Costa Rica 6, Final Installment

"Hola Quiero escribir algo de mis experiencias del chofer del bus desde Monteverde para San Jose, miércoles,, 3 abril, 2:30 por la tarde. Cuando bajé en frente del aeropuerto Juan Santamaría a las 6 de la tarde, estuve esperando mi equipaje. Fui la última persona, y solo se quedaba una maleta, lo mia. Presenté al chofer la factura de la etiqueta apegosa que colocó en mi maleta antes de subir en Monteverde. El no lo aceptaría, insistiendo que lo entregue la factura de mi boleto de tránsito. No lo pude encontrar en mis bolsillos la factura, y su manera agresiva me ponía nervioso, por eso fue difícil encontrarlo. De precisión lo describí de mi mochila: de color negro con un sol pequeño que pinté para identificarla con facilidad. El no me hizo caso, aunque no mandó lo mismo de los otros pasajeros. Amenazó que llevara consigo mismo mi mochila hasta San José, pero no lo podría permitir, porque tuve un vuelo temprano de la próxima mañana de regreso a Canadá. El no me escuchó, y por eso saqué mi maleta para llevar conmigo. El chofer agarró mi mochila y tuve que arrancarla de sus manos con mucha fuerza. Lo maldije en buen Castellano, y subí a un taxi. Tengo planes de regresar a Monteverde en el próximo año y tengo miedo que tal chofer me rehusara de llevarme por su venganza en mi contra. ¿Es posible que se pueda hablar con el para indicar que su comportamiento no fue apropiado, y también que se ofrecen a el por mi mis disculpas por mis malas palabras, porque también no fue acción aceptable por la parte mía, y acepto también mi responsabilidad por mis acciones? Espero que ustedes me respondan, por favor. con saludos cordiales desde Vancouver, Aaron Zacharias" Here is the English translation. "Hello. I want to write to you about my experience with the bus driver from Monteverde to San Jose, Wednesday, 3 April, 2:30 pm. When I got off the bus in front of the Juan Santamaría Airport at 6 pm, I was waiting for my baggage. I was the last one, and there remained only one piece of luggage, mine. I showed the driver the stub from the sticky tag he had put on my bag before I got on the bus in Monteverde. He wouldn't accept it, insisting that I give him the receipt for my bus ticket. I couldn't find it in my pockets, and his aggressive manner was making me nervous, so that I had trouble finding it. I precisely described my bag: black with a little sun that I painted on it to easily identify it. He ignored me, even though he didn't make such demands of the other passengers. He threatened to take it with him to San José, but I wouldn't let him, because I had a flight early the next morning back to Canada. He didn't listen, and so I took my bag with me. The bus driver grabbed my bag and I had to pull it forcefully from his hands. I swore at him in good Spanish, and got into a cab. I am planning to return to Monteverde next year and I am afraid that this driver will refuse to give me a ride out of revenge. Is it possible that you could speak to him to indicate that his behaviour was inappropriate, and also to offer him my apology for my swearing, because that also was not acceptable on my part, and I also accept responsibility for my actions. I hope you will reply, please. with friendly greetings from Vancouver, Aaron Zacharias." So passed my last full day in Costa Rica. I am neither going to further accuse the driver, nor justify myself. Everything you need to know about what happened, I have written in this email that I spent to the driver's employers. I slept poorly, that night, maybe three hours, which for me, before an early morning flight is nothing unusual. The flight to Toronto was without incident, and I slept much of the way, surrounded by friendly and good-natured passengers. Pearson International Airport in Toronto is a nightmare to navigate, and we had to claim and recheck our baggage. I was also directed to the immigration police. Fortunately, the young man who interviewed me and searched my luggage, was respectful, and he did seem nonplussed about finding little more of interest that my art, art materials and devotional literature. I was concerned about the amount of time it took, an hour, and how poorly staffed the room was, and with some immigration police who were real bullies, especially towards a small elderly man, possibly Middle-Eastern. Then I had to find my way to the appropriate check-in area, which was not easy. I did catch my plane on time, but just as people were boarding. The flight to Vancouver was difficult., The passenger behind me kept poking me in the back, either with his aggressive way of touching the screen, and digging his knee into the back of my seat. I was still tired and unable to rest from the disruption, and fortunately, the flight attendant redirected me to a different seat. Upon arriving home, real life has really been smacking me across the face: problems with Telus, my bank and Canada Revenue, and after several phone calls and a visit to the bank, everything is resolved. I also learned that, not only did my apartment managers not fix my toilet, but that the sixth floor had a huge flood two weeks ago, which is still being cleaned up. Today, someone fixed my toilet. I am still a bit tired, not from jet lag, since there is only one hour time difference, but the simple exhaustion of air travel and the culture shock of returning home. But everything is back in order and I was also enjoying a long walk among the abundance of spring flowers in Vancouver in early April. My fridge is again full of good food, and I expect to sleep well this weekend. Thanks for reading.