One Year Later: "Places My Feet Have Been"

Hola uno mas tiempo! I have one last blog post on my Costa Rica/Panama experience. About a year ago, I ended my first great adventure abroad! On the 30^th of July in 2011, I flew back into Atlanta and turned my phone on for the first time in two months, checked twenty or so texts and voicemails from loving friends and family, and reconnected to my life in the USA as if I was never even gone.

I spent the days that followed reflecting on how truly fortunate I was to have lived in Latin America for two months out of my young life studying my life’s passion: sustainability. I vowed to remember the kindness of the Ticos and Ticas, the feeling earned after trekking down la trocha and arriving for coffee on the UGA CR porch, the vast beauty held in the San Luis hills, ALL my meringue moves, and the correct way to relax on Isla Bocas. In remembrance, I even photographed my dirty, tired feet and the Tevas whose horrific smell reminded me of how far I had come in just two months of travel.

Today, in mid-flashback on the anniversary of my trip’s end, I got a call from mi papi who had some words that made me even more thankful for everything in my life. He said, “Last year, when you went to Costa Rica, I figured that might be the most unique experience you could ever have. Now, here you are working at the Hike Inn!”

Which got me thinking…

In the past year, between these two awesomely unique experiences, I moved in and now out of an apartment with some truly excellent friends, started and completed an internship at the Office of Sustainability, stayed on frat beach for the GA/FL game, accepted and passed on the title of President of Students for Environmental Action, visited Harry Potter World, GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, spent time with family, gained new family members, started a new job, and paddled a canoe 68 miles in four days.

…So why did I ever stop blogging?!?

The plan is now to update this blog whenever I get the chance (which may be infrequently), and want to share anything (big or small) with an audience (friends, family, mostly just my future self). So here goes my first update. It is entitled, “Places My Feet Have Been.” While I don’t have a ton of pictures of places my feet have been yet, I do plan on taking more. I just think this is a neat idea and an appropriate start to part two of puradana.

Here are my feet on my first trip to Costa Rica with FRC Spring Break 2011. They are sinking into the sand at Playa Samara where sunsets are beautiful and Johnny builds huge fires.

Here are my feet resting in the hammock while Buck does ant/coffee research in Cabeceras, Costa Rica.

Here are my feet in the spot that is damn near the center of everything that is good about Athens. They are outside the Ecology Building, feeling the cool grass and taking part in a nap before tap class. They have also dipped into the turtle pond and enjoyed lunchtime bluegrass concerts.

Here are my feet at work! They lead me around the property here at the Len Foote Hike Inn in Dawsonville, Georgia when we do tours. This is Star Base, where they can get the best view of the valley, and where the awful Tevas smell doesn't bother others. haha!

Finally, here are my feet somewhere near Jesup along “Georgia’s Little Amazon,” the Altamaha River! They got a little sunburned during the four days we spent paddling a total of 68 miles all the way to the coast at Darien on Paddle Georgia 2012.

Like I said…more to come! Keep an eye out for my next post, which will likely have less feet, but should give a good overview of what my new life is like living at 3100 feet and giving environmental education programs for hikers.

Buenas!