Today we went zip-lining! It was really fun and exciting. The zip line course had 7 lines. The first line was very long and gave us a great view of the forest canopy. My friend Coroline and I went together and I needed to put my legs around her waist while we were flying. The second line was a bit shorter, but it was still fun. Unfortunately, there were so many huge bugs while we were on the platforms. They kept flying at us and we were always trying to wave them away.
I was a little nervous at first, since it was actually my first time zip-lining and a completely new experience, but once I got going, I enjoyed every line. The rainforest was beautiful and the adventure was so amazing. I stepped out of my comfort zone, and I really loved it. Even with all the bugs, it was one of the most fun things that I did in Costa Rica, made more special because it was our final full day and last night in Costa Rica.
On the bus back from the hotel in La Fortuna, I felt especially connected to my community because we were all feeling bored and a little bit sad to see our ALIVE adventure in Costa Rica come to an end. Then someone had an amazing idea to turn on music. At first, no one was singing much. But soon one voice started singing, joined by a few others, and then there was a beautiful chorus of people singing along to Justin Bieber at the top of our lungs. This made me feel a little bit emotional too because it was our last night in Costa Rica and we all came together as one community to sing one song together before separating. After that, one song bled into the next, and we were laughing together as if we were friends for years, instead of a week-long short trip. The bus that felt empty and sad just moments before became full of energy and liveliness in a matter of seconds. In the end, I learned that community isn’t always built by super huge moments, but sometimes it can be the little things that really bring people together.
