Monday, December 21, 2009

Then I woke up...



We landed in Phoenix AZ on Friday, December 18th. As we were walking through customs to gather our luggage, waiting for our next flight out to take us to Albuquerque, I woke up in a daze. Well, it felt like this the moment that I realized that it was true, that we were actually in America. My country. It was bizarre at first and even surreal. The excitement built up, and it felt like a heavy burden of weight fell off my shoulders. I was home! Leaving Costa Rica for the first time in four months was a crazy feeling! Not being exposed to anything but Costa Rica has put me in somewhat of a bubble. The things that impacted me were, the language barriers we faced on a daily bases, working and supporting a school that is driven and run by very corrupt and low characters. Going to the beach on the weekends and hanging out with people at work, being super hot and sweaty every single time I stepped outside, going to the grocery store knowing to find a limited supply of options for food . Now, these are not all negative impacts, but just things that overtook my life in many ways. Experiencing a different country from what I have always known, there were bound to be some of these impacts, but, I guess I didn’t realize how direct and ‘in your face’ these would become. Spending time at the beach is something I enjoy! I love to walk on the beach and watch the sunset! These are the good memories that will be cherished and remembered for years to come!

It just so happens that this trip to Costa Rica was not a dream, but rather, and story of my reality. In my head I tried imagine what it was like to finally be home in the states and getting the hell out of Costa Rica because the bubble was getting to be way more cramped and claustrophobic than what I could take!

Since being home and sharing stories with friends and family about our trip and experience, I have been able to better visualize what we experienced and trying hard to put it into perspective and find reasoning behind it all! I probably couldn’t have written a positive blog prior to coming home because being in the midst of it and not getting the relief that was necessary, it would have been laced through negativity! This is a big reason why I haven’t written a blog in a long time! I had no motivation, but just extreme exhaustion with our situation… Until the bubble popped!

Today, I spent some time with a great friend from Durango! She and I had a great visit, and just being able to talk to people about our experience and getting to hear others reactions, has been super helpful and it has really made me think! I am not quite done processing things yet, and still am in search of finding the reasoning and purpose behind it all! These things take time so, bare with me, and I am sure as I am showed, I will share!

Stay tuned…

6 comments:

Mike said...

Welcome home Nicole! This probably has nothing to do with your purpose but when I returned from several years overseas, I had a deeper appreciation for what I have/had here in the U.S.

I also found that I learned how to live in a somewhat slower environment and it was a real shocker to come home and see exactly how fast everything moves here. I think that might be why I prefer small towns now.

Sue said...

Hey, enjoy your hometime :)

So you're back for good?

Nicole said...

Hey! Thanks guys for coming by! I totally understand what you mean Mike as far as how slow things go! They don't go by normal time there, so they call it Tico Time. Which means anytime after the time you were suppose to be there! It's pretty funny! Even most bus transits are late! Haha!

Hey Sue! We are so happy to be home! Um, our plan is to go back, we left all of our clothes there so we have to go back for our stuff, but, it is tempting to just call it quits. I am kinda feeling like Father is wanting us to pull through until June, so we shall see! Maybe he will open the door for us to come home sooner!

Anyway, glad to hear from you guys!

MERRY CHRISTMAS my friends!

Sue said...

Hey Nicole, well I hope whatever way you have peace about it. I think this is such a good stretching, even though it doesn't feel like it.

And oh, you might be sweating all the time, but I reckon living on tico time would make it all worth it for me :)

Happy Christmas to you too :)

Erin said...

I hope you have a wonderful visit back here and a very merry Christmas!

Walking Church said...

Hey Nic
Nice to see you home
There is indeed no place like home...I think I heard that somewhere.

Any old how...all the best to you and your family this season.

Merry CHRISTmas

Web Site Hit Counter