Ugly Duckling

Today I feel like the ugly duckling. It's just that I guess gringos are not meant to be in the sun for too long. Only 1 1/2 days of sunshine and just the next day I am peeling all over my face in rediculous amounts. Parts of my face are brown, parts are pink, parts have attached skin, and all day it has been soaked with lotion and aloe. It is not attractive. But it's what I give in return for freedom and a beach.

This past weekend ws our spring break, so of course we all went to the beach. Another visit to the beautiful Manuel Antonio. I cannot describe in words, or show in pictures how beautiful this place is. It's one of those places where you see the beauty God can create. I collected probably 30 or 40 sea shells...a vast majority of which on the Oregon Coast you could not actually find, you'd have to buy at a store. And I just picked them up, straight out of the water. I absolultey love shells. I first love the act of collecting them. Taking a walk on the beach with your toes squidging in the sand, and then being cleansed by the rushing olas (waves). In my case, it was a peaceful solitary walk, in which I had lots of time to process, think, and pray. And then searching and searching for the shells, looking for the little sparkles to catch your eye, digging in the sand, waiting for the waves to bring in more, and finally finding a something, something extravagant and beautiful. And then washing away the sand from the shell as it reveals all its beauty. They are probably one of the best souveneirs...and their free!

Today we started our concentrations...YAY, new classes! I think they will be pretty good. 8 sessions only...grammar review and literature readings...there are 2 papers. And then the rest of the days we all have internships...mine is at a Center for Street Kids...and I get to work with Clint. So I am really excited about that. I love working with kids! I'm praying God will use me there. We have to keep a journal for this, so that will be a good thing to process. These things will last 3 weeks. And then the last week we are going to Panama. More on that later. Sad thing about concentrations - we have to split up! Sad. Sad. Science people left today and we won't see them for about 2 1/2 weeks. Then on Monday the Latin American Studies people leave, and we won't see them for the same length of time. Even the people in my concentration I will only see 2 days a week (except clint), because the other days we have our internships. I guess they are just slowly trying to rip us apart...as in less than 5 weeks time, we will be ripped apart forever. I am honestly not looking forward to that. We have all become family. Yes, there are annoyances, and tiffs...but there is love and support and learning. And I'm going to miss these guys. But let's not think about that now...

On a happier note. In about 49 hours I will be hugging my mom and my papa. I am overwhelmed with joy. I absolutely cannot wait. I'm excited for them to get to meet my tico family. And we also get to do some fun Costa Rica things:
see an active volcano
swim in hot springs
hike through a rainforest
tour the canopy of a rainforest by aeriel tram
and of course hit up San Jose

Sometimes I hate writing these blogs, because I feel like I am only telling you what I am doing, and not what I am thinking, feeling, or how I'm growing. Those are a hard thing to write in words. But know that I can't wait to see you all this summer/this fall and talk about my life with you. I think of you often and miss you like crazy.