Numblets from Costa Rica to ponder!

Today…. I had a little adventure.. A few of us here at LASP decided to go to a sustainable development farm today to do an interview for our research paper that is due in about a month… and it was amazing.. and sooo BEAUTIFUL… The farm was called, “Finca La Flor de Paraiso,” and it was so cool… you all should check it out… Their website is www.la-flor-de-paraiso.org and they also love to have volunteers, so it would be a sweet opportunity and you could be in Costa Rica! This organic farm was a self-sustaining community and it is so easy to say that such a theory could work in theory, but to see it lived out is another thing. The organization that is working on and through this farm is the Association for the Development of Environmental and Human Consciousness (ASODECAH) and their purpose is the following: “The project seeks to demonstrate human alternative community living coexisting symbiotically with nature, assuring the continuity of the natural resources and the health of the people for the survival of future generations.” Pretty neat huh? Well I think so but I guess I am a science nerd at heart… but I think that everyone should be able to see the power and significance of a place like this! Let me explain it a little more….

We arrived there today after taking a couple of buses and finding ourselves out in the middle of nowhere, but none the less we it. When we first arrived he talked to us for a little bit and then we had lunch… and if everything works out right there should be a picture of my plate of food in my flickr account… Click on the link on the right hand of my page! But the sweetest thing was that the food for our lunch was all organic… all natural! It was really good! Then after lunch he showed us around the farm…. And it was crazy… They compost everything… they save the rain water, by having collecting the water in these containers connected through the gutter system, they used manure and take it through this long process that with the help of some earthworms turns into some new rich soil that they will use in their continuous process of growing, picking and eating. They grow a diverse range of plants from mint to tobacco. But really the only reason they plant tobacco is because it acts as a kind of natural insect repellent, since they don’t use chemicals on anything they grow. They have even developed a way to use the animal waste with a combination of water to form natural gas, known as methane gas. It is so complex.. and it was really interesting to me… they combined it and then but it in this big tube like thing made out of plastic bags so that it would be heated by the sun and then the gas was formed and rises up out through a tube connecting to a holding tank and then the water that is left over runs off and waters other plants.. then they can use this natural gas for numerous things including cooking! Well I would love to talk about this more later if you would like.. but check out the few pictures I am going to try and post.. but no promises!

Also during the last few days I bought a paper and was just recently reading through it and I came across this poem written by a local person in Guadalupe and it goes like this:

Tomorrow

Just tomorrow at this time
We’ll be a day older.
Our dreams a little colder,
When we can’t accomplish in our way
The things we plan today.

So it’s not just another day
That comes and goes away.
Every moment we’ll be tested
In the seconds that we’ve wasted.

- Ronald J. Torres

I think that I have found this poem to be so true especially knowing that I am here in Costa Rica but life in the United States have not stopped, but yet continues to go on… and knowing that tomorrow brings more things and tests with it… and it is scared and I have so many dreams and I don not want them to go stagnant… or cold…. I know that through this experience that God is going to do to so many miraculous things… and he has already done some of that that by bringing new people… and friends into my life that pray and hope that they will in fact becomes friends for life!

The above was written yesterday night.. but to that I am going to add some of my thoughts so from this point on… when I say today.. I really mean today.. and before this today meant yesterday! So now that I have the confusing stuff out of the way let me continue! I really haven’t done much since I wrote last night.. but I did get up and go to church this morning and that is always interesting.. and this morning I was telling everyone that I was going to Nicaragua tomorrow for two weeks, and after telling them this after church a few of them took me aside and prayed for me.. it was really nice… and then beyond that on my way out the pastor told me that he was going to pray for me, too! That is so reassuring and nice to hear! It amazes me how religion, and my God transcends time, language, and countries.. as well as continents and more.. What a might God I serve! I know that all of you out there are already praying for me, and appreciate it immensely… and DO NOT stop.. especially for the next two weeks I am going to be Nicaragua and have heard some horror stories.. but I know that it is going to be an experience beyond my wildest dreams!

Oh ya and for all of you out there who are reading this I am not graduated from my Spanish classes at the “Instituto de Lengua Espanola” or (Spanish Language Institute), it is official and I have the certificate to prove it! We had a little graduation ceremony on Friday February 10, 2006… and I spent a total of 57 hours at the Institute in Spanish classes… Oh good times!

It is such a weird phenomena that I am beginning to feel at home here? I mean I can finally look like I know where I am going… I can do other things on the bus besides starring out the window looking for landmarks… and it is just getting to the point where I am adjusted to being here… Does that make sense? It is beginning to be the “norm” for me to see the things that were so foreign to me only a month earlier! I have become accustomed to the money here which is in colones which is like 500 colones to the dollar…. so everything here seemed to be really expense when in actuality it was not.. however things here are not as cheap as one may think. The other day when a few of us were over at Meg Bauhof’s host family’s house we pulled out some of our change from the states and it felt so weird…. And was sooo small… it was strange.. because yet another adjustment made.. It is intriguing.. and then for me to have to think about whether or not the same adjustment is going to needed when reentering the foreign culture of the United States… and am I going to want to reenter such a culture and all of the conditions that come with that? I cannot escape the fact that I am a North American and I need to take responsibility and begin to stay up to date on what my country is doing.. I need to be able to be relevant to people and when I refer to people I am not just talking about people in the states because that is easy I grew up there… but I am also talking about marginalized people and more… people who I have no idea what they are going through and facing daily? I need to be able to be relevant and effective to those people as well!

CORRECT the QUIZ

LETS see how ya did? Leave me a comment and let me know I would be interested to know! Correct the quiz or take it.. and then correct it, but don´t look at the answers before you take it.. if you don´t know what quiz I am talking about scroll down to check it out! Leave a post to tell me how you did because everyone here at LASP failed horribly.. and well I would like to see how all you did! THANKS!

Answers to the State of the World Inventory!

1. D

2. A

3. D

4. D

5. D

6. D

7. A

8. 1. D
2. B
3. C
4. A

9. 1. A
2. C
3. E
4. D
5. B
6. F

10. B

11. B

12. D

13. E

14. D

15. 1. Israel
2. Egypt
3. Columbia

16. A

17. D

18. D
A
A
A
A

19. B

20. C

More tidbits from CR

Hmmm… So what can I even say? I have been so busy here in Central America! So it has officially been about 24 days that I been here in Costa Rica! And it has proven to be an interesting experience and never seem to have a dull moment.. or at least a spare moment. I am constantly on the go here in.. Today I had my midterm in my Core Seminar Class… and ya that was a lot of fun, but I have been educated about several things here in Costa Rica! For this test some of the things I learned about include: Communism, Socialism, Capitalism, Mixed Economies, Structural Adjustment Policies, Colonialism, Neo-liberalism, and much more. But I am sure for those of you who are reading this… you probably aren’t interested in reading about what I am learning or definitions of what I am learning? I have a must read book list and it continues to grow daily! I love to get mail here…. And I got my first two pieces of mail today from my magnificent GIRLFRIEND today… but if anyone out there wants to send me something it would be greatly appreciated… the address is the following:

Student: Jamos Mitchell
Latin American Studies Program
Apdo 54-2070
Sabanilla, Montes de Oca
San Jose, Costa Rica
AMERICA CENTRAL

Last weekend one free weekend that we have as a student here at LASP, but unfortunately I have so much to do this weekend that I am going to be unable to go and travel somewhere? L but I plan on Traveling soon.. and I am sure that I will let you know how everything goes when I do!

Lets see if I can think of some more interesting things going down in Costa Rica! Coming to Costa Rica is kind of like becoming a minority for me in my experience. I come to Costa Rica and I am never going to be able to fit into the culture no matter how hard I try! I have brownish blonde hair and light skin, not to mention that I don’t speak the language very well therefore I stick out in the Latin American culture like a sore thumb! But coming here it educates me on things that I have never heard of before, thought of before, or even could have made up! So in some aspects I come close to leaving in “someone else’s shoes” and let me tell you it is uncomfortable and those shoes are a little too small for me if you will. I have also often wondered about how my responsibility has changed now that I have this newfound knowledge. And how it would have been much easier if I did not know everything that I know now. Ignorance is bliss.. but I pray that will this knowledge and wisdom acquired I hope that I can incorporate it into my life and make a significant difference in the world. I want to remember the 21,000 kids that died today.. the day before yesterday… and the ones that will die tomorrow.. I need to remember them in my everyday life and try and figure out what that means to me and how it will play out in my life.

Well for all of those you out their still curious what I have I have been up to I have been bogged down with homework! On Saturday last weekend I ended up going out to a movie, then to pizza hut, and then ended up going to a Suprissa soccer game which was SO much fun! However this week has been extremely busy! I had so much homework that was due this week, but now most of it is done so it is a lot of eight of my shoulders, so that is good.

Sorry that I don´t have more time to write but I will try my best to write more... but definately keep me in your prayers cuz I am leaving for Nicaragua for weeks and it is kinda scary! I am neverous.. but I think time is starting to go by quicker.. but with everyday I get that much more information and have that much more info to try and process at some point? And I don´t know all of this info challenges everything that I have learned in the first 21 years of my life! So I am sure many of you will find me crazy or extreme but I am excited to come back and talk about everything.. and especially with my GREAT friend DREW! I miss you a ton man! But I gotta to send a shout out to my FAMILY... and my BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL girlfriend.. Miss you lots... and always remember that! Well I suppose that I should go for now? But send me mail... BYE for now...

The world we live!

HEy! SO I think this is really important that we stay informed about the world that we live.. and well check out this quizy thingy... and well take it and I will post the answers sometime... so you can see how much you truly know about the world you live in.... the questions were supposed to be numbered... but stupid technology over here isn´t what you would think or maybe it is either way check it out.. number the questions if you want.. and I will try and post the questions soon... I had to take this quiz too and it shocked me.. so stay informed and do your homework to stay truly informed in the world you live in. I know that I have been challenged to do so.. but not sure how I am going to do that yet but we will see...

State of the World Inventory: What do you know about the world?
Section 1: The World
Obviously, the richest 20% of the world’s population consumes more goods than the poorest 20%. How much more?
a. 20 times
b. 50 times
c. 100 times
d. 150 times

About how many of the world’s 6 billion people live on less than $2 per day?
a. 3 billion
b. 2 billion
c. 800 million
d. 80 million

The number of people in the world with insufficient food:
a. 100 million
b. 200 million
c. 500 million
d. 1 billion

The number of children who die each week as a result of inadequate diets:
a. 25,000
b. 90,000
c. 160,000
d. 210,000

The world’s 3 richest men have wealth equal to:
a. The combined GDP of the poorest 3 nations in the world
b. The combined GDP of the poorest 13 nations in the world
c. The combined GDP of the poorest 27 nations in the world
d. The combined GDP of the poorest 48 nations in the world

The world’s 225 richest people have a combined wealth equal to that of the poorest:
a. One million people
b. One hundred million people
c. One billion people
d. Two billion people

An annual ______ percent tax on the world’s 225 most well-to-do people would suffice to provide the following essentials for all those in developing countries: adequate food, safe water and sanitation, basic education, basic health care and reproductive health care.
a. 4
b. 11
c. 35
d. 62

Match the following countries to their “ecological footprint” (a measure of the resources consumed by the lifestyle of the average inhabitant, expressed as an area of land):
1. United States A. 0.5 hectares/average citizen
2. China B. 1.2 hectares/average citizen
3. United Kingdom C. 5.2 hectares/average citizen
4. Bangladesh D. 10.3 hectares/average citizen

Below is another list of countries, and a list of “prisoners per 100,000 population.” Match the country to its prison population percentage:
1. China A. 111 prisoners per 100,000 population
2. Cuba B. 139 prisoners per 100,000 population
3. Russia C. 297 prisoners per 100,000 population
4. South Africa D. 404 prisoners per 100,000 population
5. United Kingdom E. 638 prisoners per 100,000 population
6. United States F. 686 prisoners per 100,000 population

One out of every _____ African-American males ages 20-29 is currently in prison or jail or on probation or parole.
a. 2
b. 3
c. 7
d. 10

Section II: The United States
What percentage of the U.S. workforce is immigrant?
a. 5%
b. 13%
c. 20%
d. 31%

The wealth of the top 1% of American households is equal to that of the bottom:
a. 25%
b. 45%
c. 75%
d. 95%

Approximately what percentage of its GDP does the United States give as overseas Development Assistance (Foreign Aid)?
a. 20%
b. 10%
c. 5%
d. 1%
e. 0.1%

As a percentage of GNP, U.S. foreign aid is less than that contributed by:
a. Canada
b. Japan
c. All Western European nations
d. All of the above

Name the countries that are the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid:
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________

The military spending of the United States is approximately what percentage of the world’s total military spending?
a. 50%
b. 35%
c. 25%
d. 10%
e. 5%

The cost of the war in Iraq so far is:
a. 79 billion
b. 123 billion
c. 196 billion
d. 234 billion

The U.S. percentage of federal spending in 2004 that went for
Military expenditures/war debt: A. 10 B. 29 C. 35 D. 49
Education: A. 3.7 B. 11.7 C. 23.4 D. 30.2
Housing: A. 2.1 B. 14.4 C. 22.3 D. 26
Protecting the environment: A. 1.7 B. 8 C. 16.3 D. 21.1
Job training: A. 0.4 B. 1.4 C. 4.1 D. 14.1

U.S. Women who work full-time earn _____ for every dollar earned by men performing the same jobs.
a. $0.94
b. $0.84
c. $0.74
d. $0.64

How many million people in the United States lack health insurance?
a. 24
b. 34
c. 45
d. 54

¿What to believe?

Tomorrow is election day here in Costa Rica... and that should prove to be interesting.. I am trying to find a politcal shirt so that I can buy it and support the candidate that I support and would vote for given that opportunity! Otton Solis... if you are interested check him out! Just google him! I feel like he has the best interest for Costa Rica in many things.. including the HOT issue here THE CAFTA.. the Central American Free Trade Agreement! Formulate your own opinion, but check out the facts and see what the US is truly doing? And what we as a Country do and enforce on others and countries... well enough political talk for now? But trust me there is plenty to be said and if you ever want to know more I will be more than happy to share with you sometime!

In about a week I will be leaving for Nicaragua for about 2 weeks or so.. and that should be really interesting because I have heard that Nicaragua is a very poor country and in my trip I get to pick how poor I go to some extent and well I have heard that some students take a boat for three hours and then take horseback for another two or three hours in order to reach where they are going to stay... even though we only stay with these families for about six days it should be quite the experience! My spanish classes end on the upcoming Friday and I am quite excited, and I am not sure if that is a bad thing or not...
I took my midterm on Friday and all I can say is that it is done... so I am extremely excited about that... and I think that it went well.... I also have a big Limon paper due on Monday.. and I will try and get a hold of a copy of it and try and post it on my blog so for those who are interested in politics can read a little about the Costa Rican stuff....

On Thursday I also went to the US Embassy and it was a unique experience in itself... being able to ask questions to a the chief economic advisor was quite interesting... and well bluntly it is hard to figure out what he says is true and not.. but maybe because I have just been learning so much I can´t believe some of the stuff he says and maybe rightly so! Well I really need to go but I hope to write soon!