Aero: Alyssa Davis – Costa Rica 2013 – Family Life
Aero: Alyssa Davis – Costa Rica 2013 – Family Life
Aero: Alyssa Davis – Costa Rica 2013 – Family Life
In order to evaluate the home life of most Costa Ricans it is important to understand first that families are as wide and varied as they are in the United States. Couples seem to be as common as singles and divorcees, while newborns are just as sacred and revered as the elderly. During my sixteen day stay in this beautiful country I’ve been witness to unabashed young love in airports, city parks, and even among the ruins of an old church. I’ve also heard the cutting exchange of hateful words between estranged lovers and complete strangers. It matters not that Costa Rica is indeed a tropical paradise rich with Caribbean and Latino influences. These people, however far away in distance, are not so far off from the family dynamic seen among Americans today.
Though similar to Americans in many respects, Ticos tend to have a higher regard for larger families and religion oriented lifestyles. While studying abroad I had the pleasure of spending most of my time in the company of two separate and very different households. One, a small two bedroom apartment owned by a very independent forty-something divorcee who also runs her own salon, and the other a four bedroom ranch style abode complete with three residents and, more often than not, the rest of the family too.
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The apartment was where I slept and ate most of my meals. Guiselle, my host mother, is a very devout Catholic and extremely active in the church. Often times our schedules conflicted due to my many excursions with the class and her responsibilities within the church, but her first priority was always making sure I was comfortable with “a full belly and a happy heart.” We bonded through music and talk of love and the things a person can become when blinded by it. We watched cheesy American chick flicks with Spanish subtitles and laughed at jokes that span across all cultures. I won’t pretend it was always easy to relate and I won’t say it wasn’t terrifying to travel to a foreign land, live with a complete stranger, and attempt to speak the native tongue. It absolutely was the most intense cerebral exercise I’ve ever endured. However, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time in my temporary home. I gained some invaluable insight on life, a sense of my own independence, and a truly wonderful lifelong friend.
The Salas household was a vibrant one, filled to the brim with vivacious people. It was uncommon to succeed in refusing the food there, no matter how full or uninterested in eating you actually were. Family activities were a daily occurrence, from Sunday night dinner to Friday night fun out on the town. They were very accommodating and good at making sure the conversation was inclusive and relatable. A few of the family members knew some English words, so communication wasn’t as difficult for me as it was with Guiselle, who spoke less English and faster Spanish. It was never required of me to enter the Salas home, unless you count cute little Ticas demanding I dine with them. This particular family took me in and treated me as one of their own. Packing my bag with snacks for long excursions, home remedies to use on classmates, and kisses on both cheeks were abundant there. I cannot express how thankful I am to have had the opportunity to meet and befriend this family.
¡Mi familia Tica!
By studying new languages and diverse cultures, it has become apparent to me that some truths are simply universal. Children love to play games, food brings families together, and bingo tournaments are most commonly dominated by elderly women in power chairs. I encountered many styles of communication, entertainment, and bonding, but none of it was unlike experiencing different families within the US. We ate together and conversed around the dinner table about how rich the food was and the things we did and felt that day. Hearty laughter was abundant once the significance behind various cultural idioms struck. We shared our perspectives on current world events and played Just Dance 3 on the Wii after dinner. My last night in Alajuela was spent considering how much I had grown in the short two weeks I was abroad. I thought about all the amazing things I had accomplished and the knowledge I’d gained, but the concept that stuck out most plainly to me was the idea that it’s not just the location, but it’s the people that create a place. I realized that without even trying to I had gained yet another family for life. These people, though thousands of miles away from my humble home in upstate New York, will forever be a part of who I am. They have changed me for the better in ways I’m sure I can’t even begin to comprehend yet.
The phrase “pay it forward” comes to mind.
– Alyssa Davis
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