Costa Rica, Pura Vida

Hey family,
I thought that I would start a little blog with some fun info about Costa Rica. I have a few ideas about what to post, but if you want to ask some questions, I'll try to research an answer.

PURA VIDA, we are going to see and hear this phrase everywhere. So what does it mean?

Literally translated it would be "life pure", but there is much more to it. Many gringos will use the phrase as a leasurely term used to express the richness and ease of life. However, Costa Ricans will use the phrase more to express a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, enjoying life, and celebrating good fortune, both small and large.

There really is no wrong way to use pura vida, saying hi, pura vida, saying goodbye, pura vida, asked how it's going, pura vida, having a "moment" pura vida. It can be used as almost anything and in any way, and you will come to find that it's easy to slip into the habit of answering a question or greeting someone with this phrase.

It isn't really known how the phrase originated, but it's generally accepted that it came around in 1956 and is probably a result of surfers enjoying the life. C'mon, California surfers coined more phrases out of the sixties than anything else, beachboys anyone? Anyways, Costa Rica has adopted this phrase as its own and will proudly display it on all t-shirts, booty shorts, hats, pieces of driftwood, and coconut shells, anything that we will buy!

As long as we're on the topic of greetings and common phrases, lets get our daily vocabulary lesson out of the way. "Hola" (hi, hello) and "Buenas dias" (good day) are the most commonly used greeting and can be used at any time, but generally in the morning or afternoon. "Buenas noches" means goodnight, this is less common and is used more in departure than as a greeting.

To simplify it a little more, it is perfectly acceptable to just say "buenas". It covers all times of the day, and is easier to remember. Also important is "Adios". This simply means goodbye. Other forms you may hear will be "hasta luego" (see you later), "hasta ma˜nana" (see you tomorrow)

So, as you are going about your day, try to integrate these phrases. It's the best way to learn them so that they come naturally and you don't have to think about them. When someone comes home, greet them with an appropriate greeting, if your departing, try to use one you don't know.