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November 16, 2006

Join SWC for our first Winter Retreat in Costa Rica!

Filed under: Katana Abbott's Posts

Have you always wanted to visit Costa Rica?  Are you ready to really pamper yourself for seven sumptuously relaxing days in paradise? 

Take a journey of personal discovery with Smart Women’s Coaching this winter and explore the magical beaches and jungles of Costa Rica where you will not only experience paradise, but return fully rejuvenated and ready to live your life with more purpose, passion and abundance.    

Costa RicaDuring this 7- day all inclusive retreat at Rancho Armadillo, situated high above the Pacific on a private 25 acre estate in Playa Del Coco, we have arranged for SWC to have exclusive use of this exotic resort where you and 10 smart women will enjoy a week long adventure of spa services, yoga, sailing and just relaxing…no cell phones, no emails and no demands on your time.  You will return home with a step by step plan to make time for yourself, get paid what you are worth and how to live the life of your dreams. 

We are so excited to be hosing this event for Smart Women’s Coaching.  If you have been reading our newsletters for the last three years, then you will know that Katana has written about her adventures in Costa Rica twice.  By winter, our days will be short and we will be starved for sunshine and warmth!

As women, we are natural caregivers…always taking care of everyone else’s needs first before our own.  This is why Vision Coach, Katana Abbott, Perfect Life Coach, Cynthia Zimber and Personal Branding Coach, Jill Jordan will each be creating very special retreats in 2007 specifically designed to help women create balanced lives filled with passion and purpose.

Sunset palm treeWe hope you can join us for this very special retreat where you will arrive in Costa Rica on Sunday, February 4th just in time to spend a couple of hours by the pool.  Your first evening will begin with cocktails and appetizers as you watch the sun melt slowly into the ocean.  Later after a gourmet dinner in Rancho’s open air restaurant, you can star gaze at the brilliance of the Milky Way.  You’ll be amazed that you can actually see a star nebula in the belt of Orion with your naked eye because of the clear night skies!  Each morning when you wake up, your hosts Debbie and Rick will be waiting with a platter of fresh tropical fruit, home made breads, freshly squeezed topical juices and of course, freshly brewed Costa Rican Coffee!
 
During your Retreat, your days will be spent the way you choose with options like sunbathing at the pool, yoga, massage, spa services, gourmet meals or solitary walks along the beach.  We have also planned a few special excursions to give you a true taste of what Costa Rica has to offer the adventurous soul.

The Rancho Armadillo Estate is positioned on 25 acres of rich dry tropical forest in Playas del Coco, surrounded by mountains, exotic gardens, birds and howler monkeys.  Visit www.ranchoarmadillo.com to see why it is the #1 hotel in Coco, Ocotal & Hermosa.

Airfare is very reasonable right now, but could easily double or triple as time goes on, so it will be important to secure airfare as soon as possible.  This will be an all inclusive package (except for airfare), all the details of travel will be managed for you, so you will have nothing to plan for.  You will be pampered and taken care of totally…so you can just relax.  Here is what we have planned for you:

Reinvent your Life in Costa Rica!
February 4-10

Day 1
3pm:  Arrive at hotel in the afternoon; settle into rooms, change into tropical clothes, meet your wonderful hosts, Debbie and Rick (who will treat you like family) for a tour of property  Enjoy the gardens and pool.
5 pm:  Sunset & cocktail hour with appetizers
7pm Gourmet dinner at Rancho Armadillo

Canopy Zip LineDay 2
7 am:  Breakfast is served on an open air, ocean view veranda which receives a constant breeze from the Bay of Papagayo
9 am:  “Secrets of Successful High Earners” This is an interactive workshop based on best selling author, Barbara Stanny’s latest book, “Overcoming UnderEarning”.  Barbara says even if you are earning six figures…if you are not being paid what you are truly worth or not passionate about your work, you are an under earner. 
11:30 am:  Leisure time and lunch on your own
2:30 pm: Canopy tour
Only 20 minutes from Rancho Armadillo…imagine yourself soaring through the air above the canopy of the rain forest surrounded by howler monkeys.  This is truly a blast…a must for everyone!
5pm:  Sunset & cocktail hour with appetizers
7pm:  Dinner in town - Louisiana Bar & Grill
 

WaterfallDay 3
7 am:  Yoga class high above the pool in the open air library
8 am – 10 am:  Breakfast served
10 am:  Bagaces Waterfall & Wild cat rescue center
Leave Coco for a 45 minute drive to a 60 ft long / 40 ft tall waterfall in the jungle. The waterfall empties into a white sand pool where you can swim up and play in the waterfall. From there you will have lunch on the banks of the Corobici River where you will take 12 ft zodiac rafts down the Corobici River where you will get a chance to see crocodiles, howler & white faced monkeys, river otters, all kinds of birds and the Jungle Flora.  The tour will end with a visit to the oldest wild cat rescue center in Costa Rica where you will see up close and personal jaguars, ocelots, puma’s, marguay’s , toucans and monkeys. 
5 pm:  Return for sunset & cocktail hour with appetizers
7 pm:  Dinner at Pura Vida Papagayo

people on beachDay 4
7am:  Breakfast  
Sail & Snorkel Tour aboard a 50ft sail yacht – The DRUMS OF BORA:
Leave from the beach in Coco at 8 am and return around 2 pm.  Tour includes lunch, open bar, and snorkel equipment and will take you up into the gulf to beaches accessible only by boat. Along the way you will see turtles & dolphins.
2pm – Return to Rancho Armadillo; afternoon at leisure
5pm:  Sunset & cocktail hour with appetizers
7pm:  Dinner at Sol y Luna
 
Day 5
7am:  Breakfast served
9am:  Join Katana for this lively “Reinventing Midlife with Purpose, Passion and Abundance” workshop where you will learn to use our new Perfect Life Planner and Organizer, a tool that will help you stay on track when you go back home.
11am: Leisure time and lunch on your own (spa services)
5pm:  Sunset & cocktail hour with appetizers
7pm:  Dinner at Rancho 

Day 6
7am:  Breakfast served 
9am:  Day of leisure for beach, shopping, lounging and spa
7pm:  Dinner at Milanese 

Day 7
7am:  Breakfast served
11 am:  Depart for airport

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

Breakfast, gourmet dinners with master chef at Rancho Armadillo, dinner, cocktail at four restaurants, nightly sunset appetizer/cocktail hour, $50 spa services credit, group yoga class overlooking the ocean, lodging, transportation, six hour sailing trip with snorkeling, lunch and bar, zip line canopy tour, waterfall/rafting tour/animal rescue center and lunch, two interactive workshops with workbooks and optional follow up when you go home.  All tips will be handled by SWC.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

Airfare is not included.  Airfare is currently running around $700, but it can change quickly overnight.  Spaces will fill up soon, so email us today if you are interested in being part of this wonderful adventure, at info@smartwomenscoaching.com As soon as you are confirmed with your retreat deposit, you will want to reserve your flight immediately.  We suggest something like this: 

Your Trip - 1Adult Flight - 1Round Trip Ticket 

Sun, Feb 04 Depart:7:05am, Arrive 12:35pm
Detroit,MI (DTW) to Liberia, (LIR) 
American Airlines Flight953 / Flight2123 

Sat, Feb 10 Depart:1:40pm, Arrive 11:30pm
Liberia, (LIR) to Detroit,MI (DTW) 
American Airlines Flight2124 / Flight1206 

Total Air, Taxes & Fees  $738.38

FURTHER DETAILS: 

Transportation to & from the airport in a 15 passenger Mercedes air conditioned van.  (All Transport with bi-lingual driver/guide)

Attire:  Leave your designer clothing, blow dryer and and make up at home ladies!  This is a very casual lifestyle known as Pura Vida…the Pure Life.  All you will need to bring are some sunglasses, lip stick, a hat, a couple of bathing suits, cover up, a few light sundresses, tank tops, shorts and comfortable sandals.  It’s wonderful and so freeing!  This will be like our private home for the week, so we don’t need to dress up–even when we go to town–it’s our time to relax!

Lunches:  Most days you will be out & about and eat out.  There will always be cold cuts, breads & cheeses on hand for those who want to fix something.  The quaint fishing village of Coco is only a short two miles into town and you can enjoy wonderful fresh fish, including ceviche!

Dinners:  Two special dinners will be hosted by Rancho’s master chef and will include five courses: appetizers, salad, entrée & desert. Those who are interested may be invited to a cooking class during our second meal at the resort.

Registration:  We will send you a registration form, you will need a deposit of $500 (credit cards accepted) and then we can help you arrange airfare if needed.  The airport is Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR).

Accommodations:  Rancho Armadillo is a private bed and breakfast style hotel with individual cabinas.  This is not a big fancy hotel…this will be like our own private estate on a mountain overlooking the ocean.  Most cabinas will accommodate 3-4 guests and have a king or queen bed and a futon.  Some king beds can be split into two twins or vice versa.  There is also a two bedroom suite.  If you would like to share a room and are looking for a room mate, let us know.  

Cost: for this retreat (excluding air fare) is:

Single:   $2,150
Double:  $1,650
Triple:    $1,400

Also, since this retreat is an educational event and includes networking opportunities, you could consult your tax advisor as to whether you can deduct all or part of your trip.

Don’t miss this life changing experience.  We hope you can join us!  Katana has pictures and video (including the zip line over the canopy of the rain forest!) from her last three trips and would be happy to host a pre-retreat party at her home for the lucky women who will be attending!

Katana@smartwomenscoaching.com
Jill@smartwomenscoaching.com
Cynthia@smartwomenscoaching.com

Feel free to email one of us if you have any questions!
 

 

November 15, 2006

Letter # 13: Superstitions, strange beliefs and unusual tribal customs

Filed under: Letters From Africa

Dear Friends and Family,

When I realized this is letter # 13 I almost changed it to # 14. That’s pretty silly isn’t it? But it rather illustrates what I wanted to tell you about in this letter, which are the superstitions, strange beliefs (strange to us, that is) and unusual tribal customs of the Basotho.

But first, a personal update. I’m living in the lap of luxury at the moment in our T. house in Maseru. I had a bit of an accident and so I’m here under the watchful eyes of our top rate PC doctors. It is nothing serious. A horse, not my wonderful horse but a nasty brute that has, actually, kicked me before–kicked me for the second time. It’s a long and boring story but let’s just say I couldn’t get out of the way in time and he got me in the lower leg. His hoof made a pretty deep gash, which I took care of as best I could in the village. Unfortunately, it festered. I came into Maseru to have it looked at and was taken to the hospital for a bit of unpleasant surgery.

My leg is now stitched up, propped up and doing fine. I feel like a princess. If I need to get anywhere I call for a car and driver. I had fresh brewed coffee, chilled watermelon and a tasty sweet roll for breakfast. My laptop is plugged into an actual wall socket. There is a phone at my right hand, a bathroom down the hall and several other PCV’s staying here at the moment that love to play Scrabble!! I love the Peace Corps!

Now, back to Basotho superstitions. I haven’t met anyone here who doesn’t believe in witchcraft. The most educated intelligent people believe in the power of the witch doctors to cast spells. There are lots of witch doctors here. They are not the traditional healers (Sangomas) I’ve spoken of in previous letters who focus on native herbal medicines. These men and women deal only in the occult. They take bizarre things like snakes blood and “eye of newt” and make magic potions. They deal only in curses and spells.

Everyone fears them and their powers. Here’s an example. The man I’m working with to help start a taxi service to remote mountain villages, Ntate Toti, lost his infant daughter two months ago. When I asked him if he knew what she died of he said matter-of-factly, “Witchcraft”. He went on to explain that someone who must have been envious of he and his beautiful wife put a spell on his wife’s breast milk and it poisoned the child.

As I’ve mentioned, this is a very Christian country. That fact, doesn’t in any way, interfere with widely held superstitions. In fact, Christian beliefs have been intermixed with ancient tribal beliefs into the very interesting and unique current culture. Two of the Sangomas I work closely with in our village are very good Catholics. When they are treating patients they give them herbal remedies all the time chanting to the Christian God, the ancestors of the patients, and any appropriate Christian saints whom they also consider as ancestors and intermediaries to the big “Chief”.

I attend meetings of community health care workers in our area. These wonderful, local and mostly uneducated women are the only caregivers to the hundreds of homebound sick many of whom are at the hospice point of their illnesses. Nurse Zim gives them some training in how to recognize and treat various illnesses, nutritional information and encouragement.

After this “technical” session the meeting turns into an almost revival religious meeting. Women will stand up and sway and chant and pray for some specific patient using the force of everyone’s positive thinking to affect a cure. It goes on for hours. In the absence of medical supplies, nutritious food and even the most basic sanitation who knows, perhaps it helps. It certainly seems to give everyone a psychological lift.

Here’s another example of cultural beliefs. You’ll remember my description of the birth of little Moklatsi my first night on the job. Well, his head came out really elongated from his long stint in the birth canal. M’e Matjeeka, after we’d cut the cord etc. ran outside and got a gourd that was the shape of a perfectly formed skull. She rubbed it all over Moklatsi’s tiny head explaining to me that this practice would make his head go into the perfect shape of the gourd in no time! The afterbirth was wrapped in a blanket and buried in the family ash pit. This assured that the spirit of this child would always be a protected part of this family and would not wander to the “dark side”.

This letter could go on for too long but I must tell you one more event that greatly affected the Peace Corps. The last group of trainees who arrived in October was just finishing their village training on December 2nd. This is storm season here and the electrical storms are incredible. Anyway, it wasn’t storming–just hot and muggy and there were some storm-looking clouds far off in the horizon. Some of the group was sitting under a tree. The rest were inside the school classrooms–which have the typical metal roofs. Two of the trainers were sitting on a metal box under the tree. Well, a bolt of lightening came out of nowhere, went through the three rooms of the building, knocked everybody down and seriously injured six people. The two trainers sitting on the metal box were the most affected–one paralyzed from the waist down. Many people had strange burns–like a burn on the back of the neck and on the bottoms of the feet. Everybody I’ve spoken to said it felt like a bomb going off.

Well, the villagers were sure it was Witchcraft. All the Peace Corps trainers and volunteers had to leave the village immediately. They were scheduled to have the big, happy farewell feast in a few days. It was canceled. Witchdoctors were brought into the village to cleanse and appease the evil spirits that had caused it. It is doubtful if Peace Corps will ever be able to use this village again for immersion training.

The other thing I really want to tell you about is the circumcision schools but that will have to wait for another time.

This might be the last letter before my trip home. I’m counting the days…23 to go. I’m bringing tons of photos and lots of stories of this interesting sojourn in Africa. I hope to see you then.

Love,
Peggi

November 14, 2006

Pierette Domenica Simpson - “Alive on the Andrea Doria”

Filed under: Smart Women Talk - Interviews

Pierette Simpson (center)

In this month’s Smart Women Talk we learn from Pierette what inspired her to sit down and write the story she has carried within her since childhood.  Just before she began her Italian book tour, she offered encouragement for women who have a dream to take the leap and make it a reality. Click the link below to download the interview, or the button to listen to it online.  Enjoy!

(Photo above l. to r.:  Cynthia Zimber, Pierette Domenica Simpson, Ida Mucciante)

Pierette Domenca Simpson Interview

November 9, 2006

Smart Happenings…November 9, 2006

Filed under: Jill Jordan's Posts, Katana Abbott's Posts, Smart Happenings

Women’s LifeStyle magazine and Slow Food Detroit launched their first annual, “Thanks & Giving” – a benefit for Big Families of Michigan.  Celebrity Chef Frank Turner gave catering tips in order to have a stress-free holiday turkey.  Katana Abbott, Cynthia Zimber and Jill Jordan – Smart Women Coaches donated a complimentary coaching session along with a percentage of their proceeds from selling holiday gift certificates as a donation to Slow Food Detroit.