More musings on my career

Had an oddly productive conversation with the mate former known as The Pollito (he has insisted upon being called a tried-but-failed "Painted Jaguar")about the possibilities of contributing to the Costa Rican economy by offering tours.

His side was trying to offer tours to people who are looking for properties to buy in Costa Rica. I think my ideas were a little more comprehensive than his. He raised several objections, at any rate. One thing that finally got to the heart of the matter was his saying "I don't want to babysit a bunch of jelipollas guys all over the country."

I said, "Yes, but I do."

He reminded me that my strength is teaching. I reminded him that teaching, especially tutoring, is seasonal. So we landed back on the idea of my starting out with tours of the country, educational tours, for students.

There are a few places that do such things. Very few. They focus on short tours, ten days at the most, and they offer accomodations in places that are used to Gringos. There are good reasons for such things. Maybe my slant would be, "OK, people, we're going to experience real Costa Rica. You will taste of the platano and of the pinto and of the pura vida, and you will like it." And we'd see things and do things that are interesting and cool, and eat comidas tipicas and stay in places that are clean and comfortable, but still real.

It's an idea.

Now I have to talk to people who have done student tours, mostly teachers, and find out what all goes into the planning. Then I have to take a deep breath and just do all that planning.

This means that going to CR becomes more important than ever. But it was already important. I told the PJ, "You have a son and a daughter, and they need you. We have to go there and see them. It's too important, and we have to adjust our lives and careers to make this possible."