Come (Para)Sail Away with Me

To say that I'm ready to come home is a bit of an understatement. Being here, experiencing all that this place and culture has to offer, is forcing me to learn a lot about myself. A lot of what I'm feeling is culture-shock and home-sickness, and I recognize that. But there's also a lot about myself that I'm learning doesn't quite coincide with life here.
I realize that a lot of my struggles define first world problems, but I've also realized that I am truly grateful for the "first world" that I live in. I've realized that I really enjoy having screens on my windows in the States. Bugs being in my room, on my person, is not my ideal life. I don't believe that geckos should be welcomed into the home. I've learned that being covered in volcanic ash most of the time is not something I enjoy, especially when it's sticking to my sweat in the summer season here. I'm truly grateful for the privilege to choose and enjoy what food, how much, and when I eat. I miss the feeling of security that streetlamps and an active police-force offer.
Not being completely in control of my meals, my schedule, and my security is a struggle that isn't going to change in the time that I am here. Much of what I'm learning about myself are things that I'm content with. While I'm trying to go with the flow and enjoy the time I have, I'm also learning that the next trip I make will be different, in both nature and location.

The past two weeks honestly had me feeling very ready to throw in the towel and just book a flight back to Ohio.

This past weekend was exactly what I needed. Manuel Antonio was the trip I'd been looking forward to since arriving in Costa Rica. An entire weekend spent on the beach with nothing but sand, sea, and sun.
Friday night we went to the beach for sunset. We were able to play in the ocean and run along the beach playing American Football for several hours. There is honestly not much that can beat the view of the sunset over the Pacific.

The next day we went to the beach again, this time traveling through the national park to the beach it surrounded. We were able to see some animals that we wouldn't have otherwise seen, like sloths and monkeys.
Several monkeys ventured onto the beach to try to find food by rummaging in the bags of tourists. There was also an area behind the beach where the monkeys were everywhere and you could interact with them and take photos.

We saw one sloth, and I was only able to see it for a moment before stepping in a nest of fire ants and becoming completely distracted. Again with the bugs.
The beach in the national park was beautiful. Some of the whitest sand I've ever seen, mixed with perfectly salty ocean waves. We spent that evening watching sunset on the same beach as the night before. Every night there is apparently equally beautiful.

The next morning, we got up early to go on what most of our group would describe as one of the best experiences of our lives.
We. Went. Parasailing! My fear of heights and my fear of sharks joined together to make the decision to participate extremely difficult. But I lived. And I can certainly say that I am the better for having flown above the water attached to a parachute. The views were fantastically breathtaking. The water was so blue that even from up in the air, it was hard to distinguish where the sea met the sky. Sydney and I sang songs about adventure and the ocean while floating above the beautiful blue. We even saw some dolphins flipping below us!

,

After our adventure, we departed our hotel for the lunch destination. The views from the open-air restaurant were unbelievable. There were even a few iguanas hanging out on the roof next to our patio. Again with the lizards.

As much as I enjoyed our paseo to the beach, I spent the next day in bed with food poisoning, and the next day back to feeling out of control of my life.

Costa Rica is not for the faint of heart. It isn't for everyone. It isn't bad, its just different. It's a third world country, which is something one needs to come to terms with before committing to the lifestyle.
Today marks exactly two months until we return to Ohio. Yes, I have a countdown.