¡Que Dios Te Acompañe!

I cannot believe my time here. I've been on TV here, speaking Spanish.  I've jumped from some incredible waterfalls. I've bruised my tailbone. I've danced Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and mas. I've gone ziplining. I've gone to Panama. I've earned myself a tan (ask my family if you don't believe me). I've seen a night sky literally filled with stars. I've seen a rainbow that puts every other rainbow to shame. I've seen more beaches than I even have before. I've been electrically shocked by my shower more times than I can count. I've walked up a volcano. I've traveled through a cloud forest. I've seen monkeys, sloths, birds, cockroaches, fish, coral, dolphins, and more. I've had a sinus infection. I've gone snorkeling. I've stayed in some pretty crazy hostels. I've gotten sick from the water. I've stayed out all night and watched the sunrise over the mountians. I've made relationships in which I only speak Spanish. I have really lived "Pura Vida".

I'm officially down to the less than the week count down. As of today, it is officially 3 days. Pretty soon I'll be packing up my things and saying goodbye to the country that has become my home. I cannot even begin to describe the feelings that I've having. I'm so unbelievably excited to come home to the people that I love. I miss them more than I can explain. But that is the life that I have always known. Its nothing new, not like how everything I do here is brand new. I'm going to miss it here for sure.

I'm going to miss my Mamatica taking care of me all of the time. I'll miss watching NCIS with Papatico and making origami. I'll miss going out with Analia and Lorna all of the time. I'll miss the cutest little dogs, Simba and Inca, following me everywhere I go. I'll miss watching TV in Spanish and texting on my cheap little tico phone. I'll miss walking to the store and buy avocados to make some amazing guacamole. I'll miss the mountians that surround the city. I'll miss the parks and the buses too.  I'll miss that everything is a test of my Spanish when I need something. I'll miss all of the amazing people I have met here. I will miss this beautiful country.

I know how I'll feel once I sit down in the car to drive home from the airport in Chicago: I'll be so sad because I have finally finished something I have been dreaming of doing for years. It'll feel like the end of your favorite movie, one that you never want to end. As I begin to accept that I'm leaving this dream, I've realized that while I'm planning on returning to Costa Rica, si dios quiere, I know that no matter what, it's been amazing. I've been supported by everyone, my family here and there. I'm so grateful for all of them.

Every morning when I left my tica casa, my mamatica would kiss my cheek and tell me "Que dios te acompane", which means "May God go with you". I cannot think of a better way to end my time here. It's been amazing and I loved it. The only thing now that I can wish upon people is that God goes with them. Entonces, que diosito te acompane!