♫ Saliendo por un avión...♫

Though my bags may not yet be completely packed We are most definitely ready to go. Nearly a year has passed since we first learned of our acceptance into the Santa Ana, Costa Rica (see maps) study abroad program at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After finishing up the spring semester of 2009, summer swept by quickly into the fall. Things grew colder as the new semester crept by, and at the onset of the first snow we realized we were already sick of cool weather and dreading the imminent Michigan winter. I spent winter break dreaming of warm weather, beaches, and rain forest, and time over winter break slowed to a crawl despite the typically swift pace of the holiday season. Finally the first twelve days of 2010, full of packing and preperation, comprised the conclusion to the brutal anticipation.

Personally, I have decided it was not perhaps the best idea too leave work for a ten day hiatus prior to the trip. It really doesn't take more than a day or two of efficiency in order to pack and make sure all is in order for the the trip. My only problem consisted of getting malaria pills covered by my parents new health insurance policy. Other than that small snafu, other vaccinations and medications were easy enough to obtain. Really, after a couple of hours of ironing and folding and few phone calls to credit card companies and banks I found myself feeling confident in my preparations.

So, bright and early tomorrow (around 3:30 a.m. I believe) We will awake after a long night of little sleep and arrive at Gerald R. Ford International for departure and a mere six or so hours later arrive at our new homes and begin our venture into the "vida costarricense" in Santa Ana.