La Vida Idealist

Costa Rica lacks many things I’m normally drawn to. It doesn’t have famous historical sites. There’s no thriving theater or music scene. Of course, it’s a natural paradise, but wildlife watching isn’t my thing, and other activities such as surfing or canopy tours get expensive quick.

A former student and her classmates dancing in the traditional style at an end-of-the-schoolyear celebration in Puerto Jimenez.

But looking at it that way misses the point. I’ve come to realize that the most valuable thing Costa Rica has to offer is its people. I’d like to introduce you to a few:

Adina, my homestay mom in Puerto Jimenez. She happily accommodated my vegetarian diet (a baffling concept to many Ticos),  hooked me up with free tours and accommodations, and showed me more love than would ever be expected of a person with no biological nor legal obligation to me.

Luz, my short-term homestay mom in Orosi, where I attended Spanish school last week. She regularly hosts students, so my presence wasn’t novel. But she was genuinely thrilled, writing me a sweet note and giving me a gift (roll-on deodorant) on my second night.

Marta, the head of Costa Rica Multilingue, a government effort that partners with ALIARSE on my English-teaching program. Marta works in Costa Rica’s equivalent of the White House, yet when I showed signs of unhappiness, she would always take the time to write me an encouraging e-mail. It was way more than she was obligated to give, and way, way, more than I deserved.

A slew of random passersby. Need help in Costa Rica? Not for long. Someone’s guaranteed to notice, and in most cases, they’re excited to help. Some are shysters offering scams, but the ratio of attempted rip-offs to genuine assistance has been staggering.

The waiter at Bar Coto in Orosi who cheered with me after the U.S. took down Algeria in the World Cup. Okay, it’s a little dinky, but Costa Rica is still smarting from being knocked out of automatic qualification by the States last year, so his support was beyond magnanimous.

Never mind my excellent students, people who invited me to their houses within five minutes of meeting me, and everyone who put up with my Spanish.

Living here has shown me that sitting down with someone and talking is a worthwhile cultural experience. It’s a true pleasure too often lost in the developed world.

I hope to import a lot of it when I get home.

Kent most recently left his post as an English teacher in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica and is currently traveling. To see what he’s up to, check out his blog or follow him on Twitter.

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