I think I will always be a world traveler. It’s addiction as much as a passion. I love living in a culture, learning about the people and learning from them. Students, parents, and friends alike wonder why we should bother learning other languages. How else can you truly know a culture if you don’t speak the language? You can’t. It’s truly that simple. You can’t fully understand and know a people unless you can communicate with them.
I have tried very hard, and my parents did a wonderful job of raising me to have a global vision and worldliness about myself. I remember telling, not asking, my parents before college even started that I was going to study abroad. Everyone should step out outside of the U.S. at least once in their life. Sure it takes you out of your comfort zone, but that’s how we grow as individuals right? We gain acceptance, vision, tolerance, friendships and experiences that can only come through travel and seeing the world in its natural state. Take a friend, travel alone, backpack it, hike it, go for a week, go for a year, but go. You’ll never regret taking that leap.
On that note, I am unofficially signing off once again for the summer. Small updates always follow throughout the year, but the Costa Rica end of things will cease for a few months.
Pura vida a todos,
Jessica Lynn
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
There's One in Every Crowd
…That decides to tell the customs officer all about her new dentures she acquired in Costa Rica. Holy Moses, not the venue…
I am probably low on sleep so my fuse is a little short. At some point last night I decided I would just pull an all nighter since I had to be up so early any way. I am a creature of sleep, so this was a bad idea to begin with. Then, I nearly fell off the chair I was sitting on while waiting to leave Gate 2 in the Juan Santamaria airport because I dozed off and didn’t realize it. I boarded the plane at 6:45 a.m. and barely woke up enough to even feel the take off. I didn’t get a window seat so I couldn’t watch one of my favorite parts of flying anyway. We hit some turbulence at one point, but it’s all very vague. I did wake up for the in-flight snack which was a bonus.
In the ATL, we waited for over an hour to get our luggage and then proceeded through customs and the re-checking of the bags. I’m not entirely sure my bag with the DAY tag on it will make it home with me tonight. It was chaos where we dumped our bags, and when I asked if there was any rhyme or reason to where my bag should go, I was told “Nope, just leave it over there.” Yep, I’ll be lucky to see that thing arrive on time in Dayton.
I’m hanging out in the airport now waiting to board my flight for Dayton. I already feel lost not being able to use my Spanish all the time, and I find myself slipping into its usage without really noticing until the cashier looks at me funny. I am already shocked at the hustle and bustle here in the States and its stark contrast to the pura vida I’ve been living in. I already feel the weight of pending obligations that are calling my name. I need to continue to live the pura vida more in my daily life in the States. Not that I should shirk on my responsibilities, but that I should breathe in and do things for myself.
Still can’t bring myself to automatically put the toilet paper in the toilet as opposed to the trash can next to it… This is common problem every year.
I have barely touched my phone. I don’t really want to turn it on. It’s not that I think I’m popular enough to have my voicemail and text messages flooded, but I like the freedom of not being attached to it and always checking it. One of the most liberating moments every summer for me is shutting my phone down in Atlanta and tucking it away for the entire summer. My students are shocked and claim they ‘couldn’t survive.’ They would be surprised at the freedom it brings not to be able to be contacted all the time. I haven't died yet from shutting my phone off. : )
Time to board the plane to Dayton…
Chao pescado,
Jessica Lynn
P.S. If you're wondering, my bags miraculously made it back on my flight!
I am probably low on sleep so my fuse is a little short. At some point last night I decided I would just pull an all nighter since I had to be up so early any way. I am a creature of sleep, so this was a bad idea to begin with. Then, I nearly fell off the chair I was sitting on while waiting to leave Gate 2 in the Juan Santamaria airport because I dozed off and didn’t realize it. I boarded the plane at 6:45 a.m. and barely woke up enough to even feel the take off. I didn’t get a window seat so I couldn’t watch one of my favorite parts of flying anyway. We hit some turbulence at one point, but it’s all very vague. I did wake up for the in-flight snack which was a bonus.
In the ATL, we waited for over an hour to get our luggage and then proceeded through customs and the re-checking of the bags. I’m not entirely sure my bag with the DAY tag on it will make it home with me tonight. It was chaos where we dumped our bags, and when I asked if there was any rhyme or reason to where my bag should go, I was told “Nope, just leave it over there.” Yep, I’ll be lucky to see that thing arrive on time in Dayton.
I’m hanging out in the airport now waiting to board my flight for Dayton. I already feel lost not being able to use my Spanish all the time, and I find myself slipping into its usage without really noticing until the cashier looks at me funny. I am already shocked at the hustle and bustle here in the States and its stark contrast to the pura vida I’ve been living in. I already feel the weight of pending obligations that are calling my name. I need to continue to live the pura vida more in my daily life in the States. Not that I should shirk on my responsibilities, but that I should breathe in and do things for myself.
Still can’t bring myself to automatically put the toilet paper in the toilet as opposed to the trash can next to it… This is common problem every year.
I have barely touched my phone. I don’t really want to turn it on. It’s not that I think I’m popular enough to have my voicemail and text messages flooded, but I like the freedom of not being attached to it and always checking it. One of the most liberating moments every summer for me is shutting my phone down in Atlanta and tucking it away for the entire summer. My students are shocked and claim they ‘couldn’t survive.’ They would be surprised at the freedom it brings not to be able to be contacted all the time. I haven't died yet from shutting my phone off. : )
Time to board the plane to Dayton…
Chao pescado,
Jessica Lynn
P.S. If you're wondering, my bags miraculously made it back on my flight!
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