"Watching you walk out of my life does not make me bitter or cynical about love. But rather makes me realize that if I wanted so much to be with the wrong person how beautiful it will be when the right one comes along."

Thought processes...

So I'm back. And with the same story to tell. So much for the fun exotic life south of the border. The last time I've actually seen real beach sand was oh, May? I can't even say with certainty that the sun has come out lately becasue I've spent approximately 90% of my time cooped up in front of the computer translating a book that makes no sense. Is this where I start second guessing my choices? Ok, I'm still happy I decided to come down here to study, but why, OH WHY, did I choose to translate Yolanda Oreamuno into English, when it takes a philosopher to truly understand what she is saying in Spanish. I'm an overachiever, thats why. I think its about time I stopped that nonsense. No but seriously, besides the lack of any sort of vacation (even for a day) in the past 4 months, besides the fact that I have never felt so overwhelmed and tired of studying in my life, besides the fact that I still have 5 weeks to go of this, besides the fact that now I am experiencing homesickness, I still love it here. I still enjoy the program and I am still learning more about translation each day. However, I truly believe the only reason I am still here, and will still come back in January after my long needed, long awaited vacation, is because I only have one year left. I'm be an idiot to give up now, right? Besides...I'm not a quitter. I'm tired, stressed, overwhelmed, lonely, lazy, lethargic, depressed even, but I'm not a quitter. One year. Its not so bad.

I have rediscoverd the genius that is Damien Rice these last few days. How I missed his incredible lyrics before I'll never know. I can sit and listen to Cannonball for hours on repeat without growing tired. In fact I'm going to play it on right now..."Still a little bit of your taste in my mouth..." It never ceases to amaze me how there are songs that cut right down to the core of a person without one realizing. It just takes one new experience and a song can mean something totally different than just a few days before.

I'm getting a roommate. That is honestly the most exciting news I've had to tell since my trip to the Dominican Republic back in April, well or maybe my trip back to North Carolina for Carlee's wedding in June. I guess that was quite exciting too. Anyway, back to the roommate. I started looking about two months ago I suppose and although people called, there was always some reason they didn't work out. But I guess in the end it was part of God's plan because the girl that called is awesome. We have about everything in common, she lives in San Diego, so basically I'm already jealous of her, and she plays tennis. Practically from the night she first came over we got along so I'm very excited about her moving in. It will be like having my girls close again, only, she's new and we're a lot alike, which I could really only ever say about Carlee I suppose. But who wants only friends that are the same in all aspects. How boring that would make life. Lauren, Char'Lee, Carlee and I were so different in so many aspects but we complemented each other and that is what made it and still makes it work. We were the complete package, everything from hair colour down to personality.

I really need to go back to the gym. It has now been over two months since I've even gone for a run and I'm feeling it. My shoulders are tense and I'm cranky. The gym and even just running always makes me feel good about myself. I'll start again soon, I know I will, I just need to get the energy and that will come the day I finally finish this semester. Then I think, hey, if this one was so bad, only my second semester of grad school, what will the next to be like. Better to not think of that right now. I feel it though when I go and play tennis, or when I throw the football for long periods of time. P.S. I've totally learned how to spiral a football perfectly. So pretty. But after about 30 minutes my arm wants to fall off. After 30 minutes of tennis I feel like a 50 year old smoker. I can't breath, my legs hurt, and I can't lift my arm over my head to serve anymore. Man I sound like I'm 50. What happened to me. 24 has caught up on me. Only 5 more months until I'm 25. 5 more months until I won't be cheated out of another $20 a day just to rent a car to visit the loves of my life in N.C. That is a day I am looking forward too.

And maybe New Years. Should I be excited for New Years? Can you believe its only two months away? Where did 2009 go? Last New Years I was in California. I went to eat with Julie, Kathy and...Justin...I think we ate at CPK? Maybe. I remember not even being excited as midnight struck. I think I said, yay now I can go to bed. I'm only 24 and yet I sound like I'm ready to kick it. I need some spark in my life. A reason to get excited again. I need a new adventure. A new interest. A new obsession. And I need a vacation. The beach. The sun. A book. And my iPod. Maybe I'll dream about that tonight...

10 minutes to breathe...

I can't really say how long it has been since there was an update on my life...I can't really remember when the last thing happened that was worth updating. Sad, isn't it? To be honest this is practically the first time in weeks that I've even thought about being able to sit down and reminisce about things that happened that were worth sharing. My life has been one constant GO, no time to breathe. Between my thesis translation and translations for my cultural and technical classes I have zero time. It is so bad I even wake myself up at 7:30 am so that I can be working by 8. I never thought grad school would be easy...but then I never thought it would be this totally draining either.

As I'm sitting here now, Jack Johnson serenading me from iTunes and the sound of the Giants/Cowboys game in the background I realize just how little I have been able to do. Last night I went to the movies with my tico brother...the first time I've seen him in probably 3 weeks or a month. I haven't made it back to Barva for a good length of time in even longer than that. I haven't seen the coast of Costa Rica since um...May. I need a vacation. Bad. And yet, here I am...still going...already looking forward to the 2nd of December. Not even the 28th of November (when classes end)...why doesn't the thought of not having any more homework excite me? No, I'm more excited about the day when I get to leave and go home...to see Mom and Gus, family, friends...I need a breather. Thankfully this coming weekend I have no classes...just a conference I'm obligated to go to. Boring yes, but that means I have no specific homework due this weekend...and yet, still, the only thing I can think of going...keep going...keep translating...get ahead of the game...and maybe by November things will calm down. It's in my head now. I don't even remember how to relax.

Besides the piles of translations I have due for classes, I have a few paid one's to get finished too. No, I'm not complaining, but one has most definitely been the most challenging one I have done so far. Technical gun terminology into Spanish is not my thing. I have learned a few things, like, what a hopper is or a slide check, even an open bolt blow-back...now ask me how to translate them, and I'm still clueless. And the worst part is, everything has a due date...and it comes a lot faster than I always hope.

Other news...I am moving...again. In June I moved into an apartment in Heredia from my house in Barva. Now I am moving from my apartment in Heredia to another apartment three blocks away. I was speaking with a friend of mine one day about where I lived, live etc. and she said "don't you want a roommate"...turns out I was just starting to look for one so it worked out perfectly. She was going to move in here, but my apartment is furnished, and she already had everything, so we looked for another unfurnished apartment and are moving in there together. She's there now, while I'm sitting here nostalgically, staring at bare walls and remember the pictures I had up just hours ago. Packing. I am always packing. Always leaving. I love it and I hate it. I'm moving to an apartment that isn't as nice as the one I have now, not as new, or as bright, but it is cheaper and I won't be lonely anymore. I will finally be able to plan my trips to Panama and Nicaragua and apply for my visas because I will have money to save. I think that is what really made me decide to move. I had originally said I wouldn't move unless I found an apartment that I loved as much as this one and was a lot cheaper. Impossible. But then I started thinking about my dreams of traveling and how staying here there is no money for that. The thought of visiting Panama trumps the luxuriousness of this apartment and so, yesterday I said I would move. And tomorrow I have to be out. Another rush. Another day of only GO.

To a point GO is good. It keeps me occupied. It keeps my mind off the guy that didn't work out after 7 months "together" or the fact that I spend most of my time alone (its a catch-22...I like being alone so I can get my work done, but I focus on my work so as not to miss company). And it keeps my mind focused on my future and the day I finally get to go home and establish a life for myself as a translator with a master's degree...its all worth it in the end...I just have to get there.

A semester from...hell...

So another semester has started and man, did it start with a vengeance. Homework from the first two days consisted of reading over 150 pages, answer questions and do research on research topics related to translation, plus then still read another entire book on which I had to write a book review for the following week. Needless to say my social life did not exist. From the time I woke up until the time I went to sleep I was reading, taking breaks only to cook food and drink coffee...even then sometimes with the book in my hand. "If this is an example of how the semester is going to be," I thought, "I don't know if I'll get out alive..." Fortunately though, yes, although this semester is going to be killer, it seems maybe the first week was an exception. Or maybe now I've just realized how to manage my time better with all the reading? Or maybe I'm just kidding myself. Either way, I'll make it, even if barely, but I'll get through.

Interestingly enough, this semester I start to work on my thesis, for which I have chosen a 400 page novel written by a Costa Rican feminist during the 1940s. The book is riddled with metaphores on the oppressed situation of women during the era which I think would be very interesting to analize. We'll see. I have spent this entire week reading the book, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Luckily we didn't have classes this Saturday due to it being Mother's Day here in Costa Rica, so I was able to forget all the other homework and focus my attention solely on reading the book and deciding if it will work for my proposed thesis. Fortunately I only have to translate about 80 pages of the book, so I get to select my chapters, but in the future I would love to translate the entire book...maybe for publication??? Anyway, here I go getting ahead of myself....I think I will really enjoy my classes this semester. Theories of translation might be the only exception...its not as interesting as Translation of Technical texts or Translation of Literature, but I guess in the end, just as necessary. Of the four professors I had last semester, two are the same and two are new this time around. The two I know were both my least favourite from last semester, but now I'm realizing I think it was more for the subject than the professor...

Yesterday which was Mother's day, I went to visit Nela in Barva and to have lunch with her and all of her sisters and their families. It is a tradition I remember from when I was here in 2007, every Mother's day the whole family goes over to one of the sister's houses for lunch, coffee and cake. I hadn't seen the whole family in a while since I moved to my own apartment in Heredia so I first had to deal with all the "welcome back to the family" and "how have you been, how's life" questions. In the end though I had a great time seeing everyone again, and the cake...well yum...

Other than spending my time doing homework and having zero fun, I'm super excited that the NFL is about to begin again. It is honestly the longest wait ever from the end of one season until the start of another. The Bears lost their first preseason game to the Bills, not great, but then again it is only preseason. I get such hell here for going with the Bears "they're such a bad team, why not support someone that has a chance of winning?" But really I mean I learned to watch and understand American football watching the Bears, I'll be loyal until the day I die. But other than the escape this NFL season will bring me, and the few games of Liverpool that I will be able to catch the next four months are going to consist of a lot of boring homework....here's to the life of a grad student....

T minus 3 days...

It never ceases to suprise me how quickly time goes by. When did a 24 hour day cease to be 24 hours? Or a 7 day week, 7 days? After a fairly lengthy trip to the States to visit my friends and family I have returned to Costa Rica to begin semester dos of my Master's degree. I'm a little suprised at how my feelings have changed in the past 26 days since leaving, or for that matter for the past year and a half since I first left in December of 2007. I was in love with the country and all I could think about was coming back, for whatever reason. As luck had it (and maybe I shouldn't call it luck because I have zero luck) but I found the exact Master's degree I wanted to do at the same university I had studied at in 2007 but for about $10,000 cheaper (an exaggeration? I think not). I had Costa Rica in my system and I wouldn't be happy until it was out. That being said I don't think I ever really had the intention of staying here permanently. Yes, part of me could live here, but the other part is way too in love with San Diego...I first need to get THAT out of my system.

I'm a wonderer. Well, and a wanderer. I get bored in one place for too long and begin to wonder what living in another place would be like. I get urges to pack up and discover something new. There is one downside to this of course, I have to leave everything or everyone I have for the unknown. Everytime I go home now, leaving becomes that much harder. I cannot express how much love and respect I have for my best girl friends, but its not even them I am truly upset over leaving. I guess in our hearts we all knew we would go our seperate ways after college, and even though we're seperated by long periods and even longer distances when we see each other it is as if we were together all our lives. What really upsets me is leaving Mom and Gus, my black lab. I become plagued with guilt, he doesn't know what is happening. He doesn't understand where I'm going, only that I'm abandoning him again. Whenever I pack bags he knows its coming, and it breaks my heart. He is older now, and I wonder what if I'm not there for him when he becomes sick...what if I miss him...I'm not generally such a depressed thinker, but it has been so lately.

Maybe its the lack of caffeine. I have been ordered by my doctor to lay off of caffeine and chocolate until at least December, and it is killing me. I tried going cold turkey, but the headaches that ensued were too much to handle, so I got back on the juice and am trying to quit slowly...for now only one cup in the morning, next week, I'll mix regular and decaf, then only decaf? What is the point of drinking coffee sans caffeine? But I like the taste...its habit...its...comfort. It makes waking up at 5:30am on a Saturday for class just that much bearable...for that matter it makes waking up at 7:30am for no reason every other day of the week that much manageable.

Today I woke up at 7:30am annoyed by the sound of running water coming from the laundry room of the house next door. The splatter of the water on the concrete steps sends shivers down my spine. Instead of immediately turning on the TV to ESPN en español I decided to go for a run...I mean if I'm up that early I might as well make hay while the sun shines. To my disgust it was not a good run. The fact that I'm practically living on a mountain did not help out in the lung capacity area, and after going only about 800kms I was dead. Not to mention the amount of work traffic at that time of the morning made crossing streets a difficult tast. I wonder how much it would cost to buy a treadmill? I mean I have a spare bedroom, not to mention ridiculous amounts of space in the living/dining room. After only about 10 minutes out on the road I decided to return home for breakfast. I did some pushups and situps and am now devouring an egg on toast. Although totally unimpressed by my performance I'll go out again tomorrow...because the only way to get better is to continue doing it.

I don't have much else planned for today. I trip to the bank to pay the rent. A trip to the school that has offered me the much needed job. A trip to buy curtains since it freaks me out that one can easily see into my livingroom at night. Classes begin on Friday so at some point I should invest in some supplies. It all feels so surreal really, as if I'm still in California with the dream of returning to continue my education. As if I had never left at the beginning of July. As if one day I'll wake up and realize it has all just been one long, unorganized dream.

My vacation from my vacation...

So for the past three weeks I've been back in the US. First in North Carolina where I stayed in Sanford with my very disgruntal sister for the majority of the time. Although I had every intention on coming back to the States when semester one had finished, I only made the trip out to North Carolina first because my best friend was getting married, and she had asked me to be a bridesmaid (note: even if she HADN'T asked me to be in the wedding, the simple fact that she is my best friend means I would have made the trip out...that and I'm in love with the groom ;-) Just kidding...) Anyway, so from the very first day in NC I was reminded of all the reasons I hated it for the nine miserable years I spent there before: it was ridiculously hot, humid, and...worst of all...country. I've never taken a shine to much-too-cocky-rednecks waltzing around in there cowboy boots. I mean seriously people...move to Texas...at least there you don't look as much like a...nevermind. Moving on. As you can no doubt tell I have zero love for the eastern part of the country, but not all was bad. I was able to see Drew, Phil and Joe, friends from high school with whom I have all but lost contact...occasionally there would be a random Facebook message, but generally I knew nothing of them. And then of course there was Ms. Carlee Macon's wedding, which was absolutely fabulous.

On July 4th we were all in Charlotte (perhaps the one exception to my hate for the south) for the Bachelorette party. Drinks in the hotel, followed by dinner and drinks, followed by the best bar in Charlotte to have a bachelorette party and drinks. It was great fun from beginning 'til end. It was the first time in six months I had seen my lovelies Lauren, Char'Lee and DeAnna, so it was a great reunion (the only reason I had seen Carlee before was because she picked me up from the airport when my own family came up with every excuse not to). The weekend following was the main event. We all (the bridesmaids) spent the night at the location where we made an attempt to finish off some of the left over rehearsal dinner wine...didn't happen as we switched to Sweet Tea Vodka and Lemonaide instead...great combination...(I had no idea it existed until this return visit). Saturday we set up and got ready, shielding with all our might the fact that it was raining from Carlee. Fortunately right before pictures it stopped and sky broke open with sun, only a gift from the Lord. Our hair all done, pictures taken, we broke open a bottle of wine to toast the beautiful bride and walked the isle...or the grassy patch between the rows of seats. She picked a gorgeous location for an outside wedding, and fortunately that day the rain had cooled the temps. The ceremony lasted a good 20 minutes followed by more pictures, more wine, food, cake and then dancing. I caught the bouquet again...I need to stop doing that or I'll end up...well you know. I saw the Marshbanks at the wedding, the couple that gave me my scholarship to attend Mars Hill. It was great being able to see them again, as they were unable to make it out for my graduation.

Monday after the wedding, I left super early in the morning for California. I woke up at 2:30 am (after only going to sleep at 1am) to get to the airport by 4. My flight left at 6am. All was going well until our unfortunate delay in Texas due to mechanical problems...finally an hour and a half behind schedule I landed in sunny Southern California to be greeted by my mommy. Oh how I have missed this place...and then, not. I was once again in awe of the grandness of the highways and the ridiculous amount of money poured into buildings, but a part of me never came home with me when I left Costa Rica and although I'm home...I'm not. Arnold, my big red Blazer is out of order, so I've been sans vehicle all week, but Mom has been coming home early at lunch time so we've been going out shopping and running errands, buying things for my apartment in Costa Rica. On Saturday we took a trip to the Queen Mary, a retired Cruise Liner and toured that for a few hours. It could quite possibly be my only look at a cruise ship for a few years...maybe until my honeymoon when current chances are that my future husband kills me. Sorry, morbid moment.

Anyway, all that being said. I really enjoyed church this morning as I saw all the people I haven't seen in six months. It felt like I had never left, minus having to answer "So how's Costa Rica?" every five minutes. I actually miss the guys there...not that I'd EVER admit that to them ;-)...well not seriously anyway...

To top off the ridiculous contradiction that is my life, sitting here thinking that in one week I will once again be in Central America makes me oddly sad. I have an excelent opportunity now to sell Arnold and buy my Mazda 3, but chances of having this same opportunity in December of 2010 are slim to none. Leaving Mom and my dogs is always hard...they always unknowingly make me second guess my study abroad decisions. But when it comes down to it I think, I only have three semesters left. Yes semester one was hard. Yes it dragged on and on. Yes Saturday at 7am classes are zero fun, but where else can I get a Master's education for a little more than $500 a semester? No where. So I'll suck it up again. Go back down. Kick ass at semester numero dos, and come back in December for another visit home and then another maybe-I-should-just-stay-here-and-finish-up-at-CS San Diego second guessing-myself-session.
P.S. Don't you love how in English we can make adjectives by stringing together a bunch of normal words??? I do...until I have to translate them :-S

Reminiscing...

So as I was just sitting here doing nothing, waiting for lunch to be served, I was checking my emails and noticed I have 23 pages worth of emails saved up in Hotmail. 23 pages of more than 30 emails is quite a lot...when did I stop deleting them I wondered? So I clicked on page 23 and began reading. An email to Joel after Spring Break of 2006 when Char'Lee, Lauren, Carlee and I all hopped into Arnold and drove down to Boca Raton, Florida. After waking up before the sun and driving 12 hours on I-95 South we finally arrived in sunny Florida. I don't remember too many details of the drive...except that when we finally readed West Palms we were ready to be there...I was speeding as I passed a State Trooper going North (very unusual for me ;-)). He turned around over the median and followed me South and just when I was freaking out because I was going to be pulled over in Florida, on Spring Break, he flashed his lights at a VW Jetta to my left and pulled him over instead. I don't believe I sped the rest of the way there.

This was the year I turned 21...I still don't think the girls have truly forgiven me, but I blame it on them--it was the 3 wise men they bought me that did me in. All I remember is that it is the closest I have come to a run in with a cop, one that wasn't airport security that is. It was a Spring Break of a lifetime...strawberry daquiries on the porch watching the sunset, gorgeous cristal clear blue water and an endless supply of warm sun on the beach. The email was a thank youfor letting us crash at his place, accompanied by the lyrics of the song "Te extraño" and the reply, the very earliest email I have saved, was a sweet reply saying how nice it was to have us down there, and to come back whenever we had the urge to get away.

I guess I began deleting again after this date because I have very few emails for the rest of that year, really until July of 2007 when I made the journey down to Costa Rica for the first time for a 6 month exchange program. The very first email I received when I arrived was from Aubrey. She said we had just gotten off the phone and she wanted to write right away so it was the first I read when I got down here. It was a beautiful email about how thankful she was for my friendship, for always answering my phone and chatting to her for hours, for giving her the energy to follow her dreams because I was stubbornly pursuing mine. She wrote about why she believes the Lord sent her to North Carolina for college, specifically to meet the people that would be there for her always to help her through a bad love, perhaps the most low she had ever felt in her life. I remember the first day I met Aubrey. She was the first student I spoke to at Mars Hill the day I arrived for the Honor Scholars retreat. As Mom, Ash and I were hauling my things up the stairs to my new room, Aubrey came out of her room to say hi and offer me the pins I needed to bunk the beds. Turned out she was also an Honor Scholar and while waiting for the bus she introduced me to Lauren. I met Carlee that same day, on the bus ride to the camp site. We had been asked to read The Metamorphasis before we arrived since it would be discussed on the camp, and in one of my fits of laziness I had bought the SparkNotes instead. Turnes out Carlee hadn't read the book either so I offered her the SparkNotes to catch up while on the way. The four of us spent the next three days complaining about the bugs, instantly bonded by our hate for the outdoors. The day we arrived back we met Char'Lee in the cafetaria as we were discussing setting up a game of sand volleyball and so before classes had even officially started I had met the four girls that were my rock all through college. We laughed, we cried, we fought constantly, but we stayed together and helped each other through any storm that came our way.

After sophomore year Aubrey chose to leave Mars Hill, to leave North Carolina and return home to Texas. She had had a rough year, a broken heart, not only from a boy who turned out not to be worth her time, but also from the loss of a close friend to a motorcycle accident. Mars Hill turned out to be Aubrey's hell and the decision to cut her losses was probably the best she could have made for herself. I didn't get to say goodbye--I had gone to visit my dad in South Africa that summer--but the distance apart didn't kill the friendship. All through junior year Aubrey and I talked on the phone constantly. If two days went by without one of us calling it was unusual. I helped her recover, she helped me keep her close. 3 years have gone by and sadly the friendship has withered. We very seldomly chat, even facebook messages are scarce, but I know that anytime I am ever in need of a friend, anytime I want to make a roadtrip to Dallas Texas, Aubrey will be just a phone call away. Maybe I'll have to wait a few days for a return call, but it always comes, because the bond we made that very first weekend will last for the rest of our lives.

I could keep reading old emails, and keep remembering the good ol' days. It seems that since the day I first arrived in Costa Rica I have not once hit the delete botton on an email that didn't come from Facebook. I have hundreds of emails from Mommy saying how much she missed not having me in the US, emails from my brother and sister catching each other up on our lives in less than 3 lines, emails from Eder making plans to go out dancing, but each email I read brings up a memory, some good, some bad, times I miss, and times I wish I could erase. Reminiscing is fun, it gives a new found appreciation to friends for all the times we have spent together, but it is also depressing, remember what I once had and how all of that has changed. On second thought, maybe it is time to stop reading. Lunch is on the table and my mood has turned as dark and depressing as the black clouds rolling in from the west promising another afternoon of heavy rains. Instead I'm going to look for the sunshine that is in my life now, in the form of new friends, of last days of classes,and I'm going to look forward to the new memories I will make today, tomorrow, Sunday, the new memories that I will look back on four years from now and reminisce of those days when I was a grad student in Costa Rica pursuing my dream of being fluent in Spanish. Of course I will never forget the girls that made my undergrad years all they were, even on my death bed I will remember all the things they gave me. Friends like that are hard to come by and I wouldn't change them for the world.

Another day, another visitor...

I'm almost there...two weeks left. Two weeks to finish (well, start and finish) two final assignments of about 10 pages each and to study for two final exams...mean while, when I should be doing them...i.e. now seems like a perfect time right? I'd rather procrastinate...it is Sunday after all....

Besides my complete lack of motivation, things are going well. At the university I gave a final presentation this past Friday, and I believe it went very well. I turned in my final portafolio, which looked spectacular, even if I do say so myself. Of my four classes I really only have trouble in one of them, and then that trouble only means a B instead of an A so I really shouldn't complain. I am happy that the semester is ending. Eventhough its the same length as the semesters in the US it feels so much longer and I'm definitely exhausted from all the energy I've put into it. But like I said...two weeks left so I'll be able to relax soon.

My sister came to visit last month. Unfortunately our time together was super short (she couldn't only stay one week) but we fit tons of stuff into those six days and I'm pretty sure she left wishing she could stay longer. She arrived on a Saturday night and on Monday I showed her around San Jose. Tuesday we went to a Samara Beach, about 5 hours away from San Jose where we stayed until Thursday. The beach was gorgeous, but very dead. Rainy season had just started, which makes the lack of people more understandable, but it was still unexpected. We spent a great two days relaxing, lying out on the beach, swimming in the hotel pool, eating. One night we went out to a bar where we thought we would find people...nothing. Well except for the rich old man that was hitting on Adrienne to the point of uncomfort. He kept demanding that she get up a dance with him...the only thing he was good for was the mojitos he bought us. On Friday, back here in Barva we went canopying or zip-lining through the forest to the north of us. It was an amazing experience (I had done one before last time I was here, but it a different city) but for Adrienne it was her first. Obviously at the beginning she was nervous, but by the end she was offering to go first and loved it. It was an amazing adrenaline rush...there is nothing else like hanging from a harness attached to a cable, practically flying through a rainforest. Its definitely an experience I would recommend to anybody. On Saturday it was time for her to leave, and for me to go back to classes...the fun was over. I definitely had fun though and it was good to get to see her again.

It's amazing how fast time moves really. To think it is already seven days into June of 2009 is crazy. The soccer world cup is only a year away...football season starts again in just 2 short months! I've been watching a ton of soccer, tennis and basketball lately. Firstly the Costa Rican soccer team has been playing for their spot in the world cup in South Africa. Last wednesday they played (and beat) the US and yesterday they beat Trinadad and Tabago. For the USA game I went to a bar in Heredia with some friends and although I started in support of the Costa Rican side, I switched to supporting the USA when they went down 2-0. To me it would have been a more exciting game if they could score. Well at the end they eventually did, but only through a penalty. I was the ONLY person in the bar that celebrated their goal...bad move...Then well these past two weeks were the Tennis French Open. Today Federer won his first French Open title...most definitely the best player in History! Finally, NBA is coming to a close and somewhere along the line I have developed a soft spot for the Lakers...lets hope they win again tonight!

The only other exciting news I have is that before the month is up I will have moved into my own apartment! I have absolutely loved living here in the house with my (feels like real) family, but I would also really like to live alone again. I've missed it. That in mind, I decided to start looking for an apartment the week after my sister left, and I found the perfect place within walking distance of the university! Now I will no longer need to get up at 5:30 on a Saturday morning for class...I can sleep in until 5:45 haha! The place is quite large...2 bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, kitchen, and laundry room, all fully furnished. I was quite lucky to find it really because it wasn't advertized. The only bad thing is that it will be empty for a month while I am in the US for Carlee's wedding...but I couldn't let the perfect apartment slip away so I decided to take it anyway. It's mine as of the 17th of June :-). I can't wait!

Don't you know who I think I am?

It is incredible to me that one year has gone by: one year since my graduation at Mars Hill, one year since I became a degreed individual, one year since I packed up a life I had known for 4 years and moved across the country to begin another adventure. And it is even more incredible to me that in just one short year, I am now 3 months into a Master's degree and living in a foreign country with my permanent return to the life I knew unlikely. It never ceases to amaze me how much things can change in a year. Friends. Education. Lifestyle. Home. Family. Five years ago I was graduating high school, excited yet scared for my move to college. Four years ago, I was excited that my first year was over, and overwhelmed by the thought of 3 more. Three years ago, two years down I didn't want to leave my new home in the mountains to return to the small town life of Sanford. Two years ago I had finished my third year and was struggling with my choice to come down to Costa Rica and spend the next six months learning Spanish (which I look back on now as probably one of the best decisions I had ever made in my life, besides my salvation). One year ago, I was looking back at the last four years and wondering where the hell they went; how in the world they fly right by without me noticing. One year ago, I was walking across the stage in Myers Stadium, receiving my diploma from Dr. Lunsford. One year ago I was saying my sad goodbyes to my three best girlfriends, knowing I would see them again, but knowing it would never be the same as the last four years we spent in each others presence, day and night. One year ago I was unhappy and restless, knowing it was time for another adventure...waiting my time to return to Costa Rica.

It truly amazes me when I think of what I have done in my life, what the Lord has allowed me to become, to achieve, to possess. And as thankful as I am for where I am now, for what I have, the family I have been blessed with, I can't help but wonder what will come next. What is in store for my life, for my future? What plans does God have, and when will he reveal them to me?

I am becoming stressed and overwhelmed once again with the end of the semester workload, and definitely a little homesick for my girlfriends, for my mom, and for my dogs. The pile of final projects seems to keep growing with no end in sight. Five weeks...can feel like an eternity...

As my semester is drawing to a close, I now look back only four short months to where I was. Partying. Wanting things to be the way they had been in 2007. I think I have definitely matured. I have left part of me behind and found where I want to be and what I want to do with my time here but I am also waiting for the day it is over. When I will have another degree and another title, and another adventure to undergo. Without looking too much into the future I am waiting for the time to fly by, just as it did the past five years.

The Dominican Republic experience...

So I just got back from a week long vacation in the Dominican Republic where I stayed with Joel and his family...after four long years of being invited every time Joel went home, we were finally able to make it work that I got to go see his home country. Actually this trip couldn't have come at a better time since if I had stayed in Costa Rica just three days longer my visa would have expired and I would once again be living in a country illegally...(there is a very valid reason for the first time I was an illegal, if any of you are curious...). Anyway, so after making plans to go only two weeks before my departure I was quite rushed as the day came, doing most of my packing the morning of...once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator! Thankfully though, Taca allows online check-in which definitely saves like an hour of having to stand in line to check in!

My flight left at 10:40 am on April 19th and after only a 2 1/2 hour flight I landed in Santo Domingo at 3:30 pm local time. Stepping off the plane I was blasted by a heat that I haven't experienced since my days in Sanford, NC during the middle of summer. It was raining (of course after Joel told me it wouldn't rain this time of year...) and the heat + humidity was suffocating...I did however get used to it once again after a few days...That night we went out to an outdoor bar/restaurant and met up with some of his old high school friends, all really nice people. The following day we went to the Colonial Zone, the very first city built by Christopher Colombus and his men when the reached the new world. I had no idea it was the Dominican Republic that Colombus arrived to, I guess I should have known that after years and years of history classes, but somehow I managed to forget all the small details...It was cool seeing a city that old though...seeing the first houses, university, school, church, etc. of the new world...one that now is absolutely nothing like it was back then. After hiring a tour guide to give us the indepth details, we got to watch locals make cigars, we got a free taste of a couple traditional drinks first made by the native indians centuries ago, and also got to see how the lagrimar, a precious stone exclusive to the Dominican Republic is made into jewelry and our tour guy was definitely a character...!

The following day we went to a book fair...dorky I know...but there was a concert of traditional Dominican music, which led to modern day merengue, and I also met another of his high school friends there...on our way out of the fair Joel and I got stopped again by a camera crew who wanted to know why we had chosen to wear shorts to the book fair...ummmm...because it's hot??? For some reason people in the Dominican Republic don't wear shorts...nor do they here in Costa Rica...crazy people. I just said that I was a tourist and wasn't accustomed to the heat...totally true...and that I felt like wearing shorts...weird question...anyway...

Then on Wednesday Joel and I woke up early to catch the 8 am bus to Santiago, about 2 hours north-west of Santo Domingo. Joel has an aunt that lives there, so we went up to have lunch with her and so that I could see the mountains and another city...Joel also had a dentist appointment :-S On Thursday we took a trip to the beach. The water was a beautiful crystal clear blue colour, the colour you see in all the Caribbean postcard pictures and the sun was warm, but not too hot thanks to the wind. Vicky, a friend of Joel's came with and we spent the afternoon conversing and taking random photos...

For some reason trips out of the country always go by so fast, and before I knew it it was Friday and time for me to leave. I had an awesome trip though, and I am really happy I finally got to go the Dominican Republic. Joel's parents are some of the nicest people I have ever met...they took such good care of me, and after only 6 days I seriously felt like I had yet another family! It was nice to come home though, to sleep in my own bed again, and to be around my friends here in Costa Rica!

Unfortunately, the day after I got home I had to go back to classes, from 7 am to 3:30 pm...the longest days of my life are definitely Saturdays! I was relaxed though, maybe too relaxed as I couldn't focus at all! Classes are going well though, for those who are wondering. I got good grades on my midterm exams so that is promising, I am still learning a ton every week in the majority of my classes, so they are very productive. We are about halfway through the first semester and it is time to start working on all my final projects so from now until June I won't have much free time...another reason to be super thankful for a great trip out of the country!

Julie's Costa Rican adventure...

One of the greatest things in the world is having someone come to visit. There is nothing better than seeing a familiar face, a friendly face that I have shared few or many experiences with, here in the country that holds my heart. This past week Julie came to visit me for a few days during her school's spring break. Although we have only known each other since a couple of weeks after I moved to California, we instantly became friends and started hanging out, and when she found out I was going to be in Costa Rica for two years immediately said she would come down to visit. And true to her word, she did. Sadly it was a short visit, but one that I'm sure we both enjoyed. We spent a day walking around San Jose, so Julie could see the "worst" part of Costa Rica, and then the next day headed to the beach where her uncle has a condo. The bus ride left much to be desired. I had negative leg room so had to sit with my legs out in the isle the whole way. Thanks to horrendous traffic we missed the bus that left for the beach at 9 am...the one that went direct, so we had to rebuy tickets and leave at 1o am...on the bus colectivo that stopped every few miles to pick up more people. So instead of the ride taking 3 hours it took about 4, in a bus with no leg room and zero air conditioning. We finally made it though in one piece and although the beach adjacet to the condo wasn't the prettiest, luckily a bus ride down the road is one of the most well known beaches in the country: Manuel Antonio.

On Wednesday we caught the 10:30 bus to Manuel Antonio and arrived about an hour later, to a beach full of Americans. The day was gorgeously sunny and the waves big. Lunch and drinks came right to our spot on the beach without us every having to get up. Julie even bought herself a massage on the beach. The second greatest thing in life. Sadly the day had to end as the sun went down, cloudy by the afternoon, and so we headed back to the condo, both a little burned and exhausted from so much sun. The next day we left back for San Jose, and the following day Julie had to leave. I had a great time, and for the next two years I will always remember Julie singing from the minute she woke up, any song that popped into her head, or even a made up one. "Monkeys monkeys in the tree, kiss kiss kiss...." I'm sure she won't forget her Costa Rican adventure either...from smelling bathroom water to delicious fried platanos, there is something for everyone to love in this country!

Anyway, on to other news, I have recently realized how true the saying "my good opinion, once lost, is lost forever" is. In my life I have lost a very good friend to a horrible misunderstanding which to this day still hurts, but even more to pathetic petty fights that I have never thought twice about. However stupid the action was, once someone has disappointed me it is almost impossible for me to trust them again, and I don't hand out trust easily. Yes I can forgive, but I can't forget and I would be stupid to put myself back into a situation where a friend could hurt me again. A couple of weekends ago a friend disappointed me and I have not been able to speak to him since. Maybe it is a bad attitude to have, but I believe friends can be replaced, and if one doesn't care enough about me not to hurt me, then I'm better off replacing him. For this reason my trip to Nicaragua during Semana Santa has been postponed temporarily until I find a new travel buddy, but hopefully I will be going to the Dominican Republic soon instead (since I have to leave the country for 72 hours before the 21st of April to renew my tourist visa!!) Other than that, classes are going...This Friday I have my first midterm and then the following Saturday I have 3. Fun. Next week begins Semana Santa, from the 5-12, so I will have the whole week off (unusual for me ;-)) to watch the festivities. I will have quite a load of homework to catch up on this week, but I definitely cannot complain about how things are progressing here. I am happy, and although I have terrible knots in my shoulders, I am relaxed and just enjoying the pura vida lifestyle!!

I'll dance to that...

Well, my birthday has come and gone and I'm a year older. 24. Doesn't that mean that I am now in my mid-twenties??? Or does that only happen when you hit 25? Anyway regardless of how old I am beginning to feel (at my age, still in the university, no boyfried, no prospects, years away from a stable job) at the same time I am totally thankful for another great year I passed as a 23 year old. Looking back over what I had accomplished the year that passed, I realized I have everything to be happy for as the year progressed: I graduated undergrad with my best friends, I moved to California, I watched my best friend getting married, I got a job working in the field I wanted to, I met and made several new great friends, I moved to Costa Rica, I got into a Master's program in translation, and above all I spent another great year with the people I love most, friends, family, and my dogs. What more could I ask for out of 365 days?

Well, the birthday itself was great. Friday night, after classes, I came back to the house where my tico family had planned a party with some friends and a bunch of the family. Mom cooked some delicious fajitas, dad whipped up some delicious "azulito", Jaime and the cimarrona band played music just for me! and Danilo tried to dance (although, sadly, he is the one tico I have seen that has no rhythm...) I danced along with the cimarrona, with Andrey, with Jaime, with dad. It was a great night and made me feel special that they had planned all of that just for me. This year is the first year in 4 years that I haven't spent my birthday on Spring Break with the loves of my life, but my family made me feel welcome and loved. I couldn't have hoped for more. Saturday, my actual birthday, I received visits and phone calls from friends here in Costa Rica, and emails, messages, and calls from my family and friends in the US. I am truly blessed to have as many people that care about me as I do! Satuday night I went out dancing, again, with other friends and by the time I got home my feet were killing me...I could hardly walk!

Other than the birthday celebrations, classes are going well. The work load keeps intensifying but I am enjoying the challenge of the translations and the time spent working in groups. I also especially like that I do not spent 9 hours on a Saturday in theory lectures! Thank the Lord for classes of more practice than theory! Although I'm not sure that at this point I can say my translation skills have improved, I am constantly improving my Spanish skills and find it easier everyday to speak and understand. I noticed tonight though, after watching a movie and then a couple of hours of tv in English, that being surrounded by only English even for a couple of hours makes it difficult to think in Spanish when I need to! Come to think of it...this blog is probably not helping me in that respect either!

Pues, cambiamos al español entonces...no mentira! This past week I took a few days off from doing homework and headed to the beach in Guanacaste, on the Pacific coast. The beach and atmosphere were amazing, and it was nice to be away for a couple of days without having to think in work for the university. Sadly though, the trip ended too soon and I had to get back to the Central Valley to do a group translation, which, although was not that long, took forever to do with the group I have! By the time I finally got back to the house I felt like I needed another beach trip to get over the one I had just had! And now as this new week is starting and I look at the amount of homework I would like to have finished by this coming Sunday, (when Julie comes to visit!!!!) I can't help but think how great a beach trip at the end of all of it would be! 8 days and counting...que riiico! I'll dance to that!

Lo pasé súper bien!

March. That is just crazy. I have been here in Costa Rica for a little over a month now and it feels like only a couple of weeks. I have to admit though that it has been incredible, every moment of it...

Classes are going well. They have been going for 3 weeks now and each week the work load increases. Saturdays are very heavy, obviously, with about 9 hours of class time in one day, but it really isn't as hard as I imagined. I really enjoy two of the classes so it makes the time go quicker. I have a lot of reading and practice exercises to do during the week, so I spend the good part of two or three days reading and translating for my classes on the weekends, but that isn't so bad either since I really don't have anything else to do. I have already learned a lot about translating, about how to change the structure to be more natural in Spanish and such...its a very interesting language study really. I have been told that my verbal Spanish is improving immensly too, in the past two weeks I have been asked by three different people if I am from here...which is quite amusing since about zero ticos have red hair...Just the other day in fact Nela, my host mom, told me I sounded totally Costa Rican when I asked a friend if he was hungry. She was in the kitchen and Andrey and I were in the dining room nearby and she thought there was someone else there with us! So that makes me happy really, at least I know that being here is definitely worth it.

These past two weeks have been very calm for me-I don't really have that much to tell I think. Last sunday I went to Turrialba, a city about an hour and a half from San Jose, with Leo, a cousin. He showed me around where he lives and then we went to a nearby archeological site, which was apparently inhabited by natives thousands of years ago. The site was only recently discovered I think, and the part that you can see is fairly small as there isn't enough money to excavate all of it, but it was still pretty impressive. It is so hard to imagine how people lived back then, without indoor plumming and electricity, computers, tv's etc. and I always leave places like that in awe of how much they knew back then...this particular tribe constructed this intricate acuaduct system that brought water from the mountains to their villiage and then filtered it so it was drinkable. All of that without modern technology. Simply inspiring.

Then this past thursday Joel arrived for a wedding and I got to see him for the first time in three years. Even with so much time apart, being together is just how it used to be, back in the day at Mars Hill. Thursday I went to the airport to meet him when his flight came in and then I brought him back here to the house for him to meet the folks. Friday I gave him the tour of San Jose, not the prettiest part of Costa Rica but since I had class we couldn't really spend time traveling to a place further away. We walked around the city, popped in to the cathedral and national theatre, we strolled down the isles of the artesania, and walked through the most beautiful park that I have seen here--with the coolest looking trees where we got stopped and iterviewed for a TV show! I am not sure why, but I was expecting it to be a news type show, until they told us they were interviewing people about kissing! Weird. It was pretty cool though, and now I get to see myself on tv at some point, lol. After that, we had lunch at this quaint little restaurant, a house converted I think. The fresco de mango was delicious! Sadly, after that I had to leave to go to class.

Saturday after classes I went with Joel to the wedding. The invitation said it was at 7:30 pm and when we arrived, the catholic misa was still going on! Only in Costa Rica....so finally the wedding started at about 8:15 and lasted until around 9:30. It was the first catholic wedding I have been too so I have nothing to compare it to, but it seemed extremly long to me. After the wedding started the party, which if I remember correctly was still going on when we left at 4:00 am! The band was really good--they played everything from reggaeton to salsa, merengue, rock. I must have danced for hours straight! As an intermission, I suppose, there was a mariachi band and endless bottles of tequila, which the mexicans that attended (the groom is from Mexico) dove into head first. After the mariachi, was the carnival...black lights, body paint, and African drum music, probably the part of the fiesta I loved the most! By the time it ended, I had orange, green and yellow paint all over my face and back!

Sadly though, Sunday came and Joel had to leave. It was an incredible visit though and it was great to see him again--there is just something about Joel...he hopes to come back for a longer visit next time though, which of course would be fabulous. Anyway even though it had to come to an end, as all things do, lo pasé súper bien and I can't wait for my next visitor in just three short weeks! :-)

And thus began grad school...

Classes started for me last Friday the 13th, which if I was a superstitious person would have been a bad omen...luckily for me though, I'm not and I really enjoyed my first class, "Semantica del Texto." I was caught quite off guard when the professor announced that the whole semester would be conducted in English, I mean after all I came here so that I could learn to think in Spanish, but after sitting through the next 3 classes, 2 of which are in Spanish, I am quite thankful for the change in language...at least I know I'll fully understand 2 of my 4 classes! Now I only have to get used to being up, sitting in class, and fully focused on learning at 7 a.m. on a Saturday...what do you suppose are the chances of that? Never in my life have I had a Saturday class, let alone a 7 a.m. class.

I woke up on February the 14th at 5:30 a.m., made coffee, showered, and was out the door by 6:30 to get to the university on time (I have to catch a bus from central park in Barva to Heredia, and then walk about 500 kilometers to the university). Suprisingly though, it wasn't that hard. The professor I have for the 7 a.m. class somewhat reminds me of Dr. Peery (for those of you who know him). I couldn't imagine having anyone else at 7 a.m. and enjoying being in class. Of course as soon as that class got out I was the first out the door searching more coffee, but I wasn't completely bored during the 2 1/2 hours I sat there focused on the use of words in a strictly gramatical sense, with or without being ambigious...ummm...what???

Anyway my day finally ended at 3:30 p.m. after 2 other classes, "Estrategias de la traduccion" and "Terminologia" which could possibly be an interesting subject but, thanks to the professor who has a need to clarify herself about 12 times and talk all the way though a project she gave us to do, won't be my favourite class. It was at about 4 p.m. when I arrived back at the house that I realized it was Valentine's Day. Not because of anything anyone did for me, but because it was the first time since I woke up that I was able to relax and not focus on learning. That night I went out to a restaurant to listen to my brother, Jaime, and two of his friends play their first gig. The bar/restaurant was tiny but had an amazing view of the lights of the city, including the lights of the runway at the airport. Even at 11:00 p.m. it was breathtaking. Unfortunately after that things turned sour when we went out to eat Taco Bell at 12:00 in the morning and I woke up Sunday sick to my stomach from late night grease. Not the brightest idea I have ever had, but hmmm was it good at the time.

Other than that, currently there is this sculpture fair or festival going on in the central park in Barva. There are about 12 sculptors, 2 from the US, 1 from Cuba and the rest Costa Rican who started sculpting on Sunday and are supposed to finish completely in two weeks. Its incredible to see how a huge piece of rock is gradually transformed into art. I have been speaking with one of the sculptors, from Colorado, who is doing this interesting Mother-Daughter piece. She is very nice but doesn't speak a word of Spanish so I've been interpreting for her whenever I'm around. It's quite fun actually.

Yesterday I spent the day at the beach with Tonio, a friend that I made last time I was here. We went to Jaco, about 2 1/2 hours away from San Jose, not the prettiest of beaches in Costa Rica, but not the worst either. It was a gorgeous day to spend on the beach, lots of sunshine and warm weather. It was just nice to get out in the sun again after 6 months straight in an office working in front of a computer. I wasn't even out in the sun that much, considering how quickly I burn it wasn't a smart idea to spend hours with no shade, but even a little sun drains a person and when I arrived home at around 8:30 I was super tired. I fell asleep on the couch attempting to have a conversation on MSN only to be woken up by Danilo, my other brother, and sent to bed. Unfortunately the morning brought the realization that I still had about 140 pages to read for my classes on Saturday and about 6 short interviews to do for Friday night...and thus began my career as a grad school student...fun times...

Pura Vida is a way of life...

Finally classes start this week! And I say finally since I have now been here for almost 3 weeks with nothing of value to do. Oh I have definitely had fun, too much at times, but I'm ready to get down to business and start learning again...after all, and as much of a nerd as this makes me sound...I really do enjoy having papers to write! Anyway so I have my first class on Friday at 5 p.m. followed by 3 classes on Saturday that begin at 7 a.m...yes in the morning...and end at 4. I was thinking today about how this is probably payback for my last semester at Mars Hill when I only had classes Tuesday and Thursday for a couple hours in the morning, and even before that, my semester here when I had no classes on Friday or Tuesday and Thursday during the day. I mean its not so bad only having classes two days a week, but why the weekend? Grrr.

Anyway so besides karma being a...you know...I have spent my days doing nothing of consequence. For the Super Bowl I went to a Casino near the airport which was awesome. They had about 5 gigantic screens set up around the restaurant so I got to see all the details. I went with my hermano tico, Jaime, and Astrid, another student that is staying here from Sweden and then we met up there with one of Jaime's high school friends, Marco, and three of Marco's friends, all of which say they watch football every Sunday. Jaime and I were the only ones rooting for the Cardinals and the only reason we did was to play Devil's Advocate, which I'm sure for those of you who know me, doesn't suprise you :-P. Anyway I was all into the game and the team so I was quite upset when they lost and now I'm even more sad that I have to wait until like August to watch another game! Yesterday I went to watch the Pro Bowl with the same people minus Jaime and Astrid, and this time I was happy that the NFC won! It was the first time I think I've ever watched the Pro Bowl and we spent like 30 minutes talking about which helmets we liked and which we didn't. I was thought of as strange because I'm not a fan of the Buccaneer's helmet but I do like the Dolphins' simply because I like the colours. We all agreed on our dislike of the Browns' helmets and full uniform really...they need a new stylist.

Ok so that was random, moving on...on Tuesday last week I went up...or down really I think...to San Jose with Jaime's friend, Marco, to see the university there, UCR is the biggest in Costa Rica I believe. Its quite a nice campus, new and old buildings and has the same sort of artsyness that I loved about Asheville. There are so many restaurants and bars, many very old, but its full with university students, obviously, so it was super fun. I spent the entire day outside on a gorgeous day talking spanish. What more could I ask for in life?

The weather has been sort of crazy. I was told this is the most beautiful time to be here in Costa Rica...always sunny and warm, but I think I was lied to. Some days have been amazing, I lay out on the balcony one morning for about 30 minutes and burned lol, what else is new...but then for the past week the wind has been hurricane-like. I seriously think sometimes that the roof might blow off. It would be beautiful sans the wind....Jaime says its just a cold front, but it seems to have parked itself over the whole country. I would love to go to the beach this week but with this wind I can't imagine it being pleasant.

Anyway other than that, life is just great. Yesterday I went to a baptist church close to my house and really enjoyed it. The people were so friendly and there is a good amount of younger people there. I just feel great about life right now, I have nothing to be upset about and can only thank the Lord for this amazing opportunity that I have! The phrase Pura Vida definitely defines my life these days!

It's now a reality...

So I came down here on a whim basically. Although I had taken an exam in the US,and did relatively well on it, I still had to take the entrance exam into the specific Master's in Translation program when I arrived here which I did on Monday. I had planned on being down here for two years but if I didn't do well on the exam all that would change and I'd be heading back to the United States. Fortunately though, and yes I did doubt it for a few hours, I received excellent news that I passed the exam and have been admitted into the program! So no "welcome back" party for me anytime soon!

I went to the university yesterday to register as a student. I was hoping on it being simple and being finished in a few minutes but for some reason the school requires a photo of me in order to register...like passport style...and we all know how bad those always come out! So I took a little walk around Heredia, something I haven't done since the day before I left back in December of 2007. Everything is the same. Its so nice coming back to a place that is just how it was before and hasn't been modernized by hundreds of McDonalds' and Burger Kings...although a Starbucks would be nice! I walked through central park, scattered with young children feeding the pidgeons and I remembered how I felt the last time I was there, nostalgic. There seriously is something about Costa Rica that grabbed my heart and never let go!

Anyway, so now that I'm in the program I just have to sign up for my classes, and then those start either the 2nd of the 9th of February. I'm excited to be studying again. In the months since I graduated I definitely missed school, and even essays. Working was a change I wasn't ready for and I'm super excited to be able to study again. Now we just have to hope that I understand everything that is going on when I get in the classroom!

Here's to my new reality!

I always said I would come home...

I arrived at around 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday the 21st of January. It was incredibly difficult to leave everyone again. While having dinner at Chili's in NC with friends after watching a movie I became unbarebly sad for what I was leaving behind: my friends, my family, my life. Sitting in the airport in Houston, not being able to get ahold of Mom one last time to say goodbye brought me to tears and I wondered if I was really doing the right thing; why after I had built my new life in California, would I want to leave it again? I knew though, that if I decided not to do this, that if I just decided to stay I would always wonder what could have been, and how much this experience would have changed me. I might be having second thoughts but I know myself well enough to know that if I do not get this out of my system I would never be happy with the life I would build for myself in the future, wherever that may be.

In Costa Rica, after leaving North Carolina's icy, low 20s degree weather, the warm muggyness of summer in the tropics was definitely welcoming. My host mother, Nela, my younger host brother Jaime, and Sylvia who helps Nela around the house met me at the airport. It was just as if I'd never left. After leaving the airport we went to Danilo, my older brother's, office so he could say hi. He pretty much tackled me almost to the ground (it would have been if the car wasn't in the way) in his attempt to say hello. It was nice though, to know I was missed. After that we went to my host father, Alberto's office to see him. Since I've been back he has been so caring, asking if I need anything everytime he sees me, making sure I'm happy.

Eventually I made it back to the house where I met Astrid, a Swedish student staying with us for a few months while she goes to the University as well. We have spent time getting to know each other and she seems nice enough, but apparently there was an issue with her and Jaime so she doesn't really hang out with the same crowd anymore, and I was advised not to invite her when we all go out since its awkward, and none of the guys like what she did to Jaime. There is also a girl from France staying with here for about another week while she is on vacation.

Since I've been here I've just been catching up with people I haven't seen in a year. The night I arrived Andrey, a friend of Danilo's, came to visit me. We were pretty good friends when I was here last so it was nice to see him again. On Thursday I just hung out at the house unpacking and making my room more homey, watched Grey's and then went out to Heredia to meet up with Antonio. Although we didnt' see much of each other when I was here last we became better friends by talking online when I was in the US. Friday was Nacho's birthday, a good friend of Jaime's, so we all went out to La Rumba, a dance club not too far away. I had only been 1 time before but the place was exactly as I remembered it. We danced Salsa and Merengue for hours!

One thing I have noticed this time that I wasn't so tuned into last time is the amount of gringos or Americans that are here. Last night there must have been 40 in La Rumba and I've seen at least 3 others around Barva, the small town that I live in. They all hang out together and speak English and drink beer, ignoring everyone around them. I sat there wondering if I was like that last time I was here. In the beginning I would only go out with my exchange group, until I realized I was not learning any Spanish by only speaking English, and so I began to go out only with Jaime and his friends. I wonder if any of them will have the same realization I had and make friends with the natives instead.

Costa Rica hasn't changed though because of the trade agreement with the United States and for that I am thankful. Although there might be a few more foreign banks and large grocery stores, the country is as it was before, warm, sunny, and green, and fortunately without rain this time of year! The view of the sunset from my balcony still takes my breadth away. The food still consists of the staple rice and beans with beef or chicken and every meal is accompanied by freshly made juice: pineapple, mango, papaya, you name it. The people are as friendly and helpful as ever. Being here again makes me realize just how much I have missed not only the slow pace of life that is definitely lacking in Southern California but also the incredibly generous latino culture that makes being back in Costa Rica more like returning to the place I was always meant to be, it's just like I have finally come home.