Adventure: Costa Rican Immigration Odyssey
March 30, 2009
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Posted in acceptance, family, Spirit of Adventure
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Lisis,
What an ordeal! I’m really sorry you went through this.
It’s great the way you kept calm even in the face of an absurd bureaucracy. I might have screamed.
@ Roger: I really, really, really wanted to scream, cry and threaten. I just kept thinking that might land me in jail and make the process take longer! You used the perfect word to describe that type of bureaucracy that doesn’t actually help anyone: absurd.
The nice part is, I am SO enjoying the absence of red tape in my regular life. It’s like getting a “stealth quality of life improvement”; I didn’t change anything in my daily life, but it FEELS better.
=-)
Hi Lisis,
What a bad adventure! I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that! I am happy that you were able to make it home finally, I know you must be relieved!
I think your “quest for balance” must be working. I’m not sure I could have kept my cool the way you did!
Welcome home!!
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Bureaucracy is so infuriating sometimes!
Good for you for keeping a cool head.
^^This is a powerful lesson. Suffering does help us to appreciate everything else. The rough spots have value too.
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@ Jay: Interestingly, my quest for balance did help me while I was going through this. I kept thinking of the experience in terms of writing posts about it after the fact, and that there are all sorts of life lessons to be gleaned from it. It was my constant reminder to stay calm and focused… “Serenity Now!”
@ David: Too true. Once you have suffered, everything else feels wonderful in comparison. This misadventure was more discomfort than suffering, but it provides a nice point of comparison which makes my life seem real comfy.
Hi Lisis,
Good for you for being calm, cool and collected on the outside. I am happy that it all worked out in the end but I can imagine the frustration. I have traveled all over the world but when I lived in India that experience took bureaucracy to a new level. I know India is not Costa Rica but India has over a billion people and they want people to have jobs so there are many steps a person has to take to do something. It is things like that that make you appreciate efficiency and the lack of red tape.
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hello!
I admire you for keeping your cool amidst all those troubles
the situation would surely bring out the warfreak in me…
cheers!
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@ Nadia: It’s like you said… “calm, cool, and collected ON THE OUTSIDE” because I was a raging river of torment on the inside! I wanted to pull the old, “I’m an American Citizen” routine, but I’ve seen people try that on the show Locked Up Abroad, and it never works. It just makes them mad. Sometimes the only option is to play by the rules (I’ve never liked that option much.)
@ Sterndal: It troubled me so deeply that even BOTH parents could not take their child out of the country. Even if Jeff had come to rescue us, we’d still have to get the government’s permission to travel with OUR SON. It’s the craziest thing!! I know the original intent of the law was to protect kids, but the result is ridiculous.
BTW, Welcome to myQ4B! Always nice to meet new people. =-)
“Some have adventure thrust upon them.” Yeah, I can see that!
I really like how you were able to see the challenge of the situation in terms of future blog posts (even while it was happening). This is brilliant and very telling of your character. I imagine many great adventurers confront danger and challenge knowing that it will make a great story some day. You’re the real deal, Lisis!
Welcome home!
Thanks, Michael… it’s nice to BE home! And it’s especially nice to be “the real deal”! =-)
I must admit, I am a big fan of spending my days collecting experiences that I can recount as stories later (either on this blog, or to the poor saps that will be stuck listening to me ramble when I’m a grumpy old lady.) Did you ever see the movie, Big Fish? That guy was all about fantastic stories.
That’s crazy. I wouldn’t expect that much drama from Costa Rica. I’ve had my share of difficult circustances, but nothing comes close to one involving your child. Look on the bright side. In a few months, the tension will pass and you’ll sit have an interesting story of adventure to tell for years and years. Glad it finally worked out. Also glad that having dual citizenship with Italy isn’t as red-tape filled.
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I know it! I wouldn’t have expected CR to give me that much crap either! Next time I choose a citizenship, I’m taking Italy!!! Chianti, pastas, and much less red tape. That’s got my name written all over it.
I did see Big Fish! Wow, you know, if you hadn’t brought if up that movie would have quietly faded from my memory. But thinking about it now, it was a pretty good movie, huh? I think I’ll have to watch it again in light of your teachings about an adventurous spirit.
BTW, Lisis, don’t become a grumpy old lady.
Wow Lisis…welcome back indeed.
” Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes, and seeing them gratified. He that labors in any great or laudable undertaking has his fatigues first supported by hope, and afterwards rewarded by joy. To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.”
— Samuel Johnson —
That was the quote I thought of right away when I read your ordeal in Costa Rica Lisis. You held your head high and looked at danger head on with controlled calmness. Now peaceful moments with your son will be cherished even more after such tumultuous times.
another chapter is written on your quest for balance
I wish I could have continued to blog when I was in Vietnam for the last 5 weeks but I am just glad I am back now.
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Well, hey Vincent!!!! Welcome back to you too! Five weeks in Vietnam, huh? That means some pretty awesome posts coming up on Yinnergy, right?
I love the quote you shared with us here… what a beautiful approach to life’s inevitable challenges. You are so right, too, now that we are home (together), every little thing is more beautiful and precious.
Thanks!
Thank you for the welcome back Lisis
Yes there will be some fun posts indeed and I am just arranging my 1000s of photos right now….haha
You are right Lisis…sometimes its the smallest things in life that makes us more happy and thankful.
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