Marion Brastel, from France, is our newest intern. She is living in Bambu on the Talamanca Indigenous Reservation and managing the implementation of our Organic Farmer's Market project. She'll be with us for 6 months.

There are places in life that make you feel "at home" instantly. Truly they are few, but Bambu and its Cultural Center is one of them. It might be for the vibe emitted by the round structure and the constant feeling of being in harmony with nature. But certainly more because of the laughs of the people who work and live there or come and go during the day. Don’t be fooled by the cook, Albany’s, grumpy look. She has the kindest heart and already feels like a mother to me; Danilo,a philosopher who leads without title, welcomed me as a member of his family, so eager to teach me the Bribri culture and language.

They are not poor they tell me, because they have enough to eat, they are surrounded by lush nature – but most of all they have love and dreams. As people open up, I learn about their lives and their hardship, the lack of job opportunities, the ridiculously low price of plantains, the unpredictable moods of mother nature, who can provide abundance as much as destruction, the corruption, alcoholism and the discrimination.

There is no internet, sometimes no TV, most of the time no phone, or any of these things we now find ourselves unable to live without. It can sound scary for many, but to me it revealed the spontaneity we lost in dealing with our kin in our overly-busy lives. The biggest culture shock I would say was the idea of popping in someone’s house without notifying them previously of my visit. What if I’m disturbing them? What if they don’t want to see anyone? I should find an excuse for me dropping in…But every time time, no need for an excuse, they do not even ask why I'm there, they cheer and ask you instead if you want some coffee or a cool drink. Spontaneity, hospitality and caring. So I got my spontaneity back a bit and with it a feeling of connecting with people truly. I just love these evenings all reunited in the kitchen, chatting, laughing, teasing each other, learning from each other.

Everyday here is a lesson of humility and love, a journey back to the simple things.