Pura Vida: Costa Rica 2015

This summer I had the riveting honor to journey to Costa Rica on an independent education project/retreat. The series of events happened so suddenly. I had just released out into the universe that I wanted to return to Central America and beyond. I hadn't always been like this. It has just beguiled me as of recent, my desire to travel, see the world, taste new cultures, and breathe different air. Wish this would've dawned on me earlier. Nevertheless, I'm responding now.A former friend and fellow teacher moved to Costa Rica to follow her path, and broaden her exposure to new ventures. She's always been like that: a free spirit of sorts. We started chatting via google chat a few weeks back, and on a serious whim, I asked if there were any education projects I could indulge in. To my surprise, she said a resounding yes. There's a cultural center in Puerto Viejo where I could go and give any kind of workshop I want, and pass out school supplies for the kids of that town. Perfect fit. In discussion with a few friends and family, they all rallied around me and empowered me to go. I was fully equipped with funds, school supplies, luggage, and a belief in me that coated me like fresh snow falling. I was ready, and I had a group of people that smiled with support over me.I closed my eyes and reopened them...and within seconds time I was on a plane, riding solo, to Costa Rica. As soon as the plane ascended, something transpired within me. Like a switch to a light, or a charger to an iPhone, something turned on. It was a flame: a flame of courage, tenacity, direction, and purpose. I knew right then I truly was created to promote education, at a local and global scale.As soon as I landed, my friend had a guy she worked with in tourism (she's a Costa Rican tour guide), named Alex come for me. I had experienced a full day of travel from Chicago, to Panama, to San Jose, so I was exhuasted. I quickly had to grab my huge luggages, one with 25 pounds of school supplies, the other with my over packed belongings of way too much. I ran to exchange my US money into Colones, the local currency. 1 Us dollar equals about 500 Colones. I had to learn currency quick. I also had to turn on my Spanish tongue to communicate to the locals. Exchanged money quickly with some fuss, and dashed out to meet this Alex whom I've never met nor seen before. He had a sign with my name on it, I felt like I was in a movie. Before dusk, I was in San Jose's Rincon Hotel for the night. Fear draped me, but I batted it off knowing Who was with me, and in Who's name I go in. Took a 5 hour bus ride to Puerto Viejo where I would meet my friend and conduct my education project. Once arrived, it was like a mixture of the country side/tourist spot. It was a plethora of tourist and locals woven together like colorful yarn. The sights, sounds, faces were overwhelming.And the ocean fronts. I have never seen such blue aqua, that I later called "liquid velvet" stretch across with such beauty and magnificence in my life. My daily devotions and meditation by the Caribbean were some of the most sacred moments of my life. Daily, I'd look out in awe and wonder at the Sovereignty of creation. It was a preached sermon every morn to my soul.At night fall, I almost collapsed at the stark and picturesque hues seen for the first time. It was better than a cinematic feature. Sunsets, the ocean, the waves entertained me for hours.After exploring Puerto Viejo solo for a few a days, then reuniting with my friend Leslie, the day for the education project grew near. I had already volunteered one day before. I helped the kids create picture frames out of cardboard and decorated them with magazine cut outs and tissue paper. The kids were so beautiful to me. Their Spanish, illustrious. Meet Diego and his sister Miranda, my first eager students. And then there was Ellie. A 6 year old fire cracker from town who stuck to me like glue, and quite frankly, I fell in love with him too. He would later give me his craft to keep. Talk about a heart melter.  Shortly thereafter, my education project was next. Fully equipped with school supplies, refreshments (it was dangerously hot out there), and a poetry collage activity, I was ready to be a teacher across country. As a trained educator, I felt it my civic duty. I was ready, I was proud. They would construct for me a poetry collage poster using the template "I am." I am is a poetry template where they simply needed to fill in the blanks as to who they were and who they wanted to become. I wanted them to focus on the potential they had. I wanted them to reflect on what's good and valuable in their lives. It would evolve into a poem. They would then get magazine clippings to further express the essence of their poem. Each child would later present in front of all of us: parents, family, volunteers, and friends. It was electric. The kids dived into the activity. Some needed some additional help, however. My friend and I were beginning to notice learning gaps, and difficulties...but that would evolve into a later conversation between me and the director. But wow, they had a magnificent time.Then it came time to present. Their faces lit up with jubilee as they were lining up to present in front of their family and friends. As a teacher and mother, there was an instant bond. Fostering learning and creativity, splashed with a little motherly love, we were all in bliss for a moment's time.I then said my speech. After presentations, I had a speech from the heart. In English and Spanish. I wished them well. I told them there was hope in their education. They can be anything they choose to be if they don't stop learning. Doors will open, opportunities afforded. The place was quiet, holy, for but a second. Parent's eyes welled with tears at the reality of life without education. Hard working hands, and brows beat by Caribbean sun nodded in agreement as I spoke. Then the supplies were passed out. My heart overcome with an elation that was indescribable. There I was, a teacher from the United States passing out school supplies to children both local and abroad. Some were from Costa, Panama, others from Spain, it was such a mix. I felt a knowing. A knowing that I was exactly where I needed to be at that moment. I realized I wanted to be more than just a classroom teacher. I wanted to be an educator that creates change and blurs national borders to extend my reach. There was no greater feeling. Lots of hugs and kisses resounded. Spoke with some parents and had delightful conversations.I donated the rest of the supplies to the cultural center there, La Casa De la Cultura. They are doing amazing things for the community. The worker started crying at the surplus of supplies. I told her not to worry, "Si Dios Permite" I'd be back with more. For in discussion with the director, children don't need to go to school beyond the 7th grade there. In addition, they are smack dab in the middle of tourist-ville, so lots to be distracted by with night life and people coming in and out. And the high school there looked like a box, with kids spilling out on all sides trying to learn in the dire heat. I knew I had to be back to help in anyway I could, be it my feeble efforts.The rest of my time I explored, reflected, and relaxed. As my friend Leslie and I began to share, a thought was born. What if I come back, but with fellow teachers? We could create a service project/retreat for teachers. They could serve in the center like I did, but also reflect on the school year, get a massage, and do devotions and meditations by the sea to become empowered for the next school year. That's what happened to me. I felt refreshed, rejuvenated; I re-aligned who I was as an educator, I served, I taught, I gave, I volunteered. It was a perfect blend of service and revitalization. Leslie and I want to call it, "Project Pura Vida." Stayed tuned to see how that all unfolds.As a teacher, I'm constantly learning. The locals taught me a lot. I met Carmen. She taught me to enjoy the simplicities of life, and take in each moment. To slow down. She taught me what their saying is..Pura Vida. Pure life. Wow, what a humble revelation.To all my foodies, the food was out of this world. And the coffee. Whoosh, took my breath away.I can keep recollecting. Went bike riding in the jungles of Costa Rica to the most amazing beach called Punta Uva. Chocolate tasting, chocolate massage, exotic monkeys playing in the background. Unforgettable. Intoxicating. Wow, the splendor.Pura Vida. Pure Life. Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Audacious. Organic. Daring. How I'm going to live.