It is a beautiful thing to travel with our kids. They are warm; they are open; they are curious; they are true. Last night I fell asleep to the sounds of the three boys next door laughing uproariously with their new Costa Rican family, including the two young boys who follow our guys around like puppies. I could hear the girls two houses up, giggling and chatting into the night with their hosts. All of it developed in 6 short hours.
It is a rare thing in this world to be surrounded by individuals who make such authentic connections to the world and the people around them so quickly. We hear so much about the sense of isolation and self-interest that has weakened our sense of community and our ability to work toward a common good.
Those challenges are nowhere in sight here in Sitio de Mata, our corner of Costa Rica. Our casa mamis are working (very patiently with the adults, I might add) to teach us Spanish and feeding us as if we may never eat again. And our kids--they are a wonder to watch. They've dived in with household chores, taken the little ones under their wings, and worked in the dirt like they've done it all their lives. All in two short days.
This morning, as we struggled to clear and level and overgrown patch of earth (more on that later), I stopped for a brief break with Austen and Liz. It was their two houses I'd heard laughing and playing the night before. I'll treat you to just two of the thoughts they shared, but be warned: either one alone might bring you to your knees:
Of the views of the valley below and the volcanoes and mountains around us: "Ms Connie, I can't believe what I'm seeing--it's almost like it's not real. I can't stop looking."
Of the relationships they're forming with their Costa Rican families: "I feel lke we've been here two weeks and like I've known them forever."
It's beautiful thing, traveling with our kids.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
July 6--A note from Connie
Pura Vida! It's a phrase I've encountered over and over, since the first moment we began planning our trip. The travel literature repeats it. Our host signs every email with it. He said it as we hung up at the end of our first telephone conversation. His staff uses it. And all along, I've been touched by how quaint it sounded and how nicely it created the mystique that so often goes along with anticipating a visit to a new place and a new culture. And finally, I looked it up.
Pura vida! It works for "Hello." It works for "See you later."
How are you? Pura vida.
How was your day? Pura vida.
Is this alright with you? Pura vida.
I'm sorry. I hope you're not disappointed. Pura vida.
It works, apparently, for just about anything.
But suddenly we were here, and our guide Hurben delivered a meditation on Pura Vida, urging us that it was so much more than something to say. Costa Ricans, he said, embrace it as a way of life. He told the kids this visit would ask them to try new things, to challenge the limits of their comfort zones, to shrug off expectations, to encounter life as it comes to them, to dig deep and find the most positive force the could bring to bear in every situation. And in doing so, he assured them, they would experience the verve and purity of life that Pura Vida conveys.
While Hurben held forth, our bus made its way through San Jose. Three times we stopped for directions to a place that had no name for an event Spanish teacher Susan Soares had refused to describe. The guides were confused. The drivers were unsure. And we were exhausted from a trip that had begun at 4 am and 3,000 miles away. When the busses cut their engines on a steep hill, we crossed to an unmarked driveway that fell away at a similarly steep angle.
An enormous dump truck sat at the bottom, as did a large tent decorated with balloons and welcome signs and a tiny house and yard from which Susan's mother, aunt, and uncle emerged. They threw their arms around her. They served us dinner, serenaded us with marimbas, and promised the arrival of dancers. And we watched as Susan enjoyed her first visit home in 12 years.
More family poured in. Time ticked by. The kids' energy waned. The guides became restless. We waited for the dancers--none of sure where, how, and when the evening would finally end, and we would sleep.
And then it happened.
Austin B grabbed three fruits that had fallen from a tree and began juggling.
Maddie asked the marimba player for his mallets and tried playing.
Laura, Nkenge, Mercy, Breanna, AMelia, Aurora, Liz, Lauren, Bekka, Marissa, and Mandy started dancing.
Nick, Brooks, Hailey, Austen, and Katie introduced a young cousin to Freeze Ninja.
Ian leapt from the table and ran to join the game.
Gabby joked and played with another small cousin.
Graham, Jesse, Michael, and Brooke limboed and danced with costumed dancers who had finally arrived.
And Susan walked across 12 years and up the driveway to open a car door and greet her teary dad, who did not know she was coming to Costa Rica and whom the family had arranged to surprise.
Pura Vida indeed.
Pura vida! It works for "Hello." It works for "See you later."
How are you? Pura vida.
How was your day? Pura vida.
Is this alright with you? Pura vida.
I'm sorry. I hope you're not disappointed. Pura vida.
It works, apparently, for just about anything.
But suddenly we were here, and our guide Hurben delivered a meditation on Pura Vida, urging us that it was so much more than something to say. Costa Ricans, he said, embrace it as a way of life. He told the kids this visit would ask them to try new things, to challenge the limits of their comfort zones, to shrug off expectations, to encounter life as it comes to them, to dig deep and find the most positive force the could bring to bear in every situation. And in doing so, he assured them, they would experience the verve and purity of life that Pura Vida conveys.
While Hurben held forth, our bus made its way through San Jose. Three times we stopped for directions to a place that had no name for an event Spanish teacher Susan Soares had refused to describe. The guides were confused. The drivers were unsure. And we were exhausted from a trip that had begun at 4 am and 3,000 miles away. When the busses cut their engines on a steep hill, we crossed to an unmarked driveway that fell away at a similarly steep angle.
An enormous dump truck sat at the bottom, as did a large tent decorated with balloons and welcome signs and a tiny house and yard from which Susan's mother, aunt, and uncle emerged. They threw their arms around her. They served us dinner, serenaded us with marimbas, and promised the arrival of dancers. And we watched as Susan enjoyed her first visit home in 12 years.
More family poured in. Time ticked by. The kids' energy waned. The guides became restless. We waited for the dancers--none of sure where, how, and when the evening would finally end, and we would sleep.
And then it happened.
Austin B grabbed three fruits that had fallen from a tree and began juggling.
Maddie asked the marimba player for his mallets and tried playing.
Laura, Nkenge, Mercy, Breanna, AMelia, Aurora, Liz, Lauren, Bekka, Marissa, and Mandy started dancing.
Nick, Brooks, Hailey, Austen, and Katie introduced a young cousin to Freeze Ninja.
Ian leapt from the table and ran to join the game.
Gabby joked and played with another small cousin.
Graham, Jesse, Michael, and Brooke limboed and danced with costumed dancers who had finally arrived.
And Susan walked across 12 years and up the driveway to open a car door and greet her teary dad, who did not know she was coming to Costa Rica and whom the family had arranged to surprise.
Pura Vida indeed.
July 8--A note from Austin B
Here is the thing about Costa Rica, it messes up your internal clock like crazy! Every single day I wake up at 6, thinking it's 9. This does give me some good time to prepare for the day, though. I wake up, usually make some noise, and accidentally wake up Graham. (oops : /) Then, I must prepare for the shower; five minutes of shivering through an Ice Age. The day begins here. Today was super productive! With only 9 people, we were able to get the roof on the greenhouse!
An interesting thing I've noticed is that being around native Ticos has almost made my default language Spanish. I even talk to my friends in Spanish, as well as write in Spanish, purely on accident. I am learning so much throughout the day, and I am becoming more confident. So far, I have asked for tools, food, to help, and even helped teach the children of the village three card games! I am learning so much about the culture, language, and the people. Not looking forward to leaving one bit!
An interesting thing I've noticed is that being around native Ticos has almost made my default language Spanish. I even talk to my friends in Spanish, as well as write in Spanish, purely on accident. I am learning so much throughout the day, and I am becoming more confident. So far, I have asked for tools, food, to help, and even helped teach the children of the village three card games! I am learning so much about the culture, language, and the people. Not looking forward to leaving one bit!
July 7--A Note from Jesse
Today we started the project. We are going to flatten land to make a recycle center for the village. We are also building a hot house for the crops. We almost had the leveling done when we found a rock. We tried to dig it out a little but it kept growing and growing and growing. By the time we got it fully exposed, it was at least 4 and a half feet at its widest and maybe 300 pounds. We got it manuevered
using three logs.
The rest of the day was very easy, well as easy as it can be when you are working. We leveled the ground by the time it was lunch, and the people working on the greenhouse had finisihed the frame for it. It then started raining. We had a good lunch and then learned we had to keep working in the rain! It was so muddy, so I pretty much ruined my shoes in the mud.
Once Austin, Graham, and I finished digging our hole, we headed back to the house and even though I had my rain jacket on, my shorts were soaked. I changed, got on with my life, and had dinner. Liz's birthday was today so we had her party. After section 2 left, we practiced for the talent show for the end of the week, but I am not saying what we are doing until after the talent show. Then we played cards and went to bed.
using three logs.
The rest of the day was very easy, well as easy as it can be when you are working. We leveled the ground by the time it was lunch, and the people working on the greenhouse had finisihed the frame for it. It then started raining. We had a good lunch and then learned we had to keep working in the rain! It was so muddy, so I pretty much ruined my shoes in the mud.
Once Austin, Graham, and I finished digging our hole, we headed back to the house and even though I had my rain jacket on, my shorts were soaked. I changed, got on with my life, and had dinner. Liz's birthday was today so we had her party. After section 2 left, we practiced for the talent show for the end of the week, but I am not saying what we are doing until after the talent show. Then we played cards and went to bed.
July 8--A note from Ian
Today we did the same thing--wake up, eat breakfast, then go to work. This time, I went to work by myself. As I was walking, I saw a really cool bird. It was all black with bright yellow eyes. I stared at it for five minutes and on with my walk to work. I wondered if the people that live here are like we are back in the USA, saying, "Look, I've seen that bird millions of times, and we are seeing it for the first time.
I got to work. We put up the roof and then we came back for lunch.
I got to work. We put up the roof and then we came back for lunch.
July 6--A note from Nick
Yesterday we arrived in Costa Rica. We went to someone's house for a small party and to watch people do a native dance. Today we visited a garden and tried lots of different fruits. The we arrived at our homestays.
It was cool finally realizing that we were out of the USA. It felt kind of weird, but good at the same time. The party we went to had a really nice environment, and everyone seemed really happy. Everyone was really nice to us.
It was cool finally realizing that we were out of the USA. It felt kind of weird, but good at the same time. The party we went to had a really nice environment, and everyone seemed really happy. Everyone was really nice to us.
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