Moving day... Fact:  there is absolutely no adequate preparation for moving to a new country.

Sunday, February 24th, 2008 was my moving day from the Chicago area to Costa Rica.  The finality of the situation did not really weigh on me until my day was almost finished.  When I realized what I had done, the panic was not so much acute as it was; what the hell have I just done to myself. 

Where was my safety net?!

I spent all day Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 packing.  Trying to fit my life into four (4) checked bags.  Current airline rules maximize checked bags at 50 pounds each meaning I was limited to a grand total of 160 pounds of clothes and personal items even with new 'feather weight' luggage.  160 pounds sounds like allot until you try it.  I ended-up paying the $100.00 for a fifth bag for 200 pounds of total items along with two carry-on back packs stuffed to capacity.

Airline Baggage Notes:  Airlines are ever-increasing rules on luggage, along this charging per checked bag.  Spirit airlines charged $10.00 per online pre-checked bag and $20.00 per bag at the airport.  Additionally, each ticket holder was limited to two (2) check bags at the $10 or $20 cost with 3 thru 5 bags costing an additional $100 each.  All bags weighing more than 50 pounds where also charged $100.00.  So DO YOUR HOMEWORK baggage homework when booking and traveling, regardless of the length of your trip.

Being as we booked the early flight and my dad was picking Junior and I up at 2:00 a.m., I was packing up till the time my father showed up for the ride to Chicago's O'Hare International airport ... which meant my Spirit Airlines flights from Chicago (ORD) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and finally to Juan Santamaria (SJO), Costa Rica where pretty much eventless being as I slept most of the time in the air.  Which in my opinion, is the only way to travel - take off at 6:00 a.m. and land in-time for lunch in Costa Rica, Central America.

After we successfully retrieved our luggage in San Jose's Juan Santamaria airport, we proceeded to the Costa Rica customs area where I honestly declared the 100 magicJack (www.magicJackCostaRica.com) Internet VOIP telephone devices that were in my luggage.  This of course set-off red flags and we ended-up having all our luggage opened and inspected with great interest.  After much discussion about the use and value of the devices, I paid a reasonable import duty and we were on our way.

When you leave the baggage/custom area of the San Jose airport the swarm of taxi drivers vying for your business can be a sensory overload.  Most of these drivers speak enough English and are hard working family men that are more than willing to assist you in getting to your destination along with assistance with any other questions a tourist my have.  However, be wary as there are always the opportunists in the crowd.  I had pre-arranged to have our December driver Manuel Solano Sanchez (Transporte Turistico, cell 011-506-363-9475, office 011-506-234-3155) meet us at the airport - but in not seeing Manuel right away, asked another taxi driver if he could call Mr. Solano on his cell phone to check his location.  The other driver tried to pretend Manuel's cell phone was not working when the number was dialed, so that he could get the fare.  I refused to believe this unknown driver so I had the airport dispatcher/cashier call the number and Manuel answered immediately and told me he was parked just outside the terminal at another door.

It was good to see Manuel again and I really needed his assistance.  Manuel speaks decent English and as a genuinely nice person I needed his translation as well as people skills for moving into our new house.  The gentleman that is allowing us to stay in his beautiful Las Nubes de Coronado home has had a Costarricense woman living in the house for almost 2 years during his absence.  This woman was not going to appreciate being asked to leave the house, but it was legally time to move her out do to Costa Rica laws that would give her some rights to remain in the property regardless of the owners wishes if the current caretaker situation was to  continue.

Understandably, when we arrived at the house - the caretaker was extremely upset with being given notice to vacate.  As much as I understood her situation, it was my position to present the will of the property owner.  After much emotion and walking a very thin line between legal rights and human compassion, the former caretaker and her teenage son agreed to vacate immediately.  Manual did a wonderful job in translating both of our positions to each other toward a mutually beneficial resolution. The former caretaker ended-up showing me all the things I would need to know about the house, how and when to feed the dogs, details on the bus schedules, a phone introduction to the local taxi driver that would get us to and from town, etc., etc., etc.  Several hugs sealed the deal and Junior and I were in our new house ... then the panic set-in!

For the first time since I could remember, I was literally stranded and alone;  no car, no communication (other than a home phone with no one to call), no neighbors that spoke my language, no sense of physical direction due to the fact that mountain roads curve topographically as opposed to running North/South, East/West, etc., etc.  To top it all off, Junior was getting upset because he wanted to go back to the United States where we knew people.  I will admit, I was scared that my decision was a huge mistake.  I was lost - so we had dinner and unpacked.  There is no better way to make yourself feel as if you belong than to find a restaurant, introduce yourself to some locals and put your clothes in the dresser drawers.

Although we do not currently have Internet in the house ... we do have a home phone.  So please feel free to call us at the numbers provided.

Tomorrow, we go shopping for food and supplies and start networking.  Pretty soon, we will be as at home here as we have been any other place in our lives.  It's just a matter of time, attitude and a nice potassium fix from the bananas growing just off our patio.

!Pura Vida!

Bill y Junior