On a regular basis I get asked a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's), so I thought that I would try to put together a few of them to help out anyone considering a move or considering Costa Rica or La Paz Community School.....
In an earlier post I answered the two most frequently asked questions..."Why did you move to Costa Rica?", or "How did you decide on Costa Rica?" If you want to read these answers, go to this post......"Why Costa Rica?"
1. We could never leave our family and friends behind, how did you do it?
We just went for it! There will never be the perfect time or the perfect situation....so once you have the desire, just set the date and go. Yes, it is a leap of faith, but one you will never regret. You will only regret it if you do not do it. And on that note....the only thing we regret is that we did not do it sooner. Traveling with 2 teenagers was difficult at times, so we wish we would have come during middle school and not at the beginning of high school. But, we really seriously will never regret doing this and will be glad we did it our whole lives.
2. We could never leave our pets behind, what did you do?
We had only two pets when we were moving.....a guinea pig and a hamster. We gave both to friends of the kids to "babysit" while we were gone. Both passed that year as they were already a couple years old, but we all felt so glad they were with their new loving families. Many people we know have brought their cats and dogs with them on the plane in crates, or left elderly pets with elderly family members or friends who needed or wanted a pet. Then, we got a cat once we got here!
3. How did you decide on the area you moved to?
This question was answered in an earlier post called "Why Costa Rica?" but the simple answer is that we wanted to be by the beach and we wanted to be in an area with less rain. But, an even bigger influence was the school. Once we found La Paz, we knew we had found our place.
4. How did you decide and choose the school your kids attend?
We began looking on-line for schools in the Guanacaste region (dry zone!) and found very few schools that fit our needs....we wanted a bilingual school and not an American School (we felt we could do this in the states and that it defeated the whole purpose to give our kids and international experience by attending a school just like ours back home). Once we found La Paz and watched the video about the school, we knew we had found the place for us. Guanacaste...check. Bilingual....check. International...check. Amazing....check. See the video here if you are interested in this amazing school.....
5. Did you consider homeschooling or other schools?
Not seriously. I just know that I am not cut out for being an at home teacher/mom. I am just not disciplined enough, frankly and with my husband, Kurt, going back and forth to the states and only here part time, I knew that I could not do this alone. And also with our varied ages of our 4 kids, I knew that it would be super hard....so we did not consider this option.
6. Did you brings things down via suitcases or via a container?
Because we were just moving here for a year (or so we thought!), we wanted to travel light and pair down. We came with a carry-on suitcase each (filled with the heaviest stuff), a backpack each and everyone had something under their arm, like a guitar, soccer ball, basketball, teddy bear, etc. We then each had two checked suitcases and two checked car seat bags that I used to again put the heaviest things in with the car seats cause these bags are free and they don't weigh them. When we got to Costa Rica, I promptly gave the car seats to families in need with little kids. We also checked a couple baseball bags (again, at that time, they were considered free sporting equipment bags), an ice chest filled with heavy stuff, and a couple boxes (bankers boxes) each cause at that time you could bring one free box each. Those days of free bags are gone, so if we ever return, the trick will be to buy business or first class tickets for everyone and get the maximum free baggage allowance per person (usually 3-70 pound suitcases for first class) and leave the rest behind.
7. What are the top three things you are glad you brought with you?
As we started packing, I began a list of the things we used in everyday life or started a pile with them. I would say that I am really glad we brought down 1) Office supplies and printer, 2) Favorite medical supplies (like bubble gum Tylenol, which is not available here) and ankle and wrist wraps for sports injuries, 3) Photos of families and friends (in frames, cause frames are hard to find here!) and 4) Holiday items. Remember, most American holidays are not recognized here, so it was nice to have a few knickknacks and kitchen towels for holidays like Easter, Halloween, Valentines Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I actually brought down my favorite things from those holidays....place mats, table cloths, centerpieces, Easter baskets (cloth ones that fold up), plastic eggs, stockings and Christmas ornaments (non-breakable ones). I wanted a bit of home in our new home and I am so glad to see the kids faces when I bring these items out each holiday as they not only represent home, they represent memories that we are glad to build upon. Other items I am glad I brought are a beach bag, reusable bags, re-usable double insulated water bottles, Sharpie pens, scissors, my favorite kitchen knife, sporting equipment and gear, camping gear, flashlights, batteries, nightlights, bug repellent, sunscreen, favorite hair products. Ok...that is way more than 3 items....but, I hope you get the idea....bring the things you can't live without.
8. What 3 things do you wish you did not bring?
I think that everyone will tell you that they brought 1) TOO MANY CLOTHES. We had never had school uniforms, so I did not really quite understand that my kids would live in their uniforms, swimsuits, and PJ's the majority of the time. 2) I brought slippers and tall leather boots which I have worn only when I have returned to the states. 3) Books. I brought a slew of books for the kids and some I am really glad I brought (the special ones for birthdays, etc.), but just like schools in the states, there is library day each week, so they bring books home from the library and from their classrooms. Books here also disintegrate really fast due to the humidity. We have all switched to Kindles or the Kindle App on our computers for reading. I know that I will end up donating most of these books when we leave and many of the reference books and books I brought for casual reading are just collecting dust on the shelves.
9. Are weekend getaways possible?
Absolutely! Because we have not filed for residency (yet), we leave every 90 days to keep our Tourist Visa and Drivers Licences current. We have gone to nearby Nicaragua a half dozen times or more now (only 2 hours away) and have traveled to Florida and the East Coast multiple times. Being a family from the West Coast, we have taken every opportunity we have had to travel to new places and the East Coast is not only easy to get to (2-4 hours), but also cheap (about $300 or so each r/t). We have gone to Orlando (Disney World!), Sarasota, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Washington DC, New York City, Boston, etc. We even flew one time to Florida for a One Direction concert! Yep, we did!
10. What are your favorite places you have visited in Costa Rica?
Not in any particular order.....Arenal Volcano (love Los Lagos Resort), Monteverde Cloud Forest, Manuel Antonio National Park, Rincon de la Viejo National Park, San Jose (Capital City), Tortuguero, and Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side. La Carolina Lodge/Rio Celeste and my recent trips to spend the night in a cave and hike a volcano on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua with the Mom's Club have become my personal favorites.
Let me know if you have more questions!
In an earlier post I answered the two most frequently asked questions..."Why did you move to Costa Rica?", or "How did you decide on Costa Rica?" If you want to read these answers, go to this post......"Why Costa Rica?"
1. We could never leave our family and friends behind, how did you do it?
We just went for it! There will never be the perfect time or the perfect situation....so once you have the desire, just set the date and go. Yes, it is a leap of faith, but one you will never regret. You will only regret it if you do not do it. And on that note....the only thing we regret is that we did not do it sooner. Traveling with 2 teenagers was difficult at times, so we wish we would have come during middle school and not at the beginning of high school. But, we really seriously will never regret doing this and will be glad we did it our whole lives.
2. We could never leave our pets behind, what did you do?
We had only two pets when we were moving.....a guinea pig and a hamster. We gave both to friends of the kids to "babysit" while we were gone. Both passed that year as they were already a couple years old, but we all felt so glad they were with their new loving families. Many people we know have brought their cats and dogs with them on the plane in crates, or left elderly pets with elderly family members or friends who needed or wanted a pet. Then, we got a cat once we got here!
3. How did you decide on the area you moved to?
This question was answered in an earlier post called "Why Costa Rica?" but the simple answer is that we wanted to be by the beach and we wanted to be in an area with less rain. But, an even bigger influence was the school. Once we found La Paz, we knew we had found our place.
4. How did you decide and choose the school your kids attend?
We began looking on-line for schools in the Guanacaste region (dry zone!) and found very few schools that fit our needs....we wanted a bilingual school and not an American School (we felt we could do this in the states and that it defeated the whole purpose to give our kids and international experience by attending a school just like ours back home). Once we found La Paz and watched the video about the school, we knew we had found the place for us. Guanacaste...check. Bilingual....check. International...check. Amazing....check. See the video here if you are interested in this amazing school.....
5. Did you consider homeschooling or other schools?
Not seriously. I just know that I am not cut out for being an at home teacher/mom. I am just not disciplined enough, frankly and with my husband, Kurt, going back and forth to the states and only here part time, I knew that I could not do this alone. And also with our varied ages of our 4 kids, I knew that it would be super hard....so we did not consider this option.
6. Did you brings things down via suitcases or via a container?
Because we were just moving here for a year (or so we thought!), we wanted to travel light and pair down. We came with a carry-on suitcase each (filled with the heaviest stuff), a backpack each and everyone had something under their arm, like a guitar, soccer ball, basketball, teddy bear, etc. We then each had two checked suitcases and two checked car seat bags that I used to again put the heaviest things in with the car seats cause these bags are free and they don't weigh them. When we got to Costa Rica, I promptly gave the car seats to families in need with little kids. We also checked a couple baseball bags (again, at that time, they were considered free sporting equipment bags), an ice chest filled with heavy stuff, and a couple boxes (bankers boxes) each cause at that time you could bring one free box each. Those days of free bags are gone, so if we ever return, the trick will be to buy business or first class tickets for everyone and get the maximum free baggage allowance per person (usually 3-70 pound suitcases for first class) and leave the rest behind.
7. What are the top three things you are glad you brought with you?
As we started packing, I began a list of the things we used in everyday life or started a pile with them. I would say that I am really glad we brought down 1) Office supplies and printer, 2) Favorite medical supplies (like bubble gum Tylenol, which is not available here) and ankle and wrist wraps for sports injuries, 3) Photos of families and friends (in frames, cause frames are hard to find here!) and 4) Holiday items. Remember, most American holidays are not recognized here, so it was nice to have a few knickknacks and kitchen towels for holidays like Easter, Halloween, Valentines Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I actually brought down my favorite things from those holidays....place mats, table cloths, centerpieces, Easter baskets (cloth ones that fold up), plastic eggs, stockings and Christmas ornaments (non-breakable ones). I wanted a bit of home in our new home and I am so glad to see the kids faces when I bring these items out each holiday as they not only represent home, they represent memories that we are glad to build upon. Other items I am glad I brought are a beach bag, reusable bags, re-usable double insulated water bottles, Sharpie pens, scissors, my favorite kitchen knife, sporting equipment and gear, camping gear, flashlights, batteries, nightlights, bug repellent, sunscreen, favorite hair products. Ok...that is way more than 3 items....but, I hope you get the idea....bring the things you can't live without.
8. What 3 things do you wish you did not bring?
I think that everyone will tell you that they brought 1) TOO MANY CLOTHES. We had never had school uniforms, so I did not really quite understand that my kids would live in their uniforms, swimsuits, and PJ's the majority of the time. 2) I brought slippers and tall leather boots which I have worn only when I have returned to the states. 3) Books. I brought a slew of books for the kids and some I am really glad I brought (the special ones for birthdays, etc.), but just like schools in the states, there is library day each week, so they bring books home from the library and from their classrooms. Books here also disintegrate really fast due to the humidity. We have all switched to Kindles or the Kindle App on our computers for reading. I know that I will end up donating most of these books when we leave and many of the reference books and books I brought for casual reading are just collecting dust on the shelves.
9. Are weekend getaways possible?
Absolutely! Because we have not filed for residency (yet), we leave every 90 days to keep our Tourist Visa and Drivers Licences current. We have gone to nearby Nicaragua a half dozen times or more now (only 2 hours away) and have traveled to Florida and the East Coast multiple times. Being a family from the West Coast, we have taken every opportunity we have had to travel to new places and the East Coast is not only easy to get to (2-4 hours), but also cheap (about $300 or so each r/t). We have gone to Orlando (Disney World!), Sarasota, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Washington DC, New York City, Boston, etc. We even flew one time to Florida for a One Direction concert! Yep, we did!
10. What are your favorite places you have visited in Costa Rica?
Not in any particular order.....Arenal Volcano (love Los Lagos Resort), Monteverde Cloud Forest, Manuel Antonio National Park, Rincon de la Viejo National Park, San Jose (Capital City), Tortuguero, and Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side. La Carolina Lodge/Rio Celeste and my recent trips to spend the night in a cave and hike a volcano on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua with the Mom's Club have become my personal favorites.
Let me know if you have more questions!
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