Pura Vida

Time now for a few random thoughts based upon interactions and observations of the past week or so. It has been six weeks since I first arrived in San Ramon, and I am becoming more attuned to the rhythms and patterns of life. Initially, my days were consumed with newness, with attempts at familiarization. At the start of this adventure, I assumed my lack of language skills would impose a much larger challenge than has actually turned ou. My intimidation blocked communication as I tried to rehearse conversations which only ended up limiting the extemporaneous nature of dialogue. Gradually, oh so gradually, I am recalling and understanding more important phrases and words. I could almost make sense of a five minute explication by a Spanish speaking salesperson regarding the differences among three types of mattresses. Paying attention to gestures and tones is becoming possible as I begin to lose the feeling of helplessness and start to focus upon those non verbal clues which we use all the time in our language of comfort. Poco a poco, Pura Vida is becoming more than a greeting or conversational ending.
Pura Vida encapsulates the relationships of Costa Ricans to their environment, family and neighbourhood, expressing a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, enjoying life slowly and celebrating good fortune, whether small or large.
If we only spend a short time here or are unwilling or unable to adjust to the spirit, we often experience the manifestation of Pura Vida as "laid back" or "don't worry, be happy" and become frustrated by having to wait for, what, at first blush, seems an inordinate amount of time in the checkout line while the clerk and a customer catch up on events in the neighbourhood or share stories about their families. We look impatiently at watches, roll eyes, fidget; anxious to do what? in a hurry to get where? For Costa Ricans the interaction is imbued as richly with the personal as it is the transactional. The connection matters.