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Two Years Down, Two Months to Go


It’s crazy to think that two years ago today, Kevin and I arrived in Costa Rica. It’s even crazier to think that we only have two more months to go.

Our Peace Corps service officially ends Dec. 4, a day that I imagine will be full of mixed emotions — thrilled to be going home to see family, celebrate Christmas and enjoy the beautiful state of Alaska, but sad to leave the pura vida we have lived in Sarapiquí.

Little by little, we’re noticing signs that our time here is limited. Just a couple of weeks ago Tico 21 participated in the Close of Service conference, where all of us gathered at the lovely Corobicí Hotel in San José to reflect, celebrate and say farewell to friends and Peace Corps staff members we’ve had the pleasure to get to know. At times it was hard to hold back the tears, knowing our incredible Peace Corps experience will soon be finished.

Speaking of farewells, after 20 months of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and communicative activities, our community English class is rapidly coming to an end. The eight survivors, as we like to call them, will soon say goodbye to one another and their twice-weekly social … I mean educational … gatherings.

Time is running out, but there are still several things we’d like to accomplish before we leave. Kevin is updating our TEFL with Ticos community class manual for future generations of volunteers. I’m creating a student workbook based on our curriculum to be used for English “summer” camps all over the country in January. We’re waiting on a few last book donations to come through in order to put the finishing touches on the Cartagena Elementary School library. Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks of all will be to find good, loving homes for our three sweet dogs, Pumpkin, Sirius and Coca.

In the next 59 days, we’ll also be saying goodbye to friends, neighbors, co-workers and loved ones. We’ll be giving away clothing that no longer fits, kitchenware, lots of teaching materials, and our dusty mountain bikes. Most importantly, we plan to spend the next 59 days enjoying Costa Rica — the heat, humidity, light — because stepping off that plane in Anchorage is going to be a shock to the system.


Comments

Heidi Michelle said…
Oh my goodness! That is nutso that you're getting home so soon. Turns out, I will be in the area when you get back. I can't wait to see you guys!!! Finish strong, see you soon! Love you!
October 9, 2012 at 7:12 PM
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