The village Tamarindo on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is for me a place of inspiration and longing. Since my childhood, I have felt a large interest to improve my knowledge of Spanish and to look into my own Latin-American roots. Unfortunately, for a long time I had no contact with my Latin-American relatives in Guatemala and therefore searched for an alternative way to get closer to my origins. Costa Rica immediately won me over, not only due to the more secure situation compared to other Central American countries. Since my first trip there in January 2014, I have returned five times. The affectionate relationship to my host family, but also the feel of life in Costa Rica, have always drawn me back and made me think of staying there forever. The small place of Tamarindo in particular is like coming home, because here I can be as I am, and I don’t feel like an outsider due to my Latin-Americanappearance. The pressures to perform and succeed fall away from me. In Costa Rica other values matter, for example family which lives close by and supports one another. The place combines everything which my heart seeks: in no other place than Costa Rica have I met so many cheerful locals. The tropical climate agrees with the people better than it does in the city. The hospitality, which I had the luck to experience during my time with a Costa Rican host family in the province of Guanacaste, was exceptional. Ticos are warm-hearted, generous, and life-loving people. With a high measure of serenity and an inner contentedness, the inhabitants supposedly count as one of the happiest nations in the world. Bright, fine sand beaches and warm, blue water make up the scenic beauty of Tamarindo .Alongside all of the positive aspects, I also perceive the cultural differences: punctuality, discipline, and organization have a less significant value than in Germany. That can only partially combine with my ideas of profession life. Furthermore, Tamarindo is a vacation destination for many Americans, Canadians, and Europeans, and offers a home to many emigrants. Therefore, this place is also adjusted to the demands of the tourists. The international atmosphere of the touristic surf and party stronghold fascinates me but does not match my current lifestyle. Because of this, Tamarindo must remain as a place of longing and otium, to which I regularly return and imagine as the place of my twilight years. I see myself there with a pipa (coconut) sitting on the beach and enjoying the pura vida (Costa Rican attitude towards life and greeting).
Text was written for the Project “Mußeorte-Weltweit” https://www.musseorte-weltweit.uni-freiburg.de
Cristina Morales De La Cruz Tischler 