Thank you to everyone that purchased artwork and supported my trip to Costa Rica.
Painting all summer long was such a treat! I was lucky enough to keep busy thanks to all of your wonderful requests, much appreciated!
As for the service trip, it was definitely more than I could have imagined. I got to play 'pharmacist,' sit in on a few medical examinations, man the front desk, and listen to some significant psych cases (surprisingly all in Spanish! My Spanish skills were definitely tested; great practice). After clinic hours we were able to spend fun time with the kids at the local soup kitchen, teaching them about friendship and just being kids with them.
The clinic exposure was memorable but the people MADE the entire experience. I loved getting to know the 7 girls I traveled around with (+ our adopted friend from Canada :), my homestay family, and the three amazing people working consistently at the clinic. I was blown away by how friendly every single Costan Rican seemed to be. To my homestay mom- your cooking is amazing! I felt so at home in a place so foreign. Thank you for showering us UCSDers with your love and warmth. To everyone at the clinic- the work you do is admirable and inspirational. To the travelers-thanks for keeping such a positive, open-minded attitude the entire time. I am so glad we got to see a few other parts of Costa.
I am incredibly grateful for the experience and am thankful to have so many people supporting me. As long as I continue to get art requests, I hope to continue painting throughout the school year.
Thanks again everyone.
With Love.
