I went running with a local Tico buddy here in Orosi this morning. We set it up or run date last night. He explained then, during one of his nighttime drop-by's, that 2 people he knows died in the last few days an uncle and a neighbor. He was out to buy bread for some household mourners, yet didn't seem very motivated to get up off the outside bench.
Our communication is rough, but we manage to understand most of what the other is trying to say, I think. I asked if the idea of things happening in 3's is common here, and he seemed to understand my question, and nodded yes. He may have thought I was asking about the holy trinity or offering condolences or asking some question that he chose wasn't worth exploring explanation; I've done likewise with him.
Regardless, he nodded yes. And even if he didn't, I still took a job today that likely will kill off my presence here, even if it doesn't kill off my ties to the area. Maybe that's the 3. Maybe the 3 is my 3rd official gig here in Costa Rica, since being back at #1, to me, is a continuation of #1, rather than #3. Maybe there is no 3, nor any spoon.
A brief back-story on why I'm back here. I up and left my last gig after 2 weeks because of what courts would call "irreconcilable differences." I didn't mind expelling calories daily at a rate similar to Michael Phelps at the height of his training, and losing a size or two in my waistline to show for it, despite eating plenty. That was actually quite invigorating. I minded my treatment by the owner - the manager class.
After our first argument and disagreement, I let him know that I don't respond well to dictatorial/authoritarian leadership, especially when that person is yelling at me. He heard that and things were cordial for a bit. Then, one evening, he rationalized why he needed to use that style. He didn't rationalize why he needed to yell and otherwise be a jackass, but he did that, anyway. I allowed him to have some rent-free resentment space in my head from here on out.
The turning point decision came when I was not around him, and yet he still found much fault in me and my work. I had worked for a neighbor - Ana, love you - all morning, for which I earned a full breakfast and lunch while on the clock, and a quality last supper, containing a delicious pork chop, that I came back for. (Note part of my work was to kick a soccer ball with her adorable little 2 year old. Awesome kid). In between these activities, I went for a long hike that had me hiking what I sensed was East, something I intuited early on was incorrect, and which turned out to be West, but that didn't matter, since I merely wanted to be out.
I heard monkeys on this hike. Yeah me.
And then I came back to my home, and got serene tending to some greenhouse crops. And went to make a pot of tea. And Rob was there. And he decided to reel of a list of new things I'd done wrong. After a few minutes, I merely repeated 3 times, "No, I didn't," to some exaggerated claim of his meant to invalidate me and my work in a few ways, and then I turned around, arms up in the air quite literally, and walked off.
Upon returning, we basically had our goodbye speech. We both knew it. Regardless, I guess he didn't believe I'd leave so quickly, and probably hoped that he get another week or two of free labor, as he sorted out some oranges for me to juice up the next morning. I'd already packed the night before and just returned from working out a ride from Ana to the bus at the main road. I said thank you and goodbye to Rob. He shook my hand and let me know again that there were oranges to be juiced and if I had time to do it blah blah. I told him I didn't. He seemed disappointed. Shocker.
And I was gone. No safety net, just up and left. Stayed on the beach for a couple days. Came back to Orosi believing I could live for just my food here at one or two spots other than the volunteer hotel, and I probably could have. Still, to the hotel I came, and here I've continued a rather sedentary life, putting in computer time aplenty looking for jobs. Today I accepted one.
It would be illegal to work here as a foreigner w/out a work permit, so I definitely could not be making any money from this new job. And when part of the job involves assisting with sea turtle conservation, like this does, then volunteers often pay loads of money. I researched just that this week and almost applied, but didn't, because I don't have loads of money. But again, it would be illegal to get paid to help out those lil' guys.
Living on the ocean - something I would do for free. And pay for. Hiking regularly - I do this for free, regularly. Living remotely where cell service is non-existent, near wild rivers and roads that get washed out, and big cats and monkeys and hammerhead sharks and surfing and turtles and sloths - I'd pay for this, too.
The "Corcovado forests are just as impressive in height as the best forests I have seen in the Amazon basin or the Dipterocarp forests of Malaysia and Indonesia." Gary Hartshorn, Costa Rican Natural History. I'll be living and working within the Corcovado, which boasts 13 major ecosystems in it's rather small and isolated body. This, too, is something I'd pay for.
The Scarlet Macaw has been named by many, it seems, as the single most beautiful bird in the world. The company I'll be working with has a money back guarantee if you don't see at least one while you stay with them. But, I couldn't get my money back if I don't see 1 nearly everyday, since it would be illegal to make any money on a tourist visa.
http://costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/Corcovado.html#attractions - here's the forest and area that I will be maxing and relaxing in while I write my book in my downtime, which I will have lots of, obviously, since it would be illegal to work here. I imagine hammock writing and some afternoon boogie boarding and perhaps surfing, followed by a sand sit and write until sundown. I don't think I've let my imagination run away from me, but perhaps it has run wild, exactly as it needs to.
Our communication is rough, but we manage to understand most of what the other is trying to say, I think. I asked if the idea of things happening in 3's is common here, and he seemed to understand my question, and nodded yes. He may have thought I was asking about the holy trinity or offering condolences or asking some question that he chose wasn't worth exploring explanation; I've done likewise with him.
Regardless, he nodded yes. And even if he didn't, I still took a job today that likely will kill off my presence here, even if it doesn't kill off my ties to the area. Maybe that's the 3. Maybe the 3 is my 3rd official gig here in Costa Rica, since being back at #1, to me, is a continuation of #1, rather than #3. Maybe there is no 3, nor any spoon.
A brief back-story on why I'm back here. I up and left my last gig after 2 weeks because of what courts would call "irreconcilable differences." I didn't mind expelling calories daily at a rate similar to Michael Phelps at the height of his training, and losing a size or two in my waistline to show for it, despite eating plenty. That was actually quite invigorating. I minded my treatment by the owner - the manager class.
After our first argument and disagreement, I let him know that I don't respond well to dictatorial/authoritarian leadership, especially when that person is yelling at me. He heard that and things were cordial for a bit. Then, one evening, he rationalized why he needed to use that style. He didn't rationalize why he needed to yell and otherwise be a jackass, but he did that, anyway. I allowed him to have some rent-free resentment space in my head from here on out.
The turning point decision came when I was not around him, and yet he still found much fault in me and my work. I had worked for a neighbor - Ana, love you - all morning, for which I earned a full breakfast and lunch while on the clock, and a quality last supper, containing a delicious pork chop, that I came back for. (Note part of my work was to kick a soccer ball with her adorable little 2 year old. Awesome kid). In between these activities, I went for a long hike that had me hiking what I sensed was East, something I intuited early on was incorrect, and which turned out to be West, but that didn't matter, since I merely wanted to be out.
I heard monkeys on this hike. Yeah me.
And then I came back to my home, and got serene tending to some greenhouse crops. And went to make a pot of tea. And Rob was there. And he decided to reel of a list of new things I'd done wrong. After a few minutes, I merely repeated 3 times, "No, I didn't," to some exaggerated claim of his meant to invalidate me and my work in a few ways, and then I turned around, arms up in the air quite literally, and walked off.
Upon returning, we basically had our goodbye speech. We both knew it. Regardless, I guess he didn't believe I'd leave so quickly, and probably hoped that he get another week or two of free labor, as he sorted out some oranges for me to juice up the next morning. I'd already packed the night before and just returned from working out a ride from Ana to the bus at the main road. I said thank you and goodbye to Rob. He shook my hand and let me know again that there were oranges to be juiced and if I had time to do it blah blah. I told him I didn't. He seemed disappointed. Shocker.
And I was gone. No safety net, just up and left. Stayed on the beach for a couple days. Came back to Orosi believing I could live for just my food here at one or two spots other than the volunteer hotel, and I probably could have. Still, to the hotel I came, and here I've continued a rather sedentary life, putting in computer time aplenty looking for jobs. Today I accepted one.
It would be illegal to work here as a foreigner w/out a work permit, so I definitely could not be making any money from this new job. And when part of the job involves assisting with sea turtle conservation, like this does, then volunteers often pay loads of money. I researched just that this week and almost applied, but didn't, because I don't have loads of money. But again, it would be illegal to get paid to help out those lil' guys.
Living on the ocean - something I would do for free. And pay for. Hiking regularly - I do this for free, regularly. Living remotely where cell service is non-existent, near wild rivers and roads that get washed out, and big cats and monkeys and hammerhead sharks and surfing and turtles and sloths - I'd pay for this, too.
The "Corcovado forests are just as impressive in height as the best forests I have seen in the Amazon basin or the Dipterocarp forests of Malaysia and Indonesia." Gary Hartshorn, Costa Rican Natural History. I'll be living and working within the Corcovado, which boasts 13 major ecosystems in it's rather small and isolated body. This, too, is something I'd pay for.
The Scarlet Macaw has been named by many, it seems, as the single most beautiful bird in the world. The company I'll be working with has a money back guarantee if you don't see at least one while you stay with them. But, I couldn't get my money back if I don't see 1 nearly everyday, since it would be illegal to make any money on a tourist visa.
http://costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/Corcovado.html#attractions - here's the forest and area that I will be maxing and relaxing in while I write my book in my downtime, which I will have lots of, obviously, since it would be illegal to work here. I imagine hammock writing and some afternoon boogie boarding and perhaps surfing, followed by a sand sit and write until sundown. I don't think I've let my imagination run away from me, but perhaps it has run wild, exactly as it needs to.
No comments:
Post a Comment