November 16, 2011

If I hear "Pura Vida" one more time, I swear I'm gonna...

I've heard "Pura Vida" no less than 284,000 times in the past three and a half months.  Yes, local surfer Tico, I realize that this is your country's slogan and an incredible effective marketing tool you've created but is it really necessary for you to say this every time we finish a conversation, I turn you down for buying drugs, or your dog tries to bite me?... and yes middle aged woman named Gloria from Omaha, I realize your 4-day vacation at the all-inclusive spa resort with your besties changed your life, but do you really want "Pura Vida" tattooed on your lower back for your 14-year old son and all his Jonas Brothers t-shirt wearing friends to make fun of you for the next time they spot it on you as your out laying by the pool reminiscing about your trip.

A lot of locals down here refer to Costa Rica as "un paraiso" (paradise) and while this is a beautiful place with an amazing culture, you can't exactly overlook their problem with  poverty, theft, drugs, and prostitution (of course trouble only finds those looking for it I suppose).  Now I may be a little jaded towards the term "Pura Vida" by now, but I believe that I have totally grasped that state of mind.  Actually, I came to that realization this morning, let me explain....

When I first moved to Denver I lived with a guy named Chris.  Chris had just recently purchased a home from a young family of 4 in Highlands Ranch needing a larger space and was very graciously allowing me to stay there for next to nothing.  As much as I loved the house I did have two issues with it: First, my room was painted pastel pink and purple (think obnoxious Easter colors).  Nevermind the fact that my other roommate's room was painted light blue with little helicopters around the top, but one day I finally just lost it.  I went out to the garage, found some beige paint, covered all of my belongings, and spent roughly 4 hours re-painting the oddly shaped room to my satisfaction...problem solved!  The second issue I had with the house was that my shower curtain had these little rubber ducks for rings to hold it up and they were made of metal not plastic.  Now, anyone who has ever tried to slide metal shower rings on a metal rod knows that over time the rod builds up junk on it making the rings impossible to slide and thus causing them to jump off track frequently.  

This all brings me to my realization today...As I attempted to slide my shower curtain over, some of the rings came off track causing half of the curtain to awkwardly hang there... and again I see that familiar sight "metal rings on a metal rod."  However, instead of getting upset like I might have before, I really didn't seem to mind.  It just doesn't really bother anymore when I have to wait on a bus, or if a tree frog finds his way into my room every other day, my food takes forever coming out at the restaurant, or someone insists on having me barter with them for the price of a bus ticket. The old, uptight, impatient Bryan is no more... I had been adapting this way for long before I came, but I can now officially say I am on my way towards becoming 100% "Pura Vida." As I begin planning the next leg of my travels to Asia, it has been nice to reflect on my amazing time in Central America and how blessed I am to have good friends, an incredible family, and opportunities such as this. 

...I leave for a 2-3 week trip to Nicaragua with a group of friends from CR on Friday.  Those of you who hate my writings and are only checking this for the pictures will have something to look at soon.. I promise!

Ciao,
-BP

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