three.

Three years passes faster then I ever imagined it would. It seems like an eternity and a flash all at once. How can so much emotion and experience be wrapped up and woven into a mere three years?

It was three years ago on February 15th that I packed my bags and moved to Costa Rica for language school before my final destination: Nicaragua. How strange it is to think of that person - all her hopes and dreams and expectations - on the verge of something great yet still hiding behind a wall of fear - who she was and who she hoped to be - how she has evolved over the past three years.

I wouldn't want it any other way. These past three years have played out in every way I would never imagine yet in the same breathe has been everything I hoped it would. Still, there are some things that are part of my "normal" now that I would not have imagined in my wildest dreams those three long years ago...

1. I would never run a red light at night, even if there are no cars around. But in my normal, it is actually safer to pass through a red light late at night than it is to stop. { sorry, mom... }

2. I would never fall asleep if I wasn't sleeping under a blanket. But there are some months that I literally don't have to make my bed for weeks at a time because it is just too hot to climb under the sheets. I literally fall on top of my bed and call it a night.

3. I would never buy { insert insanely high amount of money } on { insert imported item from the US }. Bag of frozen strawberries for $15 dollars? Cheese for $10? Salad dressing for $6? Box of Cheerios for $20? { I've never gone box of Cheerios level before...but I've been tempted. }

4. I would never think about washing my feet before getting into bed. The dry season brings its own storm of dust over Managua. Everywhere you touch is layered with the lightest film of black dirt. Computer, table, food sitting out, bed, floor. Forgot to put on shoes while walking around the house? Feet rinsing before bed becomes a necessity.

5. I would never use my car horn on a daily basis. If I didn't use my car horn, I would get no where in life. Or in Nicaragua.

6. I would never have become addicted to the deliciousness that is a hot cup of Latin American black coffee. Previous to moving, I only drank coffee if it consisted of sugar, ice, whipped cream and a blender. While I still enjoy the occasionally icy, sweet goodness - nothing does my soul good as a pipping hot cup of black café, straight from La Finca.

7. I would have never hung my laundry on a line - and enjoyed doing it. Although we do have a dryer { I'm not a martyr, people. } I generally only use it for certain instances. Something about hanging clothes out on a line makes me feel like I've made it. { see this post for more details }

8. I would never wake up before 6am to start my day. Ever. But if I'm gonna keep my sanity and run three times a week, waking up before 6am is perfectly acceptable. And the only time it's cool enough out to run without dying of a heat stroke. And the sun is up at 5:30am anyways, so unless you have some good black out curtains, you're up.

9. I would never eat rice and beans for breakfast. Two words: Gallo pinto. That is what this delicious mix is called and it is everything. Breakfast or dinner or both. Yum.

10. I would never have to take two showers in one day simply because it is so hot that everyday chores and activities make it seem like you just sat in a sauna for two hours. But there are months that two showers are not only a nice treat - they are needed to survive.