Life in Costa Rica: I did it, I made it, and I lived to tell about it.

The time has come and I figured I can do this! After all I moved to a foreign country, not knowing one person and not speaking the language. Now I have 40 - yup 40 - at my Thanksgiving dinner and I am saying the grace in Spanish myself. I can do this. After all I have been in the travel business most of my life. I didn't bring any cookies. I will have to depend on Pura Vida and my smile.

So, no Jose, no Emilio, no Ziomara, just me.

Orosi to Paraiso is easy. I have done that many times. I walked across the park to the bus station for San Jose and there was a bus just ready to leave so I had no wait. I spent the time practicing the blessing in Spanish and the nice young man sitting next to me helped me when I asked how to pronounce a word or two.

So off we go to San Jose. I was all prepared to take the bus to the end of the line and take a taxi back to PriceSmart but right after we went by the store the bus stopped to let some other people off so I got off too. I have gotten very much like a local. I asked 3 people along the way if I was headed in the right area for Pricesmart. Then, when I got there I even asked the attendant in the parking ramp where the door was. All together it was a few block walk. I was the only person walking. Not many people come here without a car.

I went to the membership desk, got that taken care of, and off I went shopping. I have been around the store twice, besides going up and down with a clerk helping me try to find coconut and cranberries. No luck on those two but do I have TURKEY! Three of them. I will end up having all of the refrigerators in La Quinta full of turkey. If I have to, I will cook two of them early and cut them up and then cook one on Saturday and bring it out whole. And I got Baileys for after dinner, and some really neat Christmas decorations, and fun Christmas suckers for in the stockings, and walnuts, and pecans, and chocolate chips, and better plates and large napkins, and chai mix, and more. I didn't get anything I could get in Orosi or Cartago

The security guard went over my receipt and discovered I had been charged twice for the big package of decorations and sent me to the membership desk for a refund. I am now in their eating area having Chicken Bake and of course a Berry Sundae before I figure out my transportation back to Orosi. It is my intention to use Uber. It will be the first time and I will see how it works.

I have found lots of people in Pricesmart that speak English so it has been great. The young lady who processed my membership says I can add Rosita at anytime so we can plan to come together another time.

So far I have not had any luck getting on Pricesmart's wifi so hopefully Uber will work on my phone. I would hate to have to push this full shopping cart to Orosi.

Uber didn't work. Could be my set up in my phone. It showed they would be there in 3-7 minutes. It kept changing but that went on for almost an hour. The security people finally took pity on me and took me back upstairs to have the desk call a regular taxi. I knew it would be more expensive but I just wanted to get home. He came in just a few minutes and was great about loading all my stuff including 3 heavy turkeys. He had a bit of a heavy foot and traffic wasn't bad so we made it here quickly. Again, he unloaded everything. The price wasn't as bad as I had been expecting. 20,000 colones so less than $40.00. I wish I could say the same for the Pricesmart bill.

Once I got everything into the house and the turkeys in the various refrigerators I headed out again. First to the hardware store for staples for my staple gun. Then to the appliance store to see if Gerardo was there so I could tell him about the turkeys. Then the fruit store which also has meat. I have the sausage and apples and onions for the stuffing. I will take a package of the wild rice out of the freezer and cook it the middle of the week. Baking will be Thursday and turkey cooking Friday along with setting up the tables. Tomorrow and Wednesday will be for gathering all the rest of the ingredients and supplies.

Except for the fact I have no idea what food is coming, which makes it interesting, I am pretty calm. I have done big dinners a few times so it doesn't scare me and I will have enough covered that no one will leave hungry. Or sober maybe. I will put the Sangria with fruit for a sip before dinner and Bailey's for after dinner. If anyone needs it I have Patron also. I think Rosita is bringing Papaya Lemonade. I have some very little jars of guayaba jelly and I think I am going to add them to the centerpiece. I will get apples and oranges closer to the day for the centerpiece.

I just went to put the sausage away and realized it wasn't here. I walked back to the shop and the girl greeted me and when I said mi chorizo she laughed and motioned to the man and got my bag out of the cooler. He apologized and I bought cucumbers for refrigerator pickles, cilantro for guacamole tomorrow, carrots and celery. The list of what I have to get is getting shorter. I do need to find the place in Cartago where I got frozen cranberries last year so I can make fresh cranberry sauce. I was with Emilio and have no idea where it is. I can live without pumpkin but not without cranberries for the turkey.

I have been told the weather is going to be terrible Wednesday but that may be the day I have to hit Cartago. Say a little prayer for light rain. Cold is fine. After all, I am from Minnesota. It isn't that kind of cold.

My Christmas decorating is coming along. I have lights up in two windows and stockings up inside and out. The Judi tree is done and the table with pointsettias is looking good. I must remember to water them. I will hang the new ornaments from the ceiling and the big ones on the front porch. I do still have bows to put up. I am hoping it is contagious and Gerardo decorates around La Quinta.

That's it for my day. A good adventure with kind treatment from many people.