Pura Vida… It's the way of life in Costa Rica, a place where life really is pure. The people are genuine and happy, the landscapes are mesmerizing, and the sense of gratification is never-ending. This spring break was my first time visiting Costa Rica, but I guarantee it certainly won't be my last.

(Las Catalinas, Costa Rica)

I had heard the phrase “pura vida” from my Costa Rican friend, Ian, but I didn't quite expect it to be a fundamental component of each and every interaction I had while I was there. It's a statement that really carries its weight in gold. Gracias? Pura vida. Como estas? Pura vida. Hola? Pura vida. Hasta luego? Pura vida!But it's not just some senseless sentence that locals use to appease foreigners. It's the epitome of life in Costa Rica. With perfect weather, beautiful views in every direction, good food and good people, how can it not be? In the context of Central and South America, Costa Rica has very few problems. The people live relatively well (though you can't dismiss that it still is a third world country), they work enough, and they enjoy themselves. They take pride in their country and their way of life, which is evident in the way that they interact with the people around them. Their mentality is just always directed towards befriending people, which creates a very fun and relaxed environment for locals and foreigners alike.

We befriended a lady from the cleaning staff where we stayed in Playa del Coco. She helped us plan a ziplining trip, transportation for different activities, and more. When we returned from ziplining she asked us how it had been, if we’d had a good time, if we saw the monkeys -- she was genuinely interested in hearing whether or not we had an enjoyable experience.

At another place we stayed, Las Catalinas, the pool and bar staff was always helping us out. Sure, it's their job to take our orders and ensure our needs are taken care of, but their kindness far transcended their duties. They chatted with us, joked with us, helped with things completely out of the realm of their responsibilities -- simply because they believe in pura vida. We met a group of other college students and were all hanging at the pool, so one of the servers set up his phone and speaker for us without us even insinuating anything about it.

(Las Catalinas, Costa Rica)

Costa Ricans are happy people with simple values, and I certainly don't mean that condescendingly, but rather as a compliment. Their focus is on being happy. They value working as a means to provide enjoyment for friends and family. The concern is not a materialistic one of making money to buy the latest things, but rather of enjoying the beauty of Costa Rica with the people that they love. Their concern is with being ambassadors of pura vida.