Wrapping it Up

12/11/08

Wow. 3 Days left. Costa Rica was a blast. We rented a 3-house little villa with 20 other people, right by the beach. There was a pool and scarlet macaws and coconut and starfruit trees and very cheap imperial beer and warm air and beautiful emerald hills and we lay in the sun and relished the end of finals and schoolwork and enjoyed each others company for the last port of the trip. We went on a canopy/zipline tour through the rain forest and the tour guides kept calling me Barbie and then we had so much yummy pineapple and watermelon and banana and then got delicious rice and beans in the downtown area of Jaco Beach. I ran on the beach and it was such a nice change after enduring the treadmill on the ship—not running in a closet with mirrors felt soooo good. We really had no time in Costa Rica. Two days were spent mostly in transit, the other laying out and eating and relaxing—but no complaints here. I think the relaxing thing is part of the whole Pura Vida mentality (correct me if I am wrong, Costa Ricans). Everyone there was so nice and welcoming, I definitely must go back.
        Last night was the ambassador’s ball. Everyone got all dolled up and the cafeteria made their first fully edible meal all trip! TOFU with vegetables, dumplings, sweet and sour soup, mandarin salad, and tables and tables of desserts and fruit. Plus one glass of champagne! There was dancing in the big auditorium which I tried but the ship was rocking and there wasn’t enough space for my hippie arm flinging dance moves so I sort of gave up. But I enjoyed myself nonetheless.
        I am really excited to come home. To have a window, a refrigerator, my FAMILY, my friends, grass to lay in, newspapers and non-syrup coffee, animals, trees, books to read…it is almost unreal. Christmas will be so lovely—I am going to be like Santa Claus with all the gifts I bought on this trip! I think this trip has made me a more generous person. I take myself less seriously, and have realized the power of just being nice to people as a rule of thumb. I have made such wonderful memories and friendships on this trip that I am so thankful for, but I realized how truly valuable my family and friends are back home.  Without their emails and love, I think the times when I was lonely or sea crazy or bored would have been unbearable. Time is fleeting and seeing the different ways everyone in the world finds a way to use theirs has made me want to squeeze every last drop of adventure and love out of my time as I can. MOM AND DAD---YOU ARE THE BEST. You have shown me the world and I cannot tell you thank you or I love you enough. ☺