pura vida?

So I'm re-using a title, but there wasn't a more appropriate phrase in my brain. The recycling of the title is validated by the constant usage of the phrase "pura vida" everywhere in Costa Rica. Which caused me to think about the country phrases of my most visited places:

"pole pole" -Swahili (translation: slowly slowly)
"bali bali" -Hangul (translation: hurry hurry)
"pura vida" -Spanish (direct translation: pure life, literal translation: no worries)

All of the above are constantly repeated in their representative country (respectfully:Kenya, Korea, Costa Rica). I prefer the pole pole attitude to any of the rest. I wonder what phrase people take from the United States.

As a foreigner in a such a small town, there is very little pura vida. We are constantly being watched and gossiped about. One Monday at work, the school cook was telling me everywhere I went, everything I did, and everything I wore that weekend. I didn't even see her!

My skin has turned to Tica tone. People approach me and speak to me in Spanish as if I am a local, then quickly realize I am not one of them. One man told me he was so confused. "How can you have brown skin, but be from Indiana?" I have even acquired a nickname at school, morano, which basically means brown person but not Tica.

The monotony of life here is stirring stress and boredom. I used to think it was nice living as an 80 year old person. Wake up without an alarm, eat oatmeal, grow vegetables, read books, swing in a hammock, bed by 9. The first few weeks were awesome! Now, not so much. Coming from the bali bali of Korea, pura vida is like hitting a wall. I suppose I'm getting ready for a home stay for a bit. Regain some time with familiar places, familiar faces, and familiar phrases!

Speaking of home...I've said it from Korea, and I'll say it again from Costa Rica. GO TROJANS! I wish the boys basketball team the best of luck as they travel to Indianapolis for another state title! Wish I could be there, but this is the best I can do. Escuala Futuro Verde wishes you good luck!

estupido

I realized this afternoon that most "normal" events here in Costa Rica would severely disturb the average person, including myself, under regular circumstances at home.

Examples:

1. We remove an average of 10 large cockroaches a week from our house. Enough to keep a roach cup on the kitchen counter for quick capture and removal.

2. I am always on the lookout for large lizards in the house after the giant ran across my foot in the bathroom.

3. We have removed scorpions from bedrooms, opossums from the living room, giant grasshoppers from the fridge, hand-sized wolf spiders from the laundry room...

4. While rummaging around in the garden at school alone, a coral snake (the red touches yellow dead fellow kind) slithered next to my hand. This is the most venomous in Costa Rica! Without screaming, I grabbed a stick and my friend Alex came and smashed the head.

5. I eat rice and beans everyday and enjoy it.


This list could go on for a while. These are just the things that were going through my head on my way home from school today.

aventuras con toros, playas, bosques, y mi amor

My emotions over the past couple weeks have consumed me to the point of not writing an update. Brad came to visit last week, and the week before I was too excited/anxious to even think about writing. However, I now have plenty of material for an update!

A couple weekends ago was basically a zoo weekend. The largest festival of the year was here in town. The festival was celebrating Costa Rican culture with bull riding, bull running, great food, and Latin dance into the early morning. I loved every second of the festival, down to the bumper cars. I even went down into the ring with the bulls during the bull riding. Quite the adrenaline rush!

The bulls and superheros

Rudy and I in the ring

In between sweaty, dusty bull riding and sweaty salsa the roommates and I decided to stop home for a quick clean up. Upon squeezing myself into my small bathroom and shutting the door, I realized I had closed myself in with a giant lizard/dinosaur of sorts. My roommates came rushing to the sound of my blood curdling scream to find me crouched on top of the toilet. We managed to trap him with a large box and broom and carried him a long way down the street for his release. And I thought the hundreds of cockroaches were bad...

the lizard

Brad arrived the following Saturday afternoon. Following a much anticipated long hug, we headed straight to the beach! That night there was a festival at the beach with a barbecue, music, fire dancing, and lots of fun. The next few days I was able to take a break from school and spend time with Brad, the beach, and our cooler. It was awesome showing him around my town, exploring the beach, waterfalls, and new restaurants together. 

beach beer

Montezuma waterfall

 

I could not pass up exploring the Monteverde Cloud Forrest while in Costa Rica, and couldn't think of better time to go than with Brad here. We left the beach for the forest Thursday. On Friday we headed out in the morning for world famous zip lining! On the last zip line, the guides let Brad and I go together! Wonderful memory. At the end of the zip lining, there was a Tarzan swing. Sounds awesome, but extremely painful. It was only a 26 foot high platform that you jump off and swing from a tree by your harness. I still have bruises on the inside of my legs. I suppose I should stick to bungee jumping. 

Tarzan swing

That night we went on our favorite excursion, the night hike! I've always been a huge fan on nite hikes, but this one tops them all. We weren't even 2 minutes into the hike before we spotted a 2 toed sloth in the trees! I learned he will only come down once a week to poop. Then we saw huge tarantulas, a pit viper in a tree, soldier ants and gigantic colony, frogs, and the worlds largest species of stick bugs. I loved every second and learned way too much about all the animals in the forest in Costa Rica. 

tarantula

Saturday was spent hiking through the Monteverde Cloud Forrest and nearby hummingbird garden. I have a strange love for hummingbirds and orchids, so I was in awe all day. The cloud forest was breathtaking as well. The feeling of hiking through a tropical forest all while looking down at the clouds was beyond words. 

Brad in the forest

Big hummingbird

Sunday was a tough day full of tears and goodbyes. Now it's back to my daily grind of teaching, reading, and beach going!