Lair Davis (Our Man in Costa Rica)

One week done and the rest of my life to go

An expatriate who has lived in Costa Rica for many years provided me with directions on how to take the bus from my town of Heredia to the capital city of San Jose, and then another bus to the suburb of Escazu, and how to find Chango’s Restaurant once I’m there. Now I’m ready for my “Great Saturday Adventure” tomorrow! I’m going to a book sale hosted by Democrats Abroad of Costa Rica.

Another expatriate gave me the name and contact information for an English-speaking doctor here in Heredia. I met with the good doc today and found him delightful and very helpful. He turns out to be quite an interesting fellow. He’s the president of a Tico peace group that raised holy hell when Costa Rica President Abel Pacheco announced that he supported Bush’s War on Iraq. Costa Rica has a strong tradition as a peacemaker, and citizens here were outraged at their President ignoring that tradition.

I’m really appreciating my Spanish classes at Intercultura School. The Association of Residents of Costa Rica facilitated my enrollment (with a healthy discount because I’m an ARCR member). Also, the ARCR
Mail Center took care of setting up my US-based mailing address, which permits me to get mail without it having to be sent at international rates. I can still order stuff from Amazon and other U.S. merchants! Those two services alone have made the $100 membership in ARCR my best investment so far in Costa Rica.

And to top off my first week living in Costa Rica, my attorney informed me today that my pensionado identification card is ready to be picked up!

Now if I can just line up one of those nice apartments I’ve visited this week for my first home in Costa Rica — and also some guy (or guys) who know a little about futbol (REAL football — soccer — not American football) and would be willing to occasionally coach a group of boys (around the age of 10) who live in an orphans home on how to become superstars — I will have accomplished everything on my list for my first month.

Am I on a roll or what?