Wow. 4 months done. I can't believe it. Being here has taught me so much about being alive.
I could not picture what life would be like when I came here, and now I cannot picture life anywhere else. The places and the people that I have gotten to know have made such an enormous impact on my life. It is so, so hard to say goodbye, but I know it's just a temporary goodbye- we will see all of these people and places again. :)
Some of the many valuable life lessons I have learned along the way:
1) Don't freak out about stupid things. In the States, people get so worked up about things that honestly just don't matter, and here they don't at all. It's been really nice to be in a constant state of relaxation. Contrary to popular belief, you can be relaxed and productive at the same time.
2) Don't be sad about the end until the end. A couple weeks ago I was eating dinner with my host family and we started talking about how quickly it was coming to an end, and I said that I was sad, and Lidiette just smiled and told me that there was still plenty of time, and I should just enjoy it all until it was really over. That includes every last moment, even today, and even though it's hard not to think about sometimes, the optimistic outlook of the people here makes it so much easier.
3) Platanos are so, so delicious. As are apretados, granizados, arepas... the list goes on and on!
4) Spanish is a very, very interesting language. Some things are easier in English, and some things in Spanish. Spanish does not have too many adjectives, which makes expressing yourself hard at times. It sounds like people speak Spanish at a millino miles an hour when you don't know what they're saying, but it's the same way when we speak English in front of people who speak other lanuages. Either way, both languages are fun, and I hope I continue to learn more and more Spanish!
5) People here are generally the same as people there. There are some cultural differences, but for the most part, any 20 year old here could easily be friends with a 20 year old in the states and have plenty in common. I think the bigger difference is within the older generations, although not everyone here is as traditional as others.
6) The US is very much looked up to and admired. You can see it in the media here, the clothing, the news, the things that people say. One night at dinner Lidiette was talking about the problem of hunger in Puntarenas, and she said that the same problem does not exist in the US. We told her that it does very much exist, and she seemed surprised. People also think that girls from the US are easy, and for this, they harrass you non-stop.
7) Riding bikes late at night with a warm breeze is one of the best feelings ever.
8) Living on the beach is amazing, and I defintiely plan on doing this again some day, sooner rather than later.
So anyway, wow. Overall, it has been an incredible experience. It far exceeded my expectations in every single way. There is so much to say about it that I could just go on forever and still not be able to put it all into words. Every day has been so beautiful, and I'd hands down do it all again if I could.
But my mom is right, it's just the beginning of a lifetime full of adventure. Costa Rica has an extremely special place in my heart, but it won't be the only place I grow to love this much. It's funny that the first night we got here, Peligro, Jennifer, and I were all crammed into a car and fed delicious food in Lidiette's house. We are going to be ending it the same way tonight! And then there will be a bonfire on the beach, and tomorrow I am Nicaragua bound with some of my favorite people in the world.
If possible, I'll update along MegaJourney: Quest to Cancun. We'll see!
18 mos. later...
10 years ago