In a lucky break during a 5 day viral epidemic in our family, including yes vomiting and diarrhea and aching bodies (a wicked virus that rampaged Eva's kindergarten and eventually all the families in the school), we were able to participate in Costa Rica's independence day on September 15.
Asa's class made "faroles", or lanterns, and we all joined in with the whole town in the evening, gathering at town square and carrying lit up lanterns through the streets of Turrialba in a huge crowd. The lanterns came in all shapes and sizes, including a giant puffing Turrialba volcano being carried by a dozen people.
Our landlady told us the reason for the lanterns is because the news of Costa Rica's independence from Spain came country by country through central America by messenger carrying a lamp. Each country was in turn illuminated by freedom. Such a beautiful way to commmemorate this country's origens.
Costa Rica has a lot to be proud of with the way it has developed. Life expectancy and literacy rates have increased dramatically during the last part of the 1900's, housing is on the whole of decent quality, there is no army (thus freeing funding for healthcare and education), and they have done an admirable job preserving their natural environment. A good opportunity to ask how does the U.S. measure up in these same categories?
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| Äsa, Tim, Zena parading through Turrialba |
Below is a close-up of Asa's lit-up farol in the form of the iconic wooden cart pulled behind a donkey, honoring the beauty and heart of Costa Rica's agricultural legacy.
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| Asa's farol |
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