Dear Familia and Amigos,
(that’s Spanish for family and friends)
When people here in Costa Rica ask me what I did today and I tell them that I had to work a lot, a really common response is, “que dicha”, which is Costa Rican Spanish for “how lucky”. Having work is viewed as a privilege.
I have been waiting, wandering and walking far for the work that I have found today. It started around 4 years old, when I first realized I was a sister and that with that came a great honor and responsibility to care for one another… and also, to ‘share’ clothes. A few times, I do remember my sisters forgetting what it means to share when I forgot to ask first...but I forgive them.
In middle school, my parents encouraged me to volunteer at my grandpa’s hospice and I remember finding great joy in helping some of my new older friends eat and listening to them talk. In high school and college, I worked with children who needed extra support in their lives and youth with special abilities. I continued my interest in learning and sharing with people who have a different story than I by traveling, living and working in Bolivia, El Salvador, Costa Rica and a few other places.
I am 27 years old and living in a small, semi-rural town in Costa Rica, where I have been for the past 2 years now. When I come back to New York, sometimes people ask me “when I am going to start my real life”. This question is always rather perplexing to me, as I have felt very much alive and really living for about 21 years. (I don’t really remember anything before age 4 and well, there were a couple years in college that didn’t quite exemplify ‘real life’ behavior). However, all these years living inside humble homes around the world, spending time with different people, cultures, and age groups and walking in so many shoes has helped shape my perspective on ‘real life’ and ‘real work’. I feel really committed to being a good daughter, friend, and neighbor, as well as a sensible person of service to this world.
It is with that very succinct intro that I bring myself to my point: I really love and feel privileged to be doing what I am doing today. I ask Costa Rican friends to introduce me to micro-entrepreneurs who are farmers, artists, cheese-makers, fisherman, indigenous basket-weavers, etc. who are dedicated to their traditional livelihood and could use some support. Then, I go meet them and sit with them for a few hours talking about what makes their work important to them. I take pictures and write lots of notes in my field journal. I have met farmers who care for plants and animals as therapy in overcoming years of abuse. I have met artists who encourage reforestation by creating dialogue about rainforests while painting. I have spent time with indigenous leaders who have told me that if people don’t meet them and start to understand the value of their way of life, their entire community and traditions are at risk of extinction. We don't hear these stories a lot. We live in a society of advertisements, mass media and industrialized complexes where we do not get the opportunity to be face to face with one another and know what gives our lives meaning.
This work is so important to me.
I am learning about medicinal plants and holistic healing, something that has been of deep interest to me since I began to investigate more and more about sickness, inspired by my sister curing herself of cancer as a child. And also inspired by my parents' commitment to carrots, playing outdoors and avoiding MSG.
I am learning about community, something that has mattered a lot to me since I realized how fortunate I am to come from a place like Pleasantville.
I am learning about the importance of connecting and getting to know one another, especially those who may seem very different than us, inspired by living in an 'off-the-grid' home in El Salvador, where many friends of mine lived meal-by-meal. I am learning how to live outside my comfort zone and asking questions instead of believing assumptions.
I am also using what I have found to be my strengths and my gifts to support people. I love to write, so I am documenting the stories of micro-entrepreneurs who are doing really great things and many people don’t hear about them. Through VAYANDO, I can share these stories with others and help us learn about one another. I love to teach, use my hands, cook and practice holistic healing, so I have become a student-educator. I create and/or participate in experiences with children, youth, adults and older adults where we can share a bit of our stories and learn from one another. I am helping to write a book, doing cooking classes, farming, teaching English and building online profiles; and I sometimes cannot believe it! These are all the things I have wanted to do for a very long time and I couldn’t figure out any of the hows I just knew I had to keep going and I did.
My life is abundant. I am full of love and work and life. If I die tomorrow, I would truly die happy. I really don’t want to though, I kinda wanna keep going for awhile.
Ideally, I will be able to keep going for a bit. As a startup, experimenting with something new, something we really believe in and something that challenges the typical travel model and typical way we are used to seeing and doing things, we need support from open-minded and open-hearted people. It would mean a lot to me if you could check out this video that will show you a glimpse into my life and what my work is about. Read a bit more about our new approach to travel and to getting to know one another. If you can contribute financially, it would help me continue to be able to do this work in Costa Rica. It would help me continue to create profiles for micro-entrepreneurs so that eventually our business model will run sustainably. If you believe in what we are doing and want to spread the movement, please share with your family, friends and networks!
Finally, I really, really, really love hearing from you, so pretty please send me a note when you can.
I believe in the good things coming. A favorite line from a favorite band, Nahko Bear & Medicine for the People. And by that I mean for all of us; for humanity and for our planet.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate it.
Loves of amor.
(thats Spanish for love).
~Jaime
Support Us
