From Costa Rica
(Costa Rican accent is very similar to the Colombian accent)

Currently in NYC
I'm a Spanish Teacher at a private middle and high school in Manhattan.

Pura vida
(n) expression of happiness, optimism and living life to the fullest.

Costa Ricans (Ticos) use this term to say hello, goodbye, everything's great, and everything's cool, or even the things that are not cool, but happened. As if saying ''Ok, but what can you do about it? That's life!''

No worries, no fuss, no stress - pura vida means being thankful for what they have and not dwelling on the negative.

Fun facts about Costa Rica:

- Costa Rica has no military. In 1949 the army was abolished, focusing instead on education.
- Costa Rica is one of the world's most biodiverse countries, hosting nearly 6% of the world's biodiversity.
- Costa Rica consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world.
- Around 25% of Costa Rica's land area is protected through national parks, wildlife reserves, and other conservation areas.
- In the northwestern part of Costa Rica, the Nicoya Peninsula is one of the most famous Blue Zones in the world. (Blue Zone is a geographic area with an unusually high concentration of people living to the age of 100 or more, often associated with healthier lifestyles and longevity)