January 9, 2007
I am a boomer girl, born and raised in Kansas, and was one day working as a school secretary when three weeks later I was living in Costa Rica. I'm often confronted with the question, "WHY?" I tell all who ask that I'm here today because of the horrific events of 9/11 ... and Jimmy Buffett.
Airlines had reduced airfare to get people back up into the friendly skies after the attacks on the World Trade Center. Ken, my biology teacher fiancé, taking advantage of the circumstances, found some affordable flights to Florida. He booked us a few long weekends during the upcoming winter months. Being from the Midwest, any chance to get away is an opportunity you don't want to miss out on. Especially if it means going to a beach.
It was while sunbathing in Clearwater, Florida, during Christmas week of 2001, that Costa Rica was first brought up. While enjoying the soft sand under our feet and the sun toasting us tan, Ken was reading one of Jimmy Buffet's books. The author's tropical travels apparently caught Ken's attention.
He leaned his beach chair toward me, almost spilling my $7 frozen pina colada, and asked if I would want to go to Costa Rica over Spring Break. "Sure", I nonchalantly replied. Ken had taken me to many other fun spots since we had met, so why not Central America? But perhaps I had agreed too quickly; the heat and umbrella drinks affecting my judgement.
But, I had consented, so the travel tickets were purchased and web sites were searched for places to stay, sites to see, and possible investment opportunities for Ken. Before we departed Kansas for Spring Break '02, he had met a man online who sells real estate in Costa Rica. They made arrangements to meet while we were there so he could show us some properties for sale.
We had a short lay over when making our connecting flight, but after a total of less than six hours of air time, we were thrilled to began our descent into a land of the unknown. At the airport, we claimed our baggage and made our exit, excited to be on vacation in a location new to us both.
In the week we were there I was put through the emotional ringer. I experienced taxi drivers who were intimidating, waiters who I couldn't order meals from and local beauties who caught Ken's eye. We were shown properties in the middle of nowhere that had homes with dirt floors and no indoor bathrooms.. We got lost in several areas and I worried about my safety when we'd be approached by locals. It was hot and humid but the tropical heat didn't keep the huge insects from seeking me out.
With each property and house we were shown Ken seemed to be falling more in love with the strange land. He seemed to be fantasizing of various opportunities and multiple return trips while I was just wanting to click my heels together and go home.
After a few days of misery for me, Ken informed me he was done looking at land, homes, businesses, and teak tree farms to invest in. Frustrated with the cultural differences and bored with all the driving to look at the properties, I sighed with relief. We made our way to a more civilized town along the Pacific Coast. It ended up being a very popular surfing village and huge tourist destination. There were numerous bikini clad young ladies, making it a very depressing area for me to be in, though Ken seemed to really like it. We drove around the town and found a fairly new and welcoming hotel. After settling into a nice room, we decided to go for a swim in the ocean just a short walk away. I was thrilled that the "vacation" part of our excursion was to begin since the "business" part was over. It was about time!
I was bobbing up and down in waist-deep water, letting the incoming waves caress me. I actually felt the stress of the previous days being to wash away. I had not been fully relieved of the tension when I suddenly felt a horrible burning sensation under my swimsuit top. Stung by a jellyfish and in a lot of pain I called out to Ken who tried to offer me comfort. I just stood there sobbing that my emotional pain of the week and the physical pain of the sting had just collided in the surf. I was so over Costa Rica! I grabbed my beach towel and sulked all the way back to the hotel.
It was while showering before getting ready to go out to dinner, that I had my first (of many) Costa Rican breakdowns. Thinking that being with Ken meant living in a hut in the forest or in a dumpy town with freaky neighbors was stressing me out. Seeing all the beautiful young local ladies, who command your attention, had destroyed my self-esteem. Being talked too in a language I couldn't begin to comprehend had me stressed to the max. Being stung by an invisible creature in the water had been the last straw. The camel's back being broken. I stood under the showerhead bawling my eyes out while trying to rid all of Costa Rica from my body. What I would had given at that moment for those ruby slippers to transport me back to a more civilized world!
Ken entered the bathroom and asked me "what's taking so long" to which I replied "SCREW YOU" as loud as I could ... in my head. If it wasn't for HIM and his cockamamy ideas, I wouldn't be having this outburst. I could be home shopping at Target and going to movies, eating out with friends, and doing other my type of fun things during my Spring Break.
Between intermitted sobs I was able to explain what my fears and concerns were. I was worried, knowing that he was LOVING everything about Costa Rica while at the same time, I was hating it with every morsel of my being. He had found his comfort zone in Central America and I would be happy to never lay eyes on it again. I explained how I knew it would be just like him to purchase property and fulfill his dream of having a tropical home. It would mean that we would either end up apart, taking separate journeys in life, or that I probably would be facing this foreign land again. I didn't look forward to being miserable, but I wanted to be with him. What could I do but just keep on crying.
Ken eventually talked me out of the shower and into some clothing. He assured me that we wouldn't be living in Costa Rica anytime soon, if at all. That he was just interested in making a financial investment. So, after a good meal and several Costa Rican beers, I was feeling better about things, but was still anxious to get out of the country.
We returned to Kansas and the daily grind of our full-time jobs, with lots of pictures and stories to share with family and friends. I was apprehensive when Ken returned the following month to Costa Rica without me. In the week he was gone, he had met up with the realtor again and guess what? He found his paradise. He emailed me the news…"We have land in Costa Rica!"
Tears of my worst fears welled up in my eyes as I read the excitement in his words on my computer screen. Thanks to Jimmy Buffet's adventures, it seemed I would be facing some of my own. Wow, thanks so much Jimmy! I had not enjoy my time down there and was not looking forward to a return trip. But, I'm now living in Costa Rica so I obviously did revisit; several times before making our big move.
Tune in, I'll explain when and why in an upcoming blog.
Comments
baronVONbeard (anonymous) says...
i broke your comment cherry!
sounds inappropriate, doesn't it?
January 9, 2007 at 6:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
amymc (anonymous) says...
I just got back from Costa Rica. My family and I were simply in awe by the beautiful landscape and breathtaking beaches. Thanks Ronna for sharing your first trials and tribulations. Looking forward to hearing "the rest of the story".
Amy
January 9, 2007 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rvonknorring (rvonknorring) says...
Amy, I am thrilled that you, Greg and extended family members had a good time in Costa Rica! Next time you'll have to make your way down to us. I hope that returning to Kansas wasn't too big of a shock to your systems! It always is on mine. The beauty of Costa Rica is one of the big reasons I am here to stay. But do check back to hear how the move came about! ~ Ronna
January 10, 2007 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ronnasmom (anonymous) says...
You helped me remember your FIRST impressions of CR. I know it is a LOT of work, but also tons of beautiful FUN. Hugs.
January 12, 2007 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lollie6262 (anonymous) says...
Hi ronna, its Lollie. what an adventure you are living iam so happy for you.
January 12, 2007 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lollie6262 (anonymous) says...
do you have an email address mine is lollie6262@yahoo
January 22, 2007 at 5:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tsmileygal (anonymous) says...
Ronna,
I really like hearing these stories again. You are such a brave soul!
:) Traci
January 26, 2007 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kafirns (anonymous) says...
Remember me, Ronna? For those 2 short years when the ESL program was in Kennedy, I enjoyed what little time we had to visit in the office. Well, I'm still teaching English Language Learners in Lawrence (at Hillcrest), but I'M wishing I were in Costa Rica. I had a study grant for 5 weeks in the summer of 2003 and enjoyed it thoroughly (except for the daily afternoon/evening rains, but truth be told, they were more tolerable than I expected them to be. I even was able to meet Oscar Arias, through two of my students' grandfather; he'd been his speech writer for 14 years, and I had admired him for a long time. Interestingly enough, the host family with which I stayed in San Jose were close relative of my students. Talk about bizarre coincidences! And now, I want to ask--where exactly do you live on the southern Pacific coast? I have a good friend who spends about 1/2 the year at his place 1 km. south of Dominical. (He's also talked about having difficulty learning Spanish because of all the expats). He's a great guy--Greg Miller. He used to co-own a place called Coconut Grove (there's a handpainted sign on a rock along the highway--between all the Coldwell-Banker & Century 21 signs). He then split off & built his own place, but he does have a few other irons in the fire down there. He's a musician, just in case you two are as well. Also, what's the last name of the Ken you ended up with? I gather that he had at one time worked for the school district??? Gotta go. Pura vida & all that stuff. Hope to hear back from you.
May 1, 2007 at 12:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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