Continued...

On April 1, 2009, we moved to San Ramon de Alajuela, Costa Rica with 12 suitcases, one trunk, and one cat. We rented our house in Baltimore for three years and now consider ourselves Costaricenses. We have no desire to move back to the States.

In 1977 I received a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). I have taught English composition and Spanish for grades 9-12 at a school for children with learning disabilities. I was also a futures and options broker in San Francisco. After Gloria & I married, I worked in admissions and placement for a large vocational school in Baltimore.

I (Gloria) finished my undergraduate degree as an adult in 2001, graduating from the University of Maryland, University College with a degree in Technology and Management. As a young adult, I worked in the hospitality industry in operations and sales, for several hotels including the Hyatt Regency Baltimore and a B&B. I later became a meeting and event planner, managing and implementing nursing continuing education conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1997, I earned my certification as a CMP (Certified Meeting Professional), have had articles published in several trade journals, and have spoken at various industry meetings. In fact, I visited Costa Rica for the first time in 1996 when presenting at an International Meetings & Incentives Conference. Later I planned meetings and events for several non-profit organizations and, during this time, I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Masters degree from Towson University in Instructional Technology.

Being part of the Community Action Alliance has given us a chance to help make better lives for all of us living in Costa Rica, gringos and Ticos alike. The experience has also been fun, and has broadened the sense of community that we’d already been experiencing in our town of San Ramon. With the Action Alliance’s three-prong focus on community, small business, and the environment, there is an opportunity for everyone to be involved and give back, as much or as little as you want.