Interview with Bess about his trip to Costa Rica

About how there is a phrase in Costa Rica that is similar to "living aloha", Davone Bess said:
"It's 'pura vida,' and it means 'pure life.' "  (HSA)


About digging ditches, clearing paths, and helping to fix a recreation center during his 2-week trip to Costa Rica, Bess said:
"Oh, man, we were working. We were digging ditches. We were chopping trees. I got to swing a machete. We were doing it all. It was the full two weeks of working hard, and I enjoyed every minute of it." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Earlier this year, Bess created the nonprofit Bess Route Foundation. He staged a charity basketball tournament in Oakland, where he was raised. Proceeds went to youth organizations in the Bay Area. He said he is planning a basketball game in Honolulu in February, in conjunction with the Police Activity League."


About his charitable work, Bess said:
"I've been very blessed. I want to help others." (HSA)


HSA Note: "That was the motivation in signing up with Global Volunteers. He had heard that organization planned to help the village in Costa Rica. As part of his agreement with Adidas, Bess received apparel and equipment instead of financial compensation. He planned to deliver soccer balls and equipment to the village's girls soccer team."


About flying from Miami to the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, Bess said:
"When I landed, it kind of gave me flashbacks to Hawaii. The mountains. The sky. At least from the airport." (HSA)


About the traffic in San Jose, Bess said:
"There were impatient drivers. It was chaos." (HSA)


About the 4.5-hour drive to the mountain region, Bess said:
"They didn't have many paved roads. It was dirt and gravel. They call it the 'Costa Rican massage' because you just bounce all over the place, going over potholes and big rocks." (HSA)


About how the town they went to made do with little amenities, Bess said:
"The girls soccer team that represents the village doesn't even have the proper equipment, and they go on long trips." (HSA)


About bringing electric skillets, rice cookers and heart monitors, Bess said:
"It was good to see the kids smiling and full of joy." (HSA)


About how his group then stayed to work on the ditches and building projects, Bess said:
"It felt great to work." (HSA)


Reflecting on his 2 weeks in Costa Rica, Bess said:
"I felt very fortunate. When I look back on my life, I didn't have much growing up. But what I had was a lot more than some of them had. They don't have much, but they're appreciative of everything they have. They're not worried about what they don't have. They taught me a lot. They taught me about pura vida." (HSA)

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