La playa otra vez y una semana....

So, I'm officially coming home in 1 week! Crazy, huh? It seems like just yesterday I left to come down here. The past couple of days have been spent doing things to prepare for my leaving. I got all of my grades, and I passed everything with flying colors! I'll get full credit for all of it leaving me with very few credits left before I graduate...scary. Today I went around with some of my dear friends and took pictures of the places that I've loved while living here. Unfortunately, my camera broke about 2 months ago, so I'm relying quite heavily on my friends to take pictures for me. I really appreciate it, lol.

My plan for the next week starts of with me going to the beach one more time! Yay! We've decided to go to Tamarindo and all of the surrounding beaches close to it. I'm especially interested in seeing Playa Conchal since apparently there isn't much sand there, just shells, that sounds really cool. Other than that, I'm hoping to maybe go horseback riding on the beach. I think that would be so neat! Mainly, though, I'm just excited to spend one last trip with all my girls. I am so thankful for the wonderful bonds we've made while being down here.

After the beach, I'm sure everything will be a big blur: one last get-together with my exchange program group, packing, and saying my good-byes. One more week in Costa Rica! Ahh!! United States here I come!

Pura vida,
Amelia

11 days...

As of today, I only have 11 days left in the country of Costa Rica. It's so bittersweet. I had no clue that I would feel like this. I spent today painting graffiti on a wall today with some of my closest friends here. Don't worry, we had permission. It was in the backyard of one of my friend's boyfriend. I never knew that "graffiting" could be so fun! This is just one example of the incredible memories I've made down here. It's so weird to me to think that I won't be able to see these people everyday anymore. I've formed such amazing bonds over the past 5 months. It's going to be really difficult to say good-bye.

On the other hand, I had a Costa Rican cheeseburger today for lunch, and I can't wait to have a hamburger grilled on my parents' grill on which I can put whatever I want. Cheese, hamburger, mayonnaise, and pickles...it's going to be great! :-) My biggest concern at this point is that I'm going to have difficulties integrating back into American culture. I've been reading a lot about a syndrome called Reverse Culture Shock, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have it. I've been missing the United States as I looked at it pre-Costa Rica, but what if it looks completely different when I get back? I'm sure I'll be fine after a couple of weeks or so, but it's still going to be really weird for me.

I am looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family again, though. 5 months is way too long to go without seeing the people you love! I hope all is going well for you guys, and I'll see you in 11 days!! Yeah!!

Pura vida,
Amelia

Feeling Patriotic

I've been sitting in my room for the past 30 minutes watching history be made in the United States. Barack Obama has clinched the nomination for the Democratic Party making him the first African-American to be a presidential candidate for a major party in the U.S. It's a little surreal to me that I am living in a foreign country while all of this is going on. I teared up a little bit while listening to him speak making me realize how much I love and miss home. Living in the United States I've never really known where I'm from since I've moved around so much, but moving to a different country puts things into perspective. My home is the United States, it doesn't matter that I can't say I'm from one particular state. My heart is in the good ole U.S. of A., and I feel so honored to be a citizen of this great country. I'm so excited that I get to vote this year, and I will definitely take full advantage of that right. I'm coming home in a little over 2 weeks, and I think I'm ready. I'm ready to drive with the windows down and the music blasting, eat hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on the grill, feel the sun on my face while riding in my Dad's boat, watch the fireflies buzz around at night, walk into a store and be able to ask the clerk where something is and understand everything he or she says completely, and I'm ready to celebrate July 4th like I've never celebrated it before. I love traveling and I've enjoyed these past 5 months more than anything in my life, but I know where I belong. Traveling will always be one of my passions, but I know that I will always go back to the people, places, and country that I love. Hope all is well for everyone up there. I'll be back soon...

Pura vida,
Amelia