Well, we have come full-circle. I'm back in the States, recovering from some pretty extreme allergy symptoms. Once the mold, or trees, or grass, or dust (I still don't know which) started to affect my breathing and my throat, I knew it was best for my health to leave Vara Blanca.
Flying home, I had time to stop in the airport for a huge salad -- which was also much needed. As I practically inhaled my food, I realized the only green things I had eaten during my month in Costa Rica were a bowl of green beans and 2 avocados. I'm definitely used to eating so much more than that!
Being here for just a few days now, I'm definitely glad to be home. I can finally breathe through my nose, for the first time in weeks! And, the rest of my body seems to be returning to normal function and, perhaps most importantly, my energy is back!
I'm also really glad I went. I never would have gained the perspective I have now without going to Costa Rica in the first place, even if my trip was cut down to just 4 weeks.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Monday, August 01, 2011
Seeing through other peoples' eyes
I may be going back to the States early. My allergies have gotten so bad here that sometimes it's hard to breathe - and that's not a good sign. So in case I leave earlier than planned, I wanted to remark on something that I have found to be especially beautiful in my time here.
Even being here for just three and a half weeks, I have come to understand the workings of this community, the daily reality of peoples' lives here - if not completely, at least a little bit. This is not the beachy, fun, easy part of Costa Rica. We are up in the mountains, where it rains all the time, and the ground is covered in mud, and there are few government services, sometimes the water goes out, the roads are still in disrepair from the earthquake, some people still don't have homes. There are a lot of things that could leave a lot of people dissatisfied, always wanting more, better.
One of the girls who goes to the ADE school, Kati, has really bad allergies too. But she just lives here, and goes on. One of my friends, Lidia, who I lived with for my first few days here in Costa Rica, told me all about her life and, man, has it been tough. She has had thirteen surgeries, all far away from her home, in a hospital down in the city. There was even an earthquake during one of her stays in the hospital. After she told me about all the things she has been through, she told me that she never once thought to herself, "Why me, God? Why me?"
Even being here for just three and a half weeks, I have come to understand the workings of this community, the daily reality of peoples' lives here - if not completely, at least a little bit. This is not the beachy, fun, easy part of Costa Rica. We are up in the mountains, where it rains all the time, and the ground is covered in mud, and there are few government services, sometimes the water goes out, the roads are still in disrepair from the earthquake, some people still don't have homes. There are a lot of things that could leave a lot of people dissatisfied, always wanting more, better.
One of the girls who goes to the ADE school, Kati, has really bad allergies too. But she just lives here, and goes on. One of my friends, Lidia, who I lived with for my first few days here in Costa Rica, told me all about her life and, man, has it been tough. She has had thirteen surgeries, all far away from her home, in a hospital down in the city. There was even an earthquake during one of her stays in the hospital. After she told me about all the things she has been through, she told me that she never once thought to herself, "Why me, God? Why me?"
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