bush Administration proud: it forbids access of public environmental records by the public. Now the press cannot delve too deeply without paying a lawyer to file for the information. I paid the lawyer in this case, and we now have the evidence to begin the fight. I’ve also written to the Tico Times (Costa Rica’s very good English language newspaper) and asked them to help us shine a light on this recent development. And Francine Ocampo has agreed to write a letter in Spanish to La Nación. Finally, I’ve written to a Costa Rican environmental organization called Fundación Neotropica to request their help, but haven’t heard back from them.

Alvin’s wife Guiselle just stopped by with their little boy Estiben who has recently started school. Guiselle is now cooking lunch for the school children, and I’ve been happy to supply some of the yucca that Alvin planted in my garden for that purpose. Today Guiselle asked whether Puentes y Mas could give her a small loan to get started with a little chicken farm. I’m delighted, because it has seemed to me that residents have been slow to take advantage of the opportunities we’ve offered. We agreed that she will submit her proposal shortly so we can get the loan in progress.

Javier’s construction crew has returned to the church where loads of cement, sand, bars, etc. have been delivered. The Bridges & More donation of $1500 has enabled the town to pay the crew, while certain other residents have offered donations of materials. More is needed! Donations marked for the church can be sent to:
Bridges & More, Inc.
P.O. Box 1642
North Eastham, MA 02651
I’ll soon be home to write letters acknowledging receipt for tax purposes. Even small donations would be very helpful, both to San Josecito and to Bridges & More, which has to show a wide base of support in order to maintain its non-profit status.

I stopped including pictures in the newsletter because several of you were having a hard time downloading your mail. Now several have told me that they haven’t visited the Bridges & More blog because they’re not technically accomplished enough to know how to do it. So I’m gonna say it here! It’s WICKED EASY. Just click on the following URL address: http://bridgesnmore.blogspot.com/ . Some of you might have to press “control” (Ctrl) to do it, but even then it’s not TOO hard. So, if you want to see pictures of the newly painted school, the tarantula, and recent progress on the church, you know what to do!

Here are two pictures of the brown tarantula and one of the smaller black tarantula. The suitcase is one of the huge ones!

Some of my other housemates over time have included a frog that changes color--sleeps white on the wall all day, then turns brown and comes to life at night, and a gecko that has been around for over a year!

See the previous entry for church photos.

Progress on the Church!

2008-02-28T07:09:00.000-08:00

La Escuela San Josecito has a fresh coat of paint.

Materials Arrive!

Work Begins!

I'm hoping to get a real newsletter out soon, but for now I'm posting progress on construction of the new church. With our recent contribution and with funds donated from other neighbors the village has been able to buy materials and re-hire Javier, the contractor who started the church in 2006. Here are pictures of their progress, as well as a photo of the newly painted school.

Extended consultations between Javier and his foreman leave the crew gazing longingly at those guavas...

They're eaten worms and all by REAL Ticos.

Sometimes those consultations stretch on!

Buenas noches...

Javier & his original crew from 2006

Newsletter # 9

2008-01-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

Bridges & More Newsletter # 9 January 20, 2008

It’s hard to believe I’ve been in San Josecito almost two weeks and in Costa Rica almost three. I stayed five days in San Jose visiting with Carlos and Cindi. Their apartment in San Pedro, the university section of San Jose, has become my transition place and I enjoy spending time with them and their almost 3-year-old Camila.

Here in San Josecito I find all our friends well and happy, enjoying the January vacation before school starts up again. The school has a fresh coat of paint; the salon is clean and our recycling barrels are neatly lined up and labeled for use; the signs Julie made last year add a homey sweetness to the already beautiful drive up our road.

The road itself has suffered during the rainy months from construction traffic, and now that most of the rains have stopped it’s time to get started on repair projects. The hardest part of these is always collecting the money. This year the biggest chunk will go to the placement of some huge culverts. They were provided by the municipality because it is, after all, a public road. But the municipality only paid for the culverts themselves. It has taken about a year to raise the money to have them trucked in and unloaded. Now they sit at odd angles along the side of the road awaiting placement—no doubt more money to be raised! I have not yet been present for any of the road committee meetings, so cannot report much beyond this, but will be attending the next one this Friday.

The church is much as it was when I left last year in August. The community itself has raised some more money toward finishing it and toward repaying loans. Bridges & More has donated $1500 which is currently being held by my dear friends and helpers, Ronny Duarte and Betriz Picado. North American community members James Lewis (don Jaime) and Richard Mattison are also working to collect funds. These are not directly available to be used at the discretion of the community. Instead they’re being put in escrow with a lawyer in San Jose who then is petitioned by the community to pay the hardware store in Uvita for supplies. But there are additional expenses that are not for materials: the community is getting help on certain parts of the construction from a contractor in Uvita, and he and his men must be paid. So Bridges & More donations will be used for these non-material expenses. Currently Ronny has drawn up a list of materials and is getting prices on them to submit to the Richard and the lawyer. Javier, the contractor, visited recently. I’m hoping we’ll see action soon!

Alvin Nunez and Guisella Lopez, whose boy Estiben will be starting school in February, are still concerned about the lack of a bridge. As I reported previously, the municipality is still planning to provide one, but there has been a holdup because the original plan of building a very small bridge that would accommodate only small vehicles is being questioned at some level of the cumbersome governmental hierarchy. Rumor has it that the central government is considering using this road through our little town as a main highway between Uvita and San Isidro. Currently traffic runs from San Isidro to Dominical, then along the coast to Uvita. The road between Dominical and San Isidro is crowded, insufficient, and dangerous.

Meanwhile development in Uvita down below us is exploding—it’s probably the fastest developing area of Costa Rica. Until recently this area was where you were told to go if you wanted to see what Costa Rica was like ten years ago. Now that rustic Costa Rica is lost here as it has been in virtually every other coastal community in the country. If our road is chosen to accommodate the traffic between Uvita and San Isidro, San Josecito as we know it will also be lost forever. We’re all hoping the government chooses a different road to use (there are a couple other candidates). Meanwhile, bridge construction has been held up, and Avin and Luis Nunez will need to undertake yet another trip to the municipality in Cortes to talk to the mayor. If nothing happens, Bridges & More may be back in the foot bridge business!

I’m happy to report that the Isidro Nunez family has reached an amicable agreement with neighbors in regards to easement access to the river-crossing that leads to their land. Isidro can now sell a section of his land to finance building a bridge. Depending on what happens with the main bridge, Bridges & More may be able to help with this. I personally am considering buying a strip of the land that would lead between the upper primary forest and the river in order to let it grow back to its natural state. This would provide a corridor of access to the river for monkeys, sloths, pumas, etc. This idea is still in the dream stage and will depend on Isidro agreeing to sell such a strip of land and my being able to raise the money! At this point I need to sell land before buying more.

Beatriz Picado has continued to enjoy growing organic vegetables in her “huerta,” and I’ve been fortunate to consume a few of them! She decided not to pursue selling to the distributor who markets in Dominical because the cost of gas is so high it’s not really practical to haul the stuff to him. Guisella is using the mud oven we constructed to make bread, and I enjoyed some of that too, in spite of my intention to stop eating white flour! It was sure good! She approached the owner of a local grocery in Uvita about selling her bread, but he doesn’t want to handle it because it’s preservative-free and has a short shelf-life. What I’m seeing as a current community need is a market-place in Uvita for locally grown produce and locally made items. Fortunately I bought a lot there before prices sky-rocketed. Now I’m imagining a community market-place, a sort of farmer’s market that will sell Tico products and serve as a coming together place for the Tico and Gringo communities. Once again, it’s in the dream stage, and will depend on my own financial resources, as it would be a conflict of interest to develop that property with Bridges & More money.

That’s all for now—Pura Vida!!! Elizabeth

Bridges & More Newsletter # 8: 12/05/07: Building a Church

2007-12-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

Village fairs with soccer and horse games, hand-ground corn tamales and other favorites--old and young come together to raise money to complete the new church.

Village women work to prepare

theTamales de Navidad.

Above right, Village teens compose the menu. Above, Julie lends a hand at the feria.

Above are some pictures of San Josecito's inhabitants working to bring in money to finish building their church. One favorite method is to host a feria, or a day when folks from surrounding villages visit for soccer matches (San Josecito is the blue team!), horse games, and lots of good food prepared by the village women who begin two days in advance by cooking and grinding the corn that will comprise the tamales de Navidad, a traditional Costa Rican favorite. Below, find our most recent newsletter.

Greetings Friends,
I find myself still in the U.S. as a result of my long-time canine companion’s health. Around Thanksgiving I thought I would have to put him down, and as I didn’t want to do anything under a time pressure, I decided to postpone my return to Costa Rica until January 2, 2008. The Cape is beautiful this time of year in any case, and Najuk seems to be rallying!

One major victory since I last wrote is that we’ve managed to attain non-profit status as a public charity after a year of back and forth with the IRS. This means that contributions can now be listed for tax purposes. Past contributions are retroactive, but claiming deductions on them would involve amending your previous tax returns, so unless you need to do so anyway, it’s probably not worth the time or expense.

At our October board meeting two new officers joined us: Wendy Palliser will serve as our new secretary and Sarah Robinson has agreed to be our treasurer. Additionally, Ken Horton stepped down to allow Julie Rich to serve as a board member. Thank you Ken for all your help; and welcome to Wendy, Sarah and Julie. At this same meeting we agreed to lend our support to San Josecito’s efforts to build a new church. The old one was torn down last year due to structural problems that made it unsafe. The community has raised money in whatever way it could (including making and selling tamales where the corn is ground by hand!) to get a new church started.

I hope you’ll go to the blog (http://bridgesnmore.blogspot.com/) and take a look at the women grinding corn, the old church, and the process of putting up a new one. Bridges & More will donate an immediate $500.00 toward construction costs; and Julie Rich and Wendy Palliser are organizing fund-raising efforts to raise more for the Church Fund. Ronny Duarte, who is leading the church effort in San Josecito, estimates that they need only about $5000 more in materials to complete the church. Much of the labor is being provided by local citizens, although an architect and professional building crew were involved in the initial phases of construction. One anonymous donor has already given $1000 to the church fund, so we only need to raise $3500!

I need to confess that in conducting business for Bridges & More I have ignored the village’s need for help with the church for a full year! This was because I had my own ideas and prejudices about our being a secular organization, not a mission. Slowly I’ve come to see that the church is the center and heart of the community; and that to hold onto funds that could not at present be used for bridges is sheer stubbornness on my part! Now I’m excited by the prospect of really being able to serve the community.

The other project I look forward to upon my return to Costa Rica is the orchid farm. Carlos Rojas has developed a small business plan whereby Bridges & More would provide materials (either as a grant or as a lone) for a local family to construct a greenhouse to raise orchids to sell, and possibly even to export at some point in the future. Carlos himself would supply the plant stock and expertise in the process of cultivating the orchids.

When I return it will be vacation time in Costa Rica—children there get their “summer” break in January, and progress to a new grade in February. Vacation is one of the critical times for river protection, and I look forward to working with the village to help organize (and finance) a river patrol. Last year we gave $100 to the patrol during Semana Santa, and due to village contributions and careful management almost $50 of that remains. This year we’ll be organizing and funding for both the January vacation and Semana Santa in April.

Should you wish to make a contribution to the Church Fund, checks should be made out and mailed to:
Bridges & More Inc.
P.O. Box 1642
North Eastham, MA 02651-1642
Please be sure to write “Bridges & More” on the envelope rather than my name, because I won’t be here opening my mail: my roommate will be forwarding all checks to Sarah Robinson.

I send all of you my best wishes and thanks for your support and interest over the past year. Bridges & More is evolving as we come to understand more about the community and Costa Rican culture. I welcome your thoughts and ideas, either by email or on the blog!
Con mucho gusto,

Elizabeth Kushigian

We Begin our Second Year!

2007-10-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

We began our second year last night with the second annual board meeting. Naturally we buzzed through the business stuff as quickly as we could: elections (we have 3 new members, and one former member has stepped aside); financial report (since we haven't built bridges, operating expenses have been light, so we're starting the new year with a good reserve), and ratification of a few minor changes in our bylaws to address questions posed by the IRS regarding our tax exempt status. Anyone interested in details can contact me at ekushigian@comcast.net or

bridges.more@yahoo.com .

Then we moved on to the interesting part: discussing new projects. The image above is of the church that was the center of San Josecito when I arrived three years ago. Though lovely, it was structurally unsound and has since been torn down. The people of the pueblo have been without a church for about a year now as they struggle to raise money to build a new one. Every few weeks one of the women will host a gathering to make traditional tamales (known as tamales de Navidad). 500 colones (less than $1) buys a package of two delicious tamales wrapped in banana leaves. Proceeds go to the church effort. It's a slow endeavor, and though Bridges & More is a strictly secular operation, I have begun to appreciate the importance of the church as a village center, and would like to help the effort along. I raised the possibility of giving some money to the church fund last night, and the other board members were enthusiastic. We're going to give $500 immediately upon my return to San Josecito in late November, and Julie & Wendy will be looking into fund-raising possibilities here in the U.S. I'll be in touch with Ronny to see how much is needed to finish the job, and let you know! Meanwhile, the pictures below record progress on the new church.

Bridges & More Non-Profit Status

2007-10-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

We've just received an advance ruling of non-profit (public charity) status from the IRS. Any contributions anyone cares to make from here on in will be tax deductable!

A Quick Update

2007-09-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've just posted all the newsletters since they began last November. From now on the most recent newsletters will be toward the top of the page, but I posted the past letters in the wrong order. So, for clarification, the most recent newsletter is # 7, and you can click on it at the right.

Bridges & More Newsletter # 1: 11/20/06

2007-09-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

11/20/2006

Hello Friends,
For those of you who attended the Bridges & More Inc. fundraiser last Thursday, you know it was a great success. I’m at the airport now, soon to depart for Costa Rica. I hope I’ll have progress to report soon. I want to thank everyone who attended and all who in so many ways helped make the evening so enjoyable.
Those of you who weren’t able to attend fall into two categories: those whom I’ve already contacted about the new nonprofit, Bridges & More Inc., and those friends and family who are probably wondering what’s become of me.
To this latter category, I apologize and plan to fill you in soon: i.e., stand by!
If anyone who receives this would like to be off my mailing list, please let me know.
Once again, Thanks!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Kushigian

Bridges & More Newsletter # 2: 12-16-2006

2007-09-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

Greetings from my tiny house on the river. I’ve not been able to spend much time here what with dental appointments in San Jose and a long string of car problems that are eating my money faster than I can withdraw it. Evening is falling now, the river roars, the insects hum, the birds sing. Soon the night will be filled with fireflies and the clink of glass frogs.

Carlos and I met with a young architect (Javier) who comes from a campesino background and seems enthusiastic about helping with the project. He has offered two possible designs for the main footbridge, and will be visiting San Josecito on Saturday to see the locations for the bridges. Meanwhile we came south to San Josecito and met with Alvin, Luis, y Ademar Nunez—three brothers from the main family living above the point where the river crosses the road. They have managed to get quite a few materials and more promises from the municipality to help them build one of the bridges. That leaves two other bridges.

As we talked it became apparent that their preference is to have the main bridge across the river be one that would accommodate small vehicles, and that there are more North Americans above where they live who would be interested in contributing if they could use the bridge for their cars. They assure me that the bridge would be specifically designed so as not to allow the large vehicles necessary for development. Additionally, Alvin tells me that money from the municipality has been promised for this purpose but never delivered. I’m hoping we can get to municipality headquarters Friday or Monday to answer some questions.

Carlos and I went with the Nunez brothers to explore the site of the main bridge, which is about 25 meters above where the river crosses the road. We took photos and got coordinates for Carlos to take back to the engineer and architect in San Jose.

I have visited a lawyer to get a “sister” corporation (“Puentes & Mas) started so we can have a Costa Rican bank account from which to draw funds. The application has been submitted and the business entity should be official in about 30 days. In addition the lawyer will prepare a document to sign for the owner of the land where the bridge will be, thus securing a right-of-way that will endure in the event the land is sold.

Carlos and I visited the third bridge location for the first time and it turns out there is already a very rudimentary footbridge, but it’s not adequate for the needs of the family whose mother is quite ill and disabled. Getting to and from the bridge was tough enough even for me, what with slippery mud paths and a steep grade.

Finally, the Nunez brothers are deeply concerned about the wellbeing of the river. In addition to compromising the river by plowing loads of earth into it, North Americans have brought in a lot of “Tico” laborers from outside the area. Now word has gotten out that the Morete is a great river for camerones (fresh-water shrimp), and people from outside the community are coming in with nets and poison to get the freshwater shrimp. Although there are laws against this, the local agency responsible for enforcing these laws is corrupt and only operates for pay-offs. For this reason the Nunez brothers would like to have a meeting with everyone in the community about measures we can take to ensure the safety of the river. Perhaps this will involve hiring a couple of local people to patrol the river during the upcoming “summer” (i.e. dry) months.

Dee and John Portnoy from Wellfleet are here right now and Dee will be doing a photo journal project with some of the elementary school kids tomorrow and Friday. I’ve met a teacher from a special science high school in San Isidro who is interested in pursuing an email exchange between his students and those at the Lighthouse Charter School.

I hope to mail this to everyone in one fell swoop. I had to send out the last letter one by one due to problems with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office. I’ve started an email account with Yahoo (bridges.more@yahoo.com) and am trying to get all the addresses transferred over there. Maybe tomorrow—I made pretty good progress today before the connection froze!
Merry Christmas everyone, and I’ll write more in the New Year if not before!

Hasta luego,
Elizabeth

Bridges & More Newsletter # 3: 1/26/07

2007-09-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

Bridges & More Newsletter # 3 1/26/07

Greetings from San Josecito. I’ve just read over the letter from December 6, and I must admit progress has not been swift. It seems that nothing happens quickly here, except when it does, and that’s usually when you’re least expecting it, and often something you’d rather not have happened!

It appears almost certain at this point that municipality money (about $36,000) will fund the bridge where the river meets the road. I’ve been hounding the Nunez brothers to get a firm commitment (in writing) from the Alcalde (mayor), but attempts have been delayed by a public service sector that doesn’t return from Christmas holidays until sometime the second week of January, then by the fact that this particular Alcalde has just been elected and had to spend his first week back doing some sort of official swearing in and training in San Jose. Now the brothers are busy harvesting their beans. Oh well.

Javier, the architect from UCR, did visit, though some weeks after expected, and together we visited both the road/river site and the site at Isidro Nunez’ (where the mom is sick and they have only a flimsy hammock bridge). We met Geovanny, one of Isidro’s sons, and he announced that his family too wishes to have a bridge to allow them access by car. They are thinking of selling a small portion of their large farm to finance the bridge. I’m sure they’d welcome some help from Bridges & More. I’ll be meeting with them soon to determine how we can best be of service.

Bridges & More sister organization Puentes & Mas had its first board meeting January 6. We were fortunate to have Kristin Knowles and Tom Fettig from B&M board with us. We agreed that protecting the Morete River, which runs through San Josecito, is of the highest priority. To this end we will make signs to place at the entrance of the road, at the salon (a sort of community center) and at all the places where folks most often access the river. In addition we will have volunteers and perhaps even some paid local folks patrolling the river on the days when problems most often occur. We’ll be talking to everyone who lives or brings workers into the road to enlist their help in keeping an eye on river activities. Problems we’re hoping to control are littering, and illegal fishing procedures including harpoons, spear guns, nets and poison. I finally tasted one of those freshwater shrimp one night (they’re caught by hand at night with use of a flashlight!) when Luis went down to the river to check on some strangers who were parked near my house. He brought one back and I cooked it in olive oil and garlic, and I can see what all the fuss is about! Delicious!

The lawyer assures me corporation papers are almost ready, so soon I’ll be starting a bank account. I’ll also be getting a little house ready for Julie Rich, Todd Schwebel, and their two children. Julie and Todd are active members of Bridges & More and will be helping me get some other projects (such as the clay oven and a bamboo-construction workshop) off the ground. Additionally, Beatriz Picando (one of San Josecito’s inhabitants) has expressed interest in growing organic vegetables to sell in Uvita. She plans to use bamboo troughs as reservoirs for soil. We’re also discussing the best location for the clay oven, and will be working on that when Julie and Todd arrive. And I'm making plans for a bamboo building project that may serve as a workshop to teach the skill to some local folks.

I’ve finally found a reliable internet connection in the area. I’m writing from the Toucan Hotel, where the connection seems always fine and they’re even polite! What a find. Meanwhile, the simple acts of living seem to take a lot more time here. I have found and purchased two used solar panels, and now must find batteries, converter, regulator, etc. Who knows, I might have lights and refrigerator soon! I’ve also passed an impossible amount of time in the inflated bureaucratic maze that seems to be the downside of Costa Rica’s government. Everything requires permits, and every permit requires certified copies of everything you can imagine, and trips to lots of distant locations to get them.

Best wishes to all for a happy New Year. I hope to have more news next time!

Elizabeth

Bridges & More Newsletter # 4: 2/12/07

2007-09-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Freya & Juliana
Bridges & More Newsletter # 4 February 12, 2007

I’m sitting in a small pink room just over the Panama border taking ineffective swipes at a couple varieties of biting bugs. February 19 will mark 3 months in Costa Rica, and that’s the limit; so I’m taking a 3-day vacation.

Yesterday Bridges & More made its first official small business loan. Beatriz Picado Rodriguez has been working with great determination to erect the structure she’ll need to grow organic vegetables and medicinal plants from seed. She’s accomplished an incredible amount with the help of Ronny (her husband) and his brother Jose Delfin (see attached photos). Now she needs a few items to finish up and get started. We’ve been able to give Beatriz the $200 she needs, thanks to your generosity. When I return to San Josecito Todd, Julie and I will be helping to make the stairs to more easily access the nursery.

Julie, Todd and their two children Zeno and Freya from Truro will be landing in San Jose today. After a brief stay with friends in Alajuela they’ll get the bus to San Isidro. I’ll meet them there and hope we can fit five people and six suitcases in my Land Cruiser. The children will be attending the tiny school in San Josecito, while Julie, Todd and I are working on Bridges & More projects. Julie has volunteered to help make signs both for Puentes & Mas efforts to patrol the river, and to help the Duarte brothers’ local ecotourism business Oro Verde.

Meanwhile, Alvin Nunez is eager to learn about construction of houses and furniture from bamboo. We visited a family business near San Isidro that grows bamboo, makes furniture, and also provides design and construction of bamboo houses. Shortly thereafter I was fortunate to meet Martin Coto and his wife Grace Lizano. Martin is a renowned designer and builder of bamboo structures, and he and Grace travel throughout the world building and giving workshops. I explained to them the difficulty the local people face: workshops are expensive and require them to be away from their source of income for days at a time. As a result it’s hard for them to attend, even when partial scholarships are offered. Grace and Martin themselves have been disturbed by the lack of local attendance at their workshops: most of the attendees are people from outside Costa Rica. They seemed enthusiastic about the possibility of doing a project that would involve local folks. More about this as it evolves.

The clay oven idea may go on hold for want of interest among the residents of San Josecito. Originally Beatriz had been interested, but now the nursery will be taking all her extra time. Another idea has found an enthusiastic recipient: our friend Carlos from San Jose has volunteered to research the possibility of growing orchids for export. Guiselle, who lives high up above the river, has lovingly tended a spectacular variety of beautiful plants in her yard for many years now. She is very excited to learn more about growing orchids. A meeting between her and Carlos is in the works.

February 19: It was SO nice to get out of that little pink hotel room and back to my casita with its cool morning breezes and birdsong and roaring monkeys! Julie Rich, Todd Schwebel, and their two children Zeno (7) and Freya (5) have arrived. The children are already making friends with local children, and Ronny Duarte’s family (Ronny, Beatriz, Ronny’s mom dona Eida, and their two daughters Fabiola (7) and Samanta (3)) have opened their home and welcomed Julie, Todd & children as part of the family, just as they did for me almost three years ago. And today Tom Hemeon from Lancaster, MA arrived. Tom is a gifted mechanic and will be helping to train Luis Nunez who has long wanted to branch out from his welding to include auto mechanics. Good auto mechanics are almost impossible to find in Costa Rica, and if Luis can get this skill down he’ll have a lot going for him. He’s got incredible potential: even without training I trust his opinion and work on my ’79 Land Cruiser more than almost anyone else.

Luis and Alvin Nunez have begun doing some volunteer river patrol, and word is getting out that the Morete River in San Josecito is watched. This in itself has cut down on the number of visitors who engage in undesirable behavior.

This Saturday Beatriz, Julie, Elizabeth, Todd, and our new friends and supporters Francine & Alberto will attend an educational fair about organic gardening and sustainable farming. Then on Monday Puentes & Mas will have its second meeting. We’re looking forward to having a representative from the Isidro Nunez family, one of the community’s families most isolated by the river. I finally overcame my shyness and hiked up to their lovely farm—and it was quite a haul! I met dona Ester whose legs keep her from leaving the farm, and got to know her two high school aged daughters Milena and Leticia a little better. Milena shows real promise as an artist and has agreed to help Julie with sign-making. The family is badly in need of a bridge-- their current hammock bridge is the one you see here on the front of the blog page. It’s structurally unsound, and because of dona Ester’s health they need something a car can get across. I explained to dona Ester that though Bridges & More can’t afford to supply a bridge for cars, we could contribute some money towards it, and architectural and engineering designs as well. Julie, Todd and I are looking forward to returning to their farm to check out their hydroelectric system: I saw a little part of it, but didn’t really understand how it worked.

I’ll stop here as it’s getting late.
Saludos from San Josecito,

Elizabeth

Bridges & More Newsletter # 5: 4/6/07

2007-09-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Bridges & More Newsletter # 5: 4/6/07

Greetings from the USA.
Life is sure easy here! Cars start every morning, roads are paved, stores have parking lots, you can buy anything you want at the click of a button, lights illuminate at the flick of a switch…I’m in danger of growing lazy. It’s a good thing I’m going back on May 1, hopefully with taxes and all other USA business squared away!
The first thing I noticed on getting home to Cape Cod was how quiet
and brown it is here. My ears have grown used to a cacophony of river, birds, insects, howler monkeys and the sound of small creatures scurrying over the corrugated metal roof; my eyes to a riot of greens and reds.
The last newsletter was well over a month ago. Much has happened and much has changed in my apprehension of what Bridges & More can and cannot do in San Josecito. But before going into that, I want to report the biggest change: Julie Rich, Todd Schwebel, and their two children Zino (7) and Freya (5) from Truro, MA arrived in Josecito in February, and have since been working tirelessly on various projects. Julie has employed her artistic talent to help make signs for Oro Verde, the local ecotourism business run by San Josecito’s Duarte family. She put in long hours preparing for the local fair to pay for the new church the community is building. For me she has been the voice of reason and hope, telling me when I’m doing too much, helping me focus on one or two things at a time, always there to lend a hand. And Todd: in addition to refurbishing the small house they occupy, Todd has helped me with my car, built a desk in my kitchen where I can do the work of Puentes y Mas, put up my hammock, helped troubleshoot problems in my new solar electric system, and built tables for a project I’ll be describing below. Thank you Todd and Julie!

Now, about those bridges…we may have to change our name to just “& More,” or (my sister’s suggestion) “No Bridges But Lots More.” It looks as though the municipality is finally going to build that bridge they’ve been promising for ten years where the main road meets the Morete River. It will be a small bridge for cars, and they don’t need our help! I like to think that our presence and the hope & confidence we were able to give the Nunez family, along with visits to the municipality to request accountability, at least partially account for this development. But it may have happened anyway. The important thing is that the bridge should be ready in six months, and that will be in plenty of time for Stephen Nunez to start school next February.
The other bridge project was to allow the Isidro Nunez family access to the road, schools, and hospital. After the first meeting of Puentes y Mas (B&M’s sister organization in Costa Rica) it became clear that the family needs a bridge for cars if they are to remain on their land: Dona Ester is just not capable of that slippery, muddy trek down the hill to a footbridge in the winter rains. Bridges & More was able to offer an architect and engineer from University of Costa Rica, and a small amount of money for this bridge, though we could not finance the whole thing. Unfortunately legal questions involving easements have complicated things, and Isidro has chosen to finance the bridge himself by selling lots on his property. We wish him well.
SO! With no bridges to build we find ourselves in an excellent position to move on to the “& More” part of our tasks. The new sister organization, Puentes y Mas, is beginning to take on a life of its own: in addition to Bridges & More's stated goal of providing loans for small local businesses, Puentes y Mas voted at its first meeting to devote some of its efforts to protecting the community’s Morete River. This river is a real jewel, filled with large fish and fresh-water shrimp, deep cool pools and rushing rapids. As nearby land has been bought and developed, careless construction of roads and home sites has caused a tremendous amount of earth to be washed down the surrounding hills into the river, reducing its size and compromising its purity. Additionally, construction crews from other areas have been imported, so word of this lovely river and its resources has spread far and wide among Ticos. As a result Rio Morete is in danger of being over-fished, and illegal methods (including harpoons, nets and poisons) are being employed by visitors from other areas.
At the suggestion of Alvin and Luis Nunez, Julie made signs to put at the main entrance points to the river. These signs prohibit undesirable and illegal activities. Puentes y Mas held a community meeting at which the residents began to organize a widespread effort to protect the river, including trips to the police and Environmental Ministry (MINAE) to request patrols and support. Additionally, Bridges & More helped the community pay one of its residents (Geovanny Nunez) to patrol the river during the crucial week of Semana Santa (the week before and including Easter).
Another idea arose from the Puentes y Mas meetings: Isidro’s and Ester’s daughter Milena is a high school student with much undeveloped artistic talent. Her paintings of the brilliant natural world around her are vibrant and joyful. She wants to go to a university to study art. Alvin Nunez suggested that we North Americans might find places where Milena could display (and perhaps sell) some of her art work. Julie and I were able to find two venues for Milena’s work, and I have been working on publishing a card to accompany the work. Julie suggested that, as paintings are hard to sell, Milena might be willing to paint things like chairs or tables for tourists to buy. The day I left I found Milena and her brother Danilo on Todd and Julie’s porch sanding little tables that Todd had made. I put in an order for the first one! And today I received a letter from Julie to say the tables are complete and they look fantastic, and they’re considering making some benches as well. These will be offered for sale at a local Eco-Fair/Earth Day Festival to take place on April 22.
The clay oven idea has found a home! Guiselle Nunez grew up in the Guanacaste Province using a clay oven, and is thrilled at the prospect of building one near her home. When I left Costa Rica, Todd was seeking the best place to buy the necessary brick, and he and Zeno were testing the local earth for its proportion of clay to silt and sand. I’m waiting to hear more!
Our first small business loan was to Beatriz Picado to finish her organic nursery of organic vegetables and medicinals. Julie has spent many hours with Beatriz preparing the beds and putting in irrigation hoses. I’m attaching a picture of the nursery as seen from the road—if you look closely you can see the little plants are growing happily now in the earth.
Ideas for the future:
Julie and Todd will undertake a recycling initiative.
Guiselle Nunez continues to hope for a meeting with Carlos Rojas from San Jose to learn what’s involved in growing orchids in vitro for export. Meanwhile Carlos, in addition to his three jobs, uses his medical laboratory and his home to breed and grow orchids. This is the same Carlos who found architects and engineers for the bridges, and helped me sort through my ideas about producing biodiesel.
Tom Hemeon from Lancaster visited for a month in February and March. He has a beautiful mountain retreat (Finca Santa Lucia) up above where the river crosses the road. He has offered his place for an art fair to raise money for the community.
And the bamboo: I’m still hoping we can organize a bamboo construction-learning project with Martin Coto and Grace Lizano. Alvin and Umberto Nunez have both expressed interest in learning this craft. As well,
Todd is a talented builder and he too wants to learn to build with bamboo.
This letter has grown long!
Thanks to all of you for your interest and contributions. I hope to hear from you—please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas!
Pura Vida!
Elizabeth

Bridges & More Newsletter #6: 5/28/07

2007-09-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bridges & More Newsletter # 6: 5/28/07

Winter (or the rainy season) has begun early. May is usually a cheerful month with lots of sunshine and occasional showers or even downpours in the afternoons. Not this May. Since early in the month sunshine has been the exception, rain the rule. And it does rule! The five streams I drive through to get to my house from the highway become raging torrents; loud white waterfalls cascade into the Morete River behind my house, no longer clear and inviting, but huge, brown and angry with whitewater and churned up mud. Cars are no longer fording the river, and this morning Alvin and Guiselle (who live across the river and park their car below) stopped by to say they would be moving their car up above the river by way of San Isidro because Guiselle is afraid to cross on foot.
With the rain come the insects. No, not the usual fascinating assortment, but the swarming, biting varieties: several types of gnoseum-equivalents, a small black fly that draws blood, the usual mosquito (dangerous here because it may carry dengue fever), various kinds of bees and wasps…you get the picture.
On the other hand, the river is now safe from abuse by unscrupulous fishermen and littering families of picnickers. The dust has disappeared and everything is a lovely lush green. From here where I sit on my porch the view is limited by vegetative growth, but I’ve only to lift my eyes to see hummingbirds sipping from the giant coral-colored heliconia flowers, brown woodcreepers running up & down trees, a tawny dove walking leisurely across the yard. A flock of white-crowned parrots squawks its way overhead, and I’ve recently been invaded by an outlandishly loud group of chachalacas. My coffee sits beside me on one of the little tables constructed by Todd and painted by Milena, who has agreed to paint pictures on the front of my ugly concrete bodega one day soon. I harvested dozens of sweet juicy pineapples from my patch until the other day when the wild pigs discovered them. In two days the pineapples were history. Julie and Todd’s boy Zeno suggested we hide in the brush, and that when the pigs come we jump out and cut off their heads with our machetes (he just got a new machete for his birthday, and to his way of thinking, it would be only fair, as they ARE pigs, after all, and we HAVE been feeding them.)

I’m avoiding having to say that there has not been much Bridges & More (or Puentes y Mas) activity since my arrival. I’ve been here just under a month, passed some time dealing with car problems, some time figuring out why my photovoltaic system is not working properly, much time listening to rain pounding so hard on the zinc roof that I wonder if it could possibly rain harder, and then it rains harder; more time just accomplishing the basic tasks of life (my washer is at Julie’s since I have no energy to power it; I’m forever washing mud off shoes and slathering on insect repellant; I sometimes have to visit 3 different internet establishments before finding one that works…). For the most part it’s pretty hum-drum stuff.
After I arrived in early May, Carlos Rojas introduced his orchid-growing proposal to me. The idea is that local women (or men) could build greenhouses from inexpensive materials such as bamboo, and Carlos would offer the expertise, support, and the plants to help them set up orchid nurseries. He was able to take time off from his three jobs to visit San Josecito for a day, and we drove up to Alvin and Guiselle’s (getting stuck axel-deep in mud on the way!) where he presented the idea to Guiselle. She is enthusiastic, and we are awaiting more word from Carlos.
Todd and Julie have assembled the materials for a clay oven, also up at Alvin and Guiselle’s; but scheduling a time when Alvin isn’t working proved difficult, and now the river is too big to cross most of the time.
Milena has painted five very sweet little tables for sale (see mine in the attachment), and Julie has moved them to a real estate office in Dominical where they are on display. Beatriz is feeding us organic salads from her nursery, and I fed her family pesto & pasta yesterday with basil she’s grown there.
The real drama here right now, though, has been the road. In addition to Puentes y Mas there exists a local organization called the Asociacion de Desarrollo de San Josecito de Uvita de Osa. For the most part the Asociación works to collect funds and contract work to keep the road in good shape, so we call it the Road Association. Anyway, due to early rains and irresponsible development on the part of a few property owners, the road is in imminent danger of being washed down into the river and being carried out to the ocean. In the midst of this, half of the senior officers on the board resigned. I’ve been putting in quite a bit of time trying to remedy some of the miscommunication and lack of communication that seem to have contributed greatly to discord and inaction. So I’m forever on the computer translating minutes from meetings, typing them up, distributing them. It’s something I had been doing for Puentes y Mas and Bridges & More anyway, but this is much more labor intensive as there is a lot of past to catch up on, and a number of landowners here who need to be contacted and milked for contributions to road upkeep.
All this to explain why only now are we scheduling the first meeting of Puentes y Mas since I arrived in May. It will take place Wednesday June 5.
As for bridges, the new alcalde (mayor) for them municipality seems like a straight arrow, and we’re optimistic that he will make sure Alvin and Guiselle have a bridge to drive Estiben to school next winter. Additionally, this alcalde has called a halt to all major development in this area until he can investigate the flagrant disregard for environmental law that has been practiced until recently. As always, big money will probably win out eventually, but it’s nice to register a few small victories along the way!

That’s all for now. I’m attaching a couple of pictures: one of Milena’s tables and an inside view of Beatriz’s nursery. Hoping to get my efforts back on track here by the time you hear from me again!

Con Gusto,
Elizabeth

Bridges & More Newsletter # 7: 9/17/07

2007-09-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

Newsletter # 7 September 17, 2007

Greetings all. I apologize for the long silence. I returned to the states August 10, tired and somewhat discouraged. As a year has passed since forming Bridges & More I’m going to take this opportunity to review our original aims, to look at what actually happened over the past 12 months, and to reflect on possible future courses of action.

Julie Rich and Todd Schwebel arrived last January with their two children (8-year-old Zeno and 5-year-old Freya). Much of what we’ve been able to accomplish this past year is a direct result of their generous help and hard work. Julie gave her artistic and organizational talent in a number of endeavors as well as teaching English both in the elementary school and to local adults. Todd provided expertise and labor in carpentry and construction projects. Julie and Todd have returned to the Cape and don’t have immediate plans to return to Costa Rica. Real tears were shed in the community at their departure, and I’m going to miss their presence and support!

As you may remember, we started out with plans to build 3 footbridges in the town of San Josecito de Uvita and to extend loans for the formation of small businesses that would give Tico residents who want to keep their farms the opportunity to bring in some much-needed income. Our motivation was both social (to relieve problems of local displacement and poverty) and environmental (to keep property in the hands of local farmers thus avoiding sales to developers). We also left open the possibility of educational and environmental initiatives such as recycling and reforestation.

Bridges: We’ve scored “0” on the bridges! The first problem we encountered was that none of the Costa Ricans really wanted foot bridges. They (quite reasonably) would prefer to drive their cars to their homes during rainy weather. In two instances a local family that lives beyond the river took the initiative go to a municipal level for the needed bridges, as these would involve public roadways. Bridges & More may have helped indirectly by offering its encouragement and presence at municipal meetings, but the credit for any success here goes to Luis Núñez. We are awaiting results: during my time there I observed several visits to the river by municipal engineers, and the new mayor (whose reputation is better than the reputations of his predecessors) has given a solemn promise…Nonetheless, I believe continued vigilance and persistence by Luis are called for, and I think Luis knows this.
The third bridge involves no public roads, but does involve easement through privately owned land. This bridge would give access to the Isidro Nunez family. Don Isidro and Dona Ester are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate the steep muddy trek down to their current rickety footbridge and from there up to the public road that leads to the school and the town of Uvita. I don’t know what they would do if they had a medical emergency during high water. Formerly don Isidro tried to sell the entire farm to a developer, and easement legalities emerged, causing the sale to fall through. All of us in the community are happy that don Isidro and his family now plan to stay in San Josecito, but he still needs to sell several parcels of land to finance a bridge and to see him and Dona Ester through their senior years; and the easement problems persist. One possible solution would be if someone were to purchase a strategic section of don Isidro’s land for preservation, without requiring easement access. Bridges & More doesn’t have adequate funds to do this. I’m looking at the possibility of doing it on a private basis if I can sell some of my own land. One such purchase would allow the construction of a bridge and buy time for legal resolution of the easement problems.

Loans: We’ve done slightly better on the loan front. Early in 2007 Beatriz Picado Rodriquez began to build a sheltered area (a “huerta”) to grow organic produce and medicinal plants. She is using some of the principles of Biodynamics, such as raised beds and companion planting. Bridges & More has loaned Beatriz a total of $500 to complete the project. $200 of the loan is due to be repaid in December, while the final $300 is being repaid in monthly installments of $30. In addition to the loan Bridges & More was able to help Beatriz find a local buyer for her produce, and Julie Rich put in quite a few hours working in the huerta.

Bridges & More also purchased materials and paints and built five tables for Milena Núñez to paint and sell. Milena paints vibrant scenes including Costa Rica’s huge array of plants and animals. She hopes to study art at a university when she finishes high school. The tables have been displayed at a couple of local establishments and at the Eco Fair in Dominical last April (see photo). Three have been sold. Proceeds of the sales are divided between Milena and paying back the Bridges & More for the materials.

With regard to loans, the IRS is still reviewing our application for tax exempt status, and one question they have for me is “how can the loans be considered charitable?” I answered that because they are given free of interest and because the emphasis is on the giving rather than the repayment, they can be seen as charitable. However, I was happy to be able to say that in one case we simply gave materials and labor to aid in a possible family business. The purchase of some firebricks and sand, along with the research and labor of Todd Schwebel, enabled us to help Alvin Núñez & Guiselle Lopez build a clay oven to bake bread. Guiselle is looking for a good whole-wheat (or perhaps multigrain) bread recipe----maybe some one of you has a recipe you could send me?
I’m attaching a couple pictures of Todd, Alvin and their two sons Zeno and Estiben working of the oven.

Other Projects
River Protection: Last January at the first meeting of Puentes y Mas Alvin and Luis Núñez expressed concern about the well-being of the river that flows through our valley. They believe that illegal methods of fishing have depleted the stock of larger fish, and that the use of poison to flush out fresh-water shrimp is occurring among laborers who enter the neighborhood as construction workers. Bridges & More purchased materials and Julie Rich painted signs enumerating the official regulations for river use. Additionally we held a meeting of the entire pueblo at which it was decided that, in addition to extra vigilance on the part of the entire village, we would hire river guards at certain times of the year when river use is at its peak (January vacation and Semana Santa in April). Most of the cost of last April’s operations was covered by donations from residents. We contributed $100, most of which remains in the kitty awaiting January vacation. We’ll begin organizing protection efforts when I return in December.

Road signs: Problems with people driving too fast and traffic eroding the dirt road by failure to use four-wheel drive in the steeper sections led to interest in putting up road signs. Julie illustrated some truly lovely signs to announce the school zone and to encourage care toward the ever-present wild-life in the roads. Again, photos are attached.

Recycling: Barrels for recycling plastic, aluminum, tin cans and glass have been painted, labeled and placed in the salon. Gradually an increasing number of people in the community are bringing disposables that were formerly burned or buried. A small contribution is being requested of each person who uses the barrels to pay gas for a monthly trip to Dominical where the recyclables are deposited.

Teaching English: Last year Elizabeth taught English classes to a few interested adults in San Josecito. Julie stepped up the effort when she arrived in January, enlarging class size, teaching multiple levels, and teaching the children at the local school a couple times a week.

International Pen Pals: This is another project that hasn’t made it off the ground. Julie met several times with local parents and with the principal at the high school in Uvita. While there was interest among parents and young people in establishing communication between students in Costa Rica and those in the U.S., caution on the part of the local principal won out, and permission to carry out the project was denied.

Going Forward
Recently Bridges & More received a request from the town to help pay some legal costs involved in title transfer for the land where the salon and the soccer field are located. This is prime, ocean-view land that had been left to the town in someone’s will, but still officially belonged to one of our North American neighbors. That person has signed the land over to the San Josecito Neighborhood Association. Bridges & More will be paying slightly less than half the total cost of the transfer ($360), while the Neighborhood Association has raised money for the remainder of the costs.

Guiselle Lopez still wants to grow orchids to sell. Our Costa Rican cohort Carlos Rojas has developed a proposal where he would provide the young plants and instructions while Bridges & More would loan money for the materials necessary to construct the nursery. Guiselle’s husband Alvin would do the building with help from other family members. We’re hoping to get started on this when the rains subside, probably in January.

River and recycling efforts will continue under the initiative and supervision of Puentes y Mas. Two other great areas of need in the community include upkeep of the road and the construction of a new Catholic Church (the old one was torn down over a year ago for the sake of safety, and the townspeople have been struggling to come up with enough money to complete its replacement). As Bridges & More still has unused bridge funds, we will at our October meeting discuss contributing to one or both of these causes.

As I have spent more time in the area I’ve begun to see that there is very little real communication between Costa Ricans and North Americans. As conditions become more difficult for the Costa Ricans, and as North American developers take over increasing amounts of land and resources, some of that Tico warmth and welcome has begun to evaporate. San Josecito is the only town I know of where a real effort is being made to work together for the good of the whole community, with the intent of lifting the less affluent in that proverbial “rising tide.” I am discovering that metaphoric bridges are as necessary as the physical ones to reach across the divide of cultures, assumptions, and economic status. For this reason I envision future work for our organization in the form of reaching out to neighboring communities to encourage similar efforts.

Before Julie left Costa Rica Mari Monje said to her, “What will we do without you? Can you send another volunteer?” As Julie has pointed out, we have laid the basis for someone to come and do volunteer work in the community. Other volunteer organizations in Costa Rica charge people to come and work with them. We’re looking at the possibility of providing living quarters and a free volunteer position for someone who has some Spanish skills and is eager to do community work. Is anyone out there interested?
In the coming days I'll be adding previous newsletters and corresponding pictures to this site. Your comments and ideas are most welcome!

Elizabeth

More about me and why I'm blogging

2007-09-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

I was taken in and taught Spanish by a local family, and began to make the acquaintance of my "Tico" (Costa Rican) neighbors--hard-working farmers and laborers who'd spent their lives working the mountainous soils with horses and oxen to produce beans, rice, maize, yucca,sugar cane, and squashes. They invited me into their life of extended familial warmth, generosity, cleanliness, and religion. It was a new world to me, one that seemed somehow more centered in the heart than the world I inhabit in the United States. It's also a world that is disappearing rapidly.
Bridges & More is a non-profit I've established to help my neighbors in San Josecito hold onto their land and their lives in the midst of disruptive economic and social changes that have already dispossessed too many Costa Rican Campesinos. It's a small organization focused on the tiny town of San Josecito. I've started this blog to post pictures and newsletters to share with Bridges & More supporters.
With my thanks,
Elizabeth