By Brenda Ortega Abroad writer
I have been without a phone in Costa Rica for almost a month, and I can honestly say that it is the best thing ever.
I had my phone stolen at a club in Heredia, a small city in Costa Rica, and it sucked because I was threatened. Nothing happened, but it was still one of the scariest experiences of my life.
Being without a smart phone is great though. It kind of sucks that all of the friends I made here were on my phone, so it is not as easy to communicate with them, but we manage.
Being without a phone has not affected me greatly. It has actually made me realize a few things. First, I noticed how much other people are on their phones and that being without one makes you appreciate moments even more. It’s crazy how much a person can miss when all they truly look at is their phone. It is sad that I had to have my phone stolen in order to realize that.
Another cool thing about not having my phone is that people are more inclined to talk to me. I am not preoccupied with my phone, so I have time to stop and talk, which is great because I have made more friends.
My phone had a great camera and I had so many pictures of Costa Rica. Now I won’t be able to take pictures, but it’s okay because now I have all the memories. I am the kind of person who loves to live in the moment, and what better way to do that than without a phone? I am not worried about getting snapchats of the clubs or of my friends doing crazy stuff. I just enjoy it. I enjoy the laughs and fights we share because those kinds of moments can’t really be captured through an Instagram post or a snapchat. Besides, people don’t need to know what I am up to every day, and I do not need to prove to myself that I have a life because I know I am enjoying life here in Heredia to the fullest.
My host mom Flory is the most positive and loving person I have ever met, and every morning while I eat breakfast we listen to a pastor talk about religion, and every time he finishes his sermon he says, “do not complicate things and live happy.” My host mom stands by this statement whole-heartedly. I stand by this statement too. I could be crying and moping over my stolen phone, but I’ve realized that’s not how it should be; a phone is something that can be replaced.
Things happen, and again I try not to complicate things in my life because it just adds unnecessary stress to an already stressful life. Costa Rica is amazing and it is the best place to find inner peace because the people here do not complicate situations. Their ability to live life simply has helped me self-reflect and appreciate the luxuries that I have. People in Costa Rico like to live happy and stress-free lives, and their at
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