felicidad means happiness

Costa Rica is the happiest country in the world. I'm not just saying this because its about 75 degrees everyday, people smile a lot (even when they're about to run me over with a car), and a kilo of mangos costs two dollars. Those are all extremely good reasons for somewhere to be the happiest country in the world. Its official. So, that's pretty cool that I'm in the happiest place in the world. Actually, it's pretty freakin (no vulgar language in this blog) sweet!

So how the heck do you be the happiest country in the world? Well, I don't really know. But as my peers and I attempted to find that answer we discovered many interesting aspects of this country I'm inhabiting.

One, Costa Rica's entire national budget is the same of the Wisconsin public university system.
Two, Costa Rica has 5% of the world's bio diversity in a country the size of West Virginia. However, no one actually lives in W. Virginia so that's not a great comparison. A better one is that Costa Rica fits in Colorado five and half times.
Three, during my spanish conversation class today, my professor talked about how he didn't mind paying taxes because he was working for Costa Rica. No, he does not work for a public school, the military, or any other similar service. He's privately employed. But he sees his work every day, and his resulting taxes, as a way to contribute to his country. Now regardless of my views on if taxes, I've never heard patriotism and love for a country like that. I thought that it was pretty fantastic.
Four, Costa Rica has no military. I still don't know my exact opinion on this, so you get to make your own.
Five, I like cake here. This has nothing to do with our research on happiness. However, they did make me a cake for my birthday today, since they has just missed it. It was mango deliciousness. I don't remember the last time I liked a cake. That's probably why they're so happy. They have mango cake.

In conclusion, Costa Rica is happy.



As our studies and research continue, our field trips are just beginning. Tomorrow we will venture to the heart of San Jose for a day of classes in a park that my host mom compared to Central Park. Sounds great to me. In addition, I continue to find out more and more about my research project. I have met with my advisors a second time, and my research proposal is in the works. I will be located in a town near San Carlos, which looks like a terrily boring and ugly place so thats too bad. Developing a survey (in Spanish, for small children) is also on my to do list, in addition to reading articles on indicators of obesity, and memorizing a stack of flash cards with medical terms in spanish. Talk about real life application in the classroom (a classroom with humming birds outside the window none the less)

Soon I hope to put pictures up of my own, though my internet connection is a little bit lacking in speed in my host house. But I will attempt again here, and perhaps at the ACM building as well.

In addition, I know that this blog is a public record of my life, but I would like to be knowing about all of yours as well (I mean if you're willing to read random records of my day, I bet I much like you alot). So please send word my way as well on how all of you are doing. I hope you are all very happy, even without the assistance of mangos and hummingbirds.