The Jeans Project
I fell in love 7 years ago.
I fell fast and hard.
Everything I had ever dreamed of was standing right in front of me, surrounding me, I couldn’t escape it if I’d wanted to. It was love at first sight…so kind, so beautiful, so romantic, such warmth, such generosity, and filled with a genuine and true loving spirit.
I felt like the luckiest woman in the world….my heart never stood a chance nor did I want it to.
Who captured my heart you ask?
Costa Rica.
And I haven’t stopping falling for this spectacular Central American country and culture since. Each time I go back, I fall in love all over again. Maybe you know this feeling already and perhaps if you don’t, you will soon enough. I have very fond memories of all my travels around this beautiful country, getting to know the locals, and experiencing all Costa Rica has to offer. And to demonstrate the kindness, generosity and patience Costa Ricans innately possess, I offer you a quick story of being alone, on the road, and worried I wouldn’t make my flight home to Calgary.
Four years ago I had spent 3 weeks solo in Costa Rica over Christmas, I was fed up with the holidays and decided to leave everyone behind and run away to my happy place. On my last day there I needed to take the bus from Playa Del Coco to San Jose to catch my flight, and it was turning out to be harder than I had imagined. My Spanish was not up to par so the challenges with getting home began as I tried to buy the right cross country bus ticket, along with the proper transfers. I was standing there playing a fun game of charades with the ticket agent, trying to explain what I needed when a lovely husband and wife saved me from the language barrier that I had placed on myself. They spoke English, muy bien! They asked where I was going, and got my ticket in 10 seconds flat. Ahhhh, there we go, thank you!
But the kindness of strangers didn’t end there, they made sure my suitcase was onboard under the bus, and during the 4 hour ride to San Jose, the husband and wife along with all the other local passengers treated me like I was their baby bird. I didn’t “need” their help once we were on the bus, I knew where I was going and I was comfortably settled in for the long trip, but the kindness never ended, so I savoured this moment in time, and let them do what came naturally to them.
For those 4 hours on the bus, every single time the driver stopped to let people off throughout the towns and countryside on our way to San Jose, they would look at me and say ‘not yet’. Every. Single. Time. I knew I was getting off in San Jose at the airport, but the fact that they were that concerned and attentive melted my heart. Anytime we stopped to get water or use the restrooms it was the same thing, they made sure I was back on the bus in my seat, before the driver motored on. We made it to the big city and arrived at the airport, the husband jumped off the bus, grabbed my suitcase and placed it in front of me, and along with all the other passengers, bid me farewell with the biggest smile I had ever seen, true happiness and joy exuded from those smiles. I thanked them profusely and flew back to Calgary with a heart full of gratitude and love.
This is just a tiny glimpse into why I have chosen to help my good friend Pete Estabrooks donate to the town of Nosara. It was this past November that Pete and I had just arrived home from a great trip to Nosara where I had taken clients on an Adventure Vacation, and Pete was there enjoying some down time, surfing day and night. We had a chat when we arrived home to Calgary, and Pete told me about a trail run he had done with a local fella named Tao, and during their run he had seen people playing soccer with no shoes…ouch. Pete being the kind soul that he is said he wanted to help give back to this town that had brought him so much joy, and asked Tao what he could do. They decided that shoes and jeans were in low supply, and that’s how this all started.
I told him I was in, I’ll help! I quickly called on all my friends and family for their help and support and I must say, I am speechless. Calgarians truly are the most generous people, I’ve been given hundreds of items of clothing and now I’m ready to get it all to Costa Rica!
I am now looking for a wonderful sponsor to cover the expenses of shipping it all down there, so if you or your company would like to open your hearts, please let me know. Thank you!
Love and gratitude to all of you that are helping with this project!
Live Inspired,
Sonja.
