A view into my very disorganized mind

Emotions are running rampant and there are so many things on my mind right now.  We have so much to do before we leave Costa Rica this weekend, and yet, this seems to be the longest week in history!

I miss my friends from language school already... I miss them TERRIBLY!  In fact, I'm teary-eyed writing this!  This is the last time that we will be around a large group of missionaries who completely understand us and love us and have been through everything alongside us.  Our 10 classmates did life together this year, literally.  We all went through immense loss together (giving up our homes, friends, culture, language, etc.).  We  struggled to learn a new language together and a new culture.  We laughed together and cried together and took care of each other and loved each other through it all.  We were / ARE very tight.  Now we are all scattered...  It's rough.  I didn't get to say goodbye to Mike before he had to leave, Heath left early to get married in the USA, Matt & Brooke had to take off for some fundraising in the USA, Matt left yesterday for Honduras... and that's the end of "the gang"...  three are still in Costa Rica and going to school for one more trimester, seven of us have jumped out of the nest for our new countries.  Que triste!  I really miss my "family".

Gear switch... today we have no water.  That's fun!!!  They said it would be back on by 1 p.m., but it is now 4:00 and still no water.  So we went to McDonald's for lunch.  In Costa Rica, McD's has fried chicken as a combo meal (Billy's favorite).  They do not have the fish filet sandwich in Costa Rica, which is my favorite in Los Estados Unidos... too sad for me!  We took Lisbeth with us and we discussed how McDonald's here has delivery, but in the USA there is no delivery.  She was amazed... every food establishment here offers delivery!!!

Speaking of Lizbeth, this is a sad week for her and for us.  We are packing our things and she is very unhappy about it!  She is getting all of our "extras" that we can't take home with us... small kitchen things, etc.  Her family cannot afford to have most of the things that we take for granted, and we can't take most things to Peru with us.  Anything electric has to be re-bought in Peru because of the difference in current and plugs.  Somethings just weigh too much and it isn't financially feasible to pay the extra weight and baggage fees to take them... it is cheaper to buy them again.  So we are saying goodbye to our "stuff" again and Lizbeth is very happy to be on the receiving end.  But she is very sad that we are leaving.  She is teary every day.  She and Sarah are very close.  We aren't looking forward to Friday when we say goodbye for good.

We are really ready to go leave Costa Rica - it's time.  This was but a season in our lives and we have completed the task.  The goodbyes are painful and we are ready to go "home" to the States.  It will be great to see friends and family again!  I miss my friends and the backyard campfires, impromptu dates at La Casita, etc.  I am sad that I haven't been there to laugh with them and cry with them and live life together with them.  I hope to catch up...  And family - we haven't seen Miles since March, we haven't seen Billy's family since last June, I miss my Gama and our coffee breaks... It's time to go home for a bit.  

Personally, I think I have a serious food issue... much of my return trip to Texas revolves around where I want to eat because I miss some foods so much!!!  La Casita, Pappadeux, Starbuck's, PhoJon, Circle H hamburgers, etc... that's terrible, isn't it?!  And I dream about my visit to Target... just think - all of the things I need and want, all under one roof, all air conditioned, Starbucks at the door... I'm drooling just thinking about it.  I think I have a problem...  I might need counseling....  One of my missionary friends assures me that it will be a terrible experience (shopping at Target) because when she went home, it was shear overwhelming shock and she didn't last 10 minutes in there.  She says that we have really become accustomed to our new ways and that the USA is very difficult to go home to... I'm praying that she is wrong, but bracing for the possibility that she is right - after all, she HAS been there before me.

By the way, we DID graduate from language school.  We walked down the aisle and everything.  We carried the Peruvian flag, we received diplomas, etc.  Ryan graduated with us.  So we are all certified Spanish speakers now (mas o menos).  We aren't fluent - at least Billy and I aren't.  Ryan and Sarah are amazing!!!!  We know enough to realize that we are still pretty stupid, but on a good day, our knowledge of the language is incredible.  On a bad day, well, it's bad.  But we're still learning...  We learn more every day and the little men in our heads are up there working overtime at filing all of the Spanish in the appropriate places.  Each day some new light bulb comes on and we have another "aha" moment where something falls into place.  Hallelujah!