Two years! Actually it is a little more than two year commitment. Man, that is a long time. I have a feeling it’s going to creep by in some periods and other times will fly by and I will be wishing I had it back.
Based on preliminary research of Costa Rica, I’m going to do development work in what looks to be a fairly developed country. Stable democracy since 1949. Income per capita around $11,000. Decent health care. Increasingly diversified economy. Not to mention it is absolutely beautiful with what is reputed to be a very hospitable people with a warm culture.
How did this happen? How did I land this? I have no idea, but some things aren’t worth looking into too much. Either way, with about 20% of the population living below the nationally-established poverty line, they still have a ways to go.
"Pura vida" is the motto of Costa Ricans, hence the title of the blog. In most parts of the world people say hello or goodbye - in Costa Rica they simply say "pura vida", or pure life. I'm not sure what la pura vida is right now, but I plan to find out.
My hope for this blog is it will be somewhere you can check-in every once in a while, verify that I am in fact, still alive, and also learn a little bit about Costa Ricans, the country, and the life of a Peace Corps volunteer along the way. Every blog I plan to dedicate to someone out there. This is an idea I picked up from another Peace Corps Volunteer's (PCV) blog. It seems like fun. Also, I’ll try to keep it relatively unprocessed as much as possible…more stream of consciousness than painstaking editing. Holla Stu!...a.k.a. the kid on the couch.
No prediction is ventured at this time regarding how often posts will be made. I have a feeling there will be long lulls in communication as the pains of culture shock set in…followed by rapid fire posts as I get more acclimated - the coffee starts tasting good again, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, etc.
I almost forgot…please post comments!
Here’s the general schedule for the coming weeks:
Feb 11-17
Hang out with friends. Party like a rock star. Enjoy all things American.
Feb18-24
Downsize my life. Anyone need furniture? Clothes? What about a car?
Feb 25, 26
Orientation in DC.
Feb 27 Fly to CR. Feb 28 and Onward
Three months of training, then I truthfully have little to no idea.
This first blog is dedicated to my bro! With an absolute lack of savviness (not sure if that is a word, but it should be) for all things technological, he will most likely never see this and receive no gratification from this dubious honor.
This is truly the most flattering picture I can find of him. Taken after mysteriously being hit with a falling rock while on a hike in Canada, he has not been quite the same since. Matt – wherever you are climbing in some Southeast Asian land – I love you brody!
