Surfing

I'm finally learning to surf! My friend Benito took Rae and I to Con Con on Friday. We practiced a few times on the beach before heading out into the waves. It is so exhilarating to learn something new. I love the unexpectedness of never knowing when a good wave is going to come rolling in and the feeling you get when the wave picks up your board is the ultimate adrenaline rush. The first time I stood up, I tipped off the board to the sound of cheers, with a huge grin on my face. I swallowed about a gallon of salt water and my eyes were burning and blurry, but I couldn't stop smiling. We went again yesterday and I am already feeling more comfortable on the board and in the water. Surf culture reminds me a lot of life on the ski slopes in Michigan. Everyone spends the day on the beach, watching others catch waves and joking around. Afterwords, we eat empanadas in the sand in knit caps and ski jackets and watch the sun go down. I would be out there everyday if I could, but with finals this week and next, it looks like I am going to have to put my surfing career on hold for a bit.