Airports are like a Personal Bubble-filled Socialistic Society

Airports and I have a love hate relationship. They love to make life difficult and I hate them for it. However, people-watching in an airport is unique and entertaining. The last big trip I took I spent quite a bit of time laughing outloud at people...while trying to avoid snide looks and glares. But it is difficult not to, let's say "appreciate" the style sense and comfort levels of mixed-pot crowds we encounter. I think I'll start with Mr. Beach-Business Man. He sported the lovely Hawiian patterened boardshort, with a poly-cotton blend collared polo...tucked in of course. He accessorized with a fashionable blue tooth and a leather briefcase, while biskly walking in flip flops. VOGUE should difinitely seek him out.

In addition to appreciating the many fashions, I also noticed the space consuming monster...know as the "Personal Bubble". I was reminded of the "Bubble Boy" episode from Seinfeld. For a few brief moments I pictured an airport full of people in physical personal bubbles, rolling around and bumping into each other like the ultimate mix of Gladiators and Bumper Cars. Three men took up 7 chairs; butts on one seat, book on the other and carry-on parked in its own space in front of the 3 chair. Maybe people like to take up extra space in the airport because they know their bubbles will be invaded upon mearly entering the jetway.

Airports do, however, seemed to be a cultural equalizer. Everyone has to have a boarding pass. Everyone have to take their shoes off. Everyone has to roll their own personal bubble to their personal uncomfortable chair. Then Everyone has to POP their bubble to enter the jetway and board the plane. Everyone waits, and Everyone leaves and arrives at the same time. Airports are 'classless' in a sense. So, does that mean that airports are a sort of micro-model of a socialistic, or even communistic society...Hardly, but it was an entriguing thought.

Silver...where?

I think I’m learning that the phrase “creatures of habit” runs a lot deeper than I thought it did. There are so many things in my life that I do, just because I was raised that way. But since I’ve come here to Costa Rica, there are things that I’ve realized aren’t necessary just because its how everyone does something, or the way someone thinks. For example, on a small scale, my family keeps all of our silverware in a plastic container in the fridge. I just realized that the utensils are in the fridge because we don’t have drawers in the kitchen. Brilliant. Silverware doesn’t NEED to be in a drawer…it could be in a box beneath the sink or in a jar in the cupboard…drawers aren’t necessary. This brings me to ideas that are a little more controversial—such as premarital sex. I’ve heard someone say that premarital sex is okay because the Bible only mentions sexual immorality, which is a question of interpretation. I’ve put a little more thought into this question, as opposed to the silverware issue, but I realize that people—Christians—believe this. So now I just struggle with this and mountains of other questions. Just keep’n my mind open.

I found out that its risky to keep an open mind. 1) you realize that everything you believe might be right and 2) sometimes it requires change and 3) people you love are sometimes not so happy with the ‘non-traditional, liberal and pluralistic’ way of thinking that I’ve adapted. But to learn and understand more…its worth the cost. I think.

Panama...where to begin

I finally lived a life of simplicity, and it was so rewarding. A life focused on people, not on things. A life focused on time, not on money. A life where true dependence on God for the daily bread and fish isn’t exchanged for dependence in a bank account. It is a beautiful thing. Now, how do I bring that back to the U.S.? I obviously can’t live in a hut with no electricity and no car and no bathroom. There are things that we are unable to live without in order to survive. But I still can’t figure out where the balance is. But I think the changes in my life that need to happen wont be extreme like I’ve always assumed they would be. I always thought that the extreme changes would be hard, but I could do it. But extreme change, even if possible, is less difficult than changing my daily habits and way of thinking. Such as:

Buying organic foods to support small farmers and to rid the environment of pesticides

Using less plastic: shopping bags, containers, sandwich bags, cups, plates and the list continues.

Eat less meat. I learned that by becoming a vegetarian, one contributes more to the environment than by buying a hybrid car.

Simple things, but difficult things, to live intentionally in order to serve God on a different level.

Monte Verde

This trip made me fall in love with Costa Rica. It was an amazing spring break filled with relaxing, a zip line, meeting crazy dutch men, good food and great dancing! I dont want to write much more, so here are a bunch of great pictures!!!

Another Volcano

I went to a volcano this weekend and it was amazing. And the volcano was in the middle of the jungle. At one point I was walking on the path and I felt like I was in the Chronicles of Narnia…except in the jungle rather than the snow. I’m just blown away at the biodiversity here and just the beauty. There was an eclipse this weekend and I was struck by the brilliance of the moon. It almost hurt to look at it because it was so bright. And the stars in Nicaragua actually twinkled. The one guy nailed it on the head when he sang, “What a wonderful world.” And I don’t even think he new the full truth of that statement. Anyway…I am blessed.

What a Childhood

So yesterday I watched a movie about DDT, transgenic crops, and the destruction of the environment and GNO or something like that. They showed Pioneer corn, Round-Up and of course corn fields (from North Dakota)…so sad. But…I felt like home. It was so wonderful.

Then, I was talking with my friend, Seth…the guy that thinks a lot and always has an argument for everything. I think he uses a larger percentage of his brain than most people do. Anyway, I was feeling really jealous about how much he knows…about everything. I wished that I could be as intentional about learning and searching for information… (without all the work and reading of course). I told him this and he said, “Yeah, but Liz, do I know how to cut cabbage?” Nope…he doesn’t. And that made me happy.

I realize now in Costa Rica how much more I understand about the world and life being that I grew up on a farm. I understand erosion and the idea of maximum capacity for a piece of land…something that affects sheep farmers in the Middle East and Israel. I understand cross pollination and transgenetic corn…which affects 90% of the corn industry in Mexico. I understand affects of the weather, which caused the loss of potato crops in Ireland and Peru. I know about stable foods, the idea of working to literally put food on the table and the feeling of lack of control over your income. I also know how to milk a cow and catch chickens. SO SWEET in itself.

A crazy conference

First…its amazing how when you have a rough week and everything hits the fan, God totally picks you up in ways you wouldn’t expects…funny cards, e-mails, humor in struggle…not to mention a completely ridiculous conferences.

You wont find this nearly as funny as I did for many reasons, but this is partly to help me remember the story. Here’s what happened. We had this conference with this biology professor (67 gray-haired gringo, hits the table when he talks, paces, definitely uses his voice) who ‘works at the 5 biggest universities in Costa Rica’ so he ‘obviously’ knows what he is talking about. I’m sure he did…I’m probably just a little too stupid to catch what it was. Anyway, after blithering on and on about lots of things (mostly globalization) and quoting lots of books he threw in this statement:

“Eskimos’ survival depends on their ability to distinguish 62 different types of snow…I don’t know if that’s true because I saw it in a movie.”

And then:

“…and my last name is Crowther, which obviously means the one that takes care of birds.”

Then he gave us ‘marriage advice’ and told us not ‘to have any expectations, it’s great’ that way.
I laughed until I cried…and then I started to wheeze from laugher…it was great. I’m really liking my friends here and I’m trying to soak up the time with them. God has been so faithful and I don’t want to forget how His crazy Mighty hand is working in all of this.