Chapter 3
I am not religious or at least I wasn't raised going to mass or temple, yeah I do attend meeting for about 14 days in the summer but I've never considered myself a “real” Quaker. And yet after living my whole life slightly loathing the idea of religion or rather the idea of sitting silently listening to someone speak about something I didn't understand nor believe in I found myself excited to go to mass. Despite popular belief (rather stories from friends in the states of catholic church) mass was pretty laid back, at least the two times I’ve been. Both times were at night, starting around 6 or 7, once on Saturday and once on Sunday and both my host mom and I wore jeans and tshirts. The churches themselves were gorgeous and no I don’t have photos because even with my lack of religious experience I figured taking a few flicks of the midnight marbled ceilings and sobbing Marys would be insensitive (no matter their astounding elegance). Not only do I not know the routines of mass I happen to not understand the majority of Spanish preached from the mouth of the priest. However it happens to be fairly easy to follow along with the standing, kneeling, sitting, bowing, and crossing oneself. My favorite part by far (the most Quaker and inline with my upbringing) was the peace part “la paz”. At the end of this section like in English people hug and say “peace be with you” or “la paz contigo”. This part felt familiar to me, a core piece of a community that is so important to the lives of many people but something that could also be translated across languages, across the world, bringing people together not only under faith in a certain god but also the fundamental value of peace.
These photos are completely unrelated but for a little more context today my host family and I went to el Bosque de Prusia (Prusia forest, pronounced proo-cia) where we hiked up a crazy steep mountain which was all worth it for the gorgeous gorgeous view. Prusia is next to Irazú Volcano, one of many active volcanoes in Costa Rica. And for those of you wondering when I will no longer be truant, tomorrow marks the beginning of colegio (high school) which will no doubt eat me alive for a while.
The view from the car driving up the mountains above Cartago.
More mountain shots.
Yeah, I really do love the mountains.
In the forest which felt reminiscent of the wooded back country on a few islands in Maine.
The view that was worth the grueling up hill climb.
The pictures do not do the place justice.
Proof that I in fact was there.
On the other side of that mountain is Irazú.
This one is for you Grandmom and Beanie, many of the trail signs were painted or etched with tiny birds, I’m not sure what this one is but I thought it was cute.