A Journey to Freedom

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Hola!

I’m Davia, and I’ve been living in Costa Rica for over seven years. If you’re frustrated by your home country’s total disregard for you and everyone who looks like you, I’m here to tell you there’s a better way.  I’m living proof that there’s a way out––a way to real happiness.

I was just another cog in the American workforce machine before moving to Costa Rica in 2016. Although I’ve always been driven, intellectual, and hungry for success, I couldn’t seem to advance in my career no matter how hard I worked.  Eventually, I realized that there would never be an opportunity for a promotion at my job, and that it wasn’t my fault.  I didn’t have the foundation that my white coworkers had to build their lives and careers on. There was no generational wealth for me to fall back on, and there weren’t any higher-ups putting in a good word for me at the water cooler. I was one of three black people in a department with approximately 100 employees. And no one––not a single person––in upper management looked like me. 

I eventually had to face reality and admit to myself that the only way to really see positive change in my life was to remove myself from the machine entirely.  After returning to the US, I made a one-year exit plan and eventually moved to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica in March 2016 with my twin daughters.

Since moving, the luxuries I enjoyed during my vacation have become everyday reality for my family and me. And perhaps best of all, I’ve created a better future for my children. My kids have generational wealth to fall back on, they’ll never have to worry about whether or not they’ll make it home after being pulled over, and they won’t have to watch less qualified people get promotion after promotion while they’re automatically disqualified because of their skin color. So, if you’re desperate to know if there’s a better way for you and your family, I’m here to tell you there is.

I’ve found a great community of black and brown expats (growing larger by the day) in Costa Rica, and I’ve made it my mission to help others to find a place where they belong. Just like I’ve found mine.

Need help creating your own one-year exit plan? Do you need to talk things through to see if moving abroad is right for you? 

Costa Ricans (Ticos) are generally gentle, spirited, friendly, educated, polite, and kind people. Most seem to like visitors from other countries and treat them well. There are, of course, exceptions, but on the whole, you can expect to be made welcome wherever you go.

Ticos are a mixing of races. Though most of the country’s 4 million inhabitants descend from Spanish immigrants, many families originated in other parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Central America. A large number are fair-skinned, especially in the Central Valley.  In the outlying areas, more people are mestizos, a mixture of European and Indigenous blood.  On the Caribbean coast you find strong links to African lineage, and in Talamanca Mountain, you will find it inhabited by the pure-blooded indigenous peoples of various tribes. In Guanacaste Province, you will find dark skinned Ticos, reflecting their Nicaraguan heritage.

Ticos are extremely family oriented. They love music and dance.  When I say love music, I mean it is everywhere and all the time... and LOUD.  They also occasional enjoy alcohol.  In fact, Costa Ricans, as almost all Latinos, party loud and long and really enjoy each other's company.  You will definitely know if there is a party in your neighborhood! Not unexpectedly, you probably won't get invited to those parties until you speak the language! That is why you will see me repeat time and again in this site, learn Spanish if you plan to live here. It makes all the difference.

If you are married to a Costa Rican or have a Tico(a) as your significant other (pareja), you not only get him or her, you get the whole clan, and in Catholic Costa Rica, that can be a TON of relatives!  Click here for one entry from my personal blog on this subject.

Who are these people?

They have the same goals, desires and fears you do. They want to love and be loved, they want their children to be educated, they worry about their teenagers getting tongue rings and tattoos, they worry about the guy their daughter is dating, and they want to thrive and prosper. They want their children to have better lives than they do.  They worry about politics, Iraq, crooked politicians, and the economy. Sound familiar?

Ticos are often polite to the extreme. Most will do almost anything to avoid a confrontation or appear rude in any way. This can cause MUCH confusion to foreigners, especially North Americans who tend to be very direct.  If a Tico feels a "no" answer would in any way offend, they may well say "yes" or "maybe", or "I think so" or "that might be difficult", which is still pretty much means "no", but sounds more polite! Easy Huh?