Thursday, March 10, 2011

March 8 Perspective

Today did not go according to plan, which frustrated our host, Manuel. We enjoyed the slower pace as we got to see a lot of the city.
The morning was supposed to be with a Costa Rican agency of commerce and trade, but they canceled. We toured their national church, and got the great background story. 
Some local coffee, and we were off to lunch. A few Rotarians from a Monday club hosted us at a very posh club downtown. We were treated to some great information on Micro-lending, which opened a wonderful discussion around the table. Our 3 Rotarian hosts were very impressive…successful, passionate, caring individuals who seem to be leading some great programs to help the region. Education for people with special needs, investment in women in business, setting up banks and micro-lending in small communities…These programs allow for increase in human capital, while ensuring that there are no handouts; beneficiaries can remain proud as they repay their loans. Kiva is an online version of micro—lending…something I am even more proud to be involved in.
After being rescheduled by the Canadian Embassy, we head towards the UN University for Peace, where Alicia is applying! We are all excited, but after the traffic slows us, it is apparent we won’t make it for our appointment, so we turn back for the embassy. Another call from the embassy, and we’re rescheduled again for later in the week. We go to the mall, replace the pants that shrank, and settle in for a beer. I am very happy to find that they have a dark beer. Even more impressive is that it is made locally, and is very hoppy. My palette is in a happy place. The downside is that none of the servers have any idea what the beers or local brewery are called. Furthermore, they think I am odd for drinking an amber, bitter beer. Manuel is on the hunt to see how close the brewery is.
Our first Rotary meeting is at a wonderful French restaurant called Le Chandelier. We arrive early and discuss Real Estate development and Event planning with their president, Jorge. He orders us a little appetizer to tide us over to the meeting. I get goose bumps when the small snack arrives. There is a trend I am noticing:
Our first presentation in 5 days goes well, and we are peppered with questions about the GSE program after the meeting by the Rotaract club who were guests at the meeting. Rotaract is alive and well down here, and it is great to see so many young people doing good for their communities and country. Alicia and Mark vow to push the program when they return home (Kim and I are too old to be Rotaracts).
Doug’s daughter’s Costa Rican boyfriend, Oscar, arrives to take us to our homes. I add pictures to Mark’s blog, and get another good night’s sleep. I hope tomorrow goes according to schedule, as it is clear that our changes today were out of Manuel’s hands.
They have left Friday afternoon open in our schedules so that we can plan our own vocational (or other) visits. At dinner last night, Kim is excited to learn that Juan Carlos’s girlfriend is also a teacher. Not a regular teacher he explains…she works with children who have special needs. Fate? I think Kim has her vocational visit planned.
CGD

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