Week Eight in Costa Rica *Special Edition*

Week Eight- here it is! 

Two months abroad have flown by already, but I finally managed to get caught up with these posts so we're back on track! This post is going to be a special one. 

First, I wanted to share some pictures from a five-hour hike that I took in Santa Ana. I think it'll be a good way to remember and finalize my time in Santa Ana, since starting tomorrow I'm moving out into a rural community- I'll expand on this at the end! 

We got to have a half-day of classes and spend the afternoon hiking up to the "Proyecto Eolicos de Santa Ana". It was a strenuous hike and I was definitely sore the next day, but the view was incredible. It started sprinkling and raining on us halfway up the mountain, but I didn't mind in the least. It was cooling, refreshing, and reviving- it was actually the first time it had rained since we'd arrived. We also got lost on the way back and tried to take a "shortcut" through a coffee farm. It didn't turn out well (I was covered in dirt and took multiple falls), but it was part of the adventure and I wouldn't change it for the world.

A couple days later, we headed to Panama for a extra-long weekend trip to renew our visas. The way to get there is slightly crazy and it only - sarcasm - took us 10 hours. We went from bus to bus, bus to walking (across the border where a bridge over a river connects the countries) to bus and finally to water taxi that took us out to the islands. It was a whirlwind of a day.

The first day was really laid back- we did some homework at a coffee shop and I got a run in. We took a quick water taxi out to our hotel's "beach club", where we swam and laid on big beds that hung out over the water. 

The next day, we took a tour to go watch dolphins, snorkel, look for starfish, jellyfish, and stingrays, and hang out on the national park beach. It's the most beautiful place I've ever been. The water is crystal clear and when you're snorkeling, you can see everything underneath. I wish every single person in the world could experience such a place. 

So, today is my last day in Santa Ana. Tomorrow morning at 5 a.m., I head on a 4.5 hour trip to San Luis, Monteverde. I begin working on a research project with the community and doing day-to-day work for the association of the community. I can't wait to start telling you about that adventure. I'm nervous, but I just have to remember to smile, stay positive, and always give that "thumbs up"!

Stay Beautiful, 

Sadie