(Post #48 ) Costa Rica Chronicles: Motherhood and Mayhem

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Since my last update, I've stumbled upon a whole new set of unexpected adventures. As I write this, I'm on a flight back to Toronto after spending three weeks in Costa Rica. I must say, this journey was far from a simple "sipping cocktails by the beach" kind of vacation. Instead, it transformed into a profound lesson in emotional support, tropical surprises, and the undeniable excitement (and anxieties) of immersing myself in local culture. When your daughter reaches out to you, you respond—ants, strong currents, closed roads, lost car keys, and all the chaos in between.

First, let’s talk about motherhood in an unfamiliar country. I managed to shake off my travel cough just in time to jump right into full mom-mode, supporting my daughter as she navigated significant life changes. While I won’t share every single detail (a mother never reveals everything), let’s say that history has a way of repeating itself. Guiding her through this experience reminded me of our shared strength—even when the journey seems filled with hurdles. Of course, it wasn’t all serious.

There were instances that felt like they were lifted from a comedy show. Like the day we found ourselves stuck on a winding mountain road, completely immobilized by a tree that had decided to cozy up to some power lines. No way to move forward or back, 40 cars trapped in a standstill, and the sun slowly setting. We made it home before dark, but not without adding a few gray hairs to my collection.

Then there was that day at the beach—a mix of paradise and panic. My daughter’s friend, an adept swimmer, got caught in a riptide. She was being pulled further and further away until, by sheer luck, a lifeguard on a jet ski arrived like a hero in a dramatic scene. After a tense rescue and a close call with disaster, we left the beach shaken yet grateful.

And how could I possibly overlook the ants? One evening, we came back to find the ground bustling with activity—a constant flow of tiny invaders making their way down the hill towards our home. Cue the anxiety. Equipped with a garden hose and sheer willpower, I attempted to fend them off until the homeowner reassured us that they wouldn’t enter the house. He was right, of course. By morning, they had vanished. But for a Western mom with frightening tales of tropical insects, that night truly tested my calmness.

My final escapade in Costa Rica? The sweet generosity of my daughter who took me to San José to catch my flight back home. It turned into a classic “lost in translation” scenario. After a winding four-hour trek to San José, where I would spend my last night with a toddler and a dog, we arrived at a "pet-friendly" hotel—only to be met with a resolute “no dogs allowed” and some rather animated gestures from the staff. A big thank you to booking.com for your overly optimistic depiction of “welcoming furry friends.” After some frantic searching online and a series of intense negotiations, we found a more accommodating hotel and finally managed to catch some rest.

Just when I thought the ordeal was over, as I was landing in Toronto, I received a text from my daughter asking if I had accidentally taken her car rental keys. Wait, what? I was convinced I hadn’t, but a quick rummage through my carry-on bag uncovered a gift bag she had hurriedly packed for me—and inside were the keys! She must have inadvertently dropped them in there. Crisis averted, more or less. Now I’ll need to add “FedEx car keys to Costa Rica” to my post-trip to-do list. Despite the chaos, this trip was filled with love, laughter, and those moments that remind you life is wild, unpredictable, and beautiful all at once.

The local family who owned the land where the cabin was situated treated my daughter with such warmth and welcomed us as if we were their own, showcasing the universal power of human connection.

Latest Update: It is 9:41 PM local BC time, and I have just landed in Vancouver from Toronto, after my time in Costa Rica, with one more flight ahead. Off to Victoria. I’m already eager for the next chapter (January 15th to March 6th): a hopefully stress-free adventure in Asia. Will it be romantic? Thrilling? Hilarious? Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come.

One journey wrapped up, and another, more relaxing one, is just getting started.

The beach that could have been a heartbreaking day.



Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

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