Anyone recognize this handsome R and B crooner? This is Akon who released his most recent album “Konvicted” in the fall of 2006 with the single “I Just Wanna Love You” making it to the upper reaches of the Billboard charts (I actually have it on my IPod and I recomend that you check it out if you haven’t heard it yet).

Akon moved to New Jersey when he was 7 but he was actually born in one of Projects Abroad’s destinations and even in the same exact city where our volunteers work! Can you guess which country?

If Google fails you, don’t be afraid to ask for hints!

Ocatal Beach at Sunset, Costa Rica

Our Assistant Country Manager in Costa Rica, Matt, sent in this post for the blog. It makes me want to leave this weather behind and get to Costa Rica!

It’s been a funny old week here in Costa Rica. We had some baking hot sun from Monday through Thursday then as soon as Friday hit, RAIN! Torrential thunderstorms. It was about 3pm and the clouds came in, the sun disappeared the whole place went dark and just rain and lightning for an hour or so. After that, sun, for the rest of the day, Crazy.
I just realized I started the blog by talking about the weather – how very British of me. Tea?
Well actually, I did bring some tea over with me, and a teapot, and a tea strainer. Is that excessive? Well maybe the bisto gravy was!
Here is Costa Rica the life is nice and tranquil, especially during the dry season here. In the middle of the day, it is much to hot to do anything productive. I presume it is like that in the other Projects Abroad destinations too. Like Ghana, Thailand or Mexico? Am I right?

Therefore, our days start early, at maybe 6.30am with some traditional rice and beans, and maybe a little fruit, and then out to placements. Some of the teaching volunteers have morning placements, and some afternoon placements (some more hardcore volunteers go all day!). Lunch back at the host family is some variation of a Casado. Some kind of protein with a little salad, plantain and beans and rice (I love beans and rice). The afternoon is taken at a smooth pace. Sometimes volunteers visit the swimming pool and sometimes Hermosa Beach less then 1hr away. The sun leaves at about 7pm and then things begin to wind down as dinner is served throughout the country. Later in the evenings is a social time, either with the host family or out and about. We have a fortnightly quiz here in Liberia as well as an air-conditioned cinema (bring a jumper – no, seriously!) and we have been known to organize the odd bit of karaoke. There are also loads of other things to do in the evenings and at the weekends. I am myself a big fan of scuba! When not scuba diving I can go and visit hot springs, cloud forest, volcanoes, rainforest, lakes, waterfalls, National Parks, beaches the list goes on…
You know you want to come over!

Steak, wine and tango – a heady mix under any circumstances. All the more enjoyable under a warm sun, in the lush green environs or beautiful Argentina.

I’ve been living in Argentina for 7 weeks now, helping out the local team here as the projects get more popular and busy, and it’s great.

A typical asada

The first few weeks in a new place are always the best time for me to spot what may be strange or different for volunteers coming here fresh, before it all becomes second nature to me, but really, it’s not too hard to adjust to life here. The families I’ve met are all so friendly and the city of Córdoba has a very European feel – just the right balance between historical buildings and modern bars. Many volunteers live and work in smaller towns around Córdoba city, as I do, which is nice as life in the little towns is tranquil, but the city is only an hour away if you fancy a night out. I went out last Saturday and Argentineans really know how to party! People never get to clubs until 2 am and usually carry on until 6 or 7 in the morning. As I staggered out about 5am (obviously not hardcore enough!) there was a queue of people waiting go in and get started!

Family parties are something else I’ve been enjoying, in the form of asadas - huge bonfires with all the delcious steak you can eat, plus other treats such as empanadas (similar to Cornish pasties) and icecream – dulce de leche-flavoured of course: I’m sure that stuff runs through people’s veins here.

Volunteers can have a great time here and it’s not all parties! More and more projects are being added – there’s now dentistry here, for example – and more and more volunteers are heeding the call of this charming southern country that enjoys the height of summer when things are chilly in the Northern hemisphere. There’s a really good group of volunteers at the moment, and more coming soon. I’m happy I have the chance to live and work here and experience Argentine culture first hand: it’s a rich blend of European and Latin American culture that many people fall in love with, including me.