Tag Archives: expat

4 Bad Reasons to Move to Costa Rica

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

In my previous post, I blogged about 4 good reasons to move to Costa Rica.  In this post, I will discuss the bad reasons.  I am not trying to discourage potential expats from coming to the land of Pura Vida! … Continue reading →

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5 Amazing Perks of Parenting in Costa Rica as an Expat

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

In my previous post, I blogged about the challenges of parenting as an expat in Costa Rica.  As intense as it is to raise third culture kids, these are offset by all the wonderful benefits of being a parent in … Continue reading →

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5 Challenges of Parenting in Costa Rica as an Expat

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

My children tell me I have changed a lot as a parent in a positive way since we moved from Texas to Costa Rica.  I think there are many reasons for these changes that are completely independent of living here, such … Continue reading →

Posted in A Lesson Worth Learning, Family Life, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What Is It Like to Be an Expat Parent in Costa Rica?

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

Kara, my tween daughter, recently confided a story to me recently that made me cringe inside.  The local custom in Costa Rica is to dump organic waste (banana peels, uneaten rice/beans, and other food waste products) outside as compost.  We … Continue reading →

Posted in A Question Worth Answering, Becoming an Expat, Family Life, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Happy Thanksgiving from Costa Rica! I Am Thankful For……

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

As I mentioned in an earlier post, for the first time in my adult life I will not be celebrating Thanksgiving this year with my parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.  In fact, since Chris is in Antarctica, it’s just … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Life, Simplifying | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

3 Ways to Simplify Your Goals

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

Eighteen months ago, if anyone would have asked me, “What are your goals in life?”, this is how I would have responded: “Well, my 15-year plan is to become Associate Dean of Medical Education, either here (my workplace at that … Continue reading →

Posted in A Lesson Worth Learning, Career-Life Balance, Simplifying | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Reflections on Simplifying in Costa Rica: I can live without these

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

As I reflect on ways we have simplified our lives since moving to Costa Rica, I amazed by how many things we live without that I previously thought were absolutely essential.  This is a partial list of things I used … Continue reading →

Posted in Redesigning Your Life, Reflections, Simplifying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Simplifying in Costa Rica: Paper or Plastic….or Neither!

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

Before moving to Costa Rica from the Texas, I had moment where I felt I “hit bottom” as an American consumer.  It happened at HEB Plus, the massive superstore where I had been doing most of my shopping for 8 … Continue reading →

Posted in Simplifying, Sustainability and Eco-Friendly | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Simplifying in Costa Rica: Reduce, Reuse, Recyle

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

One of the reasons we moved to Costa Rica out all the many countries we considered is it’s prevalent culture of sustainability and conservation.  You can live in Costa Rica and be enslaved by consumerism, produce a ton of trash, … Continue reading →

Posted in Living in Monteverde/Santa Elena, Simplifying, Sustainability and Eco-Friendly | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Simplifying in Costa Rica: Smaller House

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Noemi Gamel

When we first moved to Costa Rica, Kathia, one of the international family liaisons at the children’s school, showed us  4 different houses.  We fell in love with  Ana Victoria’s house though it was at the high end of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Simplifying, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments