Costa Rica is known for its exotic surroundings, distinct culture and adventurous activities. When my plane landed in San Jose, Costa Rica that day, I knew that the trip was going to be a memorable experience. As I left the plane and walked through the busy halls I couldn't help but admire the designs painted on the walls. Colorful figures blending into the background; a combination of the culture that the country is so proud of and astounding artistic skills. Being home schooled, I thought I've been to the most interesting countries in the world, before I visited Costa Rica that is.

My family rented an apartment in a gorgeous hotel located right on the beach (literally ten feet away from the ocean). Of course the weather was as perfect as it gets so I decided to spend the day learning how to surf. After the frustration and physical exhaustion of training passed, I started to enjoy the cool and salty water, the warm sand beneath my feet, the perfectly aligned waves that made surfing seem easy, and just observing the perfect beach scene as if I was on the cover of a glossy travel magazine.

Of course there are so many exciting things to try, so I didn't waste any time! Next we decided to try paragliding. After traveling up a seemingly endless mountain we reached the top, unloaded and prepared everything for the jump, but what was perhaps the scariest moment of my entire trip was standing on the edge of the cliff, observing the town in the distance that now seemed so much smaller. Then I jumped, jumped off the edge of the mountain into the empty sky, the combination of wind and gravity making me glide powerfully towards the earth. It was one of the most sensational feelings, flying in the sky, feeling as if my body is completely weightless, not worrying about a thing in the world. Ironically the magical flight did end with me landing in a cactus, but nevertheless, it was an unforgettable experience.

Next on my to-do list was salsa dancing. Of course as I first came to the class the only feeling I had was the head spinning confusion and awkwardness, but after the first three hours of dancing I started to understand the movements and really enjoy it. Although my entire family came to the first private salsa dancing class, eventually everyone drifted, leaving me alone as I danced, jumped, swirled and laughed to the energetic Spanish music. The class was fascinating, and of course I continued taking the private lessons for the rest of my stay in Costa Rica.

My stay in Costa Rica was definitely the most exciting trip I've ever taken. Every single day I got to spend on the beach, enjoy the exquisite Spanish cuisine, meet people with the most fascinating stories, and really experience a perfect vacation away from all the worries. I've learned to live my life to the fullest and cherish every moment because someday you will remember this as one of the best days of your life (and you don’t want to take that for granted)!