1 Month

I have been here in Costa Rica for a month now.  I would have to say that I am used to the daily routine, but not so much used to the pattern of life.  I am learning to enjoy relaxing.  I enjoyed relaxing back home, but there is much more here....at least it feels like it.  I feel like back home we are a slave to time and schedule.  Here there isn't much focus on keeping a schedule and it doesn't seem like there is much emphasis put on time.  At home it seems like there is not enough time in the day to do things.  Here sometimes it feels like there is too much time to do things.  It has been quite a big difference.  So when living back in the states I wonder where all the stress comes from of having to get things done and why we have to keep a strict schedule, because if you don't get a lot done and if you don't keep a rigid schedule you are looked upon as lazy and unorganized.  Yet you come to another country and do things the same way and it is looked upon as normal.  The same work ethic, drive, management of time, ect..ect.. doesn't work here or other places for that matter when you are immersed in another culture.  Everyone else around you is going at a similar pace and living life in a similar manner.  You just end up joining in.  Just like back at home.  In the USA it is balls to the wall work, work, work, to earn more money, money, money so I can get more bigger better stuff,stuff, stuff....at least that is how I perceive the american way of life.  I have only been here a month but I was here for a couple weeks last year and it is easy to see the emphasis  Costa Ricans put on spending time with family over working and trying to aquire possessions.  I would have to say that the people here are far happier people as a whole compared to the US.  Why?  I don't know exactly why.  But I would have to say they don't expect much, never had much, and they have learned to love life with whom they are surrounded by.  Although the pace of life is drastically different, I have also wondered if there is not the danger of just being lazy and complacent.  It is humid here and everyone around you is going at a certain pace....so how do you know if it is just plain laziness or if it is just the way things are?  Who is right and who is wrong I have wondered.  Maybe neither....maybe it is just the way it is? I definitely think Americans work way too much and don't spend enough time with family.  I have thought this before coming here. There is a lot going on in my head, so I will stop.:)  I am learning spanish daily and I am leaning on the hope given by others that I will start understanding more.  I hear it all the time and I don't understand most of it.  Some days my brain is absolutely overloaded with Spanish and I don't want to hear anymore.  It motivates me to want to learn, but it can be a bit discouraging not knowing much when everyone around you does.  A couple weeks ago I saw a black widow spider on the ground in the bathroom.  I was surprised and I yelled running out of the bathroom....I ended up killing it with roach killer.  I was going to just release it outside, but the dust pan idea I had didn't work.  It just crawled up it, so i figured I better kill it instead of allowing a potential threat back into the home.  I am excited to be here and I am thankful for all the support financially I have had and also the prayer and thoughts that are directed our way.  Peace