Nostalgia

The past few days, I've been hit by a wave of nostalgia for Costa Rica. Images and memories keep popping into my head...

Eating sweet bread with cream cheese and jam for breakfast at Las Cruces with the tangiest, freshest orange juice I've ever had and fresh pineapple... every morning. Scrambled eggs or bacon were a rare treat. We would eat outside on the deck overlooking the wilderness of the field station, serenaded by toucans and spotting them flying tree to tree if we looked closely enough. We so consistently found ourselves living in such paradaisacal surroundings that it was hard not to take it for granted after a month or so because it became so normal.

I also remember fondly riding into San Vito (or to a finca or La Casona or misa on Sundays) from the station in the back of the 4x4. Especially in the mornings, the bumpy ride on the nauseatingly curvy mountain roads was so beautiful. The landscape was something I was never able to fully capture photographically, but man did I appreciate it in person.

Experiencing the nation's enthusiasm for soccer. Seeing 'S Lugar in San Vito packed to the gills for Costa Rica's last chance at World Cup qualification and sitting at a table with Jorge and Hector and learning all sorts of new swear words in Spanish from Jorge's rambunctious cheering. Walking with a tray full of food through the food court at Mall San Pedro when all of the sudden, the entire place erupted in cheers. (The U20 nationals scored a goal in the U20 World Cup.) Eating breakfast at a soda and watching the U20's lose the third place game in a shoot out. Had they been from the U.S. and choked like that in a shoot out, they would have been harshly criticized if anyone had even cared in the first place, but days later, upon the team's return home, the team bus was greeted in the Centro with thousands of loyal and cheering fans proud of how the young team represented the country in Egypt. Not to mention just being able to jump in on pick up games. Pura vida :)

Not being surprised nor frightened when large insects showed up around the house... in the bedroom... in the shower...

There are plenty of things that I love and appreciate about the midwest (and it will always be home), but it's nice to look back and remember the things that make other, very different places beautiful too.