I imagine that everyone has completely forgotten this site exists, what with my month plus hiatus and the fact that I've returned to the states and, supposedly, have no reason to keep writing. Funny thing is, life goes on, no matter what country you're in. So, I may keep writing for a bit. Even if no one is reading. I may not. I have options.
Being home has been great, though I've hardly been home in BG for any lengths of time sufficient to actually get used to it. Routine is a friend that I've been frantically avoiding since my arrival. In the past month and a half, I've been to Michigan, Seattle three times (after this coming weekend), I'm headed to Eugene next week, and sooner or later, I will, of course, be heading back to Spokane.
I periodically miss Costa Rica. I miss the food and the beaches and the jungles and the bus system (I understand it much better than I understand them here). I don't miss living with my host family. I didn't realize entirely how much it stressed me out. I like them and it was fun, but it wasn't the greatest long-term set-up for me. I was flipping through some emails I exchanged while I was gone and it really hit me how much more relaxed I am here for numerous reasons. Every time I leave the country and come home I find myself wanting to "go back but in a different capacity." I never want to wash my hands of a place, but I rarely want to have the exact same experience over. Which is okay. Growth doesn't happen if nothing changes. And frankly, high school was a blast. And I never want to do it again.
I do miss the Spanish. There is just no replacement for total immersion. I miss speaking it, I miss hearing it and I miss the constant challenge and the continuing string of defeat and success that made up every day in Costa Rica. My mom has a house cleaner who comes and the lady who works with her, Marta, is from Chile. A few days after I got back from Michigan I met her and was able to speak to her in Spanish. It felt so good. I had no problems understanding her at all. My accent and tongue waere a touch rusty, in comparison to while I was in CR but still better than when I left, I'm sure.
Anyway, that's more or less the state of life, for now. I'll be busy dancing this weekend, canning next week and then throwing the finishing touches together on a party for my parents the week after that. It'll be a fun time. Look me up.
