Well here ends my visit to the USA. It was wonderful to be
back and see family and friends, and I
have said adios to Ohio and am en route to my beloved Costa Rica.
Yesterday evening we had a nice dinner altogether, and
enjoyed sitting around the table and talking, joking, laughing. All of my
brothers were there and my Uncle too! We did a little gift exchange and then we
all scattered back to our plans. It is a bittersweet departure. I will miss my
family, but I feel relieved to be going home to Costa Rica.
Being back in the USA gave me ample opportunity to make lots
of interesting cultural notes. In some ways I find that I am wierded out or
frustrated by things in Ohio. Very obvious is the lifestyle difference. Even in
Ohio, things are always go go GO! Schedules and plans and time really rule our
day. Costa Rica is so pura vida, so relaxed, and while “Tico Time” can be
frustrating I like it better than the stress that comes from living by the
clock. Coming back in winter also made me very conscious of how much I love the
beach, the sun, the heat! Where we live it is hot and I often found myself
thinking about taking in the sun on the beach instead of bundling up to go
outside. While I love the seasons and all the change and beauty that they
bring, I do miss being able to just walk around in flip flops and tank tops. I
also am astounded by the materialism of the USA. In any typical home you can
find a microwave, toaster, coffee maker, blender, at least two tvs, etc. The
simplicity of Costa Rica and the radical departure from what we consider
“basics” has really brought me down to earth and helped me to realize what the
real necessities of life are. I do not need a blender and an iHome and remote
control toaster oven! Just a bed to sleep in and a stove to cook on. Though a
fridge doesn’t hurt either.
As I have so often heard said, “not better, not worse, just
different.” And it rings oh so true!
Almost home...
Follow me on my new blog about life in Costa Rica.
Pura Vida
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