Mes 1

The afternoon rains have rolled in and I am sitting here listening to the tropical downpour that defines the rainy season in Costa Rica.  It's been a month and finally I understand why people wake up at 5 am.  The idea is to get everything done in the morning because if you go out during the afternoon you are guaranteed to be waterlogged.  My umbrella has become a permanent accessory.  

It's been a whirlwind of new places, new friends and more than anything homework.  I hadn't been in school for a long time, so I am having to learn how to pace myself and plan properly. Still, regardless of how I plan, this is a Masters in one year and its going to be intense. 

 

Friday was the last day of our foundation course.  The first part of the day consisted of a lecture with all 150 students and then we broke down into smaller groups to discuss the lecture and role play different parts of peace-building, using real conflicts.  Some things we did included a conflict analysis for the Georgia/ Russia situation, Defending or Critiquing the decision of the International Criminal Court's call for the arrest of Sudan's president, and preparing a plan for Egypt on how to build friendly relations with their neighbors while maintaining a monopoly on the water in the Nile.  All in a days work... right?

The lectures consisted of presentations from each master's area.  We had readings and lectures on International Law and Human Rights,  Environmental Security and Peace, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Media Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender and Peacebuilding  and of course Peace Education.  We also had many general Peace Studies classes where we learned about conflict mapping, theories  of conflict, obstacles to de-escalation, implementing  agreements, reconciliation, rebuilding and much more.  All of this in 3 weeks!! (now you know why I haven't written before).

The work load is doesn't let up, about 4-5 hours of reading per night, one or two papers per week and a presentation or 2 per class.  The papers take me much longer than they did in my undergrad- but maybe that's because I am writing about such complicated subject matter.  

The faculty are unlike anything I've ever seen.  Not only do they come from all over the world, but many have profiles that differ from the typical academic.  They have done field work in volatile conflict situations, they have been ambassadors, UN employees, and held leadership positions in massive NGOs.   Listening to them talk about their experiences is a little like meeting someone famous, they leave you speechless. 

Perhaps the biggest learning opportunity comes from my fellow students.   In my seminar class I listened to a girl from Sudan talk about Darfur, a girl from South Korea talk about the long term effects of the separation from North Korea, a man from Egypt talk about the conflicts  in the Middle East.   

The university found me an apartment, but it was small, dark and a little depressing.  I met a great Brazilian girl and her boyfriend and we found an amazing condo to share.  She is studying International Law and Human Rights and has already worked for the UN in Brazil.  He is a lawyer at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose.  Dinnertime at our place is full of conversations on art, history and current events.  Ana, my roommate, has been accepted to Columbia's Human Rights department next year and is now trying to find a scholarship... (this is a shameless plug).  If anyone knows of any scholarships ... send em my way. 

It hasn't been all work and no play. My second weekend  I met up with a friend from home who has some property here.  We drove about 3 hours to San Isidro del General and stayed on his land, which is a sustainable farm shared between a few families.  We walked in the jungle (I finished with 3 different types of bug bites), bought fresh goat cheese from the neighbor, watched night descend, ate fruit right off the trees, saw all types of bugs and tropical birds and ate meals of hearty natural food. 

 Students have already had some parties with Costa Rican rum and food from all over the world.  I've joined the yoga club and am learning how to breathe and bend my body into a myriad of shapes.  Next weekend my roommates, some friends from school and I are going to do a turtle egg rescue.  We'll collect the eggs from the beach and move them to safer spots, away from poachers.

At my school there is another Rotary Scholar, a kind guy from Florida who is studying Sustainable Development.   One day we were in the cafeteria and realized that the woman who serves us food had a Rotary apron on!  Turns out she is part of a neighboring club.  Next week we will visit her club.   I am looking forward to it!  

I'd love to hear from any and all of you, here or at my email or maybe (does it still exsist?) real mail?

My Address is 

University for Peace

Kerri Drumm

PO Box 138-6100

San Jose, Costa Rica

Central America.  

Pura vida desde Costa Rica!