why I've been hiding

I haven’t been putting much out lately, because I was in a bit of a turmoil, and didn’t know what the heck I was doing. I didn’t even know for a while, if I was going to stay in the country or not. I didn’t think I could even deal with the differences in culture, or perceived lack of it. But I didn’t know where the heck I would even be going! I felt like if I couldn’t be here, there wouldn’t be anywhere on the planet I would fit.

So, I started to think, and realized that some of the problems were due to a lack of sleep. Specifically, extremely noisy neighbors that started playing loud music or using heavy machinery as early as 5:30 in the morning, way too early for me. In addition, these people do not know how to speak to each other in a regular tone of voice. They only thing they know is shouting. I know there are some people that detest quiet, because then they have to start listening to their thoughts, and maybe these are some, or maybe they are just “maleducados” (literally, badly educated, its use, translated into English would be akin to “low class”) After three weeks of less than four hours a night sleep, I was starting to feel a little strung out, bad humored, having a constant headache, and contemplating a move to another country where people were not so noisy. It is true that Costa Ricans, especially in the cities, generate a lot of noise. Used to Crestone, where my nearest neighbor was over a thousand yards away, I guess I was just craving silence and the ability to meditate again….
So, I told my landlady Ligia that I was looking for another place. She knew of the problem, and was unable to make changes because of some sibling rivalry there (the neighbor is her sister.) However, her parents got involved, and that helped a little. They all felt bad that Ligia would be losing a large chunk of her monthly income. Or maybe they liked me a little. Anyway, with the help of my friend Magaly, (everything here is networking!) I found a cute house on the other side of Orosi, bordering a coffee finca, It is still a bit noisy, but at least tolerable, and I am *finally* sleeping! It is a pretty new house (not even quite finished) and the owner builder has been living in it. He is a guy my age, with a wife, three kids and a mistress in another town. The wife and he are friends, and he eats over at the house a lot, but he doesn’t sleep with her anymore. He is really a genuinely nice person, and has been spending his vacation from work finishing up some details in the house so I could move in. (Needed a bathroom sink, and a door on the bathroom. He also painted the ceiling.) The place is lovely, very tastefully done, Sifredo is also a bit of an artist, he dos pen and ink drawings and has done some interesting things with recessed drywall constructions on the ceiling, (the first time I have seen this in Costa Rica) The place has a great kitchen, a dining area, little living room, where I will put a guest sofa bed, and is very nicely tiled and painted in warm inviting colors. The rent is the same as I was paying Ligia for less than half the space. Another “plus” is that there is no garden here yet, but this is something that Sifredo is happy to have me involved in. He calls my ideas and work “la toca feminina” (the feminine touch). I am all too happy to be involved with that, and have also been helping with little painting and finishing details. I have also started painting on canvasses again, this time orchids. Jessie is also happy here. She has already made friends with a couple of the neighborhood boys who are thrilled to throw sticks for her. She even has her own bed now too, courtesy of Linda, who gave us a section of her extra mattress. Linda has been working on her house here in Orosi, and I have been helping her a little with the project management, making sure the guys have what they need, and get paid on time. Also discussing the priority of what gets done when. Here are some photos of Linda’s house. Personally, I think she is nuts to try and build while she is back in the states, but of course, she will do what she wants to do.
Then, finally, having discovered that all is not terrible, and that the people really do like me here, I have also discovered a lawyer who can help me stay in the country without having to tie up all my money into a pension plan here. I am getting a two year temporary residency, which can later be converted into a five year renewable permanent residency, which allows me to work, and to receive state medical care. Because I formed a corporation here, with this residency status I can be both the boss and the employee. So I can have a job, and get paid as well. It is beginning to look as if my next role here might be to get TESL certification and work in a university teaching English. Right now, I have two “conversation groups”. The women meet at my house, drink coffee, eat cookies, and for two hours, speak ONLY in English. For practice, correction, pronouns, past tense, expressions and expanding vocabulary. I get to learn more about Tico culture by what they say and how they say it. A few men have now asked me about doing this too, and because I don’t want to change the energy of the women’s group, I will be starting with the first group of guys this week in a quiet restaurant (over beers for them) to practice with the same semi-structure. All of this is seva (free of charge for them, service for me) but I am enjoying the heck out of it!

And it is so nice to be in a peaceful place now, and enjoying life again. As I get some orchid paintings completed, I will photograph them and post them.