Rotary GSE 5450 goes to Central America!

Rotary District Governor's Ball, Panama City

2009-03-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Rotary District Conference Governor's Ball was at the exclusive Union Club on the beach in Panama City. We saw traditional local dances as well as Carnival dancers.

Party Boat on the Bay of Panama & Canal

2009-03-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

Panamanians know how to party! Friday's "Fun Night" at the Rotary District Conference was a boat trip on the Bay of Panama and up the Panama Canal. We circled around the port several times and had a great view of the huge Panamax ships being loaded and unloaded. The cruise took us under the steel Bridge of the Americas.

Ice cream in old town, Panama

2009-03-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Artisan-made ice cream on a hot afternoon.

More Casco Viejo, Panama

2009-03-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

Friday afternoon we got to see inside some of the renovated buildings in Casco Viejo.

City of Knowledge, Panama

2009-03-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

One of the abandoned US military bases in the old Panama Canal Zone has been redeveloped into "Ciudad del Saber", City of Knowledge. It's a big campus for NGOs and companies to use for education and outreach.

National Theater, Panama

2009-03-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

The Rotary District Conference opened on Wednesday night with a ceremony at Panama's National Theater. Then there was a reception on the rooftop patio, where we got to reconnect with friends who we met earlier on our trip in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

Barro Colorado, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama

2009-03-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is on Barro Colorado Island in Lake Gatun, in the middle of the Panama Canal. We took a 45-minute boat ride to get there, and then spent the whole day hiking and learning about this unique nature preserve.

Night safari, Gamboa Resort, Panama

2009-03-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

After relaxing at the pool, and before dinner, we checked out the "night safari". We rode in the back of an open-air truck. The guide had a giant flashlight, and we were hoping to see monkeys. All we got was a lazy turtle and some huge rodents.

Gamboa Rainforest Resort, Panama

2009-03-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

"GSE is not a vacation!" So we needed a vacation from our non-vacation. We spent two nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, courtesy of the nice folks of the Panama Sur Rotary Club. Our rooms were in some of the Historical Villas, built for Panama Canal Company managers many years ago.

Panama Canal

2009-03-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal

2009-03-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

Molas for sale, Panama

2009-03-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

Lunch on Flamingo Islands, Panama

2009-03-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

Between touring Panama City and heading off to visit the Canal, we detoured for lunch on the "Islas Flamencos". Amy suggested the Sangria, we all had great salads, and we shared a few bites of a really good steak. The view of Panama City was spectacular from these islands at the end of the causeway.

Good thing we did the city tour on a Sunday. The traffic was unbearable during the week.

"Panama Viejo" (Old Panama City)

2009-03-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Don't confuse "Panama Viejo" with "Casco Viejo". Old Panama is a historic site made up of ruins of the original settlement here. The old city was set on fire by its own citizens to fool the famous pirate, Captain Henry Morgan (yep, the rum guy) when he attacked. It was never rebuilt, and they resettled in what is now called "El Casco Viejo".

Dim Sum Chinese breakfast, Panama City

2009-03-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

"Casco Viejo" (Old Town), Panama City

2009-03-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

Gators in the river, Costa Rica

2009-03-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

We were ready to see a messy gator vs. cow smackdown, but just like everyone else in Coast Rica, these were some peace-loving creatures.

"San Jose Posible" urban renewal project

2009-03-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

Downtown San Jose, Costa Rica

2009-03-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

"I'm not from around here!"

2009-03-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

Irazu Volcano, Cartago, Costa Rica

2009-03-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

National Basilica, Cartago, Costa Rica

2009-03-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

Belen Rotary Club, Costa Rica

2009-03-04T08:22:00.000-08:00

University for Peace, Costa Rica

2009-03-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

"Happy is the Costa Rican mother who knows when giving birth that her son will never be a soldier."

Escazu Rotary Club, Costa Rica

2009-03-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

Apples and Oranges

2009-03-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

I think if there is one thing that every one of us in the GSE team would agree on, it's that every country we've visited has a distinct look, feel and attitude. Our flight here was only about an hour long, but I feel like we've gone a much greater distance. And, to top it off, the weather has changed with us! I just checked the Denver Post website, and we essentially had the same weather today in San Jose as you all did back at home (it was in the mid-70s here, and I read Denver reached 74). I have to admit, I may not have brought enough long sleeve shirts!

But the point is that trying to compare our experiences in each country is like comparing apples to oranges. Each country has a different rhythm, which we are learning to dance to as the trip continues. Like our good friends from the Tulsa, Oklahoma club that we met in Nicaragua said: "Be fluid, but start your fluidness at 7:45."

Amy

Rotaract in Costa Rica

2009-03-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

We tried to see Poas Volcano, Costa Rica

2009-03-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

Central Market in Leon, Nicaragua

2009-02-27T21:00:00.001-08:00

Tulsa Rotary water well project, Nicaragua

2009-02-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

Nicaragua's newest city, and its oldest

2009-02-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

Greetings from sunny Nicaragua. Today we visited with the "alcalde", or mayor, of Municipio Ciudad Sandino, a very new city on the outskirts of Managua. We spent over an hour with the mayor, who is curiously named Roberto Somoza. He shared with us the new city's plans for growing their infrastructure and developing their ecomomy. Some of the environmentally sustainable initiatives sounded very progressive for such a poor area. Thanks to Luis, one of our Mangaua Tiscapa Rotary hosts, for arranging this interesting meeting.

Yesterday, we visited Granada, a colonial city on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. I can understand why there is a growing American enclave there, as it is a charming place reminiscent of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. We took a boat ride to visit the famous "islitas" (little islands) in the lake. Only Naomi was brave enough to play with a monkey on one of the islands. We were hosted by perhaps every Rotarian in their small club. They were gracious and proud hosts, eager to show off the various Rotary projects recently completed in the area.

Rolando, in Managua, Nicaragua

"Monkey Island", Nicaragua

2009-02-25T21:01:00.000-08:00

Beauty where you least expect it.....

2009-02-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

Beauty is found in the strangest places. Naomi has the keen ability to show each of us the beauty in random things. She views things from a unique lens... and over the course of the past 10 days, she's helping us all to see things we didn't before.

I've included some pictures she's taken with my camera. I encourage each of you to find beauty in something you normally would not...

Love from Nicaragua,

Molly

Rotary Club of Granada, Nicaragua

2009-02-25T06:39:00.000-08:00

Granada, Nicaragua has a very small Rotary Club, with under 20 members. But they are very visible around their town, as they have done a good job of placing the Rotary name and logo everywhere. They installed over 70 litter baskets in the downtown area, and each one adds to Rotary's visibility. The central monument in the main plaza is a 1965 statue from Rotary which honors mothers and their work. We received a warm welcome from this club, and I was especially impressed with the work done by such a commited group.

Rolando, in Granada, Nicaragua

Beauty...

2009-02-24T21:35:00.000-08:00

Naomi is our team's artistic advisor, and sees things through a different lens than the rest of us. Luckily for the rest of us, she's always willing to share what she thinks is beautiful, or just take my camera for a few minutes to get some great shots.

I've included some of her pictures you might find interesting.

When we arrived, we drove past a cemetery, and exclaimed that we wanted to see one firsthand. Our tour guide thought we were crazy, but as we described how different they were from those in the states, he seemed to understand that we thought the colors were beautiful

The message is... there is beauty all around us. Take a moment to look around tomorrow and find beauty where you are. Pretend like Naomi is with you pointing out something unusual.....and finding the beauty that exists where you least expect it....

Molly

The Tribe

2009-02-24T21:07:00.001-08:00

It has been such a great experience meeting new people from different countries. Everyone we come in contact with has been wonderful! This week is no exception - Molly and I are paired with a great host, the Targa family. Both Enrico and Maria Jose are Rotary members and are picture perfect examples of service and love. Today was Enrico's birthday (Happy Birthday Enrico!) and we had a small family party for him at the house. Everyone that lives in Enrico's neighborhood is related to him or to Maria Jose. They call it "Their Tribe". We have been welcomed with open arms and are truly honored to be considered part of the Tribe! Thank you Targa family!!
~ Jessica & Molly

Tuk-tuk taxi, Nicaragua

2009-02-24T21:00:00.002-08:00

How to park at a volcano

2009-02-24T21:00:00.001-08:00

Useful advice on how to park when visiting the edge of the active crater at Masaya Volcano National Park in Nicaragua.

But does this mean that the bus will actually WAIT for you? Of course, our gracious guide Sandra would have . Anyway, we escaped without incident.

Rolando

Colorful Ice Cream

2009-02-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Baptizing the Volcano

2009-02-24T20:20:00.000-08:00

So far we have had a great time in Nicaragua. It is very hot, but it is a beautiful country. Today we went to the Volcan Masaya. It was interesting to learn about the history associated with the volcano. Before the Spanish explorers came the local tribes - the Chorotegas and the Niguiranos - believed that there was a fire God living inside the mountain. To satisfy the God's hunger young maidens were sacrificed. Once the Spaniards came they believed that the volcano was the "Entrance to Hell" and brought forth a cross to clean the mountain of demons. Thank you to Sandra for a great day!!

~ Jessica

Indigo Factory in Santa Ana

2009-02-23T18:44:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday (17 feb 09) we visited an Las Azulinas, an Indigo factory in Santa Ana, El Salvador. The dye comes from pressing the leaves of the Añil (or Xiquilitl) tree. The white cotton is prepared by twisting and banding the fabric or garnment with thread (similar to tye-dye) prior to dipping it. The first dip, lasting about on minute, turns the fabric a shade of green. Then after the dye oxydizes, it turns a shade of blue. After twelve dips with three minute pauses in between, the garnment is finished. The gloves shown here are used to keep one´s skin clean during the process.

Naomi

Holy Cows!

2009-02-22T20:39:00.000-08:00

I apologize for not posting a picture with this entry... but thought I would share a funny story before I go to bed.

Today, we spent the day at Gran Pacifica, a resort community in Nicaragua that's currently under development. It was a "day at the beach", but was spent learning about the vacation home sales process, the land development and financial challenges facing anyone trying to build and sell property during these uncertain economic times.

Gran Pacifica has undergone a lot of hard work to ensure future residents have amenities not available in other parts of Nicaragua.... UG electricity, fiber optic cable/internet, and pressurized water systems. We were hosted by Adiak, a member of the Managua Tiscapa Rotary Club, and an employee of Gran Pacifica. He did a wonderful job of showing us the surrounding area, as well as the resort, vacation homes within, condos, and future golf course site.

When we were headed back to Managua this afternoon, I was telling the group how I emailed Kevin and told him my "cussing problem" had gotten itself under control and I was getting better about not cussing so much. The rest of the group was suprised, and said they had not noticed me using poor language a lot.

We were navigating a pretty rough road, and at one point, came close to hitting a cow that was standing on the shoulder of the road. I said, "Holy..... cow"!!!!! I was close to saying something else, but cow fit perfectly!

This is kind of a stupid thing to write about, but as we all cracked up, I realized how much we need those "silly" moments to get us through this. Nicaragua is a great country, filled with people willing to show us all kinds of things.

Jessica and I are having a great week with our host family... they're so nice and we're very comfortable here. More to come later...

Molly

Chaparrastique

2009-02-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

So, for a little history, we toured San Miguel’s central district, which naturally includes the main Catholic church. In the center stood the figure of La Reina de la Paz (the Queen of Peace), the city’s representative virgin. The story goes that a ship wrecked in the Fonseca Gulf, and in the wreckage they found a wooden box. The people tried and tried to open the box hoping to find some kind of treasure, but no matter what they did, it wouldn’t open. The box was transported to San Miguel by a cart and burro, and when the burro could go no further, it stopped, the box fell off the cart and broke open, right at the spot where the Catholic church now stands today. Inside the box was a figure of a virgin, which became the Reina de la Paz.

Years later, when the Volcano called Chaparrastique last erupted, the city was nearly destroyed by lava. The people brought the figure of the virgin to the door of the church where the lava flow stopped and protected the city’s historic center. The plume of smoke and ash that was visible from the volcano looked like a palm frond, and so today, the figure of the virgin holds a palm made of gold.

This history is representative of the region…there are few historic buildings in part because many of them have been damaged or destroyed by hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes. We also visited the local theater yesterday, which likewise was almost torn down because it was in such disrepair. However, it was fully restored, and is a beautiful building that copies French architectural styles.

We’ve enjoyed our time here in El Salvador, and today move on to Nicaragua, so stay tuned!

Amy

Fishing Pier in La Libertad, El Salvador

2009-02-20T05:02:00.000-08:00

Jessica and her beach boy friends

2009-02-20T04:36:00.000-08:00

Botanical Garden, El Salvador

2009-02-19T05:20:00.000-08:00

Hospital San Juan de Dios

2009-02-18T04:29:00.001-08:00

Today in the morning we toured the largest hospital in El Salvador, which is in the city of Santa Ana. Hospital San Juan de Dios was founded in 1846, and currently serves a region that extends even beyond national borders. We stopped by to present a box of donated medical supplies, which we coordinated through Project CURE and the Santa Ana Rotary Club. The club is one that is proud of its 80-year history and has a number of medical professionals as members. They gave us an insiders’ tour of the hospital, and we saw everything from the ophthalmology center to the maternity ward.

I think what struck all of us was the degree to which Rotary has played a part in the operations of the hospital. Everywhere we turned it seemed there was a plaque commemorating a Rotary project of some sort.

We met with the hospital director briefly to explain the donation, but it was really in speaking with the individual doctors who see patients at the hospital every day that we understood the importance of our donation. One doctor told me that sometimes they can’t even find a clean needle for what they need. And while one small box seems like a drop in the bucket compared to the enormous volume of patients that need assistance, maybe we helped a few people to avoid and infection or allow the hospital to use their limited funds to buy a new piece of equipment. We will probably never know, but either way, we know it is needed.

Amy

"No guns"

2009-02-17T04:55:00.000-08:00

Day 1 - volcanoes & pupusas

2009-02-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a day! We have only been here in El Salvador for about 24 hours, but we have already experienced two different host families, visited two volcanoes, and eaten too many delicious pupusas.

We arrived in San Salvador around 9pm yesterday, and were whisked from the airport to beautiful homes for the night. We met this morning at Insaforp, a national workforce training center, and learned all about their programs. Then we toured a volcanic lake, hiked a bit to view two volcanoes, had a nice lunch, visited Santa Ana and its historic theater and cathedral, and tried some local food. Then on to our Santa Ana host families and then to an evening Rotary meeting. The meeting was outdoors in a lush backyard. We did our first GSE presentation here, and it went well. The meal was pupusas, those yummy Salvadorean tortilla-like cakes, filled with meat, cheese, and/or beans. This Rotary club was small, only about 20 members, and very warm and welcoming. Another very full day for us will start early tomorrow.

Rolando, in Santa Ana, El Salvador

Breathe In, Breathe Out (repeat)

2009-02-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

In less than 24 hours I will leaving my home in Colorado and venturing in to the unknown of Central America....

Okay, so I probably don't need to be so dramatic, especially when so many great plans have been made for us, but I can't help but feel like I am jumping into a pool with out testing the water first. The last two days I have experienced every emotion possible. I have been scared, joyful, anxious, frustrated, hopeful, nervous, overwhelmed and excited. After experiencing such a broad range of emotions in a short time I have one more feeling - exhausted! I know that once I am on the plane my nerves will settle down and I will be able to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity. Until then, I am following the advice of my Mom... "keep breathing" :)]

~ Jessica

Snow, schedules, & warmer cultures

2009-02-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

It's snowing and blowing in Frisco, Colorado today. I had a client here from Florida, and we went out to look at some properties this morning. Not only was the poor guy freezing, but he took one step off a footpath and ended up in snow deeper than his knees. It was a wet socks, cold feet welcome to Colorado. I held back a chuckle, and remembered that in two short days we will be in a much warmer place. Not just warmer in temperature, but in many less measurable ways too.

This week we finally received our schedules of events and meetings for our first week in Central America. The nice Rotarians in El Salvador have clearly taken our visit seriously, and they have put together an action-packed week for us. I have been pestering them for over a month to send me the details, and I was beginning to get nervous when I got no reply. Turns out that this is just an early example of the kind of cultural differences which we are about to experience. How presumptuous of us here in the USA to expect anyone else to agree that plans need to be firmed up weeks in advance. They came through, probably thinking that they actually delivered ahead of time. And then yesterday we got the schedule from the Nicaraguans, for the next week. Same deal:"in-the-nick-of-time" for us might just be extreme advance planning down there. Reading their emails and the descriptions of their plans for us, I can already feel their warmth and friendliness.

It seems almost too simple: cold climate equals uptight, and warm climate makes folks easy going. Maybe there's more to it than that, but then again, maybe not. OK, if you know me then you're wondering how a half-Cuban-raised-in-Miami-married-to-a-Mexican can claim to be a product of a cold climate. Good points. I'll have to look into that.

It's easy to put on a sweater or coat to take off the chill when it's cold outside. Over the next four weeks, we are going to be forced to learn how to slow down and take off the schedule-obsessed chill we have inside. The hard part might be relearning promptness upon our return. By the way - the dude with the cold wet socks - he was early for our appointment. And so was I. Now can someone explain why "chill" means relax?

My next post will be from El Salvador...

Rolando

Almost gone...

2009-02-12T19:22:00.001-08:00

After a great meeting at Connie and TK's home in Boulder last Sunday, I think we're finally ready for this trip. We were lucky to be presented with Rotary Foundation Alumni pins by Steve Cantrell, which are difficult to come by. Steve shared with us how it's one of the most rare pins associated with Rotary... we are lucky to be part of a select group!

My thanks and appreciation goes out to all the people that have made this trip possible!!! From all of the RFI donors, to the coordinators (Connie and Ilona) and our hosts in District 4240... everyone has pulled together to make this trip happen. THANK YOU!

I'm excited to get my things in my suitcase.... I'll worry about what I've forgotten later!

See you soon,
Molly

Four days and counting...

2009-02-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

Can I just say that time seems to have flown by since we first started preparing for this trip?!? We are only a couple of days away...it snowed last night in Denver, and I have a pile of skirts and summery shirts waiting to be packed away in a suitcase.

And we are going to be busy - today we received a revised agenda for our first week in El Salvador, and I'm already tired just reading it. But, by the same token, it's going to be so amazing. I've already been in touch with the club in Santa Ana (the first we will visit), and I am confident that we will get a big, warm welcome when we arrive (trust me Rolando, they are ready for us!). I reached out to the club because I am planning to carry with me a CURE Kit from Project CURE (www.projectcure.org - please check out this amazing organization!), which is a box packed with donated medical supplies. You carry the box with you as a piece of luggage to donate to a local community clinic or hospital, and I'm coordinating the donation with the Rotary club in Santa Ana. They've made sure that I'm in contact with the right people, down to the Director of the hospital that will receive the donation - and they made it happen within 24 hours!

By the way for all the Rotary folks, I learned that since 2001, Rotary clubs have donated over $24 million in medical supplies through Project CURE.

So, I still have to pack my suitcase, but with the CURE Kit going with me, I have extra incentive to pack lightly!

- Amy

GSE team visits Rotary Club of Summit County

2009-01-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

This morning the team attended the 7:15am Summit County Rotary meeting at the Holiday Inn in Frisco. I was very proud to introduce this group to my home club, and to give the team a chance to see Rotary in action at 9097 feet. The club has been hearing a lot from me about our GSE preparations, but meeting the team makes it more real.

Thanks Amy, Jessica, Molly, Naomi, and Gale for driving through the snow to get here yesterday and then driving through more snow to get back to Denver today. My family was very happy to meet all of you and to see who I will be traveling with for a month in Central America. And thanks again to Bee, Dick, and Roy for hosting the team in your homes.

Just 19 more days!

Rolando

Learning about the Rotary Foundation

2009-01-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Rolando and I attended the Rotary Foundation Seminar in the Denver Tech Center. As I'm learning more and more about Rotary, it was great to also learn more about the foundation... our sponsor for the GSE trip.

We heard many speakers discuss the various aspects of the foundation including Polio Plus, annual giving, water projects, RAGM (microfinance), GSE, Ambassadorial Scholarships and many more. Hearing firsthand how these experiences/programs have changed people's lives was so inspirational. More exciting was the thought of how in two months, I would be one of them... so affected by the Rotary Foundation.

It was great to see Karen Sekich again, and meet Rolando's fellow Rotarian's from Summit County. We'll be attending the Summit County Rotary Meeting in just over 1 week, so it was fun to meet some of the people we'll be staying with.

The Rotary Foundation does so much for so many people, and as Tom Wolfe pointed out, this is the one charity that truly gives everything it gets and more. It can be hard to choose which charities are worthy of our hard-earned money... the Rotary Foundation is definitely worthy. Often times it seems that your money (whether the amount is large or small) may not make much of a difference. However, it's obvious to me, based on the sheer size and power of Rotary, your dollars work hard when given to the Rotary Foundation.

Molly

**Sounds like Jessica and Rolando had a great time the night before at the dinner. We'd love to hear more about it!

In just one month.....

2009-01-15T19:11:00.000-08:00

Who can believe it? One month from today, I will definitely NOT be sitting on the couch typing in our blog with American Idol auditions on in the background. Don't laugh at my choice of entertainment... I was trying to come up with more ideas to add to Naomi's extensive list of presentation possibilities. I've still got nothing..... Although, Naomi and I kicked around a few things that just may work..... the group will discuss next time we meet!

I've found one of the more interesting parts of this process in preparation to be trying to explain this to other people. I was chatting with family members during Christmas, and was not being very eloquent. I finally said, "Well, it's like this thing, and I'm going with these women, except that we have this man as our leader!" When all of my family started looking at me like I had joined a cult, I decided I needed a much more scripted and eloquent way to elaborate when asked the inevitable.

I have finally gotten it down, and can describe this experience in such a way that makes sense to people. So many people are just vaguely familiar with the Rotary Club, and yet some people seem to completely understand. At any rate, I have a feeling the words I have picked to explain this experience won't come close to capturing what we're about to embark upon. It's such a huge, encompassing experience, it's hard to find just a few words to describe it.

Best of luck to all of us as we try to pack lightly, choose gifts that represent us and show our gratitude, remember our passports, put our Colorado lives "on hold" for 30 days, and prepare to experience a lot!!!!

I'm so excited!
Molly

What makes us American?

2009-01-14T10:49:00.000-08:00

As we get ready to embark on our month long sojourn to Central America, where my team and I are going to present ourselves as representatives of our Rotary district 5450, of Colorado, and of the United States, I'm asking myself, who are we? And how do we differ from our soon-to-be hosts in Central America? My desire to grock who I am in relation to the people of Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, countries I have never traveled in, amongst a language of which I am not fluent, stems specifically at the moment from one thing. Our presentation. OK, not exactly our presentation, which seems rather together, but the post presentation, talent presentation. What little show, act, or action can we do that is culturally specific to the United States, or maybe specific to Colorado? As a group, we have talked about it, stewed on it, joked about it, and ruminated to no avail.

So after talking with Molly last night, I thought I would post some ideas that the two of us came up with, along side of others that my prodigious team mates came up with during our meetings:

Each of us five read an impromptu or written stanza of a poem to commemorate our experiences to date. Straight version or Julie Andrews, "My favorite things" version.
Before leaving, create a short 3D animation, JibJab style, with our heads superimposed on the characters, dancing about on the screen.
Stage an old style Wild West shootout, complete with cowboy hats and cap guns.
Get the audience singing a rousting round of Row, Row, Row Your Boat, in round of course.
Compile a little music medley of typical American Music that we play and each dance a bit to. Including Jazz, Country, Motown, Rock and Roll, Rap, Blues... Heck, we could throw in the Chicken Dance!

So what do you think team? Did reading this grease any wheels, or cause a commotion? These ideas may all be too silly to consider. Or maybe one of them could break down any cultural barriers left and give our audience a presentation to remember.

Naomi

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!!

2009 is the year we're traveling to Central America. When I was discussing this trip with friends and family over Christmas, I couldn't believe it was 7 weeks away. After realizing that... I started getting nervous about everything I have to do.

I finally ordered some of my host family gifts, have begun looking for a functional piece of luggage, and am checking into a new digital camera (to replace the VERY OLD one I have). However, it still seems that there's so much to do. On top of that, I believe Kevin and I will finally be moving in mid-January. We're still early in the process of selling this home, but we feel confident this contract will stick. Therefore, we have a lot of packing to do... as I work to pack up this home, I'm also working to ensure I don't pack up things I need for my trip!!! Wish me luck!

I just wanted to post a quick message to everyone in my group... wishing you a VERY happy 2009. May we travel safely, healthfully, and well!

Molly

Team Leader speaks up

2008-12-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

It’s quite an honor to have been selected as the team leader for this Group Study Exchange. And I could not be more pleased with the progress we have made as a team. We were all strangers in September, and now we’re almost ready to travel together to Central America to represent Rotary District 5450. The team has been meeting every few weeks, learning about our destinations, about Rotary, and also a lot about ourselves in our new roles as ambassadors. I feel confident that Amy, Jessica, Molly, and Naomi will present an excellent picture of Colorado to the Rotarians and others we meet on our trip. Gale, our alternate team leader, and Rachel, our alternate team member, have both been extremely supportive and fine contributors to our preparations. Soon we will get our itinerary of vocational assignments, as this is the primary focus of GSE. Looking forward to seeing what our hosts have planned for us.

Rolando

Already the Holidays?

2008-12-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

When I interviewed in September 2008 for a team member spot on this GSE, the trip in 2009 seemed so far off. I cannot believe we are only two months away from this incredible experience. The holidays are upon us, as we are working hard at our careers, spending time with family, and preparing for this experience. I have not been the best blogger... but will try and step it up a bit!

Our last meeting was productive, in that we ironed out some things we'd been kicking around for some time. We were lucky that Karen Sekich, a person very familiar with Nicaragua was able to provide some in-depth tips, advice and stories to help us prepare.

The attached photo is of our last preparation session. As you can see... we're deep in discussion.

That's all for now...I look forward to our meeting tomorrow. We'll be practicing our presentations and ironing out some more details.

Molly

Proper Introductions

2008-12-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

Rolando Cuadrado, Team Leader
I am a real estate broker in Summit County, Colorado, a resort area near Denver, best known for Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Keystone ski areas. I specialize in resort residential real estate, buying and selling vacation properties and ski condos, and I am a leader in our local Realtors’ Association. As an active Rotarian, I am very involved in RYLA, Interact, and other youth programs. Paulina, my wife of 18 years is a pre-school teacher. She is a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, and we met in school in Paris, France. We have three children, ages 12, 13, and 15. We enjoy our mountain lifestyle of alpine skiing, cycling, and hiking. My father was born in Cuba, but I grew up speaking only English in Coral Gables, Florida. I have since learned Spanish and French. I have spent a lot of time in Mexico, but this is my first visit to Central America. Leading this GSE experience is a wonderful honor, and I am very pleased with the excellent team chosen by District 5450.

Amy Reichert
I work for the Colorado International Trade Office (ITO) as the Director of Trade and Investment for NAFTA and Central America. In that role, I am responsible for managing Colorado’s export and foreign investment activities related to North and Central America, including managing our trade office in Mexico City, Mexico. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and a Masters of Science degree in International Business, both from the University of Colorado. I was born and raised in Colorado, and most of my family still lives here, including my parents and older sister. I currently live in Denver and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, playing tennis, traveling, and participating in community activities. I speak Spanish fluently, and am currently taking Portuguese lessons. I have traveled throughout much of Mexico and South America, but have had very little exposure to Central America. My first trip to Central America was to Costa Rica in 2007 for a family vacation, and I am looking forward to learning more about the region through this Rotary exchange. We have a great team, and I’m excited for the opportunity to learn and exchange ideas with our hosts in Central America!

Naomi Blakeslee
I have worked as a structural engineer for the past 9 years with Lopez Smolens Associates in Boulder, CO. I work with architects, contractors, developers, and homeowners to construct safe buildings. Mostly I design new homes and additions to existing homes, but regularly I am designing other structures: escape stairs, climbing walls, circus performance centers, historical building renovations, sculptures, bridge abutments, etc… For the past 4 years I have also taught yoga locally part time. In my free time I practice yoga, paint (oils + acrylics), bike, paddle, read, and travel. I grew up on the water in Traverse City, Michigan and moved to Colorado in 1999. Since moving here some of my family has followed: my mother in 2005 and my grandmother in 2008. I have on sister that lives in Berlin, Germany, the other who lives in Traverse City, Michigan, where my father also lives. I love traveling, as it is always full of surprises, reminding me to keep my eyes and mind open, filling me with ideas. I have never been to Central America and am honored visiting Central America for my first time with this team.

Molly Dimond
I am a construction supervisor for Xcel Energy, a large provider of natural gas and electricity in Colorado. I manage a work group of 15 employees that install new electric and gas facilities to residential and commercial building sites. I have been married to my husband Kevin for four years, and we do not have any children. We are native Coloradans, and enjoy the active lifestyle Colorado provides. We enjoy camping and hiking in the summer months, as well as riding our bikes on scenic trails around the Denver area. We are members of a lake near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and love spending evenings fishing and relaxing around the shore. We are lucky that many of our family members live nearby, as we are able to spend a great deal of time with them. I enjoy reading novels, and keep a log of all the books I read. I have traveled to Mexico five times, but have never been to Central America. I look forward to traveling with our team as we embark on this amazing journey.

Jessica Trabert
I am the North American Tour Coordinator for Up with People. Up with People (Vive la Gente in Latin American) is a service-oriented, global education program where students from all around the world come together to travel the world while building bridges of understanding as a foundation for world peace. In each city that they go to students stay with host families, participate in community service, and perform a multi-cultural show that celebrates the different cultures that make up our global village. I focus on tour management including: finding host families, arranging service projects, overseeing promotion and marketing of the show and securing donations to ensure a successful tour. I am a native of Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelors degree in Communications. All of my immediate family (my parents and two sisters) call Colorado home and we enjoy being in the outdoors together as much as possible. I enjoy hiking, reading, volunteering, learning new things and spending time with friends and family. This will be my first travel experience “on my own” and I consider myself extremely lucky to share this adventure with this amazing team.

Catching Up with Jessica

2008-12-02T17:53:00.000-08:00

Although we may not be keeping on top of our blogging our team has been BUSY! We have been meeting as a group about twice a month. We spend our time together discussing the countries we will be visiting (Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama), practicing our presentations, planning what to take with us and of course - snacking! Our group knows how to set out quite the feast.

Our last meeting we were lucky to have the District Governor Nominee, Karen Sekich, join us. It was a perfect time for her to visit as it was the day we were discussing Nicaragua. Karen's experience in Nicaragua really helped us to prepare better for our visit to this country. I'm sure she will be hearing from us again before we leave! Thank you Karen for your insight!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I can't believe it is already December! The countdown has officially begun... just over 2 months and we will be on our way to Central America. This thought has me both excited and a little nervous....

I've never really been the real adventurous type...I leave the cliff jumping, "I'm not sure what this is but I'll eat it anyways", let's fly by the seat of our pants stuff to my little sister (wave to Megan). However, this does not mean that I'm boring! I've done a lot of things that most of my friends can't say they've done (who do you think introduced little sister to the world of ice climbing and splunking). But I like to know what's going on, what will happen next, how will this end.... So when I decided at the very last possible second to apply for the GSE program I don't know if I really thought out what it would mean if I were actually chosen and how this would change my plan - "The Plan".

But the unknown is good for me. I've realized that I can't be a "I'll just test the water with my toe" kind of girl. This experience requires a full dive in!

Molly's first post... of many

2008-10-26T17:18:00.001-07:00

Thanks Jessica for setting up such a user-friendly blogspot for us. I'm excited to document our pre-trip journey.

I spent today working on my electronic presentation for our meeting next Saturday. I have been sifting through electronic files of digital pictures (boy do I wish those were more organized). I have also taken this opportunity to do complete my Education and Language report on El Salvador. My presentation is coming along well... but as I keep reviewing it, I keep seeing things I want to change/add. I'm excited to show it to the rest of the group to get their feedback and suggestions.

While this is a lot of work, rest assured I've made some time to do some fun pre-trip activities.... can you guess what it is? SHOPPING!!!! I keep telling my husband Kevin that I have to plan ahead... he thinks it just another excuse to stimulate the economy. I've purchased some nice travel wear that will be cool in the warm climates, wrinkle resistant, and hopefully will still look nice after being schlepped all over Central America.

Speaking of my husband... Kevin and I have both been working a lot lately. While we see each other daily, I found myself missing him this week, as we saw eachother only in passing. Perhaps this is yet another method of preparation for this journey. I know I'll miss him more than I realize, but at least it will be for such a good reason.

I always look forward to our group meetings, as it gives us an opportunity to learn more about each other. I know we'll be leaning on each other a lot for support during our trip, so learning more about one another and our likes/dis-likes will make this much more fun.

I suppose I'll sign off... and save more for later!
Molly

** We were blessed by another weekend of beautiful weather.... hopefully it's not the last one!

A Message from Amy

2008-10-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I'll give Jessica a break from blogging since she so far has been the leader in setting up the site (thanks Jessica!!).

I'll start by saying that this is such an exciting experience for all of us - the GSE team (of course!) but also our friends, families, co-workers and sponsoring clubs. I can't believe how much support I've received from those around me and how interested people are in learning about this journey we're about to take together.

I also visited a Rotary meeting this week at the Mile High Club (my sponsor). This was my third visit to the club, and people are starting to recognize and remember me, which is great. But probably the biggest surprise was that the guest speaker was none other than my former boss, who is now CEO at the Denver Botanic Gardens. He, naturally, gave a presentation on the gardens, plans for remodeling, community relations, and the workplace culture....while obviously a completely different topic than the economic development talks that I'm accustomed to hearing from him, the message was incredibly relevant. And that's what he talked about - Relevance.

And by relevance, he talked about how in our own lives - whether we work in economic development, or gardening, or we're out traveling the world - we should always think about how these experiences are relevant to our day-to-day lives, and how our actions are relevant to those around us. He talked about a number of things, but this is what I took away: our actions have an impact on those around us and on ourselves, and this is something we have control over. When we travel to Central America on the GSE exchange, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to make that impact be a positive one.

So, I'll leave it with that. Que este viaje sea llena de experiencias positivas, tanto para las comunidades de America Central a que vamos a visitar, como para cada uno de nosotros!
~Amy

The Extra Mile

2008-10-23T15:30:00.001-07:00

In my job I visit a lot of Rotary clubs. I have visited Rotarys in large metropolises (Chicago, IL) and small cities (Brenham, TX) and it is always fun to get a feel for the club's "personality" (and yes, they are different). But no matter what club I visit they welcome me with open arms. What has made the biggest impact on me has been Rotarians' willingness to help - living up to their motto: "Service Above Self".

Today I was able to attend the Rotary District 5450 State of the State Address with keynote speaker Govenor Bill Ritter. To open the event the District Govenor, Steve Cantrell, updated the audience on Rotary's advancement in eradicating Polio. It is truly amazing what this club has done for children around the world. I learned that the spread of Polio has been limited to 4 countries. Rotary will not stop until Polio is wiped from the world.

What a perfect example of people working together to make a difference...

~ Jessica (GSE Team Member)

GSE What?!

2008-10-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

An amazing trip - YES! But this opportunity is much more than that....

"The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas. "
- Rotary International Website

Colorado Rotary District 5450 will be exchanging with Central America District 4240. Our journey will take us to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama!

Hello World!

2008-10-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 2009 Rotary GSE 5450 Team blog! We are excited to begin blogging about our preparations and experiences to keep our families, friends, employers and Rotary districts up to speed on our GSE experience. There is no doubt that we are in for a wild ride! Enjoy!