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C4 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 28, 2002 There's more to Costa Rica than its beauty Former Oakvillians write book about opening bed and breakfast By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR Don't let the beautiful pictures on those travel brochures fool you - the road to Costa Rica is filled with potholes. And the same is true for the cover of Potholes to Paradise, a book written by former Oakville resident Tessa Bomer who is living her dream of running a bed and breakfast in the tropical Central American country. But getting there was like navigating the pot holes of Costa Rica's roads. Although the country boasts a warm climate, lovely long white beaches, a good health care sys tem and a cheaper way of life, working one's way through the everyday business of living is almost like losing one's car in a pothole. Establishing residency and opening their bed and breakfast was a slow and tedious - and at times - a frustrating procedure for Tessa, a former journalist and her businessman husband, Martin Bomer. Fearing visitors to their bed and breakfast may be lured into immigrating to Costa Rica by its lush vegetation, tropical climate and an apparent laid back lifestyle, Bomer decided to write a book detailing the couple's experiences to caution potential Canadian and American immigrants coming to the alluring country. Moving to Costa Rica is not easy, requiring patience, persistence - every business transaction including opening a bank account requires a lawyer - and a working knowledge of Spanish. "Living in harmony with nature and amongst warm, friendly people is not hard to take," wrote Tessa. "Anything is possible here, but you need great `stickability,' patience and common sense. Our new life in paradise is worth it." However, the Borners found that Costa Rica had the three things they wanted in their retirement years - lower taxes, a warm climate, and a good private health care system - it also has a public one. "We don't call it retirement, but instead a change in lifestyle," she explained. The couple made the move to Costa Rica at the end of 1994 after 13 years in Oakville, and a year later opened their bed and breakfast resort over looking the Central Valley of San Jose. The huge white stucco house with Spanish terra cotta tile roof is nestled in 17 acres of jungle, river, sugar cane and coffee fields. It features a 40-foot swimming pool and 200-degree vistas from a 750metre elevation above sea level. The Borners call their dream come true Pasanda Mimosa - Pasanda is Spanish for coun try estate or lodge and Mimosa means tropical flower and also refers to champagne and orange juice. For a peak at this holiday destination on the Internet, visit www.mimosa.co.cr. Their timing was perfect. Tourism has replaced coffee and banana production as the number one industry in Costa Rica. However, opening the bed and breakfast took patience and persistence, as the country's infra structure - most business transactions and its road system - had not kept pace with the Costa Rica's phenomenal growth as not only a place to visit but as a retirement haven. "I wrote Potholes to Paradise because the glowing guide books that say the country is mar velous and glorious, don't reflect the difficulties people face when moving into a new culture," she said during a recent visit to Oakville where her husband still maintains a business interest, Montwest Reality. She wrote the book from the point of view of a new immigrant settling and opening a business in Central American country. She also included some general information for tourists, and describes some of their expenses in establishing themselves there. These .expenses include Martin's heart surgery endured on their second trip to Costa Rica in 1993. On the second day of that trip, he underwent triple bypass surgery. The private health care system in Costa Rica left a positive impression on the Borners, despite the cost (almost $40,000 American for an eight-member surgical team, 20day hospital stay and air ambulance - plus diffi culties dealing with insurance claims), and fueled their desire to become permanent residents there. Today, Martin is the picture of health. "I feel excellent," he says of his health. "I exercise year round. I do my exercises every morning." His main interest is organic agriculture, and thanks to a new product he imports, tomato pro duction is up 50 per cent and the country's depend ence on chemicals for sugar cane farming has decreased 70 per cent over the past five years. "I wrote the book to open people's eyes," she continued. "It's not paradise. You have to be care ful and cautious. You can't expect perfection." Firmly ensconced in Costa Rica, the retired journalist supports a women's shelter by collecting donated clothing, collects soccer equipment and uniforms for the local children, and English books for schools. "The literacy rate is 96 per cent in Costa Rica, Riziero Vertolli · Oakville Beaver Tessa and Martin Borner, formerly of Oakville, with a copy of her book written earlier this year describing howthey successfully opened a bed and breakfast in Costa Rica. a higher rate than Canada, but books are hard to come by. In Costa Rica, no shoes and uniforms means no school for school aged children." The working title of her next book is Bloom Where You are Planted, about interesting people who have moved to Costa Rica. "We are a multinational and international coun try, attracting not only Americans and Canadians, but also Italians, French and Swiss," she said. Potholes to Paradise is available from their daughter Hilary Bomer at Montwest, 345 Lakeshore Rd. E,, Ste. 407, call 905-842-4598, for $16.95, and on www.amazon.com, and at Chapters and Indigo. About 1,000 of the 3,000 copies print ed have already been sold. To reach the Borners, e-mail mimosa@mimosa.co.cr, or phone/fax 011-506494-5868. Vaishno Devi Temple Seniors' centres open houses holds Seniors' Day Vaishno Devi Temple will host its seventh annual Seniors' Day on Sept. 8. The highlight of the day, open to all seniors, is the Puja Service starting at 2 p.m. in the tem ple at 3259 Regional Rd. 25 (formerly Hwy. 25 and also known as Bronte Road). Acharya Surendra Sharm a Shastri, head priest of the temple, will conduct the service. "We will pray for long life, good health and happiness o f seniors," said G. L. Chopra, Seniors Day co-ordina tor. "On this day we will also offer our thanks for the bounties we receive from the land and pay tribute to sen iors, leaders and volunteers. "We recognize their dedication and faith. We will make com m itm ents to our faith, fam ily, com m unity and society in which we live and work." Chopra, who has been involved since the first Seniors Day was held, said "w e 've done aw ay w ith the speeches" by local politicians "because we don't want to be politi cal," and instead will have Bhajans Hymns and a short meditation follow ing the Puja Service. The day concludes with an Aarti and Shantipath Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Chopra, who sits on three seniors com m ittees, said Vaishno Devi Temple "pioneered celebrating a day for seniors." The event, open to all seniors aged 55 and up and their families, will be conducted in the Hindu, Sanskrit and English languages. "The purpose of this day is to bring the senior segm ent o f the community together, at least for one day, where they can pray, socialize, eat and enjoy together." . Chopra sits on H alton's Elderly Services Advisory Com m ittee, the B urlington Seniors A dvisory Comm ittee and Cam Jackson's sen iors group. The Burlington Seniors Advisory Com m ittee is holding a Brown Bag Picnic at La Salle Park, North Shore Boulevard and La Salle Park Road, B urlington, on Sept. 4 at noon. Coffee, tea and soft drinks will be provided. Last year, 300 attended. For more information, call G. L. Chopra at 905-632-8529, or Vaishno Devi Temple, 905-825-4202 The Seniors' Centres of Oakville, with a membership of mature adults aged 50 plus, are gearing up for a new season with three open houses. On Thursday, Sept. 5, the Oakville Seniors' Centre, 263 Kerr St., leads off these fun-filled events with a pancake Breakfast at 9 a.m. The Centre will be open to the public to 1 p.m. for member ship and program inquiries. Sir John Colbome Recreation Centre for Seniors at Third Line and Lakeshore Road West will host a full day of enter tainment, displays and demonstrations on Friday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The day will be highlighted by a barbe cue at 12 noon. The newest seniors group in town, the Ridge Seniors, is holding its first open house on Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Iroquois Ridge Community Centre at Eighth Line and Glenashton Road, from 1 - 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to drop in to any one of the three open houses. No memberships are required to attend these open house visits. Learn about what's available this season for the 50 plus crowd. Each centre will offer information and demonstrations on their full range of recreational and fitness programs, guest speakers, travel, volunteer opportunities, special events and social activities. For more information on the individ ual centres, call the Oakville Seniors' Centre at 905-815-5966; Sir John Colbome Recreation Centre for Seniors, 905-815-5960; or Iroquois Ridge Community Centre at 905-815-5966. Tee off for JA Tee up at the Junior Achievement of Halton (JAH) Golf Classic FUNdraiser on Sept. 17. Golfers and JAH supporters will hit the scenic links of Granite Ridge Golf Club for a round of golf, skill testing contests, dinner and prizes - all in sup port of Halton youths who benefit from JAH programs. Registration is available for a four some or on an individual basis for $ 150/player, which includes golf (shot gun start), golf cart and dinner. Tax receipts are available. Call 905-6377200. The G olf Classic is a JAH FUNdraiser that was initiated both to raise funds to meet the growing demand for JAH programs and to raise commu nity awareness of JAH as a not-for-prof it organization teaching students from Grades 5 to OAC in Halton about the principles and dynamics of business. Demand for JAH's hands-on, inter active programs is growing as educa tors, parents and businesses realize the benefits of providing students with information they need to reach their potential as future entrepreneurs and employees. JAH's four business programs were experienced by 2,100 Halton students in 2002, but demand was greater than funding available. Programs are free to students, with funding provided by business sponsors and fundraisers, such as the JAH Golf Classic. Business volunteers present the pro grams. St. Aidan's `golden jubilee' St. A idan's Anglican Church celebrates its `golden jubilee' this year. To mark the 50th anniversary of its founding, the parish is having a special "homecoming" weekend on Sept. 7 and 8. A reception for former and current parishioners and rec tors will kick off the weekend on the evening of Saturday, September 7, from 7 - 1 0 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 8, the 10 a.m. service will take the form of a special Anniversary Eucharist, with guest preacher, The Right Reverend Michael G. Peers, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. The anniversary service will pay special tribute to St. Aidan's Celtic roots, as represented in its seventh century patron saint, Aidan of Lindisfame, who brought Christianity to the people of Northumbria. Praise Unlimited, an active Burlington vocal ensemble, will offer a special musical program, starting at 9:30, a.m., a half-hour before the service begins. A reception and light lunch will follow in the parish hall. For Mami Nancekivell, the current rector, anniversaries like this are "a good time to reflect on the life and witness of our parish in Oakville. We want to celebrate the wonder ful work of our founding families, but also to look forward to a renewed contribution, and to strengthening our ministry as a Christian community." St. Aidan's started as a mission parish of St. Jude's Church in the early 1950s; the dedication of the new church took place in February 1952, with John Munroe as Priest-inCharge. The first rector, William Mundy, was inducted in June 1953, and St. Aidan's became a parish in its own right in 1954. Other priests who have served at St. Aidan's include: John Bothwell (1956-1960), Donald Hunt (1960-1961), William Anthony (1961-1969), Donald Powell (19691974), Douglas Perry (1975-1985), Larry Reese (19851989), William Thistle (1990-1993) and Mami Nancekivell (1993-present). Over the years, the parish has seen times of huge growth, and significant contraction, as the demographics of Oakville west of Sixteen Mile Creek have changed and evolved. St. Aidan's presence in the community remains warmly inviting - "a place to refresh your spirit" - as the parish logo suggests. For more information, call St. Aidan's Church at 905: 845-6111 or visit www.staidansoakville.com. SKATE YOUR WAY TO EXPLOSIVE HOCKEY! LflURR - .. 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