What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Cimarrones

Describe how you "dreamed" expat life would be before you moved overseas. Please provide as much detail as possible.

I was quite happy living in the beautiful city of San Francisco but always intriqued with the idea of living overseas - the opportunity to meet new people, learn a new language and experience a new culture. In 1997 a job opportunity came up in Saudi Arabia, and I accepted it, thinking I would be away for just one year, you know, for the epxperience . It has been 15 years and I am still overseas! What has really been the 'icing of the cake' so to speak about my expat experience is discovering Costa Rica. In 2009, I decided to make some overseas investments and I did a great deal of research, which culiminated in the purchase of my own bit of tropical paradise on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Unilke most investors, I purchased this property 'sight unseen" while I was still residing in the middle east. I was able to do this because of the honesty and intergrity of the folks at Grand View Estates. A few months after my purchase I was able to visit Costa Rica for the first time, and fell in love with my property and the country. Since then I have become business partners with Gill Phelan in Phase 4 of Grand View Estates.

How has your expat experience met the expectations you dreamed about before you moved abroad?

Frankly speaking, all I can say is that the past 15 years have truly been extraordinary! I have made so many friends from around the world and seen places that I never dreamed that I would. Now that I will be settling to Costa Rica, I am looking forward to a wonderful and affordable lifestyle, and one that is alot closer to home (USA)

How has your expat experience NOT met the expectations you dreamed about before you moved abroad?

Living overseas in not for everyone, and those that choose to do it have an interest in broadening their horizons and learning more about the world, as well as improving their lifestyle. As North Americans, we must be open minded and learn to appreciate the differences in other cultures and communities and not always compare them to what we have back home,. I have seen that this isn't always the case, and I regret that these attitudes will deny these persons the opportunity to fully embrace the wonders of other cultures. Fortuanately, most of the expats I have met in Costa Rica are doing all that they call to enjoy the experience. Learning for example, that it is never too late to adopt another language!