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Adam Baker: “100 Percent”. So was what I first heard of Adam, a Travel Consultant here at Costa Rican Vacations. Not one to do anything by halves, it was this dear soul who welcomed me warmly and donated a teabag on my first day. Instantly bound by nationality – that, nowadays, meaning a shared love for chicken tikka massala and milky tea – I decided to sit down with this English cheeky chappy and find out more.

Adam, 24, studied Film & Design at the University of Plymouth. Upon graduation he set out for real adventure, his only previous travel being to France. Putting his head together with his sister, the two of them competed in doughnut eating competitions and marathon racing to raise funds. New Zealand considered too “boring”, Costa Rica was the final choice. Admitting that what British travel documentarist Michael Palin does would be a “life ambition”, Adam set sail for Central America.

Watch Adam’s Video Interview to Find Out More!

Arriving here first in January 2006 with World Challenge Expeditions, Adam volunteered at the Cloud Forest School Centro Educación Creativa, painting, planting and making trails. Perhaps it was meeting his partner Natalia that made him decide to stay; Adam tried to pull a “flights non-exchangeable” story, but I find myself unconvinced! He then volunteered as a ‘Frog Pond’ guide and taught football and art to Costa Rican children. Adam returned to England for a few months in 2007, but the Natalia pull being just a little too tempting, he flew back in early 2008.

Adam interviewed with CRV in February and the rest, as they say, is history. He now works as a Travel Consultant, arriving promptly at 7 a.m. to serve the English market. He had never imagined a career in sales, but finds that his in-country experience helps him considerably to create luxury, dream holidays. Adam says that travel is a “believable” product, making it an “easy sell”, if ever there was one. He is confident that he has not yet disappointed a client and loves that he can see more of the country and experience the finer side of Travel to Costa Rica.

Adam’s position also allows him to explore his artistic side. He has recently taken over the company’s video project, shooting hotel video clips for our website, www.vacationscostarica.com. Admitting that he “loves” the film industry, Adam hopes to find a future there and is relishing this opportunity. “It’s a hard job testing hotels and videoing them, but I suppose somebody has to do it!” he grins. “In addition, I can also work on my tan: something just impossible in England.”

The big question is whether Adam will head back to cold and grey island life. Unlikely, as he adds that he is “quite happy at home” – in a conversation about living in Costa Rica! He looks pained as we reminisce about English fry ups and national football, but admits that Costa Rican rice and beans is a delicacy that one can learn to love. Adam confesses that overcoming cultural boundaries is actually a great deal of fun, and would advise anybody thinking of it to just “go for it”.

Fan mail can be forwarded to:
adambaker[AT]goduesouth[DOT]com

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See the third installment of ‘Costa Rica Expat: The Great Escape!’… coming soon!

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Filed under: Expat Interviews on November 19th, 2008