Day in the Life
La Violeta
by Erin Vinacco
La Violeta is a small coffee farming town in the mountains of central Costa Rica home to about 300 people. The main source of employment is farming and picking coffee though more young people are starting to go to high school in nearby towns so that may change in the years to come. There’s another larger town nearby that has everything a gringa could need (photocopies/internet/grocery store/post office etc.) Most people who live here are related in so
me way, though I still have no idea how. Everyone knows everyone and while I still have no idea of peoples names because we’ve never been formally introduced everyone “knows” me and will shout “Hola Teacher!” wherever I go. It takes a bit getting used to living in a small town but I’ve grown to prefer the familiarity of this life to the anonymity of the city. I’ve felt really welcome here from the beginning. There will always be some people that are not as open but as a whole the community is extremely accepting of having a foreigner here. They’re curious about my culture and where I’m from as well as grateful that their children are getting such a great English education. One of my favorite things to do here is visit families for coffee or go for a walk and take in the breath-taking green mountains that surround us. It is a truly beautiful and “traquilo” place to live. Continue Reading More...