That's a hard call. Maybe leave a note at that field explaining your desire to learn to fly r/c; maybe someone less standoffish and more willing will get it and contact you. Maybe a computer simulator might help, but I don't think I could learn to fly from one, although they are helpful in some respects; they teach the stick movements, but there's little "feel" of the real thing, to me. Fun to play with, but not like learning on a "real" plane.

As far as what plane to start with, I'd recommend that whatever you choose, get one that uses a standard 2-stick transmitter. Something from ParkZone or ModelFly is cost effective, but the AirHog stuff is too much a "toy" and cheap crap as far as I'm concerned. A Cub model, usually doesn't make a good trainer, but I couldn't say about the small park flyers. Whatever you do, good luck.