Pura Vida

Segundo, Me, and Ramon drinking Imperial at 9am.

The picture is my Costa Rican host dad, Segundo, myself when I had short hair (I did not feel like dealing with my thick curls while I was hiking around the jungle so I cut it off. If I ever went back to the jungle for a long period of time, I'd probably dread it), and Segundo's cousin Ramon. Segundo was a very traditional Costa Rican male, but he had been some what softened by years of American host students. Ramon is one of my favorite people on planet earth. Ramon is deaf and mute. He doesn't know sign language. Out of necessity he and Segundo have developed their own version. By the time I left Costa Rica I had taught Ramon to say his name in ASL. I was doing research projects on stingless bees while I was in Costa Rica and I was having a difficult time finding nests. Ramon found 3 for me! Imagine communicating with no speech, no sign language, no written word, "I need stingless bee nests" to someone. He took me around on his motorcycle to show me where the nests were. Segundo's wife, my Host Mom, Maida, is like a third mother to me (...I currently have two- my mother and my birth mother). I used to write her all the time. Then one day I got a letter that she had had a stroke but was doing all right. I haven't written back since in fear that she might not make it. I really need to write Costa Rica. I can't let my ties with society keep me from the wonderful place either. One day I shall return. I have prayed often for my host family's health and happiness. I love the Brenes, I love Monteverde. In the picture we are all drinking the national beer of Costa Rica, imperial. Its my last morning at the house and Ramon has brought over three beers for us to share as a sort of going away party. Ahhhh....pura vida.