"A whole new world"

I have now spent an entire week here in Costa Rica enjoying every aspect of being immersed in such a beautiful culture! I have really learned that my wants and needs are out of wack! In the United States we WANT so much STUFF but we truly don't NEED much. I look at the houses and the lifestyles of the ticos here and they really have just the necessities. It is just so lovely. I have really began taking a look at what I have (even as simple as looking in my own suitcase) and realizing there is just too much JUNK! Our wasteful country is the reason we are so impoverished, we just have so much stuff that it LOOKS like we have so much. My inquiry project has began to make me look at this adventure in a new light as well. It adds so much to my own attitude, but also to my insights to the way of life here. I interviewed my spanish professor in Heredia after our last class..."what is your definition of happiness?", "what makes you happy?", and "what does it take to achieve it?" The most simple, and what should be the most obvious answers are what she gave. She said, family, work, and love are all you need to be happy! And achieving it is the balance and combination of all 3. "DUH" is my only response! Ha. The pride the ticos have for their culture is lovely. I have considered making the transition to Costa Rica permanantly and will be looking into what it takes to move. I have fallen in love with this country and its people. We have gone to so many places, we got to spend some time in the schools (Calle Viquez Primary School), the public schools San Joaquin de Flores and also in La Carpio (the shanty town of Nicaraguans). The children are extremely beautiful and they just are so friendly and open. They smile so much. The school in La Carpio was more like a preschool and I never once saw a child cry! It was beautiful and they all got along and played together. I also witnessed the children helping each other and taking care of each other more than I witness in the United States. I have spent time at the beach in Manuel Antonio and also the National Park. The complete nature freak/nerd that I am came out and I spent so much time (not enough for me) in the Natinoal Park looking at sloths, white faced monkeys, birds, lizards, frogs, crabs and turtles. Our transition from Heredia to Manuel Antonio, then from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde was a great way to see city to coast, coast to mountain, all the aspects that make this country so unique and beautiful. Here in Monteverde it is peaceful and the people seem to be more connected. Which is hard to believe because of how connected they are in Heredia, but the families here are a lot more open. I believe it has to do with the fact that the people here are further apart and in the country. My new mama tica is just a year older than I am so it makes it a little different than my last home. I feel more like a sister than a daughter. I helped cook lasagna with Karla last night and it was so much fun. I learned so much about my new mama tica and her family in such a short time. I think some of this has to come with understanding the language more as well. I am so glad that I understand more now, but I feel bad for my mama tica Alba because she got me when I had my one word responses. Haha. I will definitely be keeping in touch with her too (I have her email) so I can show her how much I learn! Only two more weeks and the time has been slow but so fast! (The picture is of my Tico family in Heredia).