Best Thanksgiving Ever!

So I was totally bummed when I found out that I would be missing Thanksgiving in the States and that Costa Ricans don't do anything to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a great holiday. What could be better than food, family, food and more food? Nothing right? But yesterday proved me wrong, it was the best "Dia de Gracias" ever.

It started off by going to class and having a great reunion with all the other students from the program that I haven't seen in a month. It was great to see everyone and share with one another about all our different experiences. Some people went back to Nicaragua to work on a business project for their concentration project, others worked on farms shoveling cow dung all day, some worked in flower farms, one worked with the Turtles Conservation Project on the beach and another learned the whole process of how to make coffee and prepare cappuccinos. Everyone did something different so it was fun to share and learn about how everyone's times were.

My favorite part of the day was getting my "Thanksgiving Feast" (as one of my friends called it) in the mail from my brother and sister in law. Not only was it a ton of goodies, junk food and stuff I LOVE but it was also a huge symbol for me of how much my family supports me back home. I am so thankful for my family and receiving that package Thanksgiving morning was just icing on the cake.

Living in a community by myself for a month with everyone being family has taught me a lot about family dynamics. I love my family from the States so much and being away from them this long has been hard and I am guilty of being homesick from them while I was in the mountains. I thought about them a ton! And I am so thankful for them. I also feel that my relationship with my family has also grown. As funny as it may seem, with me being so far from home, I have really appreciated them more now than ever. I have really been blessed by them with their love, support and encouragement from the States. Those little things are the things that keep me going and I couldn't have made it without them. So on this thanksgiving I am extremely blessed and so incredibly thankful for all of my family.

It was also awesome to call my grandfathers on Thanksgiving and not only be passed around to talk to different family members but listen in on the family prayer and toast. It was like I was there with them.

I LOVE MY FAMILY IN THE STATES
AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THEM!!!