Pura Vida

With all bags packed, I am set to go back to Miami.

Sitting here in the corner of my green bed, I have to blog and kill time as I am an hour early…forgetting that this place is an hour later than what is on my watch.

This trip to Costa Rica has been a worthwhile experience. A mixture of every little emotion that one could ever feel being in a foreign country. It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be, considering that the language made my brain bleed, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought it could be -- for the people that I have met over the last 5 days have been so warm and generous and really went out of their way to welcome me and my companion Lourdes.

The first few hours that I got here was by far the most memorable moment for all of us. Excited for my trip here, I didn’t get to eat. And because I was up all night online, I didn’t have that much sleep either. And so there we were, with all my colleagues --the bigwigs of the project--, talking and discussing about the project that we were going to do the whole week--- and there I was, leaning against a box of cartons, ready to pass out. The moment I knew I wasn’t feeling good, I fought with what I have inside---telling myself ‘No, please please not this time please not this time’. But I did not listen to myself. It was just a matter of few seconds and everything turned white. I was out. I fainted.

The next moment I opened my eyes, all my bosses where staring at me, scared to death of what was happening. It was sooo embarrassing that I wish I could just fly out there and fly straight to Miami. I mean, how could I pass out at this moment when I am trying to make an impression with my colleagues here at Costa Rica?? I was so mad at myself. I felt really stupid. I kept apologizing and they all said there’s nothing to be sorry for. I got an ice cream after that. Cool.

The language was tough. I had 3 months to practice and all that stuck to my head were the words Adios and Hola. That’s it. The rest of it I pretended to understand. And they really thought that I understand. I didn’t. I was there looking like a sitting duck, nodding my head up and down to look like I understood -- but my mind was blank. My mind was elsewhere after that. They were all talking about work and I was imagining the bubble bath that I was going to take when we get to the hotel.

But again, everything was worthwhile. Amidst the language barrier, I gained new friends. I would like to believe that somehow I made an impression too. I am almost feeling a bit disappointed at myself for I could have done better --learn the language better then maybe I was able to join in the discussions--but I can’t be too hard on myself. This is a learning process for me, the project and all, and the language is part of that. There will be more things like this to come and I have to continually tell myself that everything’s going to be ok.
Being in Costa Rica made me really appreciate where I am right now.. How blessed I am. The place is more like where I grew up from and that made me appreciate where I am now. I have come a long way and it is but right to say Thanks to Him for bringing me to the States.

Where I am now and where I will be going next... I will always be 'that girl from the Philippines'...