A New Time

Solo Yo: my adventure in Costa Rica

Over the past year I have seen my dream grow. I decided I wanted to study happiness this year that the University of Washington. I was told it was unlikely since it is a unstudied topic at the school and many didn't respond to my email. But David Barash took my passion as a good thing and told me he would give me a "fishing license"; for me to do what I wanted without his guidance. I read a lot of books. I also gave a talk on meaning, happiness, and their practical uses at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at my campus earlier this year. It was  a great experience and showed me a passion I didn't know I had.
But bigger than that was what WE are undertaking now. His wife, and now my second adviser, Dr. Judith Lipton recently bought a house in Potrero, Costa Rica. It turns out Costa Rica has been recently deemed the happiness country in the world by several websites/survey compilations. This inspired them to attempt a book on the subject of happiness, in Costa Rica, as a paradigm in modern society and beyond.
Now I find myself in their house, occupying the basement with two Ticos (what Costa Ricans refer to themselves as) with 7 weeks at my disposal. I've been here for a few days and been able to enjoy a couple amazing sunsets (see picture above from two nights ago) and a complete rain day as I found myself choosing the wrong time to go for a long walk. Since I am essentially alone, with the language barrier affecting this deeply (I can understand a decent amount of Spanish, but my speaking still are past broken), I have taken this opportunity to write.
I will be talking about my adventures and such as writing is a way of talking to someone as well as getting my thoughts off my sleeve. Any life thoughts and the like will also be finding their way here as usual.
I'm excited to start traveling this weekend when I go to San Jose!