Moving to Costa Rica: Expat Essays on Life in Central America

After carefully planning the move for about 15 minutes businessman, writer, and free market curmudgeon, Hal O'Boyle packed up his wife and two teens and moved to Costa Rica. The previous 30 years in Key West, Florida had left them prepared only for the climate. The idea was to have a one year adventure, learn a new language, expand their horizons, and then return to the comforts of "home" in the USA. That was nearly five years ago. Home is now in the perpetual spring and pura vida of Costa Rica's central valley. Moving to Costa Rica was a whimsical fling with expatriotism that turned into a torrid affair. The lessons learned are many and don't all have to do with learning a new language deep in middle age. O'Boyle shares the pains and joys of moving to a new country and takes us on an eclectic tour of Costa Rican life and culture. He is refreshingly incorrect in his observations of politics and socialist economics, while delighted and charmed by the warmth of the natives and the remarkable freedom available in tiny, leftist Costa Rica. As a recovering Catholic his forays into the public celebration of the country's official religion ring with sympathy and nostalgia. You'll also enjoy his unique take on kids, cops, crooks, real estate, education, firearms, really good tomatoes, the World Cup, and teaching Costa Rican housewives to talk dirty in English without embarrassing yourself. Jump in anywhere for a refreshing look at life in the Switzerland of Central America, tiny, peaceful Costa Rica.