Heat, new flavors, homemade cacao, bureaucracy, and an unexpected dog story. Plus the decisions bringing us closer to the life we want to build here.
When Your Body Finally Adjusts
A week ago, I felt as though I had reached a breaking point. Over the past few days, however, things have noticeably improved. It seems I have finally adjusted to the heat. According to the data on my phone, the humidity and temperatures are the same as when we arrived. But I no longer feel as though I am about to pass out. I still do not spend much time in direct sunlight, but the air no longer feels quite so heavy. I now see the heat as a normal part of the day, rather than something I constantly have to fight.
I still genuinely enjoy the afternoon downpours. I love thunderstorms. In Slovakia, at least where we lived, heavy rain was sadly rare. This year, it barely came at all. Everything was drying out, and gardening felt like a losing battle. Here, the landscape is beautifully green, full of life and food that seems to grow almost by itself.
I have mentioned in previous articles that I prefer eating similar meals every day. It brings a sense of order to my life, and it eliminates the decision fatigue. After arriving in Costa Rica, however, I often had no idea what to make for myself. It took me a while to find combinations that taste good, fill me up, and can be prepared with local ingredients. Now I finally feel as though I have figured it out.
A Simple Meal Plan Made with Local Ingredients
For breakfast, I have a banana—our own banana 😊—with papaya, plain yogurt, and peanut butter. Bananas are a source of potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and fiber. Papaya is particularly rich in vitamin C, provitamin A, and fiber, and it is also wonderfully hydrating. I do not throw away the papaya seeds either. They are edible, have a bold, slightly peppery flavor, and I add a small amount directly to the fruit. The seeds are said to have anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic properties. This combination gives me not only freshness and energy at breakfast, but also several important vitamins and minerals. The yogurt adds protein and beneficial bacteria, while the peanut butter provides healthy fats. So far, I have not found any other type of nut butter here. The one we have is not 100% peanuts either, but for now it is better than nothing. Nuts and seeds are sold only in ridiculously small packages in the local shops. Perhaps I will have better luck when we make a larger shopping trip to the north of the country. Until then, I am happy with what we have available.
We all eat similar lunches: rice, fish or chicken, with vegetables or fruit on the side. It is simple, filling, and practical. We can easily vary it depending on what we are able to find.
For dinner, I most often make eggs with avocado and goat cheese, which is amazing here. If I have cooked black beans on hand, I add a couple of spoonfuls as well.
It is not a complicated meal plan, but it gives my body all the nutrients it needs. When I crave something sweet, I start with a banana. If that does not help, I reach for ice cream or a piece of sweetened condensed milk candy. I have to say that I snack far less here than I used to. I feel lighter and better. The local ingredients also encourage me to try things I probably never would have explored at home.
From Cacao Bean to Homemade Cacao
One of these experiments is processing my own cacao. I have started fermenting cacao beans and am watching with great curiosity to see what they eventually become. Until now, I knew cacao mainly as a finished powder or as chocolate from a shop. Now, for the first time, I can observe the entire process from the beginning. Fermentation is a strange mixture of planning, waiting, and constant checking. Every day, I notice the aroma, the color, and the way the beans are changing. I still do not know exactly what to expect, but that is precisely what I enjoy about it. I am learning as I go. I am also becoming increasingly aware of how much work goes into things we used to buy at home without a second thought. If this first attempt succeeds, I will dry and roast the beans, then try to make my own cacao from them. It may not be perfect, but it will be ours. That alone will make it taste completely different.
The Property Is Finally Ours
On Friday, things also began moving on the administrative front. We had reason to celebrate: almost four months after the purchase, the property is finally registered in our names. When I saw my name on the National Registry portal, I could hardly believe my eyes. Of course, it did not happen without a complication. The official entered my passport number incorrectly. I hope the correction will not take another few months.
Bank Accounts and Transferring Money
I also managed to open bank accounts. It may not sound dramatic, but Costa Rica carefully verifies the source of funds. Limits on incoming transactions also depend on the assets a person owns in the country. We need to transfer the remaining money from the sale of our house, so we had to document where it came from. Fortunately, we managed that as well. Now we are simply waiting for the funds to arrive in my local account.
I am deliberately referring to the accounts in the plural. Costa Rica’s official currency is the colón, but U.S. dollars are often used for construction work and more expensive services. We therefore opened one account in dollars and another in colones. The VÚB app (Slovak commercial bank) does not allow transfers in colones. For payments in the local currency so far, I have therefore used Wise.
A Motorcycle as Freedom and an Investment
On Wednesday, we are taking another big step: we are buying a motorcycle. It will not be merely a practical means of transportation that makes getting around the area much easier. The purchase will also help increase the value of our investment to the amount required to apply for an investor visa. It is strange to realize that something that would simply be another budget item back home fits into a much bigger plan here.
For us, the motorcycle means more freedom in handling everyday errands. It is also another tangible sign that we are gradually building a foundation here. I am excited about it, but I also have a healthy sense of caution. I have never ridden a motorcycle in my life, but if children of around eleven can manage it here, so can I. This, too, is part of our new life. We are learning to function within local conditions and to make decisions that are practical today while also moving us toward our long-term goal.
A Building Permit and a Lesson in Local Conditions
At the moment, we are dealing with the building permit. Rado prepared the entire project as the designer, so we naively assumed that finalizing the details required for the application would not cost much. We were very wrong. I am not an expert, but even I can see that the quality and functionality of many local buildings fall short of Slovak standards. Even so, local architects are not shy about charging ambitious fees for their work.
We have to accept this and work within the local conditions. We do not want our project to remain stalled unnecessarily. While the permit is being resolved, we will begin with landscaping, fencing, and anything else that is not considered construction. We could have started earlier. However, we did not want to make changes to a land that was not yet officially ours.
Teddy’s Unplanned Adventure
To end on a sweet note, here is a story of a different kind. Another unexpected canine chapter may soon become part of our lives. It seems that a local dog named Firo may be pregnant by our Teddy. We do not know for certain yet, but all the signs point that way. The thought of little puppies is lovely and a little daunting at the same time. You move to the other side of the world and deal with property, banks, and building permits. Meanwhile, your dog calmly arranges a whole new chapter of his own.
Now we are waiting to see whether our suspicion is confirmed. We are thinking about what it would mean for Firo, her owners, and us. Of course, the children are thrilled and are very much hoping that Teddy becomes a father. It is exactly the kind of event that cannot be planned or added to a to-do list. It reminds me that our new life is not made up only of major decisions and bureaucracy. It is also shaped by animals, neighbors, and small stories that begin unfolding without asking permission.
After a Month, We Are No Longer Starting from Scratch
When I look back on our first month, I feel as though we have experienced more in this short time than we normally would in an entire quarter. Not everything is going according to plan. Nearly every completed step raises two more questions. Even so, I no longer feel only the chaos of moving. We are slowly creating a routine, and places are becoming familiar. Things that exhausted me at first are turning into an ordinary part of the day.
We have our property, bank accounts, plans, a permit in progress, and plenty of smaller projects. Along the way, we are tasting, growing, and fermenting. We are still only at the beginning, and more complications will certainly come. After this week, however, I have a stronger feeling than ever that our progress is not happening only on paper. We are truly beginning to make a home here.
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