Tuesday 11/25/08

It’s extremely bittersweet to be saying that today is my last full day in La Virgen. I absolutely love my life here. I’m teaching, I have family and friends who loves me, I walk around town and am known by name, and I live in the tropical rainforest. Yet at the same time I’m freakishly excited to be back in the States where I have family and friends who love me, independence (and a car), and I live in the most beautiful part of the country (I know, I’m biased) I told my family last night that I feel like all my limbs are being tugged by different parts of the world where I have made such beautiful connections and how I have several places I feel I can call home (Costa Rica, Mexico, Seattle, Eugene, etc.). After an elliptical workout due to the flooding/intense rains and some pinto and pancakes, we made our way one last time to the school. I worked with my classes on last time, said goodbyes throughout the day (with plenty of kisses and notes and gifts). We had an assembly and I said my official goodbyes and an overall “thank you”. I came home content with the hard work I’ve put into my time at the school, yet also said to think that this chapter of my life is coming to a close. It has truly been an experience I can say no one else has had (since I am the first gringa ever to work in the school). I spent the afternoon simply enjoying my last afternoon with my family. The boys and I played cards and Licho finally came back from Limon (he’s been working for days straight and I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to say goodbye. We had a nice last family dinner, took family pictures and I gave them some gifts I had brought from home. I showed off my magic tricks and had the whole family in awe and/or convinced I was a witch. We had a bittersweet evening reflecting on the last 3.5 weeks. We eventually said our final goodnights knowing that the morning would be a difficult goodbye.