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Thanks to everyone who has sent in comments to the article! I appreciate all of them and do understand how difficult it is to let a cockroach scamper by or a cane toad to hop through – but they are also pretty comical if you watch them! Also, Frank’s Finca La Puebla organic farm has been completely organic for 15 years and the balance in nature makes it really un necessary to spray or try to protect them. Nature already knows how to do it… We continue to learn a lot and are looking for somene who would like to help manage his farm. Email me at jan@janhart.com for more info. Pura Vida!
I completely agree with David on this one.
I have been here 2 years. I came alone as a 66 year old woman and have had two robberies – a borrowed GPS system I left in my car (which wasn’t at all prudent) and my garden hose left outside near the street. I live in a small rural area outside a large city, San Isidro de El General – in a Tico house that looks the same as all my neighbors. I do have a fence to keep my dogs in – and they are also wonderful deterrents to any potential crime. Ticos, in general, do not want to approach a large dog. My sweet German Shepherd is protective by her appearance.
I feel more safe here than I have ever felt in the United States cities – and I lived in Seattle, Wa and near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Be prudent, lock your doors, get a big dog and enjoy this mostly wonderful country with its mostly wonderful people.
I’m very concerned when I hear that 7000 US troops are coming in with 43 war ships. What is this show of force for? My best guess is in agreement that it likely could be a show of force for Chavez. Also – the huge military base that the US has been building in Colombia is purported to be for drug traffiking – but – I’ve read that the runways are able to handle the largest aircraft. What for? Again, I am concerned. I do not trust secret missions by the United States. And remember – just because someone calls something a ‘conspiracy theory’ doesn’t mean it is not true. There are plenty that are.
I was able to bring my four parrots here last April, 2009 with the help of a Pet Transport Specialist. I moved here in December, 2008 – and we kept working on it through all the CITES permiting process, etc. The Pet Transport specialist from the states used a Vet Student here in Costa Rica, who went to the Ministry of Agriculture office weekly – as I understand it – to try to urge the paperwork through. Since I live in San Isidro, I was unable to help much other than emails back and forth. Finally the Ministry of Agriculture said they would have to inspect my house. I built an aviary for my birds – and the Ministry never came to inspect. Instead, they added another $500 on to the fees and finally agreed to allow the birds entry. I have a certificate and my four parrots arrived safely in San Jose and are happily living in an indoor – outdoor aviary. My birds – Sage, an African Gray; Flash an African Senegal; Xena a red bellied conure and Beak a half moon conure. They are living together most happily! So take heart! Check around for a Pet Transport Specialist to see if one can help – or come here first, enlist the help of someone fluent in Spanish and very nicely go in to talk with the Ministry of Agriculture folks. I even wrote a letter telling the Ministry about how important my birds were to me as my family. HOpe this helps.
Just an offhand tale of my first visit to a doctor here in Costa Rica. I live in San Isidro de El General and shortly after I arrived last December I experienced a bout of pneumonia. Having no medical insurance I went to my local 24 hour clinic on a Friday evening. No one was there except the doctor and a nurse. A hematologist was called to take my blood and run some tests and I was sent across the street to have chest X-rays. The english speaking doctor was wonderful – first asking the nurse give me a shot of something to ease my pain so that I would be more comfortable while I waited. I was astounded! Then, when the blood tests and X-rays were finished, he studied them and called me in to his adjoining office – to see the X-rays and discuss my care. The antibiotics and other medications he prescribed were available right there. My entire bill? $140 – for everything. I’m working on getting my Pensionada status so that I can apply for national health care here. Again I hope fervently that the U.S. finally joins the rest of the civilized world and provides affordable health care for its people. It is critical.
Thank you, Scott for reminding all that Trisha has done a great service in writing a truly sensitive article about a difficult subject. Reading over the posts of the past few days has often astounded me. There have been some who seemed to enjoy jumping in to “shoot messengers” and “blame victims”! But I have appreciated those who really got it. Those who dug deeper and helped us engage in a many pointed discussion about a deeply disturbing tragedy – a suicide and its aftershocks in pura vida land. Yes this suicide of someone I did not know really affected me. And as a result I am reaching out more to my new friends here in San Isidro de El General. I’ve asked several if I can call them if I need to – and the results have been most supportive and endearing. Thank you to all who ‘got it’.
Thank you, Katalan, for your excellent explanation of what suicide is and isn’t and for your good advice about what we can do when confronted with a seriously depressed person. It is good that this subject is being discussed openly in the Ex-Pat community. May we all be more vigilant, empathetic and honest.
I agree whole heartedly with you, sueandchris – and thanks, too to Chetohrt for a great response. Having experienced first hand a bankruptcy in the U.S. due to medical expenses for a staph infection that I actually picked up in the hospital, I have been an avid activist for health care reform in the U.S. Now living in Costa Rica I am even more emphatic about the need for the U.S. to join the rest of the civilized world. And yes, there are Dems in CR for sure… And we care….
Thank you, Liston for getting the discussion back on the right track and reminding people that depression can indeed make people insane. I, too agree that it is important to inform potential Ex-Pats contemplating a move here that this is not for everyone. Having moved here 8 months ago I am still in the process of finding my way as a single woman. I very much empathize with both Nancy XXXXX and with those who tried to help her. All of us have erred in judgment at some time in our lives. Maybe now we can be more realistic and pragmatic with our friends and acquaintances who think moving here could save them from themselves. My heart goes out to all who have been touched by this tragic ExPat story – and that is all of us.
