Teaching in Paradise
If you have an adventurous spirit, want to experience a new way of living, and would like to explore teaching, this is your lucky day. In Costa Rica we are looking for you.
«Leave your comfort zone«
«Explore the world»
«Collect experiences, not things«
These are just a few of the many phrases you have likely heard or seen on your social media feeds. Are they cliché? No doubt. But are they true? Well, that’s up to you. Clichés are clichés because they’re true; at least in part.
Here’s another clichéd expression: “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I’m not going to lie — work is work. But do you enjoy teaching and helping others? Do you like helping someone either get a new job or advance in their chosen professional field? Or, do you have a nudging feeling or impulse that it’s time to shake up your life, to explore, or to just go? Then teaching abroad may be for you. Working in a lovely location with only the limits you place on yourself allows you to love your work. Leaving your comfort zone is one of the most valuable experiences you can have in this short life. This process demands that you stretch and grow as a person and professional. I am originally from Texas, USA and I made the decision to leave my comfort zone and move to Costa Rica.
My experience in Costa Rica so far
I’ve been here for about a year and a half and I have absolutely no regrets. I invite you to brew yourself a cup of the best coffee (which by the way, comes from Costa Rica) and get to know a little more about life under this small piece of sky with beautiful beaches, cloud forests, and volcanoes galore.
Because of Costa Rica’s microclimates and biodiversity, you can explore almost any environment your heart desires within a few hours of the bustling capital of San Jose, with streets that haven’t seen an army since 1949. These are just a few photos of some of my local adventures. Turns out it truly is like teaching in paradise!
Why did I decide to live in Costa Rica?
One of the deciding factors for my decision to come to Costa Rica was based on work opportunities and finding ways to give back to the community, I wanted to find a place to utilize and grow my teaching skills while simultaneously helping others. During my time in this incredible country, I have been able to work with Idioma Internacional. Idioma teaches business English to a variety of companies, some of which are known locally and others that are internationally recognized. We also work in alliance with various Costa Rican government programs to teach scholarship students who are either unemployed or are looking to advance their career. This is one of my favorite things that Idioma Internacional does!
And as for my personal opinion on why I live in Costa Rica, and why I consider is like teaching in Paradise well, outside of working with a great company like Idioma Internacional, living in Costa Rica is synonymous with living in a tropical or alpine paradise. There are microclimates that vary immensely based on elevation and location within the region. Interestingly, living in the tropics can make the sun a variable factor throughout the country.
The tropical climate guarantees a new experience each season. In fact, there are only two: dry and rainy, predicting the presence or absence of rain is impossible especially with microclimates throughout the country. The general recommendation that never fails is: carry an umbrella or rain poncho everywhere you go. I also find it helpful to always carry some sort of dry bag with me for any electronics or things I don’t want to drown in the deluges of the rainy season.
Why Costa Rica and not another destination?
The natural beauty of this magical country attracts tourists and creates a wonderful place for independent workers and digital nomads to set up shop. One advantage is the connectivity. Telephone and internet are accessible throughout the country which easily facilitates remote work. Can you imagine working on the beach or in the midst of the rainforest? There are also internet co-working spaces and cafes readily accessible in the cities.
Whether you prefer to drive or use public transport, in terms of distances, it’s fairly short as there are public transport services and roads throughout the country. Compared to other countries in Central and South America, Costa Rica has one of the best road systems I’ve seen. (And I’ve seen some “roads” that don’t deserve the name in other countries.) If you are looking to explore nature, ecotourism companies can take you wherever you want. However, it is usually cheaper to organize it yourself. Sometimes you can find companies that include meals and honestly, with the gas prices right now, you need to shop around and analyze which option would be the best for you and your budget.
In the ever-growing global community, there are now so many ways to explore the world. Maybe you’ve already started your journey or maybe you are in the midst of planning it now. The truth is that teaching in Costa Rica is one of the best things you can do. At Idioma Internacional, talented native English speakers are welcome teach in paradise, explore all that this land has to offer, as well as participate in the socio-economic growth of the country and the development of the entire region.
Signing off from captivating Costa Rica,
Lilly G.