I’m headed back to the States for an expat Christmas vacation away from Costa Rica. o.O
Any time I go back to the States, the weeks before I make the trip are filled with anxiety over the inevitable reverse culture shock that any expat or long-term traveler experiences when returning to their former home. However, I am also filled with excitement over seeing my family, old friends, and being able to do some things I can’t easily do in Costa Rica on a daily basis. As the time creeps closer and closer, I decided to make a list, so I wouldn’t forget to do any of these things (I am easily distracted).
All your draft beer are belong to me.
1. See my family and friends. Duh.
2. Blink while driving. I might even get the opportunity to use cruise control!
3. Drive from point A to point B without being run off the road by a truck, bus, or taxi driver.
4. Trust that the engineers designed the roads to accommodate the turning radius of an 18-wheeler.
5. Call services or stores to get prices or ask questions and actually get reliable answers. Or even better, look online for accurate info about the service or store. In Costa Rica, I usually have to drive all over the place and talk to someone face to face to get information.
6. Eat real Mexican and Tex Mex – I am going to gorge myself on queso dip and margaritas.
7. Order a variety of delicious draft beers. After drinking only Imperials, I’m probably going to have to tap out after one draft beer!
8. Order mixed drinks that I know have been mixed with the correct ingredients and with the proper amount of alcohol.
I feel like my list is lacking a bit… or maybe I’m just getting more and more comfortable with expat life in Costa Rica. Good hamburgers used to be #1 on that list, but I have miraculously found great burgers in the Central Valley. …8 things – can you think of anything else to add to the list? What do you look forward to when returning to or traveling to the States?
Drinking, driving, and service. I see a theme in this list 🙂
and plumbing. I forgot to add bathtubs and throwing toilet paper in the toilet 🙂
O P A !
Back in College, when I used to travel a lot between the states and Jamaica, I’d always be dismayed to find out that the bookstores and pharmacies at home were a month to two months behind on a lot of my favorite monthly periodicals, magazines and comics/graphic novels.
This always led to me making a bee-line to the newsstand in the Miami International Airport, upon my return to the states to stock up on the latest just before catching my connecting flight. 😛
oh that’s a nice memory. Books are sooooo much cheaper in the States than in Costa Rica. I should stock up on some while I’m there. I’ll see you soon Dre!
I enjoy parking my car in the street without the help of a “guachiman,” and then being able to leave it out all night.
ohhh but I love guachimen. They totally make my day. However, I can agree to being happy about leaving the car out 🙂
Nice post!
I really like the quiet. Here in Costa Rica I live in the mountains which should theoretically be peaceful, but there are always people yelling in the street, motorcycles, trucks, honking, etc. Also thieves. But when I go visit my family in Colorado it’s truly tranquilo, and you can even ride bikes without getting run over.
I also miss other ethnic foods. Mexican, but also anything from Asia or anywhere else in the world. I can make most myself here at home, but it’s just not the same.
Finally, I like the absence of mold.
Have a nice trip when you go!
Thanks! I hope I do have a nice trip…it’s always stressful for me to go back. Riding bikes without getting run over is an excellent point.
Or, come to think of it, not getting run over BY bikes is also nice. That happened to a guy in my town, too.
Even better point.
Color me green. Have a safe trip and do me a favor and take a moment to savor a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat for me. Please.
🙂 no problem! Maybe I should start taking drink orders…that could be fun.
Not being woken up at 3 am by earthquakes.
Amen sister.
Do you miss stores like Home Depot or Lowes? I think that’s what I’d miss a lot.
Nope. There is a hardware chain here called El Lagar that has tools and stuff. You can buy nails and screws one at a time instead of having to buy packages…same with other things like ceramic tiles. THere are also mom and pop hardware stores on every corner. For plants, there are Viveros everywhere…but really who needs to buy plants while living in a rainforest? (ok, I bought herbs for a herb garden)
Then there is EPA if you really can’t live without an overpriced big box store. I got a nice shower curtain there… and I like their scorpion logo 🙂
i will be going to costa rican on friday do you offer any type of tours or a way to maybe meet with you and get some information. what part of costa rica do you live in
Buy my favorite smelling care products and exotic spices for cooking
Six, seven and eight, for sure – –
How I miss real Mexican, Vietnamese, Indian and Thai food!
Spin class…
Fast Internet!!
Riding in a convertible…
Oh, I better stop now.. Have a wonderful trip back to the States and Happy Holidays!
**Jamie**
ohhh that reminds me to stock up on hair care products and body sprays maybe some make up yay 🙂
I’ve been wondering around on your site for a while. It’s like the American POV on all Tico stuff. I have my Tico point of view when it comes to the US too. I feel more of a nostalgia when you mentioned all those things. I even miss the crappy streets and the earthquakes in the middle of the night… (No, actually, not really…) However I feel like many of the things mentioned on your list can definitely be done in Costa Rica. And maybe you’ve just been more in the regional parts. Because back I home I could buy every type of beer and throw the TP in the toilet. I was practically not missing out on anything. Plus, I feel like we have good Mexican places too, but I don’t know maybe that’s just me. It’s kind of like if I made a list saying things that are not so good about the United States, as a proud full Costa Rican it hurts a little. But I won’t deny you’re right about most of them!
Hey, thanks for the comment. There are plenty of places where we can toss the TP in the toilet in Costa Rica. I lived in one for a year. But it was an expensive area of town – Cariari. We can also buy different beers – but they are super pricey and not on tap. For me, there is something really satisfying and homey feeling about a good draft beer.
Check out my latest post which lists things I miss about Costa Rica. You might find some things to relate to! https://www.delapuravida.com/2012/16-ways-reverse-culture-shock/
While we were home for the holidays my husband was heaven drinking more than three types of beer!
me too 🙂 I have the Sweetwater combo pack in my fridge right now w0ot w0ot!! …only downside: I have gained like 20 pounds!!