Packing

Pura vida literally means "pure life", but the meaning is closer to "full of life", "purified life", "this is living!", "going great", or "cool!"The phrase has become widely known and is used in many contexts. Foreigners take it as an expression of leisurely lifestyle, disregard for time, and of friendliness (or it has been marketed in this form to tourists). However, Costa Ricans use the phrase to express a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, resilience in overcoming difficulties with good spirits, enjoying life slowly, and celebrating good fortune of magnitudes small and large alike. Thus the name of this blog is Exploring Pura Vida as I will hopefully gain a better understanding of the true meaning and experience of it as I doubt I will be lounging in hammocks daily.

I leave tomorrow morning for my three week Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica. I still have a few errands to do and of course more packing cause I still needed some stuff before packing it up. I am a bit stressed and anxious now that I am about to leave on this trip. My understanding is that tomorrow we will be picked up at the airport and dropped off with our Tico host families whom don't speak English.

I have been a bit anxious, wondering if I have refreshed my Spanish skills enough to understand what they are saying to me. Fortunately I have apps on my iPhone to translate with, which may come in quite useful. I am also hopeful that it won't be too difficult since I have been told that they speak much slower than Mexicans.

I am hoping to have the time between classes, homework assignments, site visits and exploring Costa Rica that I will have the time to update this blog with my daily experiences.