Great Expectations
I decided to come to Costa Rica with hopes of better finding out who I am. I know this sounds kinda corny, but honestly, I want to leave here with a stronger sense of place. Being so far away from my friends and family is just as much a learning experience, if not more, than my actual classes are. Not only that, but it's extremely difficult being in a situation where I have an extremely difficult time decoding what these Spanish-speakers are saying, and they seem to be having just as difficult time understanding me. It is helping my Spanish skills quickly improve though. I am becoming more independent, more confident in myself, and I am learning that I am capable of living my life on my own. I don't have to be a follower, I can lead my own life, and control my own destiny. Along with that, I am hoping that all these environmental classes and experiences here will help guide me in what I want to do in the environmental arena. There are so many fields that I have the option to lean towards, but I haven't made that decision yet. Whenever I tell someone that I'm an Environmental Science major, they usually answer with a "Oh, and what are you planning on doing with that?" Right now, I don't have an answer for them. By the end of the semester I'm hoping that I will have more of an idea. Already I feel like I am a different person from the girl I arrived as a week and a half ago. I can only imagine the person I will emerge as when I return home at the end of the semester.