I come from a place where time grew weary of seeing happiness flourish! Yes, that was exactly how it was in San Jose de la Montaña,a very small town atop the mountains of Santa Cruz of Guanacaste, where I was born. This is the place where my brothers and I were raised by our parents, Beltrán Leal and Agustina Arrieta.

My father was the local schoolteacher and my mother was a housewife. We lived on a farm where we grew beans, corn, plantains, sugar cane and raised cattle, pigs and chickens –we were self-sufficient!

Those early years were wonderful. The mountain was vast, the nights were cold, and their deep silence was only interrupted by the melodious voice of my father. He flooded those moonlit nights with nostalgia, and my mother -always by his side- accompanied him with her sweet voice.

Beltrán, my father, was a singer, music composer, soccer player and a great dancer. He was the bravest of men, a splendid peacemaker, a learned man, a joyful soul with a strong personality, and was always in love with life. I am blessed to have enjoyed with my parents all those years. The time that we shared together defined the person I would become; their love and wisdom were instrumental in the forging of my future.