Lessons

Hola mi familia!

It's been a while, but I can guarantee that I have kept my promise. Whether it is making a financial committment to a surf board, doing a belly ride (translates to clinging to my board in utter fear) down a steep face, eating unknown fruits and food, or asking people for directions and other advice in English or Spanish (only you would understand why this is still a biggie for me), I have tried to resist resistance everyday.

Instead of going through a full list of what I did, which might sound repetitive after a while (surfed scary wave, ate something new, surfed scary wave, ate something new), I thought I would write about a few overarching lessons: the importance of investing in appropriate resources, being scared, and encountering the unknown (through food).

Lesson One: if you're going to commit to something, you have to invest in the proper resources. For years I've been loathe to do this. If I can cut costs by jerryrigging say a klenex box into a desk organizer I will. Sometimes this simply doesn't work. Case and point: buying a surf board. Let's get this straight, the save money plan did not involve a piece of plywood and some waterproof varnish. It did involve renting as opposed to buying.

Usually I'd be a big advocate of renting. Not only does renting save resources, it has potential to save you money. In this economy a few people are thinking outside of the box and placing their hardly used appliances for rent in their neighbourhood. If done right, renting can also build community.

That said sometimes it is better to buy. I have used my board almost everyday since I bought it. Owning the used 7'2" allows flexibility which is important since most of our surf sessions have been early morning and sunset surfs (before and after most business hours). Buying a board has also allowed me to have continuity. While the waves might vary from place to place, my board won't. I get to practice on a single board and focus on technique (by which I mean not getting schooled by the ocean repeatedly) instead of spending each day readjusting to the new balance of the new boards.

Just as renting has its social merits so can purchasing. This board is well used already meaning my purchase did not directly contribute to the demand for more resources. The board also came from a local shop, not some chain surf store. The money went directly to the community and not to a large corporation. In fact it came from the same shop where Ian bought his first surf board, five years ago.

All of this is well and good, but a financial upside is nice too. Not only would renting cost me more in the long run at the rate we're surfing, I would also not have the "investment" (all be it depreciating) that I do now. When I leave I can always sell the board and get some of my initial investment back.

Lesson two: Being scared helps you grow (aka no guts, no glory). Mom please refer to the photos of me on facebook where you will see me jumping off a point by the Montezuma falls. That feeling of sheer terror aptly reflected in my face at that moment is something I aspire to. If I'm not conquring a calculated risk at least once a week... Well, I should be! Calculated risks are potential points of growth. Even if I fail (as I have on many a bigger wave than I could handle) I know the experience can offer lessons for my next like endeavor. Hopefully, conquering my jellied legs and finally jumping off that point will make it easier to take the plunge, not only into pools, but on waves, and in the rest of life. I didn't die, i wasn't hurt, and I conquered a fear. This is the mentality I'm trying to bring to surfing. If it's a little beyond my reach: go for it. Rick is great at this and grows in his surfing because of it.

Lesson three: if you can't translate it and people are eating it, eat it too. Even liver and onions can turn into a good story at least.

Rick has gotten so used to my "if I don't know it I'm eating it" attitude that when he goes out to pick us up something to drink, he'll try to find the weirdest thing possible. On our stop in Nicoya enroute from the very tourist town of Samara to Nosara, Rick did a recon mission for hydration. I figured he'd pick up a piña con leche but when he returned he had two arroz y piña batidos in his hands-- rice based based smoothies with pineapple. (The consistency is kind of like melted azuki bean icecream).

On a hiking trip through Cabo Blanco National Reserve on the tip of the Nicoya Penninsula, Ian and Elisa introduced us to termites as appetizer. Termites are more like dessert actually. They taste like a mint tooth pick. (Sam, you and your friends might want to try termites in light of your affinity for chewing those eucalyptus toothpicks). Popping a bug in my mouth was not exactly on my to do list, but when would I get the chance to eat a termite again? Mom, if you're looking for a business venture maybe look into chocolate covered termites.

I can drink orange juice or cola or not eat termites when we're back in Canada. Even if something induces a similar gag reflex in me as natto does (in this case, liver) I will never know unless I try.

And that's the cincher. You never know until you try, and that's what this trip has and will continue to be about. Who knows, maybe today I'll try to turn on the face of the wave while standing instead of clinging to my board in fear. Or maybe I'll just eat something I can't translate.

Pura Vida!








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