I’m feeling better today.
Managed to get some sleep last night, which helped, and I walked with Crystal again this morning, which helped even more.
It was pleasantly cool this morning, so we took more laps around the futbol field than usual.
We also did a few Spanish lessons. Banco, I told her, can mean bank or bench, depending on context, for example:
Vamos a sentarnos en el banco.
Let’s go sit on the bench.
Vamos al banco
Let’s go to the bank.
I also encouraged Crystal to learn to say, “No hablo espanol bien, pero he estudiando mucho!” (I don’t speak much Spanish, but I’m studying a lot!” instead of “Lo siento, no hablo espanol,” (“I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish”) which can leave hearers with the mistaken and perfunctory impression that she is (or may be) entirely disinterested in learning Costa Rica’s native language. (She and Dale are taking weekly virtual lessons with a Spanish coach and studying every day in between at least 15-30 minutes a day to gain proficiency, but they’re at the earliest stages beyond the usual daily greetings that most people already know: buenos dias, buenas tardes, buenas noches, adios, hasta luego, hasta la vista, hasta manana, etc.)
When Ticos know you’re new but dedicated to learning their language, they will bend over backward to help you by gently untangling your tangled sentences inside their minds and correcting your grammar and tenses. The vast majority of Ticos welcome you wholeheartedly unless you’re an “ugly gringo” who treats other human beings who aren’t just like you in word, thought and deed poorly. You know the type: class-based/white supremacist bigots. Here in Costa Rica, everyone is raised to be respectful, proud but humble, and decent to others.
Mentioning I’m a pensionado applicant has engendered so many smiles and convos about how long I’ve been here and how much I like Costa Rica, which gives me the opportunity to say, “Me encanto Costa Rica totalmente — la cultura, las historias, las personas, las arboles, las iguanas, las sodas, los pajaros, los restaurantes y mucho, mucho mas!” My delight in being here is all over my face whenever I’m asked. I couldn’t moderate it if I tried.
It’s spectacular being here. I never get tired of it. Never will!
My public, out and about body language is always saying, “OMG! I love it here! I love you! Enjoy your day!”
CHICKEN IN CROCKPOT, RICE IN COOKER
My fridge and freezer are almost bare right now, but I have enough cooking at the moment to keep body and soul together until I go shopping again in Grecia in the morning.
Just found out how to post my physical location on WhatsApp
…for whenever I need to direct people here. Deb showed me how.
My physical address/direccion is also now known now, beyond “Telephone Pole __ on San Isidro Ridge.” I put in in my wallet in case I ever have to mail something and need to provide a return address. Telephone/power poles aren’t legitimate addresses — as Lisa found out at the airport when she told the agent where she was headed, but it’s the address I was given, so it’s the one I gave her. Oopsie! (They still let her into the country, thankfully!)
I took a shower, invited Deb to come in and select an armload of books that she wants to read, and have almost finished reading another book (Race Matters by Cornel West). That has been my day so far. I’ll spend some of the rest of it shrinking more image files to free up space.
Haven’t heard a peep out of Dennis or Jackie re the tax return processing, so I’m assuming they found everything they wanted to ask me in my files in Jackie’s garage. I’ve given them additional ways to reach me, including WhatsApp, and so far crickets, so I just have to have faith that all is well on that front.
My other “to do” — switching my 401K from Axos to Charles Schwab — should happen this week sometime, if CS gets back to me as promised within two working days. I want to get my RMD transferred to my credit union account as soon as that happens, to replenish my savings account there, so I hope it’s soon.
That’s all for this time.