Some might say that Peace Corps volunteers in general tend to have a profound sense of compassion, more so than your average American. I would say that compassion is more a result of two years abroad in a rural community than a prerequisite for service. But I ask myself, have I ever been part of such a caring and optimistic group of people…I don’t think so. From our first moment together we started rubbing off on each other in a sort of orgiastic happiness, platonic of course…most of the time.
As a group we do seem to look back a lot and reflect on our lives, but mostly to see where it is we come from, what has shaped us. But when we are in our Peace Corps sites, our homes, usually pretty far from all that we have known before, we live in the moment, laughing, crying, dancing, and smiling with the people who we have around us. It can’t be denied that we are some of the luckiest people on earth, first as Americans fortunate enough to have attended universities, second as Peace Corps volunteers, and thirdly to be living in the paradise that is Costa Rica.
Tico culture has been growing on me quickly. Some volunteers have encountered powerful barriers, cultural and personal, that make it difficult to absorb the culture and assimilate into it. I feel fortunate (beyond words, but I’ll try anyway) to have assimilated into various cultures and absorbed elements of so many others in my peculiar quarter century of life. The result has been a progressively reduced period of assimilation. My first attempt was in Chile and I would wager to say that I didn’t feel fully integrated until five or six months had passed. Next was France, learning the language was easier with my Spanish background and after about three months I felt surprisingly French in my heart. Then Spain, which seemed to take only about four weeks. I’ll be back there soon because it felt like home so quickly, and the food – oh, the food. The next experience was much different and much more difficult than any of the previous ones. Assimilation into Nigerien culture, including language, religion, and food, took every ounce of energy for all six months that I was blessed to be there, and right when I was feeling at home, I found out it was time to start over somewhere else. Don’t read that as self-pity, because it’s not – just the facts my friends. Now here I am, trying to bring Tico culture into the depths of my being. I’ll be sure to let the world know when that happens fully. It’s not too far off. Now that I have found out that my new site will be within an indigenous reservation (into which random normal Ticos have started moving nonetheless) I am sure to face new and unanticipated cultural challenges. Everyone tells me that in general the indigenous cultures of Costa Rica are “closed off” and “difficult to work with.” But the people who make generalizations without disclaimers before or after haven’t read enough philosophy (at least most of the time), unless of course their intention is to create conversation and discussion, and in such cases I have no objections.
I admire everyone’s efforts in learning Spanish. Learning a new language through true immersion takes a brave, passionate, and intelligent person; luckily I’ve already done it once for the Spanish language. So all you others who are doing it for the first time: god (lowercase g) bless you all, and as for me I will focus on other things – like coffee and children.
I’m sure many of you want to hear interesting stories. I could tell you about my friend’s family, who caught a squirrel and put it on a leash which was then tied to an umbrella. His little improvised collar warmed many hearts. Or I could tell you about the night my host mother caught a LARGE toad, on top of which was placed a cornizuelo (dung beetle?) which grabbed on for dear life. They called it “La Corrida de Sapos”, the Running of the Toads. Yes, the cornizuelo went for all 8 seconds, unbelievable yes, but true – I know because we were all counting out loud. Or I could even tell you about the vultures spreading their wings six feet wide at 6am, all in a line on the fence outside our guesthouse, catching the first rays of sun with their long black feathers. But there’s just too much reflection going on in my head right now. Recounting stories full of details, textures, colors, sounds, tucans and rivers me cuesta muchÃsimo.
So reflection is what y’all will get. The offer always stands that if you write me a letter (or postcard) of any length you will get a lengthy letter back with stories galore.
Mason Hults, PCV
Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 1266
1000 San José, Costa Rica
“bring with you a heart that watches and receives” -Wordsworth
