Day 28- Traveling home

SOOO I woke up this morning at 8am. (Well yesterday). I got up and felt like I was about to die. I was so hungover I could barely move. It was totally worth it because it was one of my favorite nights in Costa Rica. My cab wasn't coming until 9:45 so I had time to feel like death. I chugged a gatorade that Laura had so intelligently told me to get. After about 20 minutes of feeling sorry for myself I decided to have a proper good bye, I needed to get going.
I put on clothes and started packing up the rest of my stuff. I took all my left over bug spray and anti bug bite stuff to the counter in the common area. I didn't need it and especially didn't need the extra weight in my bag. I left lotion and shampoo- there was a lot of stuff lol. I had my bag all packed up and went in search of Chris. He is the Personal Trainer from Coburg and also the size of a house so I knew if anyone could lift it he could. He's also the nicest guy ever so I knew he wouldn't mind. He struggled with my bag which made me worry a little bit because of the weight limit for the planes.
I went to breakfast with Laura and Candice. I had no money left over so I chose not to eat. It was probably a good decision because I really didn't need to be getting sick on the plane.
I went upstairs and woke Erin up to say good bye. She was tired and hungover so it was quick. Probably another good thing because I didn't want to get emotional. Actually I think being hungover helped prevent that one too. I took one last look at my room and then I went down stairs and hugged Dona Vicki the owner of the hotel good bye as I gave her my key. She hugged me soo tightly and said something to me in spanish. I'm hoping it was along the lines of PLEASE o PLEASE come back. I went and waited at the taxi for Nicki with Laura and Candice. We were giving them a ride into town since we were headed that way anyway.
Once we got to town, I ducked and hid in the cab as we passed the Happy corner because my hot surfer friends were walking by from last night. I was a little haggard looking because... well we know why.
We got to the ATM and Nicky ran and got money and then I had to say goodbye to Laura. It was quick because we were late and she was also late to meet a lady in town who was going to be custom making her a necklace. (Ironically with the OM yoga symobol on it because she doesn't OM). It was a quick goodbye. It was heart breaking because there were so many things I wanted to tell her, but I was so tired and exhausted that words just escaped me. We said our goodbyes and I made the Chris Heart symbol. We were then gone.
We drove through Montezuma, and then through Cobano, to get to Tambor. I remembered this drive in. It was so beautiful and just paradise and now I was leaving it. I am going to miss the monkeys who throw mangoes at you and the beaches and the beautiful rain forest. It was heart wrenching.
We got to Sansa Airline in Tambor. It was my charter plane. They weighed my bag and of course I was 50 overweight. It was really my last time to be sitting in the blistering humidity and heat. The airport was basically a landing strip with a bench. Our plane arrived and we headed on our way. The flight was sooo easy. No rain and clear skies. I got to see Montezuma from an aerial view which just made it that much harder to leave. I saw the beach where I had learned to surf and the island where I had the best day ever with my new friends. It was really really hard.
We got to San Jose and I got my bags. Nicki and I had to haul our stuff a block over to the international airport. Once there more madness ensued. To leave Costa Rica you have to pay a tax of 26$. So I had to wait in line to do that. Then I had to fill out a pre customs ticket. There was no line for first class- so I just pulled a mom and cut. People were hovering and I was stressed out. Once at the counter of course my bag was 83 pounds. WAY over the limit. I bartered for a while- I guess I forgot I wasn't buying jewelry because he wouldn't budge. So I went to see what I could leave behind. I was sneaky because I took about 5 of my books and put them in my carry on- they're heavier than they look. The last 4 pounds, was a bag of dirty clothes. I put it on the floor in front of me, he took the weight and then I just put it back in. MOM would have been so proud.
So I went through security which was kind of scary because they didn't make me do anything. They let me take liquids and I got to leave my lap top in my bag. I got through which was all I cared about at this point. The terminal was WAY small. So I found a seat on the floor and just waited.
Eventually I got to board and was just so excited to be sitting on the plane. I hadn't eaten at this point and just wanted to sleep. Finally take off.
First class with the seat next to me open- was pretty sweet. I got pillows and wine and tomato juice. It was awesome. We also got salad and smoked grouper fish with shrimp. Bread and pasta. It was pretty sweet. I also got petit fours for desert. YUM.
After I ate- I passed out. It was a 5 hour flight. I slept most of it. That was good because they played the exact same movie on the way home as they did on the way there. It was terrible on the way there so I wasn't too excited. It was Duplicity with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.
We finally got in and I was so ready to get off the plane. As soon as the flashing seatbelt signal was turned off- I jumped up and grabbed my yoga mat. A handful of girls ran ahead of me because they were late for their connection. I booted it after them. I went to customs and it was pretty easy. I then went to baggage claim. The number one reason to fly first class is to have your bag be priority. It was number 3 off the belt. I then walked over to the place where you have to give your customs approval to the guy-(If You're not approved then they search you). I was waiting in line and the people in front of me (It was an older man, his wife and I'm assuming his mother). They were searching for their ticket and I had mine out and ready to go. SO I went to wheel around him and the ASSHOLE cut me off so I couldn't get through and continued searching for his ticket. He was SO rude. So I made a point to loudly announce, "Oh yeah- I'm definitely back in New Jersey"! I was SOO FUMING mad. I was hungover, tired and just not in the mood. The customs guy asked me if their was a problem and I was just like nope. So I passed him on my way out with a glaring look.
My mother was waiting there in a red dress. Even with out the red dress I would have seen her right away because she was the one jumping up and down with her arms flailing in the air and a huge smile on her face. It was cute.
So we headed up to the car and headed home.
We stopped on the way home at the grocery store and it was SO cold. I was freezing. I guess I'm not used to air conditioning. I had it in my room, but it was nothing compared to the grocery store. We got some fruit and hummus and headed back to the house.
Once home, I got to see a little fuzzball. I was introduced to the new puppy Tux. He is SOO cute. Infact he's cuddling with me now as I write this. He's kinda my new buddy. Well he's actually just filling a void until I get home to my baby. I unpacked my poi to show my mom and Natalie. They were impressed. Poi is always really fun when you show someone and then you try and have them do it because then they appreciate how hard it actually is.
We chatted for a couple hours and then I headed to bed. It's nice to be home, but I miss Montezuma. I can't believe I was there for a month. It's over. I mean I remember when my facebook status said t-108 days.
It was something I absolutely needed. Every second of it.