When I arrived in Quepos forever ago, another student was here finishing 6 weeks of Spanish study. Ed, from Chicago, found Olga and William’s house on Airbnb, and they helped him find a private tutor. He came by himself as his wife isn’t a traveler. In his early 70’s, Ed didn’t know a word of Spanish before coming. Now, after 6 weeks of 2 hours a day with his tutor, he has more Spanish than he did.
I’m very grateful to Ed. On my first afternoon here, he showed me around town, took me to the bus station, and told me which bank to use to get money. He was my kayaking buddy on the mangrove tour. I think he was very lonely by the time I arrived. I’d find him waiting for me for lunch every day when I’d get home from school. After dinner, sometimes I’d join Ed on his nightly ice cream walk. I’ve only been here a week, and I know I couldn’t stay as long as Ed did, nor be as isolated as he was. He left this weekend for home. Tonight I ate dinner at the pizza restaurant around the corner because Ed told me it was the best in town. I was missing him.
This Monday, Robin from Washington started her first day at the school. Robin’s about my age, and she came alone too. Robin opted not to live with a family and instead found a small apartment near the school. Meeting each other for the first time on Monday, she was grateful that there was someone like her who had also traveled so far to do something seemingly so alone. She, too, woke up on her first morning thinking, “What on earth have I done?” It felt good to spend time with her and show her around as Ed had done with me. Paying it forward, so to speak. It’ll be her turn next week to show someone new around.
So now, this week, I eat my lunch with Robin. With Ed, forever an engineer, our conversations were about Spanish grammar and when to say what and what not to say when—all with some lengthy pauses in between. With Robin, well, we haven’t stopped talking since we met, and we’ve yet to discuss a single verb conjugation.
