Bee's 3 Step Guide to Going Abroad: LIVE!

Step 3---You made it! And so...

First thing’s first. There is a good ol' saying from Sierra Leone, that the people always tell the JCs ( a term for newly arrived visitors, especially those Sierra Leone natives living abroad). They say "Nah for put u rights nah u pocket." In translation, put your rights in your pocket. In translation again, forget about all them rights and rules and essentially all the order that you know to exist in the western world. It’s a serious thing, though, we laugh at it. But it is one thing I recommend for travelers. It speaks to the ability to adapt to your local environment. This will help you stay calm and not become frustrated in certain situations. Take it easy, take the country for what it is, try hard not to compare it to what you know and you will be able to get the best experience out of it. Do I like brushing my buttocks against passengers as I squeeze to through the cramped aisles to find a seat? No. Do I look forward enduring the odor of someone’s long day of hard work? Um, not exactly. But do I like paying only .25 cents to get somewhere?  Um, yes. $3.00 to the beach. Um, yes. So I take it for what it is and sacrifice. Learn how to do this and you are half way to having a blast! And truly delving into what the country has to offer.

-Check into a hostel, couch-surf, or stay with a friend in town. Some people look for places to live before hand. I would recommend crashing somewhere until you are hired or have established an area that you want to be in. You should get a feel for the country and decide where you could see yourself living. I stayed at a nice hostel in the older section of Panama City upon arrival. And I am actually planning to move back there in a few weeks.

-Once you arrive, ask where you can get a small/cheap cell phone with a local number. This should be done almost immediately.

-Once you get yourself a number, add your new local number to your cover letter and resume and then re-send your cover letter/resume to your list of school contacts. Watch the magic happen!

-Ask about ways to get around and start checking out the locations of these language schools. Get some copies of your package printed and then hand deliver them to schools/businesses. This shows that you are serious and the reality is that down here and in other parts of the world it is highly likely that you will not get a response via email. I won’t even begin to go in to the many reasons as to why non-response should be expected. #aintnobodygottimeforthat

-Be patient. Again. And Again.

-Go out. Meet people. Network. Tell them what you are doing. Indulge the people who will spend minutes and minutes talking to you you about how they are investing in some weird project and even the people who say they have been traveling for 7 months and are just passing through. Just indulge them. You might learn a thing or to, or find someone with whom you share similar interested. And besides, you never know what connects they might have.

-Don't be usin’ all your money juuuuuust yet. (Yes, I said it like that. It was appropriate)

-Make a list of things/experiences you want to have while in country.

Deep Ish:

Make a list of what you didn’t come here to do. And every time you find yourself trippin' look back at that list.

For me, I didn’t come to panama to work excessively, to be stressed, to have that day-to-day stress of office job-ness and I didn’t come here to drive. I came here to walk as much as I could and be driven. I also came here to write more, live more, and self-reflect about how to build my future.

And so far, I have done those things. I’ll be honest and say that I do get stressed, but it’s a different kind of stressed than when I was in the States. I have had a lot of time to do just those things. However, I am almost ready for what’s next. Stay tuned.

But in the mean time, start your own journey.

Get back to Y.O.U. (Your Own Unfulfilled dreams)

Just G.O (Get Out!)

And

LIVE!

Border Hoppin' and Discovering Gems

Even if you don’t believe in anything, going to Costa Rica is bound to make you think about who or what created such awesomeness.  The beauty of Costa Rica, the natural diversity, the lushness of the green plants---it’s sure to leave you thinking…

But of course, nothing comes that easily. So before I tell you all the amazing things about Costa Rica, let me recap the journey for you. If you ever thought US customs was a big deal, check out the immigration process in Central America. Lol. Ain’t nothing like it.

In true spirit of a semi-backpacker/semi-nomad/semi-adventureseeker (I do not yet own the official backpacker bookbag, lol), we decided to bus it. Okay, okay. It was wayyyy cheaper. Consider crossing borders in Central America for a mere $80 versus $400.00. You would be on that bus too. Anyway, the Tica bus left Panama City’s Gran Terminal at 11:00pm and was set to arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica at 2:00pm the next day. Indeed it was a long journey, but well worth it. I mean, it is all about the experience, right?

At 6:44 am, we arrived at ‘La Frontera.’

We were asked to get off of the bus and enter a sketchy room. I imagine that this sketchy room was the Panamanian side’s immigration office. They brought in a dog that perused the bags. Then a man pointed at all of the foreigners in the room and asked for our passports. I realized later that he had a paper with certain names circled. Yet, how he figured out just who to point to even with that list is still a mystery to me. Maybe, he was just that damn good?

After we were cleared for whatever foreigners need to be cleared for, we proceeded to another line.  Here we were asked to show our tickets and they took a picture of us with webcams.  I even had to take my scarf off my head. Oh well.

It's always exciting to make it across any border!

Then we walked the rest of the way to Costa Rica. Got you! Lol, we were at the border, so just one foot over and we were in Costa Rica.  We stood in line again, this time at the immigration office on the Costa Rican side. 

Somewhere around 9 o’clock (still don’t know whose time it was), we got back on the bus and pulled off. Then we were stopped by police officer or immigration official. I am realizing that you are never really sure who is who around these parts. You just comply.  The good thing about this guy was that when I handed him my passport, he actually pronounced my name right. If you want to see me smile, say my name…and say it right :) 

As we began driving again, I found myself staring out of the window and being grateful once again for the opportunity to see so much, with so little. Each time I see a new place, I am re-inspired to keep making strides in my life and to be a step closer to whatever my purpose is on this earth. For me, this isn’t just about acquiring stamps in my passport. I’ll admit, that part makes me happy too. But the real thing for me is truly finding myself and actualizing my dreams along the way. Through all of this traveling, I am moved, I am inspired, and I am driven to work even harder, to touch people. 

Our ultimate destination during this trip was to a town on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica called Puerto Viejo. A gem it is indeed! Puerto Viejo is a funky little, hippie, rasta, backpacker and everything- in-between-kinda beach town. That meant lots of fresh fruit smoothies, which we all became addicted to by the end of the trip! Lots of expats from different countries including Spain, the United States, Canada, just to name a few. I loved the place. I fit right in with the easy-going people and the reggae tunes blasting from cars, bars, and shops. The reggae vibe just matched with the flair of the town and the tropical vibe. It’s the kinda town where everyone knows everyone and their story. I will always remember at least three of the characters I met here. The Nicaraguan rasta, a costa Rican rasta, and a man from Jamaica, who looked at me and told me straight up that he liked my African vibe. He was a truth speaker. Each of these three people gave me something to think about. My conversation with the rasta from Costa Rica was full of things that will come up time and time again in this blog. The joys of travelling the world: you meet people who, no matter how far away your lands, share the same ideas and thoughts and even passions as you.  You pick up bits and pieces. 

Fresh caribbean food from a local spot called Soda Isma

the glow comes with the territory ;)

kisses from a caribbean town in central america!

peace on the beach

chocolate and green...my faves!

limon's flag has colors similar to the flag of Sierra Leone :)

As Puerto Viejo is located in the province of Limon, it was only right that we pay a visit to the city where most of the afro-descendants reside. They came from Jamaica and other Caribbean countries to build a railroad.  Fortunately, we actually made it there in time for the Carnaval de Limon. It was a blessing to be there in the flesh and experience the pride that people feel on that day. I even noticed some dances that seemed distinctively similar to African 

tribal dances. The city, the people, the experience---nothing short of interesting. I hope to go back there some time next year and have an even richer experience. Check out some of the pictures from carnaval. 

african princesses

the finer things in life: writing on the beach

All in all, 'twas a wonderful trip with two spontaneous sistagirls and all in the name of a Central American Caribbean adventure. 

This weekend I look forward to exploring a bit of Panama. Stay tuned for the San Blas Islands experience with the Kuna Indians of Panama. And remember---don’t take off your seatbelt cuz there’s always an adventure awaiting you here on Bee’s Backseat!