Nadine Hays Pisani

EYE TO EYE WITH A COATI

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:33-04:00 February 24th, 2012|Categories: Nature|Tags: car battery, coati|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: New Battery for Car—$152

It’s one of those days. My electricity went out and when I try to drive to the bakery to get a cup of coffee…the car won’t start. I’m in a bad mood. The type of mood that only happens when I have been decaffeinated for over 15 hours.

But when I’m just about to go on a tangent on how unreliable the electricity is, or how crumby the car mechanics are….this guy comes my way. An adorable coati who walks straight up to me, gives me a sniff, and continues on his path.

This often happens to me. Right on the heels of a tantrum, a magical moment occurs. And after it passes, I can’t remember for the life of me why I was in such a bad mood in the first place.

It’s easy to forget your problems when a coati looks you straight in the eyes.

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CAPTURING LIFE THROUGH A WIDE ANGLE LENS

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:33-04:00 February 15th, 2012|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: camera, photography|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 1 Cucumber-55 cents

Photography is an interesting hobby that I never quite understood. I enjoyed taking pictures at memorable moments: a birthday, vacation, or wedding. However, I could never imagine carrying a tripod and taking thirty minutes to set up a shot.

It’s not uncommon to see people strolling around with a big, multi-thousand dollar camera tethered to their neck. It looks heavy and cumbersome, and I watch as they reach around into their backpack and change lenses with the delicacy one would use to pass an infant into a father’s arms. Who are these people and why would they choose a hobby that requires so much of an investment? And doesn’t it interfere with living in the present moment if one is constantly viewing their surroundings through a wide angle lens? (more…)

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AN INTERVIEW WITH SUITCASE ENTREPRENEUR

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:33-04:00 February 11th, 2012|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: interview, Natalie Sisson, podcast, Suitcase Entrepreneur|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Package of bacon—$5.60

It’s amazing how many cool people are out there doing really great things with their lives-like Natalie Sisson from the Suitcase Entrepreneur. I was approached by Natalie and for a podcast interview.

Ms. Sisson is quite the woman. Her writing is featured in Forbes.com, Huffington Post, and a dozen other sites. And if that wasn’t intimidating enough, she enjoys pastimes like riding her bicycle across Africa for charity (yes…the continent) or breaking records for Dragon Boating across the English Channel.

I, on the other hand, write blogs chronicling hot topics like my husband’s hernia surgery and my athletic endeavors include pouring coffee and watching howler monkeys outside my window.

Natalie is truly an inspiration to others and I’m excited that she chose me to interview. When I started writing my book, I had no idea of all the blessings that were in store for me.

I’m so grateful for them all.

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WILL SMITH IN COSTA RICA

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:33-04:00 February 8th, 2012|Categories: Tourism|Tags: m night shyalaman, will smith|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 5.6 ounce Can of Light Tuna- $1.90

Will Smith and M Night Shyamalan are in Costa Rica filming After Earth. I hope they are reading my book. Maybe there is a slight chance since it is the number 1 book in Costa Rica and Central America. I’ve created an imaginary scene of us hanging around the pool, and I dream the conversation would go something like this:

“Is it true your husband maced himself in the eye and accidentally fired his gun into your water pipes? Uh… you better get some sunscreen girl, I think your skin is on fire,” Will says.

“Nadine, you truly captured the thrill of moving to a foreign country and your story is just what a famous director like myself is looking for. Plus, you’re so attractive, I have to have you playing yourself,” M Night says. We all get so excited we jump in the pool and play Marco Polo.

I’m not sure if this conversation will ever happen, but I am happy they are filming their movie here. You can’t get a better location and the people are the friendliest in the world. Hmm….maybe I’ll stop by and see if they could use a hand—I’ve read they need snake wranglers. I guess you got to start somewhere.

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FILL ‘ER UP

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:34-04:00 February 6th, 2012|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: gas, gas station, gasoline|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Cost of gas—$0 because gas station ran out

The gas station is out of gas. This has happened before, and one might think it would be a good idea to not allow our gas gauge to dip below a quarter of a tank. But my husband thinks that idea is ridiculous, and cars can go miles— perhaps cross country—when the empty tank light starts to blink.

Rob appears to have a fascination with how low he can get that little red indicator. Not long ago, we ran out of gas and had to buy some from a guy along the side of the road. The entrepreneur poured some mucky stuff out of a Coca-Cola bottle into our tank, which in retrospect, might have actually been Coca-Cola. But it did give us enough time to make it to a gas station.

So if worse comes to worse, I’ll just look for a someone selling soda along the side of the road. Next time I’ll choose Pepsi, it might give us better mileage.

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About Nadine Hays Pisani

EYE TO EYE WITH A COATI

CAPTURING LIFE THROUGH A WIDE ANGLE LENS

AN INTERVIEW WITH SUITCASE ENTREPRENEUR

WILL SMITH IN COSTA RICA

FILL ‘ER UP

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