2010 Elections + Superbowl Sunday = Pura Vida

The past week was fairly relaxed, aside from our two rafting trips on Monday and Saturday (pictures of which we are still waiting for) we have had lots of free time. Yesterday as well as today we are left with nothing to do but homework. Sunday, however, was a very important day. Not because of the Superbowl, but because of Costa Rica's 2010 presidential elections. We have been following the four main candidates during our first month here and we finally were able to witness the culmination of the campaigning yesterday. Unlike the U.S. a majority of people vote here and they take the concept of democracy very seriously. This year was particularly interesting for the Ticos with two fairly new parties emerging, each with strong candidates, so it was great to talk to our families and professors about who they would be voting for and why.

On Sunday the street outside the voting station at the local elementary school was lined with different party's stands attempting last minute persuasion or simply hollering in support of their candidates. Other stands sold fresh fruit, snow cones and ice cream, or refreshments. Overall, the atmosphere is one of jubilation and tolerance. You don't see any animosity between people in support of different candidates. In fact, Don Jorge told me a story of how he witnessed a couple of younger kids attempting to snap in half a party flag atop someones car. The two young men were quickly stopped by Jorge as well as others in the name of democracy and respect. A scene I could hardly imagine going down in the same way in the United States. Costa Rica is truly the pinnacle of Latin American democracy, despite the grappling with corruption voter's stay enthused and enjoy participating in their government.

Sunday night we split TV time between the Superbowl and the Elections. We set up some lawn chairs outside and wheeled a TV onto the porch so we could enjoy the cool night air as we sipped on Imperial and guaro. By 8:30 the first count of a mere 11 percent of the total votes was in. Nevertheless, it was enough to reveal the profound lead that PLN candidate Laura Chinchilla would hang onto as the counting continued. Costa Rica had elected it first woman president (that's her in the green and white striped shirt on the left). We headed outside after the Superbowl's end and shouted, "Gringos para Laura" to passing cars who were waving the green and white PLN flags. The bouncer at Bar Amigos let us in on the basis of our cheers and we celebrated with the last few Ticos until the bar closed around one in the morning. It was refreshing to see people so enthused about their government, and it didn't even matter which party they supported come Sunday night as everyone flooded the streets in celebration.