Comida

Nosara seems to have everything you’d want but everything is in it’s own place and form of distribution.

There is the fish guy and the “this guy” and the “that guy”

The cleaning lady and car guy

The herb lady and the meat guy

The bakery truck and the vegetable truck

Those who are natural and those who are not

Those who are reliable and those who are not

This “man hunt” is why is takes so long to get adjusted.  Upon first glance it appears that there is not a good selection. There is actually a great selection but you have to know when and where to look.  I emphasize the terms when and where.

As I learn these ropes, I find this FUN:

The fruit and vegetable truck comes to our neighborhood and the school parking lot on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The organic Meat Guy comes on Saturday.

The bakery truck comes to our neighborhood on Wednesday

 

The Fish Guy is more adventurous:

 

 

You park somewhere near the beach,

 

walk down the beach,

 

 

turn into some beach front houses and

 

 

Walla, there he is!

 

Yes, I’d like Red Snapper Fillet… and Mahi Mahi

 

You can do this anytime...

Birthday 6

Maya's 6th birthday is today! Since we've been here she has asked for pizza.  So it was my gift to her to find some pizza and enough for a party.  Now, I think in the high season this is not hard to come by but in the low season, most places are closed.

 

Along with the magic of pizza finally materializing, the clouds also parted and blue sky prompted a spontaneous street party that later merged into Maya's birthday party.

 

She had such good time as everybody sang Happy Birthday song in Spanish and English.

 

The best part were the gifts. People made shell necklaces and bracelets and little packets of candy which we don't often eat here.

Thank you to our new friends and neighbors for making this memorable birthday

 

Toads on Saturday

Saturday morning we all woke up to an urgent situation in our front yard:

 

Oh my!

Try forward

 

Try backward

 

I guess their skin can excrete a poison so it is a good idea to wear gloves.

Finally, he has to be left alone to work it out himself… and he did.

 

Kai, Skye and Leo having quality guy time:

 

 

 

Waterfall in the rain

A group of us took off this morning on hike to see the waterfall.  It never hurts to leave in the rain because usually it will taper off and be quite nice...

Or it could be a downpour:

Maria Jose and Oliver

Oliver and Leo were shivering - the only place you can be muggy and cold

Caution - kids at play:

Oceanna and Maya

Gabe and Sacha by the fall

2-3 River crossings to get there

 

 

 

Uniforms

The kids in their school uniforms… and with ants in their pants to leave:

Although it doesn't look like it, Leo is trying to show the picture on the back of his shirt:

(I think)

Well, she didn't brush her hair - but you get the idea:

 

Potholes or Craters

Pothole

“A deep natural cavity formed by the erosion of rock, especially by the action of water.”

 

Who ever thought I'd be an off-roader:

 

River

“A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel; a large quantity of a flowing substance.”

… The way to the grocery store.

 

 

 

My new friend has something to say

 

Good morning,

Well, to start off, the alien arm that you child was chewing on the beach is in fact a lobster antennae. Apparently he has a taste for exotic sushi.

It was really interesting to read about our conversation filtered through you and written on page. I have to admit, I was flattered. Led me to think about how we never really know for sure how we are viewed by each individual in our community. Would be so cool to read a blog post about yourself from everyone you know. I figure it would be quite the learning experience. Probably pretty humbling as well....

Happy that you found some depth in my experience here, but I have to say, seems pretty basic in the face of what you are doing...

Reading about someone's newfound experiences in Nosara is both refreshing and challenging. On one hand, it reminds me of the magic of my home and life. To see you and your kids experience our bugs and beach for the first time makes it fresh again. I remember my first year here was so surreal. I kept meeting all the right people and being in all the right places. When you find the groove here, it flows really nicely.

On the other hand, I find myself starting to get defensive about certain assumptions or points of view on things that I disagree with. I realize that this is what we all go through trying to internalize our new surroundings and get a grasp on the community. In the end a point of view is a just a starting point in order to orient ourselves as we begin a new journey. As long as we, as traveler's, are constantly open to re-evaluating those opinions, then its all good. Don't get me wrong, nothing in your blog has me upset in the least, it is more the feeling of someone new coming in and judging Nosara. I think that because it takes such an effort to make it here, you become defensive of the good and the bad. Kinda like, "yes he is an asshole, but he is our asshole". After taking so many lumps, you start taking pride in the hardships here. funny huh?

Anyway, I am happy to have met you and look forward to talking more. I want to have you and the kids down to our place...  lots of room for everyone to run and play. I am looking forward to reading your blog more and hoping that I get the chance to star in it again.

Call me if you need anything.

 

My response:

I promise to always re-evaluate.

Truthfully, without holding back, tell me what you think. I will do the same.  Even if it hurts, I know it is authentic and I find comfort in that.

We will accept each other's "judgements" as necessary for growth. (Thank you for already giving me that courtesy)

We will be good friends if I know you are not just telling me what I want to hear.

The truth is that if I had fully understood what is involved in living in Nosara, I probably wouldn't have come. Now that we are already here, we have incentive to make it work. (On the other hand, I don't know that I had another choice; what I was doing wasn't working.) No matter what I think of the community or the logistics, I love this place for my children. I live through them all of the time. I had great struggle in my childhood and I want only great happiness in theirs.

And I understand feeling defensive about Nosara. You contributed to making it what it is today. You had the vision and you know what it takes to get here. On kibbutz in Israel, members feel like they are in a fish bowl with people passing through, so ready to offer their 2 week critiques. If they had only seen the barren desert from which sprung this strong yet redefining community. Outsiders are quick to say how far you need to go and not so quick to consider how far you've come.

Additionally, the accomplishment, betrayal, elation and disappointment just binds the most unlikely of people together - I get that that loyalty to your community.

Although the perspective of newcomers is in many ways 1 dimensional and tunneled, it is nonetheless valuable. The newcomer stands both naked and invisible in the face of the complete unknown. I have been that person in 4 radically different countries...

…And then to go back "home" and find you are but a ghost for those who can no longer see you, although you see them.

 

See you soon...

 

 

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible

I love meeting the veteran residents of Nosara. They are a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. They have endured all and still triumph with the priority to make this jungle beach their home. In a quick run to the school’s office, I met a friendly face. We spoke for an hour and a half and I just kept thinking to myself “write this down.”  I like this person in particular because he seems to have adapted in the best possible way. He is fully integrated. He has a skill set, a sharp business sense but he has also given way to the Costa Rican way of doing things. His wife is from this area which I’m sure helped his rapid integration into the life, manner and people.

His descriptions were articulately filled with understanding and appreciation for the flow of things here. He shared the Costa Rican version of “Insha’Allah” (Arabic for God Willing). The Arabic phrase connotes “what will be, will be” but the Costa Rican attitude takes it a step further to “when it happens, it will be.” He said, “you cannot come here asking why things work this way because they just do.” You work the system the way it works or it works you out.

I see that here. I see it in some of the longer term North Americans and some of the new families as well. There is an expectation with North Americans that things should run a certain way. They resist the system here, they try to change it or be above it and they stand out. They not only seem remarkably rigid in this context but they also carry a critical tinge of bitterness.

“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop” implies my new friend. The people who cannot maintain work or don’t have to fall prey to the dangerous assumptions, rumors and conjecture that ruin even the best intentions and are rampant in small towns. This leads him to two valuable points about negotiating anything in Nosara: individual experience and understanding the local mentality.

He said,

“Everybody will recommend somebody to you for something. What you have to realize is that relationships and experiences are individual. I may have a great transaction with somebody, I recommend them to you and you have a bad experience.” For example, somebody helped me find a good deal on a reliable car. I recommend him to you but it turns out that your car has a lot of problems. This was not intentional but it is a risk imbedded in the scenario. I asked him how people retaliate and I loved his answer: in not so many words he said, they slice into his Pura Vida. Instead of accepting the inevitability of circumstance in Nosara, they return resentment. He said, “I don’t need that. I am just at the beach with my family and these are my moments.” I was moved that his perception of a sour situation was one that impacted his cherished daily moments.

With obvious insight he said that Costa Ricans are happy and kind people. They are not direct or confrontational; they are sensitive and will express their emotions in manner than appears round-about or passive aggressive. That is a valuable tip for approaching the locals with any concern. They want reciprocated respect and patience in the spirit of camaraderie.

So few can tap into this perfect balance between the two worlds. He has learned how to work his needs into their way with an acceptance that is neither compromised or betrayed... and he seems quite content.

Eraida

Eraida is the woman who comes to my house 3 days a week to help me with cooking and cleaning. She has been such a huge help in my situation. Eraida used to work in some of the local restaurants before working for another family a few years ago.  That mother decided, now that her children are older, she only wants her part time.  I was very lucky to find somebody who wanted to share their house help.

Eraida has 5 kids of her own ranging from 4 - 30 years old, so handling my 3 is not too much for her. She makes classic Costa Rican food and we get to dine-in Costa Rican style 3 days a week.  Her help is invaluable to me.  She often brings her son, Sebastian, who is 4 years old, and Maya, Leo and Oliver enjoy his company. They help all of us learn Spanish because they don't really speak English.

The work load of household cleaning is intense here because mold is such a problem. People mop, wipe, clean, dry constantly to prevent any unwelcome invitation for life to flourish in unwanted areas. Our daily lives are like watching a National Geographic nature program in time accelerated speed.

Our neighbor found this in her garden and brought it over for the kids to see.