A.M. Costa Rica photo
Despite the cloudy days and rains, the sky opened up earlier this week
to flood the angelic statue atop the Teatro Nacional with late afternoon
brilliance.
Rain hits Caribbean,
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Heavy rains again hit the Caribbean slope Wednesday and Thursday. Rivers pushed out of their banks, and some homes were flooded. There were reports of minor road damage and some mudslides, but main highways all were still open Thursday night. Unstable weather conditions will continue through today and perhaps into the weekend, increasing the possibility that more serious flooding might develop. A heavy storm was off the south Pacific coast Thursday afternoon, and it was moving north and east towards Costa Rica. Part of this weather system wrapped around from the south and hit the Caribbean slope during the last two days. The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional said that four rivers, the Bananito, the Chirripo, the Reventazón and the San Juan had overflowed their banks by evening Thursday. About 40 homes in the town of Matina were waist-deep in water, which is a common event there. Turrialba, plastered by strong rains and a raging river in early May and again in early June, was experiencing some river bank erosion, but no major problems. Costa Rica’s northern zone also was experiencing the heavy rain, but there were no reports of serious flooding. About a third of an inch of rain fell in the Central Valley since about 7 a.m. Wednesday, the meteorology institute reported. Some thunderstorms and light rain continued through Thursday night. The Caribbean slope and Turrialba took a beating starting May 7 when abnormally heavy rains caused rivers to flood and erode their banks. Homes in the center of Turrialba were undermined and swept away, making dozens of families homeless. The downpours also cause considerable damage to the Talamanca area. Many roads and bridges were heavily damaged. Just like in Britain Some local British subjects are joking that the rainy weather was ordered up for the Queen’s Jubilee Charity Party to create the appropriate atmosphere. The event to raise money for the Salvation Army and the Cruz Roja, goes on rain or shine starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the British ambassador’s residence in Escazú. Tickets are available at the door. Details were published Thursday. |
Gail's kids have a chance for a future There is a popular refrain that begins, "The greatness of a country is measured by how it treats ___" then you can fill in the group of the moment: "its children", "its sick," "its old people." Almost any group is used except "its millionaire CEO’s." One of the sad realities of Costa Rica, and especially San Jose, is the number of children who have had to make their home on the streets. Most are there because they come from what we now call dysfunctional families: because their parents were abusive or because they were too much for their parents. (Usually these two conditions go together). Most of the kids living on the streets are drug users, usually of glue, which helps them get through the days of boredom and the long nights of hunger and the lack of any of the necessities that most of us take for granted. It is encouraging that President Pacheco is taking note of their condition and the fact that the police are not their friends. Fortunately for some of them, they have another friend. Sunday I was at a fund-raising brunch for these children — or rather for the children who have been rescued by Gail Nystrom, founder and hands-on director of the Fundación Humanitaria Costarricense. Thirteen of the 15 young people who have found a home thanks to Gail were at the fund-raiser. They call her "la Gringa loca." Gringos call her the "Saint of San Jose." What she has taken on does require the vision and heart of a Mother Teresa, but instead of easing people to their death, Gail is leading these youths to a new life. When Gail talks about how scared she was when she picked up the first children, I remember with painful shame the night I was coming home in a taxi and saw a child who couldn't be more than 5, sleeping in a doorway. I hesitated and asked the cab driver to slow down. But what went through my mind was "What do I do with him tomorrow?" "What if he is full of lice or worse?" "What if he wakes up and bops me one and robs me?" The voice inside me that said "He is only 5 years old, for heaven sake" did not get heard over my fears. So I drove on. Gail didn’t drive on, and she had just as many, if not more fears, than I. The kids she picked up were in their teens. They were like feral animals, distrustful and fearful, without adult friends, certainly not the police. The early months were not easy. They smashed things, they were rebellious, they challenged Gail at every turn, daring and expecting her to throw them out. Instead, she gave them more love and worked harder with them. These were the teenagers at the brunch, and they were pretty impressive, social and gracious in dealing with grownups. Their art, their candles and the little grass grasshoppers they had made were on display. I bought a drawing done by 18-year-old Daniel. I really like it and expect one day he will be a well-known artist. 16-year old Marianella told us about her life. When she talked about living on the streets, she had to keep remembering not to hang her head. Then, beginning with a radiant smile, she talked about her life today. These kids look after their home, do their own cooking, take classes (some are even learning English), and are planning some cottage industries to help support themselves. If you are interested in helping them with their dream of becoming all they are capable of, you can write to Gail at gnystrom@racsa.co.cr, or call her at (506) 390-4192. One of the things other young people are doing is serving as interns with Gail. These young people are from other countries, often recent college graduates who are between graduation and knowing what they want to do with their lives. I am sure this experience has affected their decision. More Jo Stuart |
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