Life in Costa Rica

I grew up in Costa Rica. This is what life in Costa Rica is like.

I get asked what it was like to grow up in Costa Rica and immediately I can feel the sway of my hips to the beat of old school Carlos Vives. This musician is of course not from Costa Rica, but I want to illustrate the influence that the southern hemisphere (and the northern too) have on our small country. A country so small yet so powerful in terms of its sustainability goals and the international draw it has. 

I will caveat this entry by saying that I haven’t lived in Costa Rica since 2008 so this piece is more about my experience growing up there and the feelings it brings up, which are specially reignited around this time of year. Growing up in Costa Rica, I can think of one-too-many afternoons where I spent it trying to get green mangoes off my friend’s neighbor’s tree. I can think of a study session that ended up in all of us jumping in a pool and the joy of spinning in my feet non-stop until I fell down exhausted in a bed of orange flowers from the nearest Poró tree. I can think of the predictable rainy season, a harbinger for the coming of New Year’s. 

Growing up in Costa Rica meant that sunny days were taken for granted. Even days that started with rain, had a high probability of ending with a bright sunny sunset. Instead of seasons, I was used to each month having its own peculiar feel. January the winds were strong, March the heat was intoxicating and May was marked by a particular kind of bug, los abejones de mayo. December is its own kind of magical, with brisk winds of hope and the contrast of the dry sabana as you drive towards Guanacaste. This place has stolen my heart in more ways than one. Its beaches are a place where I learned to be comfortable in my skin and where I got to say I do not too long ago. 

Contrary to popular belief, food is not too spicy; it is mild. Simple flavors because the ingredients are as fresh as can be. Even our cheese feels fresh, Queso Turrialba being my one true love. There are a lot of vegetable dishes, guisos, made with squashes that are not common in the US; ayote and chayote are not to be confused. 

Although I do not live in Costa Rica and I don’t get to experience the mundane life that sometimes plagues the city I grew up in, San José, I get to be a far away admirer. And every time I get to go back home, I get pleasantly surprised by how far the country has moved on. Alas without me, and that’s ok. It is the opportunity cost of living abroad. Always representing, because there’s not that many Costa Ricans in NYC (as compared to Dominicans and Puerto Ricans), but also humbly acknowledging that I do not know my mother country as well as I used to. 

Our brand’s beginnings: the fact that we make sustainable swimwear is a direct result of growing up in Costa Rica. Finding swimsuits that could outlast the year-round use was impossible. Fading colors and the hyper-permeable fabrics that made you carry a small ton of sand in your swimwear bottoms, no more of that. Growing up in Costa Rica made me love being at the beach and by the pool, I just needed to find swimwear that I could live in so I made it.

Photo by: Antonio Jimenez 

Comments

  • Posted by Carrie Kilman on

    Hello my name is Carrie Kilman from Birmingham UK. My fiancé broke up with me last month. I was so downhearted, I’ve spent the last month agonizing, crying, feeling guilty and feeling the lowest ever. I wasn’t talking to anybody, I cried a lot, I was so depressed and shell-shocked that I was scared I’m going to end up in the hospital because of all the stress and depression until one day I search online on getting love tips because I just want us to be together as a couple again, then I found a powerful spell caster Called Dr Peter that he solved so many relationship problem then I contacted him through his email and after writing my issue out he assured me he will come back to me between 24hrs after he cast spell on him I never believe it until my fiancé called me on the phone pleaded and told me he want us to come back and live happily together forever, I’m so happy now that Dr Peter help me bring my finance back to me. Please contact Dr Peter cause he is the perfect answer to your problem. Here’s his contact: Email him at: drpeterspellcaster21@gmail.com
    https://drpeterspellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site-1
    https://drpeterspellcaster.mystrikingly.com/
    WhatsApp +1 (646) 494-4360

  • Posted by Carrie Kilman on

    Hello my name is Carrie Kilman from Birmingham UK. My fiancé broke up with me last month. I was so downhearted, I’ve spent the last month agonizing, crying, feeling guilty and feeling the lowest ever. I wasn’t talking to anybody, I cried a lot, I was so depressed and shell-shocked that I was scared I’m going to end up in the hospital because of all the stress and depression until one day I search online on getting love tips because I just want us to be together as a couple again, then I found a powerful spell caster Called Dr Peter that he solved so many relationship problem then I contacted him through his email and after writing my issue out he assured me he will come back to me between 24hrs after he cast spell on him I never believe it until my fiancé called me on the phone pleaded and told me he want us to come back and live happily together forever, I’m so happy now that Dr Peter help me bring my finance back to me. Please contact Dr Peter cause he is the perfect answer to your problem. Here’s his contact: Email him at: drpeterspellcaster21@gmail.com
    https://drpeterspellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site-1
    https://drpeterspellcaster.mystrikingly.com/
    WhatsApp +1 (646) 494-4360

  • Posted by wendy cutrona on

    Testimony on how I received my programmed blank ATM card to withdraw a maximum of $6,000 daily.

    I would without reservation recommend working with MR, FRANK RICHARD, My Name is Wendy Cutrona. Programmed Blank ATM Card is no longer a news or a new trend I’ve been reluctant in purchasing this blank ATM Card all because of what I heard about it online everything seems too good to be true, But I was convinced & shocked when my friend at my place of work got a Programmed Blank ATM Card from MR, FRANK RICHARD & today we both confirmed it really works, without delay I gave it a go. Ever since then I’ve been able to make a withdrawal of $6,000 daily from the Programmed ATM Card. I’m so excited that ever since I ordered & paid for the delivery of the Programmed ATM Card, I didn’t get scammed & now I have been able to arrange my life with this Programmed ATM Card, I own a House & a business now kindly contact him today for more inquiries and enlightenment via Email: creditcards.atm@gmail.com
    WhatsApp:+1(267) 393 6932
    Website: https://creditcardsatm.wixsite.com/website-1

    Your Satisfaction is their Aim and your working with them will be of a good experience, kindly contact them today for more inquiries and enlightenment via Email: creditcards.atm@gmail.com

    ➡️ Binary Recovery.
    ➡️ University Result Upgraded
    ➡️Increase Credit Score
    ➡️ Whipping of Criminal Records
    ➡️ Social Media Hack
    ➡️ Blank ATM Card
    ➡️All Kind of Loads
    ➡️ Phone Hacking.
    ➡️Game Hack/ Lottery Jackpot
    Border us with your jobs & allow us to give you positive results with our hacking skills

    Here is our price lists for the ATM CARDS:

    Cards that withdraw $6,000 per day costs $600 USD
    Cards that withdraw $10,000 per day costs $850 USD
    Cards that withdraw $35,000 per day costs $2,200 USD
    Cards that withdraw $50,000 per day costs $5,500 USD
    Cards that withdraw $100,000 per day costs $8,500 USD

    make up your mind before applying, straight deal!!!
    The price include shipping fees and charges, order now:
    Email: creditcards.atm@gmail.com
    Whats App:+1(267) 393 6932
    Website: https://creditcardsatm.wixsite.com/website-1
    Copyright ©️ 2023.

Leave a comment