Hello everyone and welcome back,

 

In my last blog, I talked about family and fun at the amazing Delaware beaches. However, it is time to head south and leave the United States. We are going to be travelling to the beautiful country of Costa Rica. Now, Costa Rica will be split up into two parts: 1) Pura Vida and 2) Environmental Passion. For this blog, we will be talking about life style in Costa Rica, and how it changed my perception about life. Let’s dive in!

First, a little background. In 2017, I was selected by my high school to attend an exchange program in Costa Rica where I would live with a family for more than 2 weeks. The goal to learn the language and culture while having fun and making friends. I attended Costa Rican school and explored various locations within Costa Rica. In addition, I made connections with my family and Costa Rican friends that I will cherish forever.

While in Costa Rica, I lived in Alajuela which is outside of the capital, San Jose. There, I lived with a family of four. My exchange student Luis, his parents (Luis and Haydell), and his sister (Fio). For a little over two weeks, I lived with them and followed their daily lives. From their favorite local restaurants to vacation spots, we explored the country together.

I knew that the country was going to be a different experience than the United States. From food to culture, I was expecting change. However, I did not expect the difference in life style.

The main slogan of Costa Rica is “Pura Vida.” This means “Pure Life” translated directly, or symbolically “Live Free.” Costa Ricans (aka Ticos) embody this saying by pursuing happiness. Ticos have a very relaxed/simple way of looking at life. No stress and no worries. They are simply thankful for what is in their lives, and don’t focus on the negatives.

I saw these beliefs first hand in my family, at school, and within every Tico and Tica. For example, many students believe that school is very important in Costa Rica, but it is not a make or break. While attending school, a math professor was handing back exams. I saw multiple people getting low grades like D’s and F’s. None seemed worried, and I asked, “Is that grade good?” They replied, “No, but I can’t change the past and we must move on to improve in the future.” I was simply blown away by this mentality. In the United States, a “F” on a test would send students crashing into the ground and worrying for days. It was amazing to see “Pura Vida” embedded in these kids even at the ages of 14-18. They told me that everything works out in the end, and happiness is what truly matter.

This interaction and countless similar interactions changed my perception on life. I could truly see that everyone was happy and relaxed. I know that they still care about grades, but they don’t let it drive their lives. They make time to study, but always save time to hang with friends or do something fun that makes them happy.

As a result, I try to implement this same ideology in my life. Today, school is very important to me. I strive to always be the best possible student, learn and understand new concepts, and perform well on exams and tests. However, I realize that this is not everything. It is important to spend time with friends and family. This is what brings me happiness, so it is a break from the stress of school, and it rejuvenates and motives me to keep pushing. I don’t let one grade break me like it used to do. Just like the Ticos, I say Pura Vida. I’m thankful what is in the present and don’t dwell on the negatives.

 

I can confidently say that this new outlook on life has been for the better. I feel that I am in a better place. I’m more happy, healthy and overall great. I’m so grateful for what this trip gave me, and I can’t wait to tell you more about how Costa Rica changed my life.

 

See you next week 🙂