Denver friends, old and new

On their way to catch their flight, Aaron and Lisa dropped me off at my friend Ann's house in Denver. She and I met in the Dominican Republic on our semester program there in 1999 and became fast friends. As the years have gone by it's been harder and harder to find time to see one another and we had dropped out of email communication, but we re-connected just in time to fit in a visit in Denver. Ann is as beautiful and glowing as I remembered her, although much has changed! She's now a pediatrician, has a great husband who is quite the jokester (Jonathan), is 13 weeks pregnant, has a beautiful historic home, and two affectionate dogs (Trinity and Heidi). Ann has a lot going on, but it was great to get the chance to catch up with her and to finally meet Jonathan.

Perhaps we've mentioned this (talk about it all the time!) but since March of 2006 Julio and I have become avid Couchsurfing hosts. It's an amazing free worldwide hospitality network – it's a great tool to find new friends in any town or city, nearly everywhere in the world! We've hosted dozens of people, but this was just my third time actually being the guest. My lovely hostess Julia set me up with a great foam mattress at her apartment as well as coordinated a fun outing with other Couchsurfing hosts and guests at a nearby restaurant – it was so fun to meet and share stories about travel and all the other things we have in common.

fun with Aaron & Lisa

Other dear college friends of mine, Aaron and Lisa, also went to the wedding and it was fabulous to share more good times with the two of them, including a wild ride on Colorado's longest alpine slide, grooving to Michelle's dad Gordy's guitar and crazy lyrics, and drinking just a little too much wine (or bourbon, as preferences go) at the wedding reception!

Michelle & Jeff's Wedding

My beloved friend Michelle who I met when we were going to Lewis and Clark College got married to a wonderful man named Jeff on Saturday. Since this was the whole point to my trip to Colorado and the impetus for getting me to the States at all this year, it was a much anticipated event! Michelle has always been someone I admire for her true kindness, relaxed elegance, and easy smile. I am so glad that she has found someone who seems to compliment her so perfectly and I am honored to have shared their special day with them. It's a rare pleasure to hear such genuine and personal sentiments embedded in wedding vows, as well as in poems and songs shared by family and friends.

Pillow Menu!

My flight from Costa Rica to Mimi ended up being delayed due to technical difficulties, so for the first time in my life I ended up with a voucher for a free nights stay in a hotel room plus dinner and breakfast. I was at the Holiday Inn by the Miami airport and the first thing I saw when I walked into my hotel room were four pillows propped up against the headboard. I then notice that they are slightly different shapes and sizes and am drawn to the little card off to one side. It explains that this is a pillow menu and describes each pillow's contents and characteristics and that you can get more of the one you like best from housekeeping. Well, some of you might already know, but I love a good pillow – or two – or three! But four?!! I LOVED it! What a great idea!

The Ugly American

Just before my flight left Costa Rica, Julio and I were returning a rental car to an agency that we use often when I overheard the most detestable conversation I can recall.

First I have to describe this couple - the heavy-set man American man in a Hawaiian shirt next to me at the counter was about 35 years old with a loud voice and abrasive attitude. His Barbie-inspired Tica girlfriend was just too much – she had huge breast implants, platinum blond hair (no dark roots because she gets it touched up every week I'm sure), a chihuahua with a rhinestone collar in it's carrying case, and her hot pink cell phone.

The man was angry at the rental car agency for something and thought he was being ripped off. So rather than complain about the company, he started verbally attacking the employee, calling him a “piece of shit” and being generally abusive. The employee dealt with it very well, asking him to calm down and that they'd work it out. I did not deal with it well. I was shaking with rage and indignance... we were supposed to ride in the same shuttle with that couple to the airport, but I just couldn't. I said in a loud voice to Julio: “I am so upset - I can't believe one person would talk to another person that way! I can't be in the same vehicle with him, let's walk instead.” Our paperwork was done after a couple more minutes and I realized I just had to say just one more thing – but this time directly to the man: “You are the kind of American who makes us all look bad! You are an asshole.” Then I left, still shaking and angry, but pleased with myself for voicing my opinion. Of course, he did call out some explicitives after me, further proving my point.

For the most part Ticos (Costa Ricans) are very willing to reserve judgement until they've gotten to know you. However there are some touristy areas where the locals just get used to the vast majority of US travelers being rude and stupid and then they treat everyone accordingly. It drives me crazy because Julio and I (and in turn our clients) work hard to be culturally sensitive and patronize locally owned businesses – our attempt to cultivate the opposite of the “Ugly American” stereotype.

Culture shock: Boruca to Miami

I have been outside the USA for over a year, living in Costa Rica and traveling within Costa Rica as well as to Nicaragua and Panama. I get to see all types of lifestyles, from the very simple (cold showers and curtains for doors) to rather luxurious and Westernized (fancy Gringo-style houses with all the regular amenities and gourmet groceries). However, I am reminded which side I want to lean towards when I visit Boruca, one of the most magical places for me in the world. It always reminds me of the old adage: “Live simply so others can simply live”. We don't need to have a whole lot of “stuff” to be happy.

Boruca is an indigenous community nestled in the mountains about 6 hours south from the capital/Central Valley of Costa Rica. Many of the local men carve and paint intricate and beautiful masks and the women spin, hand dye and weave impressive cotton textiles. There's only a handful of cars and so it's safe for children to run from house to house visiting their extended family. When Julio and I visit we are invited into the homes of family or friends of our friend Pedro and are treated to amazing food cooked by his mother. Just a couple of days ago I was sitting in the dining area with a beautiful red earthen floor and listening to Pedro share lovingly about his ancestors and the significance of spirals – that in their religion there is no beginning nor end, that life passes as if in a spiral (also the flight of a sacred bird, the vulture), on a beautiful unbroken path.

Imagine then... just 36 hours later I was sitting in a hotel bar in Miami with too much stimuli, just having seen my first Starbucks in a whole year (hard to imagine, isn't it?!), reading about US presidential candidates in the trashy USA Today newspaper and watching a TV special about right wing conservative pastors' plot to swing the votes towards more conservative laws and elected leaders. Ugh. I wish I was back in Boruca conversing with the locals and watching the time pass slowly by.