By Rosemary MacGregor
www.themangotreespa.com
info@themangotreespa.com

Our International women's club started out as a luncheon date between Rosemary MacGregor (The Mango Tree SPA from Tres Rios) and Jacquie Gendron (Group organizer from Ojochal). Jackie is a walker and I saw her walking around Ojochal every day. I stopped to talk to her one day after meeting her at the Ojochal garage sale months before. She seemed like a very interesting woman and I wanted to get to know her. I invited her to lunch at The Lookout hotel a couple of weeks in the future. I was looking forward to this meeting and went to the Lookout on the appointed day. The tables were all set and women were showing up. Jackie had decided with her past cruise organizing experience with groups to walk to every home she could and invite all the women around the Ojochal area so we could all get to know each other. I remember there were 45 women that day and we all shared who we were. It was pretty amazing how much talent literally came out the woodwork.

We have continued to meet and gradually expanded from Palmar Norte to San Isidro as there is much interest and enthusiasm. We have just passed our first year anniversary. At our luncheon meetings we translate in three languages due to the gracious help of Anja Geesink from the Mono Feliz and of late, Francine Ocampo who works part-time translating and helps Sonja Leon at the Uvita Information Center. Anna Hill came on board mid way and decided graciously to build us a website. She has done a fantastic job and has really helped to organize the group.

At present we are developing interest groups such as gardening, archeology, plant medicine, belly dancing, wine tasting, etc. The next activity will be the archeology interest group who will be meeting on Nov. 28 to visit Sierpe and discover information about the round stone balls found only in this south zone.

Our next gathering will be at Dos Gringo's, 11:30 to 2:00 November 17. Lunch will be $5.00 and we will have a speaker talking about "women's issues" in Costa Rica. There will also be an Arts and Crafts Sale and who knows how big and popular this will be over the next few years.

A planning session for ideas will be held at Mono Feliz on Nov. 19 at 10:00. Anyone with ideas and offerings is welcome to come.

The club's webpage www.freewebs.com/ojochaliwc