Friday, November 22, 2013

Jumping Through the Hoops

Today ends with an enormous Sigh.  It encompasses many emotions, including anger, frustration, impatience, worry, panic, guilt, more anger, a moment of happiness, then exhaustion.

The plan for today was this:  Go to the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) office in Markham to get the health certificates signed for the cats, come home to get more packing done, then go to a friend's place for drinks and go dancing at our favourite club for the last time before we leave.

Apparently life had other plans.

First of all, the CFIA "hours" that they have available for people to get papers signed are very limited, between 1:30-3:30pm.  The bus that goes there (for people like us who don't have a car) is a "D" bus, 24D to be specific, that leaves from Victoria Park subway station.  The regular 24 bus only goes as far as Steeles.  Anyway, unbeknownst to us at the time, the 24D bus only runs until 1pm, then doesn't start up again until 7pm.  Really, TTC?  How does that make sense?  So we get to Vic Park station shortly after 1pm.  We ended up taking the bus that goes to Steeles, then a cab to the CFIA office.  

At the office, everything went swimmingly.  The government veterinarians were very nice and they were impressed by my thoroughness and amazing skills at filling out forms.  I'm not sure why I used the word "swimmingly" just now, but it inspired me to look up the origins of that word.  This is what I found (http://www.word-detective.com/2008/12/swimmingly/)

Given that most of our planet’s surface is covered with water, it’s not surprising that “swim” itself is a very old word. The Old English “swimman,” meaning ‘to move on or in water, to float,” was derived from a Germanic root that also produced the words for “swim” in several other European languages.
Since movement through water is generally smooth (unless one is thrashing about in panic), especially compared to the “clomp clomp clomp” of walking on land, “swim” has acquired a wide variety of figurative uses, many involving a sense of gliding or moving smoothly as if suspended in liquid (“She … swam across the floor as though she scorned the drudgery of walking,” 1888).
This use of “swim” to mean “glide smoothly with little apparent effort” gave us the adverb “swimmingly” in the early 17th century meaning “with smooth, uninterrupted progress; easily; with complete success” (“The interview went off very swimmingly,” 1824).
So after the forms were signed and stamped, the CFIA vet told me that I should double check with the Costa Rican Consulate/Embassy to find out if I need to get the papers verified/legalized by them, now that they've been signed by the government veterinarian.  I mentioned that I had checked into it, and that there was a company who specializes in import/export of pets and they told me it wasn't necessary.  The vet said I should call anyways, as policies are always changing.  So whilst waiting for our cab back to civilization I made the call.
Now, before I even made the call, I was getting angry and frustrated.  Originally I had planned it all out, timing and budget-wise, to get all of the papers signed by everyone (local vet, government vet and Costa Rican Embassy).  It was all worked out to have been completed by the beginning of this week.  But then when I was told by the "experts" that I didn't have to do the last step, I changed the timing and money was diverted elsewhere.
I called and managed to speak to a live person right away (which is unusual with government phone calls!).  She assured me that YES, I do have to get the forms legalized at their embassy.  Sigh.  Okay, I'm leaving in 5 days.  How do I get this done?!  She told me that usually people send them the paperwork and it takes about 2 days to get them back.  Umm.  It's Friday.   The weekend is a no-go for any government agency.  We leave on Wednesday very early in the morning.  Again, how do I get this done?!?  Apparently there is a new consulate office that *just* opened in Toronto this week.  But the representative there is not authorized to sign or legalize these sorts of documents.  Sigh.  My best option is to make an appointment with the embassy in Ottawa on Monday morning.  So I did.  9:30am.  Now I have to make a last minute trip, probably by bus if I can't find a ride.  Sigh.  Good news is that Dan has family there so I can go Sunday night and stay over, then go to the appointment and head home after that.
Basically I'm pretty frustrated about the whole thing because I totally actually had it all planned out correctly but then I trusted this other company.  Also I started feeling guilty for spending money on my new tattoo yesterday (which I love, btw).  I was fortunate and lucky to have gotten some donations towards my tattoo as birthday presents from friends, so that helped a lot!  I keep reminding myself that I shouldn't feel guilty because I didn't know this would happen.  But I'm always SO careful and organized, so when this happened today I was really feeling defeated:/  
After the phone call, we were still waiting quite a while for the cab to get us back to Finch station.  We decided to go straight there in the cab as there was a BMO bank and we had to deposit the "signing fee" of $40 per paper ($160 total) directly into the Consulate's bank account.  I need to bring the receipt of payment to my appointment on Monday.  
Finally on the subway heading home, my stress was levelling out into exhaustion and hunger (having not eaten all day except a small bowl of cereal in the morning).  My feelings must have been really apparent on my face.  There was a lady sitting across from us, who came up to us as she was getting off at her stop.  She had a bouquet of flowers in a small vase , that I had noticed on her lap of course while she was sitting in front of me.  She placed the flowers on my lap and said to me "You look like you need these more than I do".  I looked at her, incredulously, and managed to muster up a quiet "Thank you!!" as she left the subway.  Then I almost started crying, as this random act of kindness triggered the release of all of the emotions I'd been struggling with all day.  Kinda restores a small amount of faith in humanity.  

So now we're home, fed and drinking some wine.  I've totally lost my enthusiasm about going out tonight, so we're just staying in and watching some Netflix.  I'm sad about not being out to see friends tonight, but honestly just not in the mood to be around people tonight.  I'm comforted by Dan, the cats, and my new bouquet of pretty flowers :)



Wednesday, November 20, 2013

10 x 10

Today at this time we'll be landing in San Jose!  Hopefully with four calm cats.  Though if the trip to the vet on Monday was any indication, at least 2 of them will need a small dose of gravol (dimenhydrinate).  It's safe for pets while flying because it's not an actual sedative, and the dose is really small.  It's *just* enough to make them sleepy.  Plus if they get any motion sickness it will prevent that, too!  Win-win.  One last step to getting their paperwork complete for the trip, which will be done on Friday.  Then they're all set:)  

Danger "helping" me pack

I put these carriers here as someone from Toronto Cat Rescue was picking them up, and Stitches had to pose for this photo op.  We got 4 soft-sided carriers for the plane so we didn't need these ones anymore.  Stitches says "I'm ready to travel!!!"


Every time I pack up more things, I feel accomplished.  Until I look at the rest of the house that's still somehow full of stuff.  We've done a couple of trips to the storage locker, and it's about 1/3 full...but I feel like we put tons of stuff in there already!  It's a small room, too...only 10x10.  So strange that the physical representation of our lives can fit into such a small space.  Very surreal.  

At least my anxiety has levelled out.  It's not worse, anyway.  Still having strange dreams and I'm not sleeping through the night without waking up once or twice...but when I think about all of the things we still have to do, I'm not freaking out.  So that's progress!

Time for more packing!!!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

15 days!!!

Well, we shipped off a few more things this past weekend.  The cats were mildly upset for the first little while but I convinced them all was well when I found some old cat toys that had been hidden under the furniture that left.  The living room is now much emptier, and the attic is starting to look bare, too!

We also had our Epic going away party this past Saturday evening, hosted by our amazing friends...the couple that is also travelling with us so that we can take all four cats on the plane in-cabin.  I think there must have been around 50 people there.  Our nearest and dearest:)  It was a treat to see everyone in the same room, and to know that they were all there in support of us and our decision to take this journey.  As much as I've been ready to leave this city for a few years now, I will definitely miss all of them.  I won't miss anything else though...except maybe the nearest convenience store, since in Nosara the nearest store isn't very "near".  Our friends and family (Dan's) reminded me of the good in this world, and I felt an overwhelming joy in being surrounded by them.  I know that even though we'll be distanced, we'll still be able to talk to each other and keep in touch.  Such is the way of technology!

My travel anxiety isn't getting any better though:/  15 days to go!  Makes the heart pound in anticipation and slight panic over "what have I forgotten to do?".  I have lists, I've gone over everything, contacted banks and credit cards, changed my address, and have all the papers for the cats.  We're both up to date on travel vaccines, and we're requesting copies of our recent medical records (to be safe).  We're not bringing a lot with us.  Mostly clothes, my vet books, my camera, computers, xbox, some stuff the cats are familiar with (blanket, toys, etc..), donated products and the cats.  Everything else is storage or "storage" in friends' homes, or given away/donated to charity.  Am I missing something?  Or do I just need to breathe...

I tried looking up "travel anxiety" and mostly just got articles to help people afraid of flying.  That's not my problem.  I LOVE flying and it's even on my bucket list to learn how to fly a plane some day.  I flew to Bali, Indonesia by myself (met up with friends once there) and that was crazy; 3 flights, approx 30 hrs of travel.  I was fine.  A little paranoid of my bag (I did carry-on only, no checked bags) and worried someone was going to make me into an unsuspecting mule...but otherwise it was a fun adventure in world travel.  I flew to Vancouver, then Taiwan, then Bali.  I've also flown to Japan non-stop, and to England twice.  So yaa, flying isn't my problem.  Maybe it's because I'm flying with my cats this time?  That seems more valid.  But knowing they're with us on the plane relieves a ton of potential worry, and I've got rescue remedy and feliway for them to help ease the journey :)

Perhaps it's a combination of excitement and the inevitable "not knowing what the future holds".  I'm anxious to get back into doing what I'm meant to do, which is saving and healing animals.  Every day since I've been back in Toronto, since my last trip there, I've felt myself being held back, so to speak, from living my purpose.  So definitely I can see why I'm anxious to get back there to continue my work.  I didn't want to leave at all!  I also have SO many ideas, and I think those are overwhelming me too...and stopping me from getting a good night's sleep.  I'm going to be starting a business there doing puppy/dog training and consultations, as well as a pet first aid course for pet owners.  The website is all done, thanks to the amazing talented boyfriend :)  I'm not really advertising yet because it's not registered, and I have to hire a local person once I'm there in order to legitimately run the business.  They totally allow visitors on tourist visas to start and register businesses in Costa Rica, but you have to hire locally to ensure their job market is supported.  Completely understandable.  I will definitely want a person fluent in Spanish, and someone to help with the classes.  Here's the website if you want to check it out: Nosara Happy Pets .  Once I'm there and it's registered, I'll be advertising locally:)  Before I register I'll put feelers out to gauge interest, too.  I know there's interest through talking with people who live there...the industry isn't saturated like it is in Toronto, or North America in general.   Wish me luck!

So.  through typing this, I believe I've narrowed down some of the issues that are causing my anxiety, which I'm hoping will mean I'll get a better night's sleep tonight ;)  Tomorrow I've got a tattoo consult appointment (want to get one done before I go!) and then more packing...followed by having friends over for a Terminator-a-thon.  Because really, can you ever get enough of that series?  I know I can't!

G'night!






Monday, November 4, 2013

Wonderful...

So I came across this article written by a guy who lives in Nosara, though he's in Guiones which is the more popular beach/tourist area.   "Easy" Living in Costa Rica

I found it interesting, well written, funny, and it totally brought back memories of the last time I was there...eating in some of the restaurants he describes, shopping in the Super Nosara, and the inevitable waiting for the water to come back on.  However, this man has obviously had a way worse internet experience than I ever did when I was there!  I don't anticipate having such crazy problems, because both my partner and I can do most of our work offline if necessary.   Although I'll have an online presence, with this blog and the animal rescue, I refuse to be a slave of technology.  I'm really looking forward waking up, looking out the window and seeing trees, birds, monkeys, and probably kittens climbing up the window screens.  I can't wait to hear the ocean again.  Our goal is actually to live simply and in harmony with nature...it's not just a tag line.

I did agree with the writer's point about the strange pricing of things, and the lack (or abundance) of specific products that we take for granted when living in a big city.  It doesn't seem like he was much of a home cook back in New York though, as he seemed to fixate on restaurants and the happiness of finding pre-packaged foods.  In contrast, I love cooking and we seldom eat out..usually it's included as part of a social evening with friends.  Again, I don't anticipate having problems finding food...especially being vegetarian and creative in the kitchen :)  Plus I actually really love rice and beans, and all things taco; and those ingredients are typically plentiful.  Last time I was there, I made the *best* salsa.  Super easy, too, and all the ingredients were readily available. Here's the recipe:

1 Mango
1 Avocado
1 Tomato
1/2 Onion
1-2 cloves Garlic
1 Jalapeño
bunch of cilantro
Lime (limon) juice

Chop (dice) the mango, avocado, onion and tomato. Finely dice the garlic, cilantro and jalapeño.  Mix all together and add the juice of one lime or limon.  Done!  You now have amazing salsa.  If you want it spicier, add some of whatever hot sauce you like (I'm partial to sriracha or something similar ).  Salsa is the best thing ever.

I'm looking forward to checking out the organic market, as I didn't have a chance last time I was there.  I do, in fact, covet kale.  We're also going to be looking to buy used bicycles, a scooter or rent an atv for groceries if necessary...though I'm thankful for the amazing supportive people I know in town who were quick to call if they were headed to the store, to see if I needed a ride.  There's a great sense of community there, and I really loved the last paragraph of the article:

"I suppose that it does take a lot of stamina and patience for an individual to go this far off the grid for so long a time. But one of my close friends down here once suggested that all a person needs to flourish in this place is to be alive, and be a good human being, and the rest will naturally follow. Over these past few months, I’ve noticed that in being these two things, you tend to form an unwitting community with those around you, those other good and alive human beings who’ve decided to build a part of their lives down here, because part of that life requires you to invest, if not restore, your trust in others, to cultivate your faith that even without, you can still make do, and after a while, you start to realize you probably didn’t need that much of anything in the first place. Except duct tape. You can never have enough duct tape. But other than that, everything is going to be wonderful, wonderful, wonderful."

Duct tape is on the list!

I've been chatting a lot with my friend at the animal rescue about how things are going there with all the animals, and I can't wait to be there to help!  The absolute best thing I can imagine doing in my life is nursing and helping animals.  It's when I feel the most at peace, even if the dogs are being super loud and barking at monkeys or chasing cats.  It's definitely NOT easy work, as I've mentioned before...but I'm SO immensely excited to be going back and staying this time.

Everything IS going to be wonderful:)