Activity – Winter Break

To continue with activity, I spent a lot of my time doing outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking that I love, but I also found some new activities I’m interested in and look forward to being able to pursue them more. One of these activities was a chance fishing trip when I was staying in a house with my dad’s family (lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins.) They had signed some of us up for a fishing trip, and although it was very, very difficult to wake up at 6 in the morning after having gone to bed at a ridiculously late hour, it turned out to be easily one of my favorite experiences from break. We set out on the intercoastal, a large body of saltwater in North Florida that stems from the ocean and branches off into various inlets and offshoots inland. It is home to hundreds of different species of animals, both on land and water, and has countless islands that are undeveloped, offering a trip back in time. Our guide, who had been fishing and camping in the area since he was a boy, was extremely enjoyable to be around, knowledgeable, and had countless stories that I am definitely not allowed to repeat in a journal entry. Our boat ended up catching 13 fish in total despite the poor, extremely windy conditions, and I myself caught 3 of those, 1 that we were eventually able to take home and eat for a delicious fish taco dinner! Of course, as fishing typically goes, it was very serene and enjoyable, and it offered a lesson in patience and the virtue of silence that I may or may not have needed. It also drove me to learn to fish here in Costa Rica, which I plan to start as soon as I acquire the necessary gear. Fishing was a surprising hit, and I think that in a world dominated by fast click replies, 24-hour news, and constant social and academic stress, it offers an oasis of calm that more people should seek to enjoy. I hope that I can get the gear soon as school is starting, and I am glad that I’ve found yet another way to spend some time outdoors and really understand the world around me. I have learned that while the knowledge gained in formal education is undoubtedly priceless, there are many things in this world that simply cannot be taught in a classroom, and I aim to learn a few of those before I head off to college!