spent a semester living, studying and exploring in Latin America
gained three new, loving and wonderful host families (two in Costa Rica and one in Nicaragua)
ate SO much (almost always delicious) food
instantly made new friends
skyped Joshua a whole lot
wrote hundreds of emails to friends and family
visited an organic farm in Costa Rica
made it my goal to become a farmer
decided to write in my journal every single day
failed to write everyday (but, nevertheless, did a lot of journaling)
gave passage meditation a try
became familiar with the bus system in San Jose
developed
spoke Spanish daily
lost a fair amount of my Spanish speaking ability (I hope to regain it again!)
saw a volcanoe
swam in a river and played on the muddy bank for five hours with my Nicaraguan friends
threw up on the side of the road in San Jose
ran sprints in my front yard
celebrated Chinese New Year with a huge feast, family and friends
studied the history, economics, culture, politics and literature of Latin America
dyed Easter eggs with my host mom
helped out in first grade class full of curious, sweet little Ticos
learned to be bold
ate a lot of meat
learned to be a non-snobby vegetarian
prayed
re-read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
learned how to handle feeling lonely and to rely on the people around me for comfort
sucked the marrow out of life
felt bored
ran
drank fresh fruit smoothies made by my abuelita
sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" with my Costa Rican school kids.
blogged
sat on the porch
did a lot of homework
went to a art and culture festival
wrote a paper about sustainable agriculture
packed
unpacked
spent a week in Cuba
ate 5 ice cream cones in one night dream come true
celebrated Easter in the ocean
reflected, processed and wrote in my journal
had a debriefing weekend in Miami
cherished my last moments with my LASP friends
expanded my understanding of what it means to be a Christian
came home
hugged my parents
watched my sister play soccer
painted many a dorm room
listened to Narnia and Harry Potter audiobooks with Wes
readjusted
wandered the streets of seven different Italian cities
developed deeper friendships
worked on my quilt
hiked, biked and ate good food in Crested Butte, Colorado with my family.
took a couple summer classes
hung out with Josh and his family in Seattle
worked in various gardens (mine, Josh's and St. Paul's)
played soccer
ran at very early hours of the day with Jamie Hoag
reunited with my college friends
struggled with my own negativity
experience reverse culture shock
walked in the gullies
hung out with Allison in Texas
longed to be in Costa Rica
loved being back at Greenville College with friends all about and family nearby
felt overwhelmed by classes
tutored a Chinese student in English
participated in Wednesday night community meal
enjoyed many "coffee dates" with a multitude of wonderful friends
spent hours talking with Kelly, Niqui, Caitlin and Erica in our cozy (sometimes messy) apartment
played the ritual Christmas Block Game with my cousins
celebrated Christ's birth at St. Paul's and with my family
*I got this idea from elise's blog. While this is not a complete list of everything I did in 2011, it was a nice, reflective process to write down many of the ways I spent my time this past year. And I know it's a little bit late since we're a good month into 2012...oh well : )
