I believe in fate. I also believe in the Law of Attraction, as introduced in The Secret. I actually think the two are the same.
The Law of Attraction is what brought me to work for Compass Properties as an International Real Estate Specialist, allowing me to become an expert on the wonderful country of Costa Rica. Of course, as part of my "studies", I had to go there to see it for myself!
My first trip there was a short one - 3 days. My husband had to get back to work, and he didn't really want me to travel alone - especially the first time. So, the fact that I could fall in love with the country of Costa Rica and its people in just 3 days is a testament to how fantastic a place it is.
I was worried that it would be overdeveloped, mainly because several people had told me that. I laugh now when I think about that, because Costa Rica is FAR from being overdeveloped! Its quaintness and charm is still in abundance, which makes for unique memories.
I consider myself a "Foodie", and I was looking forward to the local cuisine. Costa Rican food is heavily influenced by Caribbean and Cuban cuisine. A typical Costa Rican breakfast consists of a casado - rice and beans, fried plantains, meat or eggs, fresh fruit (VERY fresh), and coffee, tea, or fresh juice. I ate this often, wanting to embrace this culture. Fresh juices are also plentiful, and are extremely inexpensive compared to North American restaurants. The reason is obvious, but it was still a delight to have a huge glass of blackberry juice with my breakfast, or a fresh watermelon smoothie in the afternoon (that REALLY hits the spot).
A surprise to me on this trip was that I had a blast trying to speak Spanish. My Spanish vocabulary consists mostly of food (did I mention that I was a Foodie?), so needless to say, I was a little worried before going to Costa Rica, even though I knew most of the people there spoke English. But, there were still numerous opportunities where I did need to use my miniscule Spanish vocabulary to purchase items like headache medicine or sunscreen. After the first day when I felt like I was butchering the Spanish language, I came to enjoy trying to communicate in Spanish. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I began to seek out opportunities to speak and learn more Spanish! I think my future holds a vacation with one of the Spanish immersion schools in Costa Rica.
And of course, I cannot forget the beaches! I am a surfer, so I was REALLY itching to get into the water! I live in Southern California, and you never get lonely visiting beaches here - there are ALWAYS people at the beach. I was ASTOUNDED when at 10:00 am on a Saturday, I ventured onto a beach in front of one of the communities that we are marketing, and could see only 3 people on the beach, as far as the eye could see! And it's not because it was dirty or polluted - there is just so much beach and so much room, that you can almost have your own private beach.
And finally, I must make mention of the wonderful people down there. They were so hospitable and open. I had a great conversation about the political climate in Costa Rica, with the driver who took us from the airport to our hotel. One of the hotel workers helped me when my husband got a migraine on his first night there (never had one since I've known him). And all of the restaurant and shop workers were very friendly and actually smiled!
I can't wait to go back.
Tiffany Wilson is a real estate investor and an International Real Estate Consultant for Compass Properties, with offices in US and Costa Rica locations. She is passionate about Costa Rica and loves telling people all about it! She can be reached at twilson@compasscostarica.net. Check out Compass Properties website at www.dreamingofcostarica.com for more information on Costa Rica real estate opportunities.
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