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Canadian Expat Living in Costa Rica - Interview with Liisa
| Published: | 17 Oct at 12 PM |
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Filed: Interviews,Costa Rica
Liisa is a Canadian writer and author. She began her writing career specializing in the health sector, but as her life evolved, she began writing about being a location independent family living abroad with kids. These days, Liisa lives in Tamarindo, Costa Rica with her husband and two boys ages 7 and 9. Liisa's expat blog is called Family Freedom Project (see listing here)
Playa Ostional - Turtle Nesting
Where are you originally from?
I am originally from Ottawa, Canada. I spent a few years in Montreal, Washington DC, and Toronto, before resettling in Ottawa in 2003.
In which country and city are you living now?
Today, we live in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, on the north Pacific coast of the country. We live about 150 steps from the water's edge.
How long have you lived in Costa Rica and how long are you planning to stay?
We have been here for three years, with a couple of short breaks. We have stopped planning beyond the current school year. So, we are here till June 2015, at a minimum.
Why did you move to Costa Rica and what do you do?
In 2004, my husband and I travelled around Costa Rica for our honeymoon. We fell in love with the country, and specifically this area, the province of Guanacaste. It has over 300 days per year of sunshine. Coming from Canada, this is a huge change and more importantly, a huge luxury.
I am a writer, with medical and travel clients all over the world. No matter where I am, I stay in touch with them via the Internet.
Did you bring family with you?
I did! My children love living here. They go to a small school where they get individualized attention and learn at their own pace. They speak Spanish, and really enjoy surfing and the surf culture associated with it. My husband has worked exclusively online since 2000. He has always been location independent and was really the inspiration for our current lifestyle.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
There are ups and downs to living in a foreign country. The slow pace of life in Costa Rica means more family time and less tension and stress pretty much everywhere. However, that laid back attitude can mean things get done much more slowly, and that can be frustrating.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
I find it easy to make friends, but they are mostly expats. The area has a lively expat community and everyone is open to meeting new people. We have weekly girls' nights, and given that this is a small town, pretty much run into each other every ten steps!
Playa Langosta at SunsetWhat are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
Get your kids (or yourself) a surfboard when you arrive. It really allows them to get the most from their experience. And enroll them in a bilingual school. Not only will they learn Spanish, they will get so much more from the culture and the community than they would if you homeschool. Try to get yourself a base in Spanish before you arrive and make an effort to speak it when you are here. The locals will appreciate it.
What do you enjoy most about living in Costa Rica?
I love the amount of time I spend with family and friends. We spent two months in Canada on vacation this summer and the difference in quality time I had with my friends was striking.
How does the cost of living in Costa Rica compare to home?
We spend about two thirds what we did in Canada living here. While certain things are very expensive (used cars; imported groceries), other things are incredibly affordable and feel so decadent when you indulge (housekeeping!).
Another sunset, this time on the Seabird catamaranWhat negatives, if any, are there to living in Costa Rica?
We are far from family. This is sometimes difficult. Otherwise, we miss little luxuries like going to the movie theatre, which are easily replaced by a cold beer on the beach at sunset.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Costa Rica, what would it be?
Take the time to make an exploratory trip before you actually move. There is a story in my book about a couple that I met who had retired, sold everything, and moved here. They found it hot. Three months later they sold everything here in Costa Rica and were on their way back to the States. A simple trip here would have prevented all of that effort.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Finding the right school for the kids had its challenges. We tried three different ones before we found the right fit.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation? I think repatriating will be reasonably simple, like riding a bike -‐‑ living in your hometown is something you never forget. I hope that we can maintain many of the habits that we have adopted in our lifestyle here when we go back. Remembering to take time with our loved ones is really what life is all about.
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
The Family Freedom Project began inadvertently when my husband Derek and I were newlyweds. We began to envision the life we would have for our family. Innately risk-takers, an ordinary 9-to-5 life was never in the cards. With the proliferation of the internet, our vision began to take shape. We would free ourselves from the bonds of geography and the clock.
We are often asked to share our story, our methods, our life. The Family Freedom Project website is a place to share the stories. I want to share specifics with my readers. I want you to be able to use our system to design your family’s lifestyle. It may not take the same shape as ours, but it will be your design – not a lifestyle borne of convention.
I get asked almost daily by tourists I meet here, how I live the life I do. The answer is simple. Derek and I work online. While many of my friends here in Costa Rica have arrived here in different ways, the simplest, fastest way to live a life free of geographical restrictions or accountability to someone else for your time is to work online for yourself. We talk about this on the blog as well.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
I love hearing from readers and people looking to move to the area. I can be reached via twitter, by email or would love to connect on Facebook at the Family Freedom Project page.
Liisa is a Canadian expat living in Costa Rica. Blog description: I get asked almost daily by tourists I meet here, how I live the life I do. Many of my friends and their families here in Costa Rica have arrived in different ways and for different reason. This blog explores living abroad with kids.
Playa Ostional - Turtle Nesting
Here's the interview with Liisa...
Where are you originally from?
I am originally from Ottawa, Canada. I spent a few years in Montreal, Washington DC, and Toronto, before resettling in Ottawa in 2003.
In which country and city are you living now?
Today, we live in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, on the north Pacific coast of the country. We live about 150 steps from the water's edge.
How long have you lived in Costa Rica and how long are you planning to stay?
We have been here for three years, with a couple of short breaks. We have stopped planning beyond the current school year. So, we are here till June 2015, at a minimum.
Why did you move to Costa Rica and what do you do?
In 2004, my husband and I travelled around Costa Rica for our honeymoon. We fell in love with the country, and specifically this area, the province of Guanacaste. It has over 300 days per year of sunshine. Coming from Canada, this is a huge change and more importantly, a huge luxury.
I am a writer, with medical and travel clients all over the world. No matter where I am, I stay in touch with them via the Internet.
Did you bring family with you?
I did! My children love living here. They go to a small school where they get individualized attention and learn at their own pace. They speak Spanish, and really enjoy surfing and the surf culture associated with it. My husband has worked exclusively online since 2000. He has always been location independent and was really the inspiration for our current lifestyle.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
There are ups and downs to living in a foreign country. The slow pace of life in Costa Rica means more family time and less tension and stress pretty much everywhere. However, that laid back attitude can mean things get done much more slowly, and that can be frustrating.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
I find it easy to make friends, but they are mostly expats. The area has a lively expat community and everyone is open to meeting new people. We have weekly girls' nights, and given that this is a small town, pretty much run into each other every ten steps!
Playa Langosta at Sunset
Get your kids (or yourself) a surfboard when you arrive. It really allows them to get the most from their experience. And enroll them in a bilingual school. Not only will they learn Spanish, they will get so much more from the culture and the community than they would if you homeschool. Try to get yourself a base in Spanish before you arrive and make an effort to speak it when you are here. The locals will appreciate it.
What do you enjoy most about living in Costa Rica?
I love the amount of time I spend with family and friends. We spent two months in Canada on vacation this summer and the difference in quality time I had with my friends was striking.
How does the cost of living in Costa Rica compare to home?
We spend about two thirds what we did in Canada living here. While certain things are very expensive (used cars; imported groceries), other things are incredibly affordable and feel so decadent when you indulge (housekeeping!).
Another sunset, this time on the Seabird catamaran
We are far from family. This is sometimes difficult. Otherwise, we miss little luxuries like going to the movie theatre, which are easily replaced by a cold beer on the beach at sunset.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Costa Rica, what would it be?
Take the time to make an exploratory trip before you actually move. There is a story in my book about a couple that I met who had retired, sold everything, and moved here. They found it hot. Three months later they sold everything here in Costa Rica and were on their way back to the States. A simple trip here would have prevented all of that effort.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Finding the right school for the kids had its challenges. We tried three different ones before we found the right fit.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation? I think repatriating will be reasonably simple, like riding a bike -‐‑ living in your hometown is something you never forget. I hope that we can maintain many of the habits that we have adopted in our lifestyle here when we go back. Remembering to take time with our loved ones is really what life is all about.
- If you have a dream to be an expat, it will remain a dream unless you create a plan. Once you call it a plan, things will begin to fall into place. It's always a worthwhile experience, so start planning!
- Visit your desired destination at least once before you move.
- Try to learn the language and embrace the culture.
- Seek out expat friends to help ease any potential homesickness and loneliness. Others who are in the same situation as you can provide comfort and an easy, effortless friendship.
- Go with the flow and see the joy and the humour in the everyday. There will be bumps in the road and even disasters, but they are part of the journey. Work on changing only what you can influence (and that's not a whole way of life). Just enjoy or ignore the rest.
The Family Freedom Project began inadvertently when my husband Derek and I were newlyweds. We began to envision the life we would have for our family. Innately risk-takers, an ordinary 9-to-5 life was never in the cards. With the proliferation of the internet, our vision began to take shape. We would free ourselves from the bonds of geography and the clock.
We are often asked to share our story, our methods, our life. The Family Freedom Project website is a place to share the stories. I want to share specifics with my readers. I want you to be able to use our system to design your family’s lifestyle. It may not take the same shape as ours, but it will be your design – not a lifestyle borne of convention.
I get asked almost daily by tourists I meet here, how I live the life I do. The answer is simple. Derek and I work online. While many of my friends here in Costa Rica have arrived here in different ways, the simplest, fastest way to live a life free of geographical restrictions or accountability to someone else for your time is to work online for yourself. We talk about this on the blog as well.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
I love hearing from readers and people looking to move to the area. I can be reached via twitter, by email or would love to connect on Facebook at the Family Freedom Project page.
About the author
Liisa is a Canadian expat living in Costa Rica. Blog description: I get asked almost daily by tourists I meet here, how I live the life I do. Many of my friends and their families here in Costa Rica have arrived in different ways and for different reason. This blog explores living abroad with kids.
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