You know that amazing feeling when you finish a semester of school, a big job, or accomplish something really, really cool? That's the feeling to finally be certified to teach English around the world.
After finishing our practical teaching week, my TEFL family had a little graduation party, got our certificates, and talked about the future and where our next steps would be.
It's amazing how strangers can become family so quickly, but like all wonderful travel adventures, this one too came to an end.
After one last afternoon on our beloved beach, eating empanadas, talking about life and love and happiness, and catching wild birds, we said goodbye to Quepos and half of our group. Hannah, Beth, Kyle and I took off to San Pedro where we have been soaking in our last moments together, adventuring, cooking, dancing, and enjoying not being in school from 9 to 7.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love the pigeons in San Jose??
After a day hanging out in the city, we decided to take a day and hike up montaña de la cruz, a steep mountain in Alejulita. I had done the hike three years ago and had wanted to do it again, but wasn't brave enough to master the busses to get there by myself.
We started out late morning on a beautiful day, but by the time we arrived after our hour bus ride, it was sprinkling rain. It continued to rain as we hiked up a narrow path through streams and mud, but anything is fun with the right people.
And we found some cows...
We made it to the crosses, soaking wet, but it was beautiful. The clouds rolled in and consumed the mountains and the little farms of cows and horses below, and in the distance, the immense city of San Jose seemed peaceful from so high above.
Besides the crosses, the only adventure came when I, again, was locked out of my sleeping place. This time, Hannah didn't lock me out, she was stuck outside with me. Somehow, the inside door to the hostel got locked and the key only works to the outside gate.
We had gone out dancing, and met some cool people that we hung out with until three in the morning over way-too-expensive pizza.
When we got back, the door was locked, our key didn't work, the wifi wasn't working, and no one answered the doorbell.
So, after a bathroom break in a clump of bushes in the park, we settled in on a patch of grass behind a little brick wall. Thankfully, it wasn't raining. We didn't sleep much. Especially since 30 minutes in, tons of sirens started wizzing by, and then what sounded like gunshots (I think it was actually a car backfiring or skmrghing...) came from across the park, followed by what sounded like angry people yelling at each other. We stayed down behind the wall, shivering, and laughing about the random things that always happen...but, we survived, and at 5 am someone answered the doorbell with a very confused, "What on earth are you doing outside...?"
Bed never felt so good...
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