A Very Sad Farewell

Journal Entry
April 18, 2006
On the Ferry near Puntarenas, Costa Rica


enjoying my last fresh oysters on my last day

Sheleena hooked me up with a direct shuttle this afternoon from Montezuma to San Jose, and all for free. She really has been so good to me this past week and her impact on my trip overall is immeasurable. I can not believe that just a couple weeks ago I was pining for home. Today, as I rode in the shuttle out of Montezuma I actually had to fight off tears. My weeks was so fantastic. I got reacquainted with an old friend and made so many new ones. I now feel that I have to return to Montezuma sometime soon and it may end up being a much longer stay. If I want it, Sheleena would get me a job with Eco-Tours and I could go for the high season, which just so happens to be the low season in the film world back home. So that could work out very nicely indeed. If nothing more though, I think I'd like to go back sometime soon at least for a week or two to see my friends, mi amor and the place that is so beautiful and was so great to me. I was truly sad to say good bye today and I think that sadness will stay with me for a while yet.


mi ultimo noche, que bueno, con vinicio y machacho

I was talking to my dad online briefly today and he said "I bet you've changed a lot with all you've experienced". While I don't feel particularly different now, I know that this journey has had a huge impact on me. I know that I have, in fact, changed, but how or how much is something I don't think I'll fully realize until I'm back and have had some time to reflect. The reflection period has had a rolling start in the last few days, but today with my departure from Montezuma, it's been thrown into high gear.

------------------------------LATER---------------------------------

San Jose, Costa Rica


Slight problems figuring out my hotel reservation when I got in tonight but it is now sorted and I'm all ready for my muy temprano departure tomorrow morning. I can't believe this day has come. I have very mixed feelings about leaving. I didn't want to leave Montezuma today at all. It really is too bad that I'm not able to spend my last night in Costa Rica there but alas it's just not possible. When I think about what I left behind today I'm sad, almost to the point of tears, but I am also very excited to see Blair at the airport tomorrow and Sammy later. I can't wait to see Gisellita, have coffee with Mark, dinner with my mom and drinks with my school peeps. I can't wait to catch up with family over a Saturday night dinner and I'm totally looking forward to working again, especially with the crew of guys lined up on this job. I'm also very interested to see what effect this trip is going to have on my life. I know it will be profound. I've had such an amazing time and for the first time ever, after the last 8 days in Montezuma, I think I might be able to live in a foreign country. I am seriously thinking about going to live there, at least for a bit. It would be hard to leave my life so far away but it wouldn't be permanent and my friends and family could always come and visit. I think this is the kind of thing that will become much clearer in the coming months. So, now I must focus on the fact that tomorrow I will be back at home and needing to get reacquainted with my life. There's no sense in longing for Montezuma, or the people I had to leave there today (though it's hard), but I will always think of them with a smile on my face and ponder when I can return.


the sun setting on my last day in Montezuma

I'm totally addicted to Spanish after this trip and I don't want to lose it. Living there for a few months would certainly solidify my Spanish, something I'd very much like to do. So, I guess the outcome of these feelings will be discovered in due time. For now, I need to get a good night's sleep, which will only really consist of a few hours at this point and with everything on my mind I don't expect it happen at all but whatever, it's all good.

Todos bien. Buenos Noches. Manana regreso a mi casa, mis amigos, mi familia y mi vida.