Once upon a time, back when I first moved to Prague, there was this… let’s call it a “hiccup” of time at the very beginning. I flew to Prague to do a month long TEFL certification (to teach English) and when it was done I wound up flying home screaming (sobbing, really) to PA to lick my wounds and figure out what to do next. I mean, I’d invested a lot of myself (and time and money) into the TEFL course but I got caught up in yet another breakup cycle in a tumultuous relationship. I didn’t always make the best decisions.
In contrast to the gothic, dark, Europe-ness of the Czech Republic, I’d become obsessed with the idea of South America – the Spanish language, beaches, fresh fruit, and just what seemed to me a wholesome, healthy lifestyle. I was sorely lacking in wholesomeness and healthfulness then. I was young and free and single(ish) and I wanted to go away, by myself. After much investigation of South America, I set my sights on Costa Rica. I further set my sights on a Spanish immersion program that allowed you to stay with a host family near the beach. (I briefly considered a surf and spanish program that had you sleeping in hammocks on the beach (in a covered structure) but decided that would get old pretty quickly. I wanted to immerse myself in the culture, perfect my Spanish, and then hang around to teach and volunteer. I was interested in Costa Rica because it seemed like such an environmentally-friendly, eco-conscious place. I found a program that looked good, sent in a deposit, and then… ditched it to return to Prague, still clinging to the remains of a shitty relationship and everything else that really needed to be fixed (not clung to) in my life.
I don’t do “regret” and I made some really wonderful friends and formed some life long bonds during my time in Prague. Prague was, in a sense, my rock bottom (and I say that fondly). So I needed to go back there instead of stirring up more drama in a new country. But man, the idea of Costa Rica has always stayed with me.
And then…! A few weeks ago, I saw that my good friend and teacher was leading a yoga retreat in Costa Rica later this year. I kept seeing updates, sometimes going to the FB page and wistfully reading the information. It didn’t click until this morning that it was only a 6 day retreat (short, compared to many – I couldn’t conceive of leaving the family for a full two weeks or more) and this particular retreat was all about “eco consciousness” and good food. A light went off and I brought it up with the Hus.
By later in the afternoon, the same day, I had signed up and sent in my down payment. And that’s that.
Given this turn of events, can I be honest? I’m glad the Costa Rica bug was put in me so long ago, but I’m glad I didn’t go then. The experience will be that much richer now and I’ll appreciate it so much more. And while the idea of a “yoga retreat” feels somewhat frivolous, I’m also eager for the chance to have time set aside where the whole point is to DO YOGA and meditate. No making plans to do yoga every day of the week and then get caught up with other things. I’m also glad that Husband sees the value (and considers it part of my “work”, which yeah, it is!) of me running off to Central America for 6 days. Yoga, yoga, and more yoga. Also – it’s an Eco retreat! Farm fresh organic food, hikes, waterfalls… *swoon* I suspect that this Costa Rica trip is the start of some big things…!
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