DEAR ALIZARIN: Who can figure out the time in any zone with a man on a cell phone in her ear?

After more or less hibernating in my apartment for 48 hour ours, I found myself once again on the Van Nuys Flyaway shuttle to LAX about to hop on another red-eye flight to a warm and humid place. Unfortunately, this time, it was to Florida for a family visit, not an exciting vacation (not that I do not want to see my family, but hey, Florida vs. Costa Rica -- no contest!) Just as we are pulling out of the Van Nuys station, the man behind me starts a conversation on his cell phone. It is shocking how many hard of hearing people in the world have friends who own cell phones in LA. I am sure even the person in the far back of the bus could clearly hear this man's conversation. Now, most of it I could not understand; I think he was speaking half in English and half in some other language (I am going to guess an African language). Maybe he just mumbles loudly. Who knows? Nor do I care. I just wanted him to at least attempt to be discreet so the rest of us could enjoy sitting in the traffic on the 405 freeway. Have some respect for tranquility.

Unlike the 4th of July conversation (see previous post), I momentarily felt very conservative as I advocated in my head for the strict regulation of cell phone use in public. Once again, I already longed to return the tranquility of Costa Rica. I was certain there were not such abuses of technology there.

It is ironic because while in Costa Rica, I came to appreciate the many privileges and eases we have in the use, for example, mostly unlimited and uninhibited access to hot showers. In Costa Rica, most showers contain an electric heater in the showerhead, providing, at best, a lukewarm shower. Given the hot climate, this is more or less tolerable. Also, just the fact that, despite being a public school teacher, being paid in American currency still affords me the luxury of traveling to places like Costa Rica and Belize with a digital camera and a small mp3 player. I can also afford without hesitation to check my email daily and know I have my laptop computer and DSL line waiting for me at home. We are lucky here, but how do we use these advantages?

On my last day in Heredia, I enjoyed coffee and conversation with my Spanish teacher. In Costa Rica they have the saying "Pura Vida." Pure life, by a strict interpretation. Locals say it is used as a greeting or an expression such as "Cool!" or "Fantastic!" However, he expressed frustration at how for tourists it represents this idea of Costa Rica as a utopia, as a slogan to sell Costa Rica as a paradise getaway. Somewhere in here I think I lost a bit of his point, but gathered that this foreign commercialization and romanticization of the phrase left him and his country feeling objectified. I added that the phrase is not necessarily about Costa Rica and living in Costa Rica, but about an attitude of living life fully, which can and should be done whether in Costa Rica, the United States, or the south pole. Being back here, I realize how this is a foreign concept to many, thus is easy to sell to tourists who long to find such purity in a foreign land. Unfortunately, most only manage to bring it back on their t-shirts. However, I also wonder in Costa Rica how many truly live the "pura vida" life. I think my Spanish was not good enough to figure this out nor was I there long enough to see and decide. Another excuse to return one day.

Lychee