Chapter 7

Today I am proud to the point of tears to say that my mom has graduated and received her masters in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. It's not normally that the daughter gets to watch her mother get her diploma and yet here we are, and I’m over 2,000 miles away. Whenever it got brought up before I left I would break into tears so disappointed that I wouldn’t be there for my mom in the way that she has always been there for me. Eventually I got to the point where I realized that my mom isn't just there for me physically when I need a hug but more importantly emotionally, when I need to rant, talk something out, and virtually everything else. This one’s for you mom.

Here in Costa Rica parents are legally required to financially support their children until (don’t quote me on this exactly) 25. If said child requests the parents pay child support, to the child. In the states of course, the second you turn 18 there is no promise of said support whatsoever. Many times when talking with the people I have met here, through my broken Spanish, the closeness and bonds formed by family are so strong and obvious. Like many predominantly catholic countries, family is considered the essential element of society and culture. Here that has grown into government in a way we haven't yet seen in the states yet. I am lucky enough that I know my parents will always be there for me financially, but even more lucky to know that whatever kind of problem I may be facing I can go to them and they will be there. Now being over 2,000 miles away I’ve realized how much I took for granted the physical presence of my parents, how whenever I needed a hug I could get one. When someone asks me what I miss most from home I normally make up some silly half true answer so that I don’t have to tell them I miss hugging my family goodnight and then before my day in the mornings.

My mom is my biggest role model. She taught me to notice all the things in life, to appreciate art, to talk about my feelings, that most things can be figured out if you think them out rationally, and that we are all a work in progress. I can’t wait to see what she does next and I have no doubt she will help numerous people in turn. I am so lucky to have an empowering, kind, beautiful mother like her, I love her so much and am so proud to call myself her daughter. As hard as it was today to not be there as she received her diploma I know I wouldn’t be here living out my dreams without her love and support.

I love you and am so proud of you Momma.

Chapter 8

Chapter 6