Costa Rica 2017

"New year, New Begginings"

[rtwangee-blog]

La Carpio Pt2

[rtwangee-blog]

La Carpio "Yo Escojo Esperanza" Vida y Paz bluntly represented by street Artwork and a community of refugees whose solemnly responsible for maintaining foreign land, snapshots of la Carpio. As I stepped off the 33 seat travel bus I wasn't ashamed to say "Pura Vida" to an abuelita with a basket of items strapped across her back. I climbed roughly 13-15 stairs to a safe haven for the community Feared throughout the country. Our group was Greeted by Gail The director and founder of a Non profit organization. This group was responsible for educating the youth in the area. Truthfully I was completely unprepared for the slap of empathy that would soon seep into my heart and surge through my being. What is this place and why are we here? These words silently echoed in the heads of us visiting privileged Americans. Sneezing from the dusty surfaces and managing a false understanding on our position; we sat an waited in what looked like a run down class room. Director Gail greeted us and then began discussing the economic cycle that trapped and hinder the growth and the lives of generations from Nicaragua to America. She painted a canvas that anchored our attention to one thing, Hope. She granted us first access into the lives of the misunderstood. As we paraded through the streets of la Carpio I realized I was Choking and struggling to digest the pain force fed through social poverty. Caught up in my own recent disasters my heart couldn't sustain the trauma. My eyes sat on a group of young men shoveling gravel. Immediately filled with the desire to relieve some of the load I found my self shoveling gravel into a barrel pushed by an amigo of mine into a separate pile. While a younger crowd of guys spoke their native language and played street futbol ; all eyes in the community where upon the group and I. After shoveling for about 15 minutes we found ourself at a cluster of murals painted as a reminder to the community to remember who they were. We shortly returned to the facility. Wet rags and push brooms were accessories to our contribution. We thoroughly cleaned broken toys, washed cracked splintered counters, and dusted donated furniture to condition the school for the retuning students. As we restored the 7 room office space Completely emerged and emotionally moved, my mind spiraled around the idea that these children would be the change this world needed. Lost in space, my conscious gently interrupted by a young boy named Manuel, are we friends? Let's take a picture friend! Snapping moments with this photogenic kid instantly carved a permanent whole in my perspective on life. We visited La Carpio twice that week. Both times we were greeted with lunch and a smile from the elder women of the community. During our second visit we prepared activities for children who would change our view on patience. With very few resources we cautiously played games and danced in the streets as speeding cars and motorbikes ran rapid, yet the children were fearless. It was then that I realized it wasn't the environment that hinders joy, it's your mindset. These people thrived off of friendship, hope and dreams. They lived everyday fully with no mental barriers and focused on bettering the lives that they fell into. Three words: Inspiring, Courageous, and Motivational. Welcome To Costa Rica.