Chepe Chronicles

Note: These are my objective observations of Costa Rica’s upcoming election as a foreigner living here, not my personal opinions. Additionally, these observations are my own and don’t reflect those of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps. This is a big week for Costa Rica. On Sunday, February 1, Costa Ricans will cast ballots for their next President. There are other elections, namely legislative, that are also happening on Sunday, but for the purpose of this blog, I’ll keep it simple and focus on the Presidential election taking place. There are several differences between the Costa Rican presidential process and our elections in the US. One of these distinctions is the sheer number of political parties, and therefore, presidential candidates. The election is Sunday (I’m writing this on Thursday) and there are still roughly 20 candidates in the race (with varying degrees of viability). In Costa Rica, the President cannot serve consecutive terms, meaning that there will be a new Pres...

I’ve had a few friends and family members ask about how Costa Ricans, or Ticos perceived the US’ capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and President Trump’s subsequent stated intention to “run the country”. Since this is a hot-button topic, I wanted to give a little bit of time before writing this sidebar blog and addressing those questions. Additionally, this isn’t the place to share my own thoughts on the situation in Venezuela. I’m always happy to chat privately, but in this sidebar, I will focus on Costa Rican reactions to the situation in Venezuela.  Similarly to the US, there are a variety of reactions to the news in Venezuela here in Costa Rica. Although Latin America has several different countries and nationalities, there is certainly a shared Latin identity between these countries, and the developments in Venezuela were a big deal in Costa Rica. From my observations as a foreigner living here, which isn’t a perfect science, the overarching reaction I’ve noticed is ...

Apologies for the scattered blogs. I’ve been pretty busy with the holidays and with travel, but I should be back on track with my weekly blogs by next Sunday. One of the perks about serving in Costa Rica is that I am in a region, Latin America, that is both compelling and easy to travel around. Last year, I took advantage of some of my vacation days to go to Colombia, and exactly a year later, I went to Panama. My Colombia trip was solo, but I was fortunate to have my girlfriend’s company for this year’s adventure in Panama. I arrived in Panama last Thursday, January 15th. I flew down there solo because although I’m on school break, my girlfriend, Keily, had to work through Friday. My first day in Panama I didn’t do too much. I checked into a hostel in Panama City’s colonial Casco Viejo neighborhood and ran on the Cinta Costera , an oceanside promenade and exercise path that was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever run. That evening, I dined at the famous Coca Cola Cafe, which o...

I am serving in the traditional Peace Corps service capacity - I’m abroad for a 27-month term in an entry-level role as a Youth Development volunteer. Most Americans with a college degree and some basic experience can qualify to apply for the typical Peace Corps service. However, there is another option for those who may be interested in the Peace Corps and don’t want to volunteer for 27 months.  That other option is known as Peace Corps Response. Basically, Peace Corps Response is a more professional and specialized service and for a shorter amount of time. Most roles require significant professional experience prior, such as a minimum of 5 years in a specific sector. These volunteers serve for one year instead of 27 months and have a truncated training period. Response volunteers typically work alongside federal agencies, and thus, are placed in capital or regional cities rather than remote, rural sites. An example of a Response position could be something like working in curricu...

It's been a busy couple of weeks! Normally I try to post my weekly recaps on Sundays, but I figured it may make more sense to lump everything related to the holidays together in one blog.  On Dec 23, I flew back to Southwest Missouri to be home for Christmas with my family. This was the first time I'd been back in the Ozarks since I began my Peace Corps Service a year and a half ago (roughly 18 months). I was really excited to spend time with family, get some comfort food, and enjoy some colder weather. All three of those things occurred eventually, thankfully, although the latter wasn't until the end of my trip due to a record-breaking warm Christmas Day.  My time at home, was fun and much-needed, although it wasn't particularly relaxing. We had a number of Christmas celebrations and activities, so my time back home went by pretty fast. Some highlights of the trip included celebrating my Dad's birthday sharing a tomahawk steak, eating some Springfield-style Cashew ...