Hello there,

My name is Lucy.  I never planned on being a blogger.  However, when it was suggested by my University I felt a window open.  And now here I am bearing my soul to the world and showing off the wonderful experience that I am so lucky to call mine.  Travel has always seemed so impossible and threatening to me.  But then just over a week when I stood with too many large bags at the airport the impossible felt possible and only the threatening remained.  I flew from Boston to Dallas and then I made my way around the large airport only to come upon a terminal full of energetic, enthusiastic people all sporting the same shirt.  The threatening feelings diminished as I heard stories swooping around me of similar anxieties and much worse travel situations.

When I got off the plane in Costa Rica I felt immediately overwhelmed.  Not overwhelmed by people or things I had to do, instead overwhelmed by the prospect of what I was about to do.  I was overwhelmed by being surround by new friends.  I was overwhelmed when I received my name tag showing that I actually belonged there.  I was overwhelmed staring out the dark windows of the bus knowing that behind the darkness masked foreign words, new traditions, and the greatest adventure I could ever imagine.

When the bus eventually wound its way to USAC I was again overwhelmed by the number of families dawdling around the center waiting to bring home their “child” for the next few months.  Little did I know as I sleepy stumbled off of the bus that I was only a stones throw away from the ocean.  I was led to my new home and then left alone to nest.  I felt some butterflies when I was left alone in my new home but sleep was quick to come.  The next day I awoke early and explored my new home.  I found it to be comfortable, colorful, and nothing I had imagined.  I was delighted to find that I would be living with not one dog but two.

The next day that I spent with my family was challenging and exciting.  The challenge came from the distinctive language barrier that prevented me from expressing my immense gratitude for being taken in.  I did get most of my other points across adequately.    The excitement came from stepping outside.  I was immediately embraced by the heat and stimulated by the green palm trees and sounds of passing bicycles and cars.  It was more than I had imagined.  After some shopping with my host families I received a tour of the beach and boardwalk area with my host sister and her boyfriend.  The beach of brimming with happiness.  Children’s laughter, families barbecuing together, even a group of boys playing soccer on a basketball court.  There many carts of food with people yelling and blasting all sorts of music, some songs that I recognized and others that I didn’t.  I felt my head spinning as I tried to absorb all that was going around me.  Eventually we returned home and I ate delicious fish dinner.

The first two days of my adventure were not at all what I imagined.  They were breathtaking and lively.  They were a little bit frightening.  But hey that what happens when one gets outside of their comfort zone.  I would like to finish off with a big thank you to everyone who helped me to get where I am now at UNH and in Little Rhody!

Cheers!