Soulful Spice: The bull’s eye and the monkey’s heart

I suppose it is inevitable to meet interesting people in a place like this. As of now I have only heard some small portion of their stories and they are as wild and detailed as the jungle. I have met a number of impressive ladies here, each one came to this same place from dramatically different journeys. Some arrived through tragedy and some from desperate longing. Some came with a restless heart and others seeking a firmer ground. So far this looks like cowgirl country. They lived adventurous lives of bohemian travelers, international diplomats, or successful capitalists and they have all decided to call Nosara home.

I have only caught short moments with the women who founded the school that brought us here. They have profound vision and indescribable drive to make this dream a reality. Beyond this they are grounded, clear headed and practical. One of the founders said “If our school gets 800 students then we have gone off course. Our focus is quality.” You can feel it when she says it but you can also see it in the school and listening to the teachers.

I’ve run into a number of single moms here. Single by choice or logistical circumstances similar to mine. I am not the first mother to bring my kids to this place in search of an optimum environment. I am not the first one to do it at great sacrifice either.

The ones who have been here a while feel a strong connection to the surrounding natural environment. I guess it is inevitable here - you will either love it and embrace it or you will hate it and flee. It is so in your face that it doesn’t give you a choice. These women have taken up every past time from surfing to gardening. For them they are not passing time at all; they are very much in time, present in the moment. They are naturalists by observation and research.

On our way back from a walk, one of the ladies, who is a wealth of local knowledge, introduced the kids to some seeds:

The Bull’s Eye and the Monkey’s Heart.