Don't let the improbable keep you from doing the incredible!

Well, all I can say is my time here in Costa Rica is done for now, but I couldn't have gone out with a bigger bang. Saturday, I hit Puntaarenas for the beach. I got myself some sun, and also got invited to do some fishing with some dude who was showing me how to find these narsty little worm creatures in the sand. So my friend and I headed to the pier. I honestly, would have never thought I was such a bomb fisher. Within like 20 minutes I had some 12 odd fish...every time I put the hooks in the water, I caught one or two at a time....who would have known fishing could be so fun. I also gutted and cleaned my fish fish on the pier. My new buddy insisted I bring some home with me to San Jose, so we cleaned em up...a little, threw them in a grocery bag, and off to the bus I headed with a bag full of bloody, but gutted fish. Usually, when a hot bus reeks of dead fish I'm a little grossed out,but something about knowing it was my fish smelling this whole place up was just awesome. Hahah so I took em on home and gifted em to my tico uncle. Anyway, Saturday I got in around 10pm so I headed to bed not too late cause in the morning I was off to jump off a bridge. Alright, so let's get real here...I had absolutely no fear about this whole jumping off a bridge thing...until I stood at the ledge with my heals touching the air, my toes on the ledge, my arms open, and my back to all that lies below. Counting down from 5, when 1 hit, a gently pushed off and let nature take it's course. I was flying....ok...I was falling...but the moments seemed to last forever, when I couldn't feel anything, couldnt even breathe, I remembered yet again how beautiful life truly is. Needless to say, I loved it, and can't wait to do it out of a plane... Now as if that wasn't a cool enough morning, my tico brother had something special for me planned. We got in his car and after a little while of driving through the open fields of sugar and coffee, we landed in a grassy parking lot, with a guy that looked a lot like Rafiki from Lion King...We walked through some little trails and eventually I felt mist on my face, I looked to to my right, only to see this beautiful waterfall...but he told me there's more...so we walked through the water some, and bam! Threre's this monster of a waterfall before my eyes...I experienced air in a special way, but now I was experiencing water in a special way....how light was air and how powerful was water...I loved it. We spent some time in amazement, then headed to lunch for a casado and then to the airport to pick up my other tico brother who happens to be a senior math major at Yale...impressive. I spent the rest of the afternoon just enjoying my family. We watched the Costa Rican soccer championship and of course La Liga won! Then we headed to a christmas concert, and spent the rest of the night talking and just enjoying each other...it's corny, I know, but people in general just need to spend more time enjoying each other. There truly are some people I'm going to miss here, and as sad as it is to leave them, I know that more adventure awaits, and that we will see each other again.

For now, I pack my things and head onward. I know these adventures that lie ahead will hold nothing less than satisfaction, and I am so eager for all I will learn in these coming months. My friends, from what I have learned up until now, I will only tell you to just not let the improbable keep you from doing the incredible...JUMP! ¡Pura Vida!

"Wherever you go, there you are"

It's so hard to believe how fast four months have passed. Its strange how this place can feel so much like home. I find that few things truly will change in life. In all of my experience traveling, I have found many of the same realities; the only difference is that they may be manifested a little differently. Confucius once said, "wherever you go, there you are." I couldn't agree with him more. No matter where I find myself physically, not much in me changes. I am constantly growing and learning, but my habits and base don't seem to change. My struggles stick with me and my joys as well. I still procrastinate--everything--yet manage to get it all done and do it well. I still seek God. I still find the need to serve. And I still shower little and wear the same clothes. However, I have learned to do more of some things that I used to only do occasionally. I do stop and literally smell the flowers. I do put a smile on as often as I can. I take the time to listen to people, and listen to my heart. I look at the sky, day and night, and try to grasp how we could possibly be significant in a reality so grand. I have learned how much I truly do love my family and friends. I have learned be patient with what I don't know (although this will continue to be a challenge for me). Through some research for my philosophy class, I found this quote by Rilke and fell in love with it: "Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves...Don't search for the answers that couldn't be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to love everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way onto the answer." You could say that this is my goal. I don't know what will come of my life; if I will be rich or poor, if my future holds great pains or great joys, if love awaits or if I will even see another day, but I not preoccupied with it. I will never stop thinking about the world, about life and love, but I refuse to let my thoughts hold me still. I can only hope that through living, I can find my way to the answers. As I think about the world, I think that perhaps the world fights and struggles so much because it doesn't know where its going and maybe the solution is to just learn to enjoy the ride. Don't let enjoyment in life be confined to an extreme. Love everything.

As far as my past few weeks, I haven't been to the beach in awhile--saving money. But this weekend was the Festival de Luz which was really cool. I'm going to put some pictures below. The festival was awesome; a night full of parades, fireworks, clowns, fake confetti snow fights, and pure joy. Ticos know how to do it up. :)

School ended awesome. (I couldn't be happier to know that I am done with class till August) A 28 credit hour semester of straight As. I fell in love with philosophy, advanced my Spanish, and managed to enjoy nearly every moment. Last night, when I should have been writing my paper and studying for my final, I decided it was better to spend time with my tica niece, coloring, telling stories, dancing, singing, playing golf in my room with a coke bottle, ballon, and a laundry bin, who would have thought all of that would have paid off on my exam--oh yea...it didn't. But the reality is that it didn't matter. Things worked out. Things always work out. And I love it.

Anyways, I have 4 days left here in Costa Rica, then ill be traveling around until I head to Brazil on the 31st of December. This weekend will hopefully be one of great memories. Saturday I will be bungee jumping, and with the rest of the weekend, hopefully I'll hit the beach and hang out with my tica family.

Love you all and hope that you guys can find a reason each day to put a smile on and love everything. :)

¡Pura Vida!