¿Adiós ya?

Friday, September 3, 2023

It's already time to say goodbye? Just as I begin to settle in and make San Ramón a home, it's time to pack up and move. There have been more goodbyes in the past few months than I can count, but that doesn't make them any easier. I have learned to appreciate each goodbye, for what has happened, for what was built and the memories that were made, rather than dwell in the goodbyes. Dr. Seuss gave the best advice, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." San Ramón was the perfect place with the perfect people to welcome me into Costa Rica, experience the culture, and begin my love story with the experiences of this journey.

I am going to introduce the people that made San Ramón home. The people who welcomed us from day one with smiles, hugs, and laughs. The people who showed us true tico food, culture, and community.

First up, introducing... the beautiful, strong ladies of 28 Delicias (a.k.a. Best Soda in town), Janet, Catalina, and Maria (not pictured)!

When you think of love in San Ramón, you think of 28 Delicias. Homemade food packed with so much love every morning paired with the most vibrant and warming energy I've ever experienced, Janet and Kata were the first reasons San Ramón became a home so easily. These ladies worked so hard all day, every day (except Sundays, of course), to feed the people of San Ramón and offer every person loving and caring service. They had, by far, the best gallo pinto, maduros, and casados in town. I can't imagine I will find another soda that cooks the way they do. The mornings I treated myself to 28, which were many mornings, I never failed to leave in a positive mood and stay in that mood the rest of the day. Even on days we didn't come in to eat, we were always blessed with shining smiles, waves, and "buenos" every single time we walked past the soda, without fail. And we walked past this soda to go anywhere in town. It was only about 20 paces from the front door of our hostel. No matter the kind of day you were having, it was impossible not to feel so warm and loved when you went to eat at 28 Delicias.

Continue walking down the same street for just a few more minutes, and you'll come across Javier and the iconic Bocaditos.

Bocaditos became our go to. Lunch, dinner, drinks, vibes... Javier offered the best. On our first day in San Ramón, we sat at the table in the back of this photo for our first meal here. We needed Google Translate for the menu and didn't understand a word Javier said to us. By our last week here, we had the menu memorized by heart, we had our designated table outside of the bar (the one with the short seat, iykyk), and Javier knew our drink order (dos Imperials y agua con hielo... margarita if I was feeling crazy that night). He even had the dietary restrictions down, vegetariano para Connor, sin mantequilla y queso, y no empanizada para mi. We spent many 'late' nights here playing Wavelength, sharing memories, taking tequila shots and learning new Spanish. Although, even our latest nights only lasted until about 9, maybe 10pm, we spent our fair share of time at the one and only, Bocaditos.

Along the same street, we regularly visited two different pulperías for our daily snacks and drinks. To be honest, I didn't ever catch the names of the men who ran these stores, but nonetheless, friendships were built.

Everyone has their local go-to gas station at home. While ours didn't have gas, it sure did have the essential goodies for a late night snack. Pulpería #1 (top photo) had the best tropical teas, but if I wanted my favorite Milan chocolate or some chips, I made my way down to pulpería #2 (bottom photo). Either my Spanish is way worse than I thought, or pulpería man #2 didn't speak Spanish or English. Unfortunately, I never learned which language I could use to communicate with him, but that didn't stop sweet smiles and waves from being exchanged on the daily! The man from pulpería #1 requested we practice English with him, so that was the one time we allowed ourselves to speak in English with the locals. His coworker (not pictured) provided us with our fair share of Spanish practice! He was the first to inform me of my mispronunciation of "plátanos", when I was failing miserably to convey my desire for lime plantain chips!

And now, presenting... the best taxi driver of San Ramón... Javier!

We met Javier on a last minute late night run to Mas x Menos in search for charcuterie board goodies. There is a taxi stop right outside the hostel, where at least 3 different taxis are lined up waiting for rides at all times. Around 7pm on this Tuesday night, there were no taxis to be found. Two young women shouldn't be walking over a mile to a grocery store at night, and we didn't have the commitment to carry back our wine, cheese and crackers. Right before we decided to turn back and go inside, a red car with a yellow triangle comes in our direction... A taxi!! From then on, Javier came in clutch with a ride wherever and whenever we needed it! We had so many great conversations, in Spanish and English, learned so many things about San Ramón, and built yet another local friendship!

Drum roll please... Last, but certainly not least... the greatest part of San Ramón... the group who made all the tough days worth it, the people I learned beside, lived amongst, laughed with (and at), cooked with, and adventured with... The Xplengers!

Delaney, Kenyatah, Erin, Connor, and group leader Dustin are the people who made this month in San Ramón truly unforgettable. Ending up in this intake group with these people was truly the biggest blessing I could have asked for. I can't imagine going through this experience with any other group. I was supposed to be in the June intake group, as was Kenyatah, and the way it ended up falling, both of us pushed our arrival dates back to July. If anything was meant to be in this world, it would be the timing of all of this. This was truly divine timing. The way we connected was something no one would have ever expected. Even Dustin, throughout the course and in his graduation speech, spoke to us about how unique our bond was in this group, and how special it has made the experience. I am so grateful to have these people as life long friends and adventure partners. While most of us had to go our separate ways and are living in different parts of the country for now, I have not a single doubt in my mind that we will stay in touch and be making cross country visits.

The July 2023 Costa Rica TESOL intake group

So, although I packed my bags, got in a taxi, and headed for my next Costa Rican adventure, San Ramón will forever hold the biggest place in my heart. The things I learned, the places I saw, and most of all, the people I met, have all shaped me into a better person than I was four weeks ago. Thank you to San Ramón for welcoming the five of us into your special town, and goodbye, for now.