Quick Fire Questions - Living in Paradise: Molly's Expat Life in Costa Rica

08/28/24 • 12 min

9 Listeners

Summary:

In this episode, Molly answers 10 quick-fire questions about her expat life in Costa Rica. She talks about her favorite place to live, her favorite international food, and her favorite international tradition. Molly also discusses the best thing about living abroad, the hardest thing about it, and her best expat life hack. She shares her love for being on boats, the phrase she's learned while living abroad, and her advice for making new friends. The episode ends with a thank you message.

Takeaways:

Living in Costa Rica is like living in paradise with beautiful scenery and a relaxed lifestyle.
Kebabs are Molly's favorite international food, and St. Patrick's Day is her favorite international tradition.
The best thing about living abroad is being able to spend more time outside and enjoy the weather.
The hardest thing about living abroad is feeling disconnected from friends and family back home.
Molly's best expat life hack is using a dual SIM in her cell phone to have a local number and a US number.
Making new friends requires putting yourself out there and being the kind of friend you would like to have.
Molly loves being on boats and considers it her happy place.
The phrase 'Pura Vida' is a versatile expression in Costa Rica that represents the pure and joyful life.
Molly's advice for making the most of expat life is to embrace new experiences and create opportunities to include others.
The episode ends with a thank you message and a call to engage with the podcast.

Connect with Us:

Website: https://www.tallmantravels.co.uk/the-expat-pod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089327439022
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.expat.pod/
X: https://twitter.com/ExpatPod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-expat-pod/

Subscribe, Rate, and Review:

If you enjoyed this episode of The Expat Pod, please subscribe, rate, and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you and continue to deliver valuable content on life as an expat.

Sound Bites:

"What's your favorite place you ever lived? Well I live right on Lake Arnall in a town called Tronadora and I love it here because it's just beautiful there's rolling green hills and a lake and a volcano in distance and it's just an absolutely beautiful place to be."

"Oh, kebabs, hands down, kebabs."

"Well, I guess technically St. Patrick's Day is an international tradition for me now since I live in Costa Rica. So I'll go with that one."

Chapters:

00:00 Favorite Place and International Food

01:53 Favorite International Tradition

03:19 The Best Thing About Living Abroad

04:45 The Challenges of Living Abroad

06:33 Molly's Expat Life Hack

08:27 Making New Friends

09:19 Boats and Bliss

10:45 The Versatile Phrase: Pura Vida

12:40 Making the Most of Expat Life

13:10 A Thank You Message and Call to Engage

Summary:

Takeaways:

Living in Costa Rica is like living in paradise with beautiful scenery and a relaxed lifestyle.
Kebabs are Molly's favorite international food, and St. Patrick's Day is her favorite international tradition.
The best thing about living abroad is being able to spend more time outside and enjoy the weather.
The hardest thing about living abroad is feeling disconnected from friends and family back home.
Molly's best expat life hack is using a dual SIM in her cell phone to have a local number and a US number.
Making new friends requires putting yourself out there and being the kind of friend you would like to have.
Molly loves being on boats and considers it her happy place.
The phrase 'Pura Vida' is a versatile expression in Costa Rica that represents the pure and joyful life.
Molly's advice for making the most of expat life is to embrace new experiences and create opportunities to include others.
The episode ends with a thank you message and a call to engage with the podcast.

Connect with Us:

Website: https://www.tallmantravels.co.uk/the-expat-pod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089327439022
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.expat.pod/
X: https://twitter.com/ExpatPod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-expat-pod/

Subscribe, Rate, and Review:

Sound Bites:

"Oh, kebabs, hands down, kebabs."

"Well, I guess technically St. Patrick's Day is an international tradition for me now since I live in Costa Rica. So I'll go with that one."

Chapters:

00:00 Favorite Place and International Food

01:53 Favorite International Tradition

03:19 The Best Thing About Living Abroad

04:45 The Challenges of Living Abroad

06:33 Molly's Expat Life Hack

08:27 Making New Friends

09:19 Boats and Bliss

10:45 The Versatile Phrase: Pura Vida

12:40 Making the Most of Expat Life

13:10 A Thank You Message and Call to Engage

Previous Episode

E055 - Staying Visible in Remote Work

8 Recommendations

Summary:

Molly, an American expat living in Costa Rica, shares her journey of moving abroad and the reasons behind it. She was motivated by a desire to be closer to nature and alleviate chronic pain. Molly's move was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced her to adapt her podcast production business to a remote model. She chose Costa Rica because of her previous connections to the country and the positive experiences she had during a visit. Molly initially faced challenges, including a difficult living situation and a traumatic home invasion, but she persevered and found a safe and welcoming community. She now enjoys the natural beauty and outdoor activities that Costa Rica has to offer. Molly shares her experiences of living in Costa Rica and offers advice for those considering moving abroad. She discusses the challenges of driving in Costa Rica, the importance of learning the local language, and the need to stay visible in your industry when working remotely. Molly also talks about her visits back to the US, the impact of the January 6th insurrection in DC, and the political climate in Costa Rica. She advises taking it slow when moving abroad, joining local crime groups for accurate information, and envisioning your perfect day to make it a reality.

Connect with Us:

Website: https://www.tallmantravels.co.uk/the-expat-pod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089327439022
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.expat.pod/
X: https://twitter.com/ExpatPod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-expat-pod/

Subscribe, Rate, and Review:

Takeaways:

Moving abroad can provide opportunities for a better quality of life and a fresh start.
Adapting to remote work can open up new possibilities for living in different countries.
Building a supportive community is essential for a successful expat experience.
Living in a foreign country requires an open mind, cultural sensitivity, and an understanding of local customs and laws.
Exploring nature and engaging in outdoor activities can enhance the expat experience. Driving in Costa Rica can be challenging due to narrow and windy roads, but it is less stressful than other transportation options.
Learning the local language is important for immersion and understanding the nuances of the culture.
When working remotely, it is crucial to stay visible and maintain connections with clients and colleagues.
Visiting back home is important for business visibility and maintaining relationships.
The January 6th insurrection in DC had a significant impact on Molly's perspective and she believes it signifies the end of an era in America.

Sound Bites:

"Being closer to nature and a little bit more grounded."

"I'm gonna be better at doing everything fully remote than everybody else."

"I was drugged and robbed in a home invasion."

"There's always a chance you're going to die every time you get in your car because the roads are so narrow and windy."

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:53 Motivation for Moving Abroad

06:11 Adapting to Remote Work

09:03 Navigating the Visa Process

12:00 Finding Accommodation

14:52 Initial Impressions of Costa Rica

17:01 Dealing with a Traumatic Experience

19:48 Interacting with the Police and Government

24:07 Settling into a New Community

28:00 Embracing the Natural Beauty of Costa Rica

30:48 Living Abroad: Cultural Differences and Local Laws

31:44 The Importance of Language Learning

33:03 Staying Visible in Remote Work

37:42 The Impact of the January 6th Insurrection

39:40 The Changing City of DC

42:00 The Political Climate in Costa Rica

53:21 Joining Local Crime Groups for Information

56:45 Envisioning Your Perfect Day

Next Episode

E056 - Moving to New Zealand for Better Job Opportunities Starting a Business in a Foreign Country

8 Recommendations

Trent shares his journey of living in different countries, starting from the US to Spain and then to New Zealand. He initially moved to Spain to learn Spanish and teach English. He faced challenges in learning the language but eventually became intermediate-level proficient. In Spain, he embraced the laid-back culture, built friendships, and traveled extensively in Europe. After a year in Spain, Trent moved to New Zealand for better job opportunities in the IT sector. He settled in Auckland and eventually started his own business, a kettle corn manufacturing company. In this conversation, Trent shares his experiences living abroad in both Spain and New Zealand. He talks about starting a business in New Zealand and the challenges he faced with the healthcare system. Trent also discusses the cultural differences between the US and New Zealand, including work ethic and political views. He offers advice for those considering living abroad, emphasizing the importance of doing research and being prepared.

Takeaways:

Living in different countries provides unique experiences and opportunities for personal growth.

Learning a new language can be challenging but rewarding, and immersion is key to improving language skills.

Embracing the local culture and building relationships with locals can enhance the overall experience of living abroad.

Researching job opportunities and understanding the local market is crucial when moving to a new country.

Starting a business in a foreign country requires adaptability, perseverance, and understanding of the local market. Do your research and be prepared before moving abroad

Cultural differences can impact work ethic and political views

Experiencing different countries and cultures can broaden your perspective

Connect with locals and join forums to get a better understanding of a new place

Appreciate the beauty and opportunities that come with living abroad

Connect with Us:

Website: https://www.tallmantravels.co.uk/the-expat-pod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089327439022
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.expat.pod/
X: https://twitter.com/ExpatPod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-expat-pod/