When it comes to books about moving to Costa Rica, there is none more popular than the expat memoir by Nadine Hays Pisani, Happier Than a Billionaire. Nadine was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about what made her move away from the United States, her new home in Costa Rica, and the mega-success of her book.
What did you do in your “past life?”
In my past life I was a chiropractor running a very busy practice.
Why did you choose Costa Rica as a new home?
I was looking for a simpler life, so my husband and I decided to sell everything and move to Costa Rica. We did a little research and found that the diversity and the lower cost of living is what attracted us there.
What do you love most about your new life in Costa Rica?
I love that my life is much slower than it was before. I now take the time to appreciate all the beautiful things around me. I have monkeys outside my window everyday and parrots squawk overhead every morning. It's very hard to be in a bad mood surrounded by that.
Is there anything you really miss about life back in the US?
What do I miss about the US? Everything! Bagels with Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Kindly bring some the next time you are back in Costa Rica. Oh... my husband is also asking for a new alternator for our car. Please shove that in your carry-on as well.
What did you do in your “past life?”
In my past life I was a chiropractor running a very busy practice.
Why did you choose Costa Rica as a new home?
I was looking for a simpler life, so my husband and I decided to sell everything and move to Costa Rica. We did a little research and found that the diversity and the lower cost of living is what attracted us there.
What do you love most about your new life in Costa Rica?
I love that my life is much slower than it was before. I now take the time to appreciate all the beautiful things around me. I have monkeys outside my window everyday and parrots squawk overhead every morning. It's very hard to be in a bad mood surrounded by that.
Is there anything you really miss about life back in the US?
What do I miss about the US? Everything! Bagels with Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Kindly bring some the next time you are back in Costa Rica. Oh... my husband is also asking for a new alternator for our car. Please shove that in your carry-on as well.
What’s been the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge for me is learning the language. Every time I think I learned a new work in Spanish, I later find out I asked the grocer for a bag of urine.
When did you first think about writing a book about your experience as an expat?
The book happened by chance. Just started writing all the funny stories, and how much my life was changing when not worrying about how I'm going to squeeze in another patient into my already long day. Next thing I know CNN was calling. I wish I could say I planned all that out, but I didn't. In fact, it was the only thing in my life I haven't planned out.
What advice would you give people thinking of moving to Costa Rica?
The advice I would give to anyone moving to a foreign country is to pack a good sense of humor with you. It's the most valuable thing you'll own. You can get through anything (in our case: hospital visits and scooter accidents) if you can laugh at how ridiculous it all is. Some things will go your way, others will fall by the wayside. But in the end, you will have a story to tell. I didn't have one while working in that office all those years. But now I do. And it's a funny one.
Thanks Nadine! We appreciate the interview and thanks for writing such a great book about your new life in Costa Rica!
The biggest challenge for me is learning the language. Every time I think I learned a new work in Spanish, I later find out I asked the grocer for a bag of urine.
When did you first think about writing a book about your experience as an expat?
The book happened by chance. Just started writing all the funny stories, and how much my life was changing when not worrying about how I'm going to squeeze in another patient into my already long day. Next thing I know CNN was calling. I wish I could say I planned all that out, but I didn't. In fact, it was the only thing in my life I haven't planned out.
What advice would you give people thinking of moving to Costa Rica?
The advice I would give to anyone moving to a foreign country is to pack a good sense of humor with you. It's the most valuable thing you'll own. You can get through anything (in our case: hospital visits and scooter accidents) if you can laugh at how ridiculous it all is. Some things will go your way, others will fall by the wayside. But in the end, you will have a story to tell. I didn't have one while working in that office all those years. But now I do. And it's a funny one.
Thanks Nadine! We appreciate the interview and thanks for writing such a great book about your new life in Costa Rica!
You can find out more or get the book at:
www.happierthanabillionaire.com
facebook.com/happierthanabillionaire
twitter.com/happierwithless
www.happierthanabillionaire.com
facebook.com/happierthanabillionaire
twitter.com/happierwithless
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