Al: One-Way Ticket to Costa Rica

Char,

I just did something I have always dreamed of doing. I finally made a decision and I couldn’t be more excited!

What did I do? I just booked a one way ticket to Costa Rica. One-way! ONE WAY! I accepted a volunteer position teaching English for a few months, I bought a bus ticket to Panama…and that’s where my journey stands. I’m going to travel through Central America. I’m going to learn Spanish. I’m going to be an elementary school teacher?? I’m not really sure about that last part, but that’s all part of the grand adventure. My grand adventure. I cannot believe that after months of fumbling around, trying to figure out what my next step is that this is the decision I have made.

I have plenty of work experience. If I wanted a job I could probably go get one. I’ve been working since I was 15, most of the time working two or 3 jobs at once. But in building all my work experience, somewhere along the way I forgot to get life experience. Now it’s time to get some life experience; time to go out into the world and see what I find! Maybe one day I’ll even find a job that encourages both (or at least likes the fact that I’ll be able to speak Spanish).

But back to my current story which began my last day in Costa Rica. I couldn’t believe I had to leave. I was devastated. I felt like it wasn’t my time to leave yet. And out of nowhere (call it a sign from God, the universe, whatever) an opportunity presented itself. An opportunity to come back and volunteer teaching English at an elementary school in a small beach town near the Panama border. I couldn’t believe that I had literally been handed this kind of chance. I immediately knew I could not let it slip by. I came home and spent the last few weeks getting back into my life, but all the while making sure to keep in touch with contacts in Costa Rica and actively trying to pursue this opportunity. There was a point where I wasn’t sure it was going to happen. It’s pretty easy to slip back into day to day life. But this time I decided I was not going to let that happen.

Then, this morning, after a few exchanged emails, I got a date from my friend in Costa Rica. She said April 5th would work for me to come down. The next half hour I spent rationalizing my options. I’m going to be living in a home in a town I can’t even find on a map (yes I did check to make sure it really exists). I doubt I’ll have a shower with warm water. I knew if I was going to head down that way I wanted to travel as well. Spend some time in Panama, and maybe make my way into South America. I wasn’t sure that traveling alone in Central America was for me, but I also didn’t want to sit around waiting for someone as crazy as me to quit their job and decide to travel. The reality of this decision hit me and I started to make a pro and con list. Then I tore up the list and booked my ticket. I’m sure I can find adventures staying in Sacramento, but I won’t find the experiences I want.

In the mean time I accepted another political campaign job. I’m with most of the same team from the last campaign, so I’m enjoying it. I am working 6 days a week until I leave. The way I look at it, the more money I have when I head out, the longer I can continue my adventure. Hopefully that’ll be enough for a fun trip (maybe hiking Machu Picchu- I’d love to cross that off of my ever growing bucket list).

The funny thing is, once I made the leap, once I booked the trip friend started wanting to come with me. No, most people aren’t willing to quit good jobs to pack their life into a backpack and spend 6 or so months traveling, but a lot of people want an adventure. I have friends planning to meet me in three different places so far. It is starting to look like I won’t be by myself much after all.

For years I have been reading blogs of travelers and books by travelers. I envied their ability to just leave everything behind for the sake of adventure. I’ve gone on vacations, but I’ve always come home after a week or two. Now it’s my turn, my journey, my adventure. I will be posting about all of my adventures as they happen. Also, if you’d like to join me anywhere just let me know. I’m always up to meet up with people during my travels.

A special thank you to Char for helping me while I’m gone. She’s going to be posting everything for me. I don’t know what my internet situation will be and I have no idea how to use a blog…I’m fairly technologically challenged. But I’m great with a camera so I’m sure to have fun things to say and great pictures to go with them.