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Rican war vets The ‘Mariachis’ are Ernestina Loría, María Consuelo Valverde, Adelía Loría, Julia Aguilar Rodríguez and Ortesia Guadamuz, all veterans of the losing side in the country’s 1948 civil war. In front is Marielos Varela Pacheco, secretary of the veterans’ association. |
A.M. Costa Rica/Saray Ramírez
Vindas
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their share of war By Saray Ramírez Vindas
They all were eligible for their senior citizen gold card because they all participated in Costa Rica’s five-week civil war in 1948, some 55 years ago. Some were soldiers. Some were nurses, and all fought on the losing side, the troops that backed the government against the upstart José Figueres. Among the so called "ex-combatientes" were the women of 1948 who were among those honored by a luncheon of some 150 persons at Casa Presidential Thursday. They each had their own tale: of losing a husband or of fighting while being pregnant. The winner, Figueres, went on to found the Partido Liberación Nacional, which is not the political party of President Abel Pacheco. That’s why the honorees Thursday were mainly from the government side. Figueres brought a strong socialist tone to the government that followed the war. He also abolished the army, which is why there are so few Costa Rica war vets. The losing side is called the "mariachis," because so many of the leaders went into exile to Mexico, including former president Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia, who was a principal figure in the defeated government of President Teodoro Picado. From discussions Thursday with the women of 1948, the fact became clear that most had few political views and became involved on the side of the government because family members were or because their situation dictated it. As a result many lost their homes and most did not receive pensions. The main goal of the group is to construct a location in the San José area for their family members and the Asociación de Ex-combatientes de 1948. Plans are in the works. GOP to remember
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Republicans Abroad of Costa Rica is having a picnic in honor of U.S. Presidents Day. Although the U.S. holiday is Feb. 17, the picnic will be on Saturday, Feb. 22. The barbecue at the Bello Horizonte Country Club is in part to celebrate the holiday and also to spur on membership for the upcoming year. Everyone is invited regardless of political persuasion or nationality, Frances Givens said. She is president of Republicans Abroad. The food will be barbecued and pies stuffed with apples for the American holiday. The country club’s pool, tennis courts and other facilities will be in use by those who attend, Ms. Givens said. Tickets for the party cost 4,000 colons ($10.53) for Republican abroad members and 4,500 colons ($11.84) for nonmembers. Broadcast system
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The struggling Sistema Nacional de Radio y Television Cultural got a big boost Thursday when the Asemblea Nacional acted to create a legal framework for the organization. The so-called SINART is best known for its cultural and folkloric presentations on Channel 13, but also operates Radio Nacional. The legislative action approves a law that will allow the system to be incorporated as a public company. The law approved on second reading in the assembly provides that SINART will get 10 percent of what government agencies and independent institutions spend on television and publicity. The system will be prohibited from transmitting political propaganda except that of the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones urging people to vote and any political material contained in news broadcasts. |
Recently I was in Mora Books (my home away from home), and I came across a book by Lynn Underwood entitled "A Woman Alone Can Be Contented." I leafed through it briefly but decided not to buy it because it seemed like it was aimed at making an unfortunate situation bearable. It was published in 1997. I have been living alone for a long, long time (by my definition, living alone means living without a family or a significant other). In the past decade or so, more and more people have taken to living alone. Some by choice, others by circumstances. A good number of these people are women, and a good number of my friends are women living alone in Costa Rica. I decided to ask them how they felt about living alone here. One of the first things people who do not live alone ask about is loneliness. Usually women who live alone have a variety of interests, whether it is reading, studying a language (it is a good idea for a woman alone here to become competent in Spanish), cooking, or playing at something. A positive addiction is an asset if you live alone. Living alone means you can pursue any of these activities to your hearts content. There are dozens of clubs here that one can join, and I have found it easier to meet people in Costa Rica than anywhere I have lived in the United States. Anyone who moves to another country is prepared for being lonely sometime, and I learned a long time ago that I would much rather be lonely alone than with someone. I am free to do something about it. And, as Margaret says "If I’m lonely, I can always go to the phone and invite some folks to lunch." Many of the joys of living alone come under the heading of freedom, like creating one’s own routines or de-creating them at your own whim (as Sandy says). Eating whatever, whenever and wherever you like. (Living alone means never having to set the table.) Or getting up in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep and thumping about making a cup of tea (or cocoa) without worrying you might wake someone or having to say, "Would you like something, too?" These are just some of the things that are a part of the freedom one has when living alone. For some of us, living alone brings a new sense of competence when you discover you can do the things that were formerly done by the man of the house, like hanging a shelf or installing a towel rack. It is easier for a foreign woman to live alone in Costa Rica than it is for a Tica. She is not held to the customs of the country, and often she is excused as a crazy Gringa. It is also easier to live in the city. In a small community people are far more traditional and are distressed about and sorry for a woman all-alone. Ticos seem always to be in the company of others. A woman without a husband or children is not seen as normal. By the same token, since Costa Ricans are caring and tend to be kind to older women, they look after you. That means they see you! I used to be invisible in the States. I went out today and a gentleman gave me his seat on a crowded bus and when I got off, there was another gentleman standing there with his hand out to help me. I have no problem going to a restaurant alone. I have never been seated next to the kitchen or felt ignored by the waiter or waitress. Although break-ins and robberies are not uncommon here (as I well know, having had my computer stolen), generally, we women don’t feel unsafe. Some have guards on the premises, others have good neighbors, and others have dogs. I am not sure having a dog qualifies one as living alone. You are not totally in charge. But you are still in charge of the remote control. And being in control of that, the other day I was surfing the channels and came upon an interview in progress with Barbara Feldon, formerly Agent 99 of Get Smart. She has just written a book entitled, "Living Alone and Loving It." That’s more like it, Barbara. I wish to thank my friends, Sandy, Margaret, Ruth and Lillian for
their contributions to this column. I have not given them much credit,
but I certainly have used their ideas.
More Jo Stuart HERE! |
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