Adios, CPI

The other day I realized that this is my fourth season working at the school. It doesn't seem like it has been that long, but I sure have grown up a lot since first coming back in 2008 as a student and starting to work with groups in 2009.
My first trip to Costa Rica with my university will forever and always be an important and life changing experience, when I fell in love with this country and the Spanish language even more.
I will always remember fondly my training week with Gerry, Jessica and Maria as we travelled between the schools and locations preparing for the upcoming season. Although it seems that no matter what you do to help prepare someone for a job or task, there are always unexpected details and situations that you are challenged with...! I know there are many more things I learned along the way, rather than learning during training week.
The time I have spent here and conversations I have had have made all the difference in my language skills. Truly I am an example of the powers of an immersion experience, after living here and picking up Spanish in a way not possible in the USA (hmm, if I lived in an area with more of a Latino population that might be a different story). But I have been immersed in Tico culture, and while I am still learning I am confident in saying that I have most of the ins and outs down.

I have met so many people here...students, co-workers, chofers, taxistas, Familias Ticas, hotel and restaurant staff, tour guides, pharmacists, professors, etc. The opportunities I have had to travel and meet people just really amaze me, looking back and thinking of all the places I have been. So much of the country and so many tours I have gone on have been through CPI and part of my job...! What a cool job!

These last few weeks and helping to train new chaperones has really made me realize how much I know, how much I can do and handle. I think CPI is starting to realize it as well, how much they will miss me...
Right now I am not sure when I will return to Costa Rica after this trip back to the USA, but I know without a doubt that I will be back.

I never ever could have imagined the path my life has taken, after graduating and moving down here for a year. In a short amount of time so much has changed, my life took an unexpected turn. I fell in love, married, applied for residency, settled in. Never did I think things would work out this way...! But I cannot say that I am unhappy, or bored. My life is fulfilling in so many ways that I never could have imagined.

Included here is a picture of Jessica and Muni and myself, the only three who are still here from four seasons ago when I first began.

Going to miss these girls! Going to miss Costa Rica, and going to miss CPI...but I can't honestly say that I will miss the insanity of high season!

Pura Vida