I had a great visit with my host family in San Jose, Costa Rica & I am so happy my mom finally got to experience the world outside of the United States. I hope she enjoyed our vacation in Costa Rica as much as I did! My host parents drove me to the airport for her arrival on December 6th where I stood out in the crowd with a poster I had decorated for her! I told her that her time there was more authentic because she stayed with a family, ate authentic food, and experienced the wonderful and "luxurious" public buses (riding with locals, 5-8 hours on a bus from the city to our beach depending on the number of stops and whether or not the bus breaks down or not). The first day we went to the Poas Volcano, also known as the Poas Cloud, since that's all we saw! It was still a good time! Then we spent the first afternoon exploring the city and doing some market shopping. On our second day we were beach bound! We stayed at the Flamingo Beach Resort on Flamingo Beach and it was beautiful! Our days were filled with endless sunshine next to the pool, good food, water aerobics, an atv tour of the beaches in the area, and a canopy zip-line tour through the trees! Check out some of our awesome pictures below :)
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| Anxiously waiting for my mama :) |
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| In front of the Poas "Cloud!" |
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| Beautiful Playa Flamingo! |
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| Enjoying our Zip Lining Adventure! |
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| At the hermosa Playa Conchal, one of the stops on our ATV Tour of the beaches |
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| Relaxin' by the pool! |
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| Our last night at the beach...amazing sunset! |
Back in the States, I was not ready for reverse culture shock but I was so ready to see everyone. It was really weird to be back though after being gone for so long. I got a new car (a black Ford Escape :) her name is Esmeralda) while I was gone and of course I was excited to drive it so the very first night we drove down to the Sonic where I ordered a corndog and then replied to the guy in Spanish. Time to switch languages! It's strange to be speaking English full time now after so many days of Spanish. Among my first meals I requested Taco Bell, Chicken Fried Steak with gravy, and a Frito Chili Pie! I also enjoyed some good, authentic "mexican food" or tex mex with my best friend, Megan, the first week I was back and then the first Saturday I was home was surprised when two of my very best friends from college, Katie and Courtney, walked through my door! We went out to eat that night with my parents and enjoyed my Welcome Home Cake! It was a great first week home! Christmas and New Year's Eve was no exception, I cannot imagine not being home for this time of year surrounded by friends and family! Thanksgiving Day was a tough one, so I was thankful to be home for Christmas! And to watch everyone open their South American Christmas presents!
I am so thankful, once again, for all the amazing experiences I was blessed with in 2011. It was an incredible, perhaps unbeatable, year. Wishing the best to all of my readers! Thanks for sharing in my trip with me...surely my next adventure can't be too far off! ;) Until then! Happy New Year!!!
2012 - BRING IT ON!!!
