I thought I would be unprepared in some way. I wasn’t. In fact, I felt very much prepared with my overpriced mosquito net, a hammock, and an extra tiny sleeping bag, which, by the way, is said to be crucial if you wanna avoid rubbing your bare butt on rotten mattresses. I had only packed necessary things, I thought, apart from a perfume, as I count this part of my personality and other things of unessential luxury that I expect to allow me to settle in much faster. Anyways, I felt like I made the right choices of what to leave and what to bring.

Only after a few days did I regret intentionally not bringing sport shoes, of any kind. I brang chucks, chucks only and Adiletten. It itches me to know that I have not just one, but at least to pair of shoes in Germany that would not have been too worthy to give their life in Costa Rica, even to mold. – Hermann did say that people lost their favorite pillow within the first week, to mold. The mold just ate through it. I thought to get around this by not packing anything of which I was afraid to give up on in the near future.

I also bought sun cream in advance. I’ve been told cosmetic products are crazily expensive here. I thought then to be smart by getting two bottles. Now I find myself staring at a ghost when looking into the mirror after putting on the organic cream. Yeah, it is not transparent at all. Although, it does hold its promise to be real baby and kids cream. It even makes you look like one whose parents meant to really be sure by using 100UV protection for their loved ones.

Then, I did not bring enough books. I finished the one that I wanted to last for the entire year in four days. I cannot really be held responsible for this mistake. Max unannounced positivity which probably a few of the others wrote extensively about - especially mentioning the consequences this had on the rest of us – ruined my plan of giving myself to a short story from time to time rather than sucking it all up within one breath.

There are a couple of other things I wish I had packed. I am talking about an electric toothbrush and my airpods. I see, it could be worse. For having stood there, with bleach in my hair, an hour before having to catch the plane, I am perfectly prepared. I do not have more than 14 kg with me and a mental status that says: everything’s set!