Final Bridge Update

In August 2009, I returned to Costa Rica for the inauguration of the completed bridge in Herradura de Rivas.

Take a look at this beautiful bridge!!!

On the day of the inauguration, the entire town and many guests gathered at the bridge to celebrate.

Here is the crowd awaiting the ceremonies.

And here I am with my mom (who joined me from the US), my Costa Rican host mother, my host grandmother, and two other Peace Corps volunteers from nearby.

The president of the town council saying the first words. Two local TV stations, two radio stations, and a number of locals newspapers came to record the event! Check out this link.

My mom and I look on happily.

The director of welfare services (IMAS) for the province of Perez Zeledon addresses the crowd.

Next I'm up to speak!

I thank everyone sincerely for their incredibly hard work in building the bridge.

And I tell the remarkable story of the storm, my medical evacuation, and the hundreds of people from all over the United States and Costa Rica who came together to help rebuild the main bridge.

Many people look on to my Spanish-speaking news debut!

Next I am led to a little covered spot on the bridge.

I unveil it to find a wonderful honor.

A plaque thanking me and everyone who collaborated in the construction of the bridge in Herradura, August 2009.

Next we cut the ribbon and everyone heads back into the center of town for a celebratory feast!

All the townspeople waiting in the Salon Comunal.

My host cousins and neighbors.

A table of honor.

A night of dancing!

The next day we go on a hike across the bridge.

My three host uncles pose with me.

Now you can see it from the side!

And from above...

And from higher above.

What beautiful work they did!

And the provincial government donated cement to finish off the bridge entry and exit for cars.

Next my mom enjoyed some other sites in my beautiful town (hiking with my host dad).

And baking bread with a neighbor.

And here we are with my host family in their pulperia (general store).

What an incredible experience, and what an unbelievable success story of partnership, hard work, and generosity on the part of so many people in Costa Rica and the United States. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to this amazing project!

Bridge Update #2

I am thrilled to report that bridge building is almost complete! What an incredible accomplishment - a true collaboration between many donors and the hard work of everyone in the community.

The machinery finally arrived! First step: removing that old dangerous foot bridge.

Next, placing the wooden "vigas" or rails across the river. (These enormous tree trunks came from family farms up in the mountains.)

The gigantic vigas are in place high above the river.

The foundation for the cement bridge is made of wood.

Students try out this new wooden path. (Thanks to Global Fund for Children for your support!)

Preparing the iron re-bar framework for the bridge.

Full framework in place.

My host family (and the new Peace Corps Volunteer) trying it out!

Starting to fill with cement...

Using red banana plants for bridge irrigation. The local way!

Look how many town members came together to fill the bridge with cement!!

A huge group volunteer effort.

And the bridge is filled!

My host dad completing the fine work.

WOOHOO!! We have a new bridge!!!


Do you remember what it was like before?


Now look at it after:

Students safely crossing a wonderful new bridge to school!

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL!!!

Bridge Update #1

Bridge building has begun!

Thank you so much to all those who contributed to the bridge project. We reached our $10,000 goal with the support of 226 contributors and an average donation size of $44. What a tremendous group effort to build this bridge!

Here is the first bridge update with photos:

1. Community Meeting
We held a community-wide meeting to plan bridge construction. In the meeting we selected the official construction manager from within the town, and we created a work schedule for each day of the week. 4-7 men of the community have volunteered their labor for each day, Monday-Saturday.

Members of the community gather.

Town members discuss plans for bridge construction, management, and timeline.

I explain how we raised funds with contributions from so many different people interested in the project.

Work schedule on the door of the pulperia (town store).

2. Buying Materials
Next we traveled to a construction warehouse in the nearest town (1.5 hours) to purchase the first round of materials. We bought 300 sacks of cement, 200 iron re-bars, nails, wire, sand for cement mixing, and other miscellaneous materials for a total of $5912.

Reviewing our list and budget.

Surveying the prices.

300 sacks of cement!

2 types of iron re-bar.

Loading the truck.

Displaying our receipts!

3. Starting Construction
Materials were delivered to the town, and the first stages of bridge construction have begun. The first step was to prepare all iron re-bar and mix cement to raise the bastions on either side of the bridge by approximately 2 feet. This higher level will protect the bridge against future flooding. The cement bastions on either side of the bridge are now complete, and the town is awaiting heavy machinery to dredge the river to prepare for the next stage of construction.

First truck arriving in the rain.

Getting ready to unload.

Unloading the cement. (All the men were very worried about me carrying this!)

Work Day 1: Preparing the iron re-bar.

Getting ready to raise the cement bastion by 2 feet.

Building the wooden mold.

Ready to fill.

Students cross the makeshift bridge on their daily trip back from school.

Work Day 2: Sand delivery arrives.

Mixing cement.

First wheelbarrow-full.

Raising the bastion!

Adding rocks.

Happy onlookers.

Coffee break!

Work Day 3: Preparing side #2.

Transporting cement with a little help.

Filling up side #2.

All full.

Bastion #1 raised and dry.

Next step: waiting for heavy machinery to arrive and dredge the river to remove the large boulders.

And I head home after stage 1 of bridge building to pursue my NYC Teach for America commitments.

But I'll be back to Costa Rica soon to oversee the end of construction and cross the finished bridge!! Very exciting...