George Bush International Airport

I will be spending a very significant amount of time in airports over the next three days. To start it off, in the Houston airport (no not the Costa Rican National Football team again) I bought an eggnog latte at a Starbucks where all the employees were speaking spanish. And this song was playing:

It was one of the first that we heard from Travis before heading to Nicaragua. I don't remember the context, but I love it. I think I will go buy it on iTunes. Happy travel journeying!

pacífico - almost a last hurrah

2.5ish days. So hard to believe.

Here are pictures from the Pacific trip last weekend.

 Punta Morales (I think)

 Ticcia

 Em and Monica

 Joshué

 sunshine = good for the soul

 the root system of this tree had been eroded into driftwood - the rest of the tree was not

 Solitary Almendra on the beach

 Bean

 beach :)

 the sky from under the Almendra

 we did some habitat observations (it is, after all, an ecology course)

 it appears that we are waiting for a bus (according to Josh's mom). but we weren't. 

 Sun starting to go down

 Turtle carved out and painted on a piece of wood at Coope Tárcoles

 Josh on the boat

 Other boat. We got to go fishing as well. 

 Emily and Sara (who has a sweet hat)

 Waterfall! Also known as fresh water showers after the ocean. 

 Lindy pushing the boat out

 Emily

 in Tárcoles taking a tour of the coop

Mahi Mahi - known here as Dorado 

 tiburón - there are a lot of problems with finning sharks, kind of like in South East Asia as well

 This was a very small puppy named Bruno. Cutest. I don't even like small dogs.

 shooper exchited about the CROCODILES

 again. look closely, you might see a German birding tourist

 wonderful people

 Luis, the fearless boat driver/crocodile feeder.

Same crocodile as above. About a foot and a half away from me? Her name is Hillary Clinton. 

I'm going to miss these people. A lot. 

touch and go

We just got back from the Pacific coast (Tárcoles and near Punta Morales) for our last ecology trip. Pictures will come soon! Here are notes I wrote on a piece of paper:

• PEACE
• macaws
• strange fish
• boats
• wind in my hair
• walking
• sunshine
• wearing a swim suit and not being self conscious
• green...everywhere
• rocking chairs
• German birding tourists = free entertainment
• stars
• fire
• flashlight pictures
• laughter and good friends
• beautiful clouds
• crocodiles
• mangroves
• frigate birds = pterodactyl!
• hibiscus flowers
• shells
• rocks of all colors
• mushy mud
• more sunshine
• a teeny tiny puppy
• jellyfish
• never am I as at peace as when I am on the water
• waterfall showers
• el mar
• salty clothes and hair but not caring
• fishing - when trying to catch anything, I fail.
• starting to love who I am

I saw what it means to have nothing in Tárcoles but to be so happy that you have no desire to change your career or the way you make your money (in this case, fishing methods) in order to have more. The joy that the fishermen take from their work is something that I want to find. 

One thing I know: My heart is on the coast. It's the first time I have realized how much more peaceful I am there.

6 days and 9 hours and I will be on my way (God-willing) to see my parents. It can't come fast enough. Though going back to HK holds a bit of fear for me as well; hoping that insecurities don't come back with that return. It has been three and a half years since I have seen most of the people I was friends with in HK, and I haven't kept in touch with many. It's hard to balance that with finishing class well and having to pack for multiple places. I am tired and a little bit lonely. Ready to go. Wishing people on this trip liked hugs more.