Six months of living without a host family has served me well. Health related, my consumption of vegetable oil has decreased significantly. Yep, it did feel like vegetable oil had become a large side dish at every meal. Without weighing myself, I felt the difference just by the fact that I did not feel so heavy during the day. After weighing myself, I’m proud to say that I’m back to my pre-Peace Corps weight!
Several women, in their Tica honesty, have commented on my weight loss and have credited it to my walking everyday. In responding, I diplomatically leave out the vegetable oil comment.
These same women (all housewives) have decided to walk every day in an attempt to become healthier. Walking with them, I gain admittance into their social lives and complete my own goals: become healthier and prepare myself for the mighty Chirripo (the highest mountain in Central America.)
This past weekend, I tested my readiness for Chirripo by hiking Valle de Silencio in la Parque
Amistad Internacional. 8 hours to climb; spend a day at the peak and hiking to a natural garden (total of 6 hours); and hiking down in 6 hours. I passed with an 80. jajaja.
No, but seriously. It was the hardest hike I have ever completed. Most of it was a relentless steep climb. Within the 1st 3 hours, my left thigh cramped up to the point where I could barely move it. Putting all of my weight on my right leg, I avoided all movement that would require me to lift my left leg higher than an inch. Refusing defeat, I continued on. That night, I spent an hour stretching my left leg…it still had two days of hike left. Luckily, the climb down was easier (although slippery.)
After Parque Amistad, I think that I’ll have to reconsider Chirripo. But then again, the photos and memories remind me that the hike was still AMAZING!!!! Enjoy the photos
