first day on the job

Today was my first day of work as Project Manager.  I'm going to be working with Benson Venegas, who is the Executive Director of a Costa Rican environmental organization called ANAI (www.discoveringcostarica.com/anai_association.htm) and trying to help him with the administrative end of the reconstruction/rebuilding projects in Yorkin.   The mission teams from Colorado Community Church have been involved with Yorkin, Benson, and ANAI for the past several years, so I've been on the stateside end of things before, but this will also expose me to a whole new side of things.  I'll still be involved with planning and coordinating the logistics for the CCC teams (2 are coming in March and 2 more in July), but also attempting to keep things organized within the actual projects and work that is going on in the jungle.  This will probably include tracking materials that need to be purchased, ordering them, making sure they get delivered, keeping a record of donors and supports, keeping those folks informed as to what is going on, and whatever else I can do to help things run smoothly and for progress to be made in the next few months.

The ANAI office is located in San Jose, about an hour away from where I am staying with Luisa and her family.  Thanks to the magic of technology (when it is working!) the plan is for me to work from the ANAI office about 2 days a week or so, then work here at the language school the other 3 days or so.  That way I'll be able to have direct interaction with Benson and the folks at ANAI, but also take advantage of the convenience of not having to commute and still get a lot of stuff done from here.   Besides the times when the teams from CCC are here, I'll probably make some regular trips to Yorkin to deliver materials, see how things are coming along, take photos and give updates, etc.  

When I met Benson at the office this morning, he showed me my desk and work space (i'll add photos!) and gave me a tour of the place.  The office is really an old house and has all wood floors and cool coved ceilings on the upper floor, which is where we work.  There are about 6 people who work there full time and some other volunteers who come in and out.  They have "dorms" with bunk beds so people can sleep there, and showers, kitchen, etc.... so it's sort of an office with a slight fraternity/sorority house feel. :) 

Today was mostly consumed with trying to get the All-in-one Copier, Scanner, Printer, Fax that I brought down in a suitcase to work (technology again....) and just getting a sense of what's going on and how things operate.   It's kind of like starting any new job - you always feel a bit overwhelmed by all there is to learn and understand and then hopefully be able to do.  But I'm sure I'll get the hang of it and with any luck will prove to be helpful for everyone! 

I must also add that Benson made lunch.  He wanted it to be lentil stew but a slight overestimation of the amount of water to add turned it into a lentil soup, but it was great!  Made with fresh vegetables and spices all in the pressure cooker pot.  Another recipe to add to my list and hope that one day i can come close to reproducing!