My summer trip this year was a diversion from the usual trip I take with my two sons where we road trip it across the nation and camp at different national parks to soak up the serenity of the outdoors. Since my oldest is entering high school this year, I decided it was time for some Spanish immersion. I want both of my kids to have a better appreciation for the language and culture and possibly an easier time in school as well. I believe they will need to be bilingual when they graduate from college if they want to compete with top graduates.

With increasing globalization, both economically and culturally, I don’t think knowing only one language will cut it anymore. In real estate, it is important to immerse yourself in the local communities so as to build lasting relationships and to better know what each of them have to offer. Being fluent in multiple languages and knowledgeable of other cultures can allow you to similarly immerse yourself in whatever community you’re in around the world. This can make for a richer, more fulfilling life, which is obviously what I want for my kids. And so, off we go!

Arenal Volcano in the background. It was elusive and with the record rainfall, we saw it for only about 3 minutes when it peeked out from behind the clouds upon our arrival. We never saw it again despite being at this location a few days.  

To offset spending a half day in Spanish class, I wanted the trip to be extra fun and adventurous. I also didn’t want it to be too far off from our annual camping trips and Costa Rica did not fail me here! The trip was full of adventure as we had a blast doing things like parasailing and going on the longest zip line in Central America. It extends more than 4,300 feet! Adventure was also provided on a daily basis by driving in this amazing country. Adapting to the driving conditions in Costa Rica took some doing. It was a true culture shock.

For starters, unless you are in San Jose, all roads are two lanes only, at most. There aren’t even center lines on most roads and there is very rarely a shoulder to the road. If you have a stripe marking where the road ends and the dirt begins, consider yourself lucky. This isn’t such a big deal in larger towns or during daylight hours, but try driving windy roads with blind curves (windier and blinder than any here) in total darkness without that white line signaling the edge of the road! One night I just had to stop and check into a hotel until daylight because continuing on would be beyond crazy. This made for some wild moments, but once I adjusted, I was able to appreciate some of the other cultural differences related to driving.

Driving was even more adventurous than zip lining!

One of those differences would be in how the side of the road was used. In Costa Rica it appears that the road can be more of a social gathering place than we give it credit for here. Just a few things we observed on the side of the road were hula hooping, walking, small kids on bikes, horseback riding (a common form of transportation still), drinking and other social gatherings. In Houston, people are increasingly seeking out these types of experiences. Things like Critical Mass and Sunday Streets are attempts by Houstonians to create a party in the streets. For Costa Ricans, it appears there’s no need to organize events like this because every single day is already a party in the streets!

Living and working in the Houston Heights for several years has caused me to truly fall in love with the area. I appreciate the closeness and overwhelming sense of community in the neighborhood. I’m also fond of how walkable it is. Features like the Heights Hike and Bike Trail make the neighborhood truly special. Projects like Heights Mercantile will only help to expand on this. Because it’s so tight-knit and walkable, I often hear people giving directions just by referencing street names and a Heights landmark instead of an actual address. Places are so ingrained in the minds of Heights locals that addresses aren’t always necessary. Costa Ricans function very similarly, but with one major difference. They don’t even have addresses!

I know you are probably thinking this can’t be right, but believe me, I asked enough local sources that I was finally convinced this was the case. And even if they did have addresses, it wouldn’t really matter because there are rarely street signs or address numbers. What good would they be?  For example, the “address” of our first homestay was:

From the intersection in Villareal, 150 meters northeast of the AYA monument, green house on the right hand side.

If there is more than one green house on the right hand side, it is a great opportunity to meet new people while you determine to which green house they are referring. This made our stay fun as we got to interact with several locals as I drove around asking directions to this location in my challenged Spanish. As I came to learn throughout the trip, the Costa Ricans were all genuinely helpful and hospitable. Their neighborly friendliness made me feel like I never even left the Heights.

Looking to buy or sell a home or just curious about Costa Rica? Always feel free to contact me at 713.829.3052 or cynthia@cynthiamullins.com.

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