just visiting

Yesterday I made a day trip down to Cincinnati, OH to visit a good friend of mine from college.
Being so far away from people makes you realize what an effort it is to maintain a connection with people...and makes you realize who is worth the effort.

We had a great lunch at a little Taco place in downtown, and had some great guacamole and tacos (I had corn tortillas reminiscent of CR, and she had flour tortillas). Then we went downtown, walked around, stopped at a coffee emporium and I bought some Costa Rican coffee and we had a great chat with one of the employees about fair trade and direct trade, and got some refreshing drinks...then we shopped a bit, and at the end of the day I came home with 2 new pairs of sandals, a chopping knife, a shower caddy and some coffee, along with many good memories.

We had a funny moment in the coffee shop while talking about Costa Rican coffee, when my friend mentions that I live there...the immediate question following this comment is "Oh, what are you doing here?" and I go on to explain that I grew up in Ohio and am back just visiting...

The words "just visiting" give me hope, because I am still unsure of when I will return to CR. In some ways I am starting to feel homesick, missing the heat and stillness of our little house and the familiar foods and smells, and I know E is feeling the same way.

It is nice to be here and revisit my hometown...but Costa Rica is my home.

Pura Vida.