One thing about being an Expat in San Juan del Sur, and possibly anywhere else, is the constant saying of Hello and Goodbye.
My friend Sara McCoy, a close friend from college who was visiting us for two weeks from the States, left, leaving an emptiness behind her. We don’t know when we’ll see each other again. Or where.
My friend Lynn, who I met here a year ago this month, packed up her bags and moved back to the States for good. No more yoga classes together. No more lunches and Writer’s Group and book studies and long conversations.
And Tella Sametz is off traveling in Turkey and Europe and Morocco and Canada for five months. While Linda Giordano, my Water Aerobics partner, is off visiting family and friends for six weeks in the States.
Eve Kohlman, thank God, just got back from her trip to the States, so instead of Goodbye I recently got to say Hello Again.
And for the most part the Canadians are all gone – back to their beautiful land for their beautiful summer – until the northern cold of November, December or January drives them all back down.
Yes there are the Expats that have been here for years (thank you Kathleen Brugger, thank you) and will hopefully continue to be here for years (please please).
There are the Expats who have not even arrived yet – those that right this minute are somewhere far away, elbows on a desk crunching numbers and trying to figure out how to make a move to SJDS work – and who one day will be new friends.
But Expats by their very nature are transient. They picked up their roots and gave up everything: home, friends, family, work, doctors, routines. They can do it again. And again. The first time’s the hardest, like committing a crime (I’m only guessing).
Because we typically look the same (sometimes skin color, sometimes dress) and speak the same language (English and Expat) it is easy to recognize each other, to communicate, to offer help to each other and to become quick friends.
Sanjuaneños appear to be somewhat transient, if at all, but on a more local level with some moving between Costa Rica and Managua and Rivas and San Juan del Sur for work or college.
And the neighbor’s dogs who have adopted us? Well, I can count on seeing them every single day. ?
