Inside Scoop – Kevin Huey – Discover How People Have Made A Success of their New Lives in Costa Rica

Kevin Huey didn’t come to Costa Rica in search of fame or fortune, but purely for adventure.

It was March of 2003, and he had spent the past twenty years in Atlanta, Georgia. He had left a successful venture started seven years earlier providing total computer support for approximately 30 small businesses.

Also left behind were friends and family, and a stable support system. Now he was carrying two suitcases and looking for a place to live in a country where he barely spoke enough Spanish to request food or directions.

Although he believed that he harbored no expectations of what life would be like in the capital, San Jose the first few months still brought many “adjustments.” The constant noise of passing vehicles, horns, street vendors and the multitude of birds made it difficult to sleep.

Kevin used public transportation, and while he found it was frequent, incredibly cheap and convenient, he was often left standing in a crowded aisle, trying to maintain his balance as the buses careened along broken asphalt.

Pedestrians, he learned did not have right-of-way, and the usual technique to cross a busy street was to wait until the crowd attained ‘critical mass’ and then march across in a mob.

Constant attention had to be paid to the sidewalk as well, as broken stones and gaping holes were always ready to twist ankles or break legs. He also made frequent cultural errors, in speech, dress and attitude.

He had read everything that he could find on Costa Rica and its people before arriving, but found this was no match for the experience gained from day-to-day living. He returned to his little apartment in a working-class Costa Rican neighborhood exhausted each day from mental and physical exertions.

Did these difficulties lead to disillusionment, depression, regret?

No, because he found what he was seeking, as it was all a grand adventure. He experienced a pulsating life force in the crowded streets that he had not seen in any of the cities he had visited in the United States.

The mild climate, friendly people and availability of entertainment in English: theatre, television, movies as well as various ‘Gringo’ organizations left him satisfied.

With a dramatically more modest income, although his standard of living had fallen to begin with, the immeasurable benefits of his new home more than made up for the lack of some first world comforts.

He valued the long walks, conversations with neighbors and fellow transplants, and the full plates of local food he could buy cheaply in the abundant tiny restaurants known as “sodas” scattered around the city.

Kevin Huey enjoys sharing his experiences of day-to-day life among the Ticos with newcomers. He believes that there are two types of people suited to living in Costa Rica: the wealthy, who can emulate the lifestyle that they left behind while enjoying the near-perfect climate; and the type of person who is not attached to material gain and can take life as it comes here.

Kevin has seen quite a few foreigners leave, because they believed they would be able to duplicate the lifestyles they had in the United States at a deep discount here in Costa Rica. This is not a reality in Costa Rica where imported products carry a higher price and local products may not always satisfy those with specific tastes.

He believes those with extroverted personality traits are happier, as it is necessary to reach out to various groups in order to have a satisfying social life and stave off depression.

He suggests those interested in living here try it for six months, as it takes prolonged exposure to the country to determine if the fit will be right. The only change he would make if he could do it all over again, would be to purchase a car upon arriving. Kevin was amazed at how owning an auto after two years using public transportation and taxis empowered him and boosted his self-esteem.

He plans on staying in Costa Rica permanently.

Several months after his arrival, Kevin was hired by Hewlett Packard as to provide technical computer support to Proctor & Gamble executives, where he received many awards and tried to make a difference during his 30 month tenure.

He left this company with a renewed desire to provide uncompromising customer service, and became the Happy Gringo available to residents of the greater Escazu and Santa Ana area to service their computer needs.

He is also the bass player for Harmony Roads, a “Gringo” band that plays a variety of blues, country, rock and oldies. He has acted in and assembled plays for the English-speaking Little Theatre Group, located in Bello Horizonte, and continues to produce various forms of entertainment, both inside and outside the theatre.

Kevin adapted his style to work comfortably in a country where relationships and courtesy are of primary importance. He is available as the one-call solution for all computer problems here, as he will either provide or find the help needed, should it be help resolving a hardware or software problem, buying a used computer or obtaining internet access.

His philosophy is always to place customer service first, and he will not hesitate to recommend others more capable of providing specialized computer related services, such as web design or laptop hardware repair, requiring access to special suppliers.

To contact Kevin – Please telephone the Happy Gringo, Kevin in Costa Rica at (506) 8879-1188 or email Kevin here.

Note from Scott – Founder of WeLoveCostaRica.com: Kevin has been very helpful indeed to me when I have needed ‘technical support’ and I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending him to people in and around the Escazu area.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.