Last year I wrote about San Isidro del General celebrating the centenary of its foundation, when settlers rode down from the mountains and began cultivating the valley.

It sounds bizarre but this month we’re celebrating its 80th anniversary – the years since the creation of the ‘canton’, municipality of Perez Zeledon. As an opportunity to learn more about our local history, we headed off to the ‘solemn ceremony of dedication’ in the town hall.

Of several stalls in the foyer, the most interesting was from the Association of writers and editors of Perez Zeledon, who had produced a delightful booklet on literary development and prominent writers in the community. (I’m still struggling with translating the subtleties of their poetry!)

Predictably, the event featured a series of speeches, lightened by a beautiful performance by young dancers from the UNESCO high school. Though I couldn’t keep up with the rapid Español, it wasn’t hard to get the flavour – historical reflections on the hardships suffered by the pioneers, and landmarks in the canton’s 80 years of development.

The Costa Rican values of ‘solidarity and respect’ got quite a thumping too, not surprising given the current political disputes in the municipality where the Mayor is facing a plebiscite in December. None the less, dignity was maintained on the day; that is the Tico way.

At the end, a portrait of Don Jose Patrocinio Barrantes Vargas – the pioneer credited with founding San Isidro, was unveiled by a descendant. We felt very privileged to meet this evidently highly esteemed elder of the community.

Discovering we were British and from similarly small countries, we were steered off to meet the extended family. All were charm personified and instantly welcoming to strangers in their midst.

Those few minutes summed up why I love this place: Ticos are the most gracious and friendly people you could ever meet, so very proud of their country and always pleased to meet foreigners who love it as they do. Being able to understand their stories made learning (even basic!) Spanish so very worthwhile, we could not have appreciated this event a couple of years ago.

I reflected, my father would have been a teenager when this community was being founded; suddenly his stories about the hardships of early 20th century Scottish hill farming felt very familiar.

And serendipity strikes again. An American in our expat community is very keen to establish a museum in San Isidro and contacted our International Women’s Club to see if we might help.

Its very early days but this single community event introduced me to some of the lovely people who hold this community’s short history in their hearts and hands. Right now I’m pouring through a biography of Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603)… what a contrast, and a good reminder that its never too early to capture the stories that will be the future’s history. I sure hope George can pull of his great idea!

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