Hello Manuel, Roxanna, Diego and Gigi,

My apologies for not emailing sooner, but my computer problems required me to drive 120 miles to Tucson to email.

I wanted to Thank You again for the wonderful 3 week vacation I spent in your home with you and your extended family.  That is the 1^st time in 50 years that I have spent that much time with any family and the first time I have traveled to a country and stayed in one place. A wonderfully unique experience.

Particular Thanks for giving me your master bedroom and a tent of my own. A sacrifice!

It was a unique and rewarding experience because I observed the intimate connections between family and extended family, learned more Spanish, talked of many important issues, eat food I would normally not encounter  if I  were traveling alone in CR, and visited a range of CR cultural places (Mercado Central, museums, tope & carnival) and geographical sight (Irazu Volcano,  and the beaches of two oceans.)  I also enjoyed sitting in the sun of the backyard reading my magazines with Manuel working about and the birds singing.  The Feliz Navidad y Nuevo Ano events with your extended family were also very enjoyable and interesting experiences.

I was particularly pleased to know each of you much better than when you were in the US. In the US when I am on my properties I am often much more serious than when I am elsewhere because that is the source of my income. 

Manuel, while you and I were unable to communicate in language much without Diego’s assistance, I feel I have grown to know & appreciate you so much more than when you visited the US.

Roxanna, you are of, course, an amazing women—working long hours at a tornado’s speed, always anxious to please and to practice the English you so cleverly disguised when you were in Jackson Hole, the varied menus that exposed me to many new foods and dishes.

Gigi, your sparkling personality in spite of your brutal work schedule was so evident on the Orsini Valley and Irazu Volcano video that I am editing. I enjoyed the hospital visit and, of course, the pain reducing drugs.

Diego, I didn’t know you well in JH nor did I realize your excellent English skills. I cannot over emphasize the importance of your translation skills to the quality of experience I and the rest of your family had. I really believe that if you chose to you could start an exclusive, part time NorthAmerican  tourist guiding business.  I enjoyed seeing the variety of your interests and goals – gym, guitar, computer, surfing.

Maximize the opportunity to do whatever you can imagine. While life may look infinite at 18 years old, it is not . Every  five or ten years you will look back and be amazed at the speed with which the time has passed. The person without clear goals seldom achieves anything but the passage of time. Know your goals.

What a fine family!!!!!!

Such vacations alter the way I think about many things. For many years in the future I will be reminded of the 3 weeks I spent with you folks in CR.

Thank you again,

Tico Scott

PS:

A) Diego , would you please give me the following:

1) The Rodrigo family email address.

2) The correct spelling for the each of the family members I met:

Rodrigo

Marco y Benedetti (sic)

Roberto

B) I am editing the CR video tape successfully so far. Will send in DVD form when & if I am able to complete.

C) Some miscellaneous thoughts I had as I was editing the video:

I felt for a moment as though I had left CR for a brief vacation to US and would return to CR soon?

I wish that Gigi could have spent more time with us. Next time I will ask George Bush him to call El Presidente and release Gigi for public relations work with us.  Full pay , of course.

Diego is a guide in the video, why not during his summer vacations?

How much fun it was to go to SJ at night w/the 3 girls, Diego & Mommy.