back in the u s of a !

crazy to say my adventure in costa rica has come to an end....you should all know that i have arrived home safely! it is so weird to be back---parts of me feel like i never left, that nothing has changed...its really funny. the timing of my trip couldn't have been more perfect---i arrived home wednesday night and thursday was my mom's 60th birthday so i (and she) was so happy to be home to celebrate such a big day with her!

i am slowly unpacking and getting back into the swing of reality at home---no breakfast waiting for me at the dining room table in the morning, no one coming in and cleaning my room daily haha! its so fun to now be home and be able to share my stories and adventures with everyone and just kind of reliving it all again. what an amazing experience the whole thing was---seriously, if you have extra time and some extra money, i would recommend it to everyone to travel abroad. it is such an eye-opening experience to emerge yourself into a different culture---learning new ways, seeing new sights and meeting all kind of different people. i feel that this trip truly changed my life and i am so happy that i did it.

now for the "big news"....i felt that i wanted to do something to always remember my trip to costa rica by and after a lot of thought and talking about it....2 friends and i got tattoos. mine is on my wrist and it says "pura vida"---a perfect phrase to remind myself not only of costa rica, but also to relax and enjoy life to the fullest

Pura Vida, literally translated means "Pure Life." Contextually, it means "Full of Life" "Purified life", "This is living!", "Going great!" It is used as a greeting, a farewell, and to express satisfaction. Pura Vida also means "I am doing alright", "I'm doing perfect" and "Thank you". Pura Vida is an attitude, a feeling. It’s all good. It’s relaxing, taking it easy. The phrase has become widely known in the USA and Europe. Some foreigners view the phrase as an expression of a leisurely lifestyle, of disregard for time and wanton friendliness. However, Costa Ricans use the phrase to express a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, enjoying life slowly, celebrating good fortune, whether small or large. Expats who adopt the expression properly get a big smile in return. It is an acknowledgment of the Costa Rican attitude towards life.

"And me, I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know it's not some place you can look for, 'cause it's not where you go. It's how you feel for a moment in your life when you're a part of something, and if you find that moment... it lasts forever... "

thank you all for reading and following me on my journey, i hope you enjoyed it :)