Celebrating Thanksgiving in Potrero!

Written by: Anna Hergt

Some United States holidays aren't commonly celebrated in Potrero, but for the sake of fun, we like to spread the word. On Thanksgiving, that word was “THANKS!”. We started off the day with Kindergarten kids, who had been learning about the letter N, so we decided to make Native American headdresses. They wrote their names and colored nature-related things on their headbands and then taped on the "feathers." It’s quite nice how excited they were to tape on their scrap paper triangles and celebrate proudly with us.

Kinder with their head dresses!

Grades 3^rd, 5^th, and 6^th were all in the next class, so we made a Tree of Thanks! Up on their mural they each posted colorful fall leaves, a strange concept here, and effortlessly wrote in English, “I am thankful for...” Most of them said "friends" and "family" and "my house," all blessings we sometimes take for granted.

Tree of Thanks!

Color-by-Number rainbow turkeys was the last activity for the 1^st, 2^nd, and 4^th graders. Colors and numbers are subjects that they are especially good at so they had a blast and kept very quiet as they concentrated. A quiet classroom is rare here at Abriendo Mentes! When they were done the noise began again as we talked about how to say "thank you" in different languages. Our German volunteer Lynn taught them “Danke!” and we continued on to try and pronounce many other world languages.

Nayelli coloring her rainbow turkey

This Thanksgiving, we’d all like to say Gracias, Merci, Arigato, and any other way we could possibly let you know how thankful we are that there are people out there supporting AM even by something as simple as reading this. Salud!

A Healthy Community is a Happy Community

Written by: Shannon Ghere

When it comes to health and nutrition, Potrero is struggling like communities all over the world. Obesity is an epidemic among adults and is creeping into the lives of children. Diabetes is becoming more and more common and many people in Potrero are unsure exactly what the disease is or how to address it. It is because of this that the women of the AM women’s group, Mujeres Activas de Potrero (MAP), asked for more information on nutrition. We invited Dr. Judith Lipton to join us at a MAP meeting and share information on nutrition and healthy habits.

Traditional Costa Rican food provides a healthy and balanced diet. The province of Nicoya, just about an hour from Potrero, was named one of the 5 “Blue Zones” in the earth. The five Blue Zones include: Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Icaria, Greece. The populations in these regions commonly live active lives over 100 years old and suffer from a small fraction of diseases that commonly plague other communities. While a traditional Costa Rican diet is nutritious and healthy, here in Potrero processed, fatty, salt and sugar heavy foods have filled our shelves and our bellies, creating an epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Living in poverty, many families do not have the knowledge or opportunity to change their current path and their children are beginning a similar pattern at a young age.

Dr. Lipton shared healthy eating tips with MAP, taught us how to read product labels effectively, and answered our questions about our own nutrition and child nutrition. She stressed the simple rule that we should all try to follow: Eat like your grandmother ate as she was growing up.

This information can be especially powerful and effective in the hands of women. In an epidemic such as this, the women of MAP can be crucial in changing the eating habits of the community as they are primarily responsible for the food in their households. Dr. Lipton will continue to join MAP to discuss other health related topics in the future including self breast exams and sexual health. Following up on our nutrition class, Dr. Lipton will be joining us early January to help us make healthy New Year’s resolutions and take our weight, measurements, and blood pressure to track our progress each month.

A Fun Filled Trip to the Feria Forestal

Written by Caroline Kirkendoll

The first Saturday in November marked the inaugural outing for our freshly restarted women's group, now known as Mujeres Activas del Potrero (Active Women of Potrero). After an early morning departure from Potrero we made the 2 hour drive south into the mountains to a town called Hojancha. Hoja Ancha literally translates into "wide leaf" and was named by the locals after a tree with large leaves that is found throughout the area.

Hojancha is known throughout Costa Rica for its incredible biodiversity, so it was fitting that this feria forestal (forest fair) took place in an area well-practiced in the art of forest sustainability and Eco-conservation. Six Potrero women and their eight children accompanied the Abriendo Mentes volunteers as we went about exploring the rows of booths inside sun-shaded tents. Although we visited on the last day of a 3-day festival there was still lots to be seen!

Verenice, Dilan and Emanuel on the park slide!

We were instantly mesmerized by an eye-popping display of dozens of butterfly specimens and a fish tank full of live koi. Each booth had representatives ready to pass out information and we walked away with lots of brochures, and a desire to make a trip back to the area to explore the underground caves of Barra Honda!

Anna & Ilene browsing the booths

What was particularly encouraging to us was the number of booths manne d by single women selling everything from rosaries made from tree seeds to jewelry made from painted glass. We learned that Hojancha also has a women's group, called Hojarte - get it?! - and they sell all kinds of handmade items, such as bags and jewelry, made from recycled goods. It was very inspirational to see how successful they are!

Judit with some of the beautiful jewelry

After a morning exploring we loaded everyone up and set off back to Potrero, full of ideas and inspiration for our mujeres activas! We are very excited to continue expanding the horizons of our local women, and hopefully sometime soon we'll have our own booth at a local feria! Many thanks to Andres of Bahia del Sol for organizing transportation and making this trip

Caroline and Andres enjoy some traditional meat on a stick

Fun Friday: At the Garden!

By: Ilene Solomon

Fridays are typically filled with fun (yet still educational) activities, in order to expand the kiddo's minds and hearts, and to provide them with more hands-on, experiential ways to learn. Last Friday was no exception! Fun Friday was run by the Garden Team: Lynn, Peter and myself...and with the help of parents who lent us their garden tools (thanks padres!), we all got our hands dirty with our first Garden Day of the new dry season.

The kids getting geared up for X-treme Garden Makeover

With about thirty students--from kinder all the way up to 6th graders--and seven volunteers, we raced out to the back of the salon, home to the Abriendo Mentes garden. Past volunteers and donors helped create a beautiful garden space, but unfortunately, due to the heavy rains of September and October and a horrible iguana attack, the garden looked like it needed some major TLC! Luckily, the students were excited to help. We managed to weed the entire plot plus remove all of the trash! Phew.

Tatiana with her bunch of weeds

But the greatest show of all, was when volunteer and Garden Committee Co-Chair Peter shimmied up the 5 meter tall tree with his travel-sized saw! He helped us trim down the tree to let more light shine in. Afterward, he instructed the big kids in how to safely use his travel-sized axe to chop the branches for the compost pile. One of our older boys, Oscar, was put in charge of showing the other older students how to handle the axe. This was a special moment for Oscar, as he was able to sharpen his leadership capacities...after all, education doesn't just happen in the classroom!

Peter teaching Oscar to use an axe to trim the tree

After about 2 hours of work, the kids were thirsty and the volunteers were tired, so we packed up and called it a day. Next on the garden agenda includes securing the garden beds and re-soiling the area. If you'd like to help support the garden, consider donating to Abriendo Mentes!

Third Session: Big Changes Can Happen Quickly!

Written by: Shannon Ghere

As the Third Session of Abriendo Mentes’ programs has come to a close and our fourth and final session of the year is underway, it is a marker for me to look back at the enriching time I have spent in Costa Rica thus far. I arrived on the dusty roads of Potrero in the beginning of August, just before the the Third Session began. Recently graduated from college, I was full of desire to make real change. I was ready to begin, but truly had no idea the journey I was embarking on.

Shannon in classes with Dilan making an igloo

Potrero at first seemed quite different from the life I was used to, but I quickly fell in love with it. The town is comprised of Guanacastecos, some of Costa Rican origin, others immigrants from Nicaragua. Poverty is prevalent in the region and has a strong hold on many families. But what is even more difficult is the lack of opportunity to change ones circumstances. It is clear after living in the area for a few months that not only is there a deep need for increased education, but also a clear desire from the community. This is what makes Abriendo Mentes such a success: they are addressing real needs and the community embraces them in their efforts.

The AM kids pile on the soccer field

Of course I was excited to dive into AM’s English classes and the Third Session classes did not disappoint. The youngest classes were always my favorite and I loved all the songs and English games we played with the kids. The older classes reminded me of some of the activities I have done in my own courses as I was learning a new language. From week to week I could see improvements in the students’ English. And thanks to a great idea by past volunteer Linda, AM was able to implement a new attendance program for the Third Session which more then doubled our number of regularly attending students! The impact was immediate and sustained throughout the session, leading AM to implement a new schedule in order to create smaller class sizes.

Kinder class! With Sofia and Daniella

We celebrated some fantastic holidays during the Third Session including Mother’s Day, Children’s Day, Independence Day, and the Festival of Corn. During each event I had a great time with the students and, of course, at all the AM fiestas we threw for the kids. Children’s Day was by far my favorite and, I think, something we should consider adopting in the United States! AM held carnival for all the children in Potrero and included many games and events I always loved in carnivals as I was growing up.

Shannon in charge of the UFO disc toss station

Since I arrived in Potrero the AM family has grown quite a bit! For the majority of my initial time in Potrero there were just three volunteers. Now the team has grown to eleven people in total. The largest Abriendo Mentes team to date!

With volunteer Lynn and some AM students making picture frames

Looking back on the few months I’ve been here, it is astonishing just how much can be accomplished in such a short time. From the wonderful teaching experiences I have had and the growth I have seen with the students, to the various successes Abriendo Mentes has had. I have built strong relationships in such a short time with community members and the other volunteers alike. And even the changes I have seen in myself: the improvement in my own work, my changing concepts of the community I have become a part of, and my lack of screaming at the various bugs, toads, crabs, and scorpions that wander into my apartment.

Shannon and Emily - Las Gallos Pintos at the Halloween party

When you look at life in Potrero and the immense amount of work Abriendo Mentes does, it can seem daunting at the beginning. But looking back at the past few months, who knows what can be accomplished in such a short amount of time.

We the Women of Potrero!

Written by: Lynn Hessbrueggen

A lack of educational possibilities and after school activities has centered Abriendo Mentes’ primary focus on the children of Potrero. As we all know, children are our future. But where do all these energetic, smart little ones come from? Who brings them up, feeds them and loves them? La Mujeres de Potrero (The Women of Potrero)!

A few important women of Potrero share smiles and stories during the first meeting

To honor this strong and essential part of our community, AM has created a women's empowerment group program. The group strives to be a place, where all women of Potrero (young and old, from Costa Rica or abroad) can gather together, discuss, learn and spend quality time just for themselves. A place where there is room for questions concerning women’s health, child care and economic independence; a place where no woman has to restrict herself; a place for women.

Shannon with some of the women of Potrero spending quality time together

This past Thursday at 5pm (más o ménos) we started our first new Women’s Group meeting. To our delight, the small room was filled with women of all ages. After Meradith had welcomed everyone in Spanish, and the buffet of food, which was provided by volunteers and village women alike, was emptied onto our plates, AM introduced the ideas of possible activities that we had thought of in advance: healthy cooking, Yoga, swimming classes, women’s health, Spanish-English intercambio… and the list goes on. There was plenty to talk about while enjoying fruits, chips, dips, rice and chicken.

Meradith enjoying arroz con pollo and conversation with Maritza, Margarita and Tina.

Everyone discussed, with openness and excitement the different possibilities of the women's group. A lively exchange of opinions full with laughter and jokes created a comfortable atmosphere: surfing and snorkeling were dismissed, in a fit of laughter, everyone imagining themselves on a surf board, and many new ideas were added. Next week, everybody is going to come with a towel, ready to learn how to give and receive a relaxing massage. Having attended the first meeting, I’m really looking forward to the next one.

Always Expect the Unexpected

Written by: April Simon

Having stalked Abriendo Mentes online for nearly nine months, I thought I knew what to expect upon my arrival in Playa Potrero. Reality, as I am often reminded, trumps the Internet every time.

A rainy season front yard in Playa Potrero

I first discovered AM while searching for a host organization for the Fulbright grant project I am proposing. The program is based on the Literacy Through Photography model and will explore concepts of self, community, and future aspirations with children aged 5-14. Having exchanged many an email with Meradith, I felt it time to make the trip from North Carolina to see for myself how the project might play out with the AM kids.

My partner, Brian, and I arrived on the rainiest day of the season. After a five hour shuttle bus trip into the Potrero, we were eager to get out and explore the village that we hope will be our home soon. Following the only road we saw, we soon found ourselves at the soccer field that serves as the center of town. From there, we could hear the sound of children singing through the downpour.

Looking out onto the soccer field.

The AM classroom buzzed with the energy of barely contained chaos. The teachers and volunteers moved around the room, helping the kindergarteners paste scraps of paper in the shape of an apple. Brian and I were invited to jump right in with the lesson.

Justin helps Dayra with her apple art.

Between the older and younger groups, I chatted with the children and let them play with my camera. One boy, Gerald, quickly established himself as the class clown- mugging for every single shot. A few others asked me to take group photos- and, like all eight-year-old boys are want to do, gave each other bunny ears for posterity.

Over the next few days, I got the opportunity to get to know more of the children, several of their parents, and many of the other community members. In true Tico fashion, the citizens of Playa Potrero are incredibly warm, open, and kind.

The corn king and queens of Potrero

We were able to take part in the Corn Festival, and I was given the recipe for the traditional corn and rice soup that was boiling in a huge cauldron over open flames. When all of the electricity in the area went out during our dinner at a restaurant, the owner casually brought us a candle, a drink refill, and a flashlight for our walk home.

Truly Guanacasteco: cooking arroz de maiz over an open flame.

Though we were sad to leave Potrero behind, Brian and I look forward to returning along with our own two children next year. I am excited to begin working in earnest on both my project, and with AM in their regular afterschool programs. While village life has its challenges, I am also very eager to have my family in a place that is removed from the bustle and anxiety of the city... and if I ever need to find my children- I’ll never have to look farther than the soccer field.