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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781938216053 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Enete Enterprises |
| Publication date: | 01/30/2014 |
| Series: | Becoming an Expat , #1 |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.64(d) |
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THE BASICS history, climate, culture, crime, transportation +
Costa Rica (CR) literally translates to "rich coast." Boasting the highest standards of living in Central America while maintaining a hippie-like democracy without armed forces. Instead of war, Costa Rica has allocated money towards the green revolution, health, and education. In the 19th century, coffee production is what payed the bills. Today, while coffee, pineapples, bananas, palm oil, and other exports certainly put penny's in the bank the real cash-cow is tourism.
History
Located in Central America, Costa Rica was a melting pot where indians from the north and from the south emerged. Humans have walked along CR's jungles and beaches for over 10,000 years with signs of Aztec, Mayan, and Huetar Indian influences.
Christopher Columbus shook things up when he made an unplanned visit in 1502 after a hurricane damaged his ship. His vessel limped into the Caribbean Coast near modern day's Puerto Limón. While the ship underwent repairs Chris decided to take a stroll. He claimed later to the Queen to have seen exorbitant amounts of gold. His letters describing 'la costa rica' seemed to have dubbed the countries new name.
It took almost 60 years of battles and germ warfare before the first Spanish colony was established. Columbus and his army of Spaniards were more concerned about conquering rather than preserving, that in addition to strong rains, resulted in the loss of much of the ancient history.
Preservation was not the only thing handled loosely. Since Central America was so far away from it's new "owner," Spain, there was more leniency. The nearest military post was in Guatemala. This paved the way to a new class that powered above the slave driven model: the self-sufficient farmer. This new class became the backbone for rural democracy, but not without a fight. After Mexico emancipated itself from Spain, it seemed like the empire was a free-for-all. A civil war broke out between the conservatives of Cartago preferring a colonial administration versus the liberals of San Jose who favored a constitutional republic and enlightened progress. When the liberals prevailed in 1823 they moved the capital to their home town where it remains today.
The only major archaeological site discovered to date is located in CR's Central Valley in a town called Guayabo. Costa Ricans also called, "Ticos" have not shown much interest in learning or preserving their ancient past.
Conservation
Over the last 50 years Costa Rica has taken large steps to assure that that mistake would not be repeated. In 1963 Costa Rica created the first protected park, "Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco." At the time of this writing, Costa Rica boasts 27 national parks 58 wildlife refuges, 32 protected zones, 15 wetland areas, 11 forest reserves, 8 biological reserves, and 12 other conservation regions equalling a staggering 25% of the country's land as protected! CR has clearly come to the realization that with the fluctuation of import/ export prices the best thing to import would be tourists, and import them they do! They also are a leading country in conservation, recognizing that the best way to keep a steady flow of tourists coming in was to protect the nature that they seek.
Stability
Let me begin with the fact that a recent two term president, Oscar Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize, received the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, and served as a trustee of Economists for Peace and Security! How is that for stable? In his Noble Peace Prize acceptance speech he shares some of his ideals, "We seek peace and democracy together, indivisible, an end to the shedding of human blood, which is inseparable from an end to the suppression of human rights." He sounds more like a Dali Lama than a president, which to this author is a breath of fresh air. Currently in office, elected in 2009, is CR's first female president, Laura Chinchilla. Previous to this appointment she served as Vice President. Over the last 3.5 years President Chinchilla has grown a large arena of critics. She was CR's only mainstream candidate to actively support "March for Life and Family" a group known for opposing human rights, specifically antiabortion, and anti-gay.
She also is against any legislature regarding the separation of church and state. CR's constitution clearly defines the nation as a Roman Catholic, but simultaneously guarantees freedom of religion. As of the 2011 census CR is: 70.5% Roman Catholic, 44.9% practicing Catholics, 13.8% Protestant, 11.3% without religion, and 4.3% other religions.
Military
What military? That's right, CR does not employ an armed force! Not since Dec 1st of 1948. President Jose Figueres Ferrer abolished the military after the civil war fictory. A year later, article 12 of the constitution was added making the disarming of the country a permanent one. The funding previously allocated for the military is now used in education, This should appeal to those who value anti-war, and peace policies, and is strikingly different from the United States policies.
"Feliz la madre costarricense que sabe al parir que su hijo nunca será soldado"
"It's a happy Costa Rican mother who gives birth knowing her child will never be a soldier" -- Ryoichi Sasakawa
Crime
Crime varies in CR dependent on where you are. San Jose by far has the highest amount of crime both violent and petty. More often than not the worst crime that you may encounter is petty theft. If you leave that expensive SLR camera sitting in the back seat of your rental car in a touristy area you can kiss it and your window goodbye. Criminals have been known to target rental cars. It has been reported that would be thieves will puncture your tires and follow you until you pull over to address the flat tire. They then come by as if they are good Samaritans offering assistance. This may result in you loosing all valuables on your person and in your vehicle. If you place a personal bag above you on the bus it is possible that it could get lifted by someone else exiting the bus before you, possibly without your knowledge until you look for it on your way out. Violent crimes are not as common here. For more on crime see the United States Department of State OSAC Bureau of Diplomatic Security website: www.osac.gov/Pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=12155
To give you some perspective, I am from San Diego and consider most places in Costa Rica to be safer outside of one big factor. I did not feel like my property was safe if I displayed it. For example, I did not often display my 15'' MacBook Pro as I would in the states at Panera or Starbucks. Instead, I kept it for work at home. The value of that MacBook in Costa Rica is 1.5 times the value of it in the States and with minimum wage at $450 a month for many ticos it is very enticing for them to try and steal it to feed their family for months! This was a small inconvenience for me, but well worth it for the trade off of living in Costa Rica. I do see some people display their computers from time to time but I wouldn't recommend it.
Sex
Latin America is known for having beautiful men and woman, the sex appeal is never lacking. In fact, sex is a legal business. Prostitution is regulated and legal. Prostitutes must be at least 18 years old and disease free. They carry ID cards from the health department (carnets de salud) that deem them clean from STDs. There are numerous bars and brothels in and around San José, Jaco, Tamarindo, and other nightlife driven locations. The age for consensual sex in Costa Rica is 16.
Underage prostitution, or sex exploitation is a huge problem in Costa Rica. The government is aware of the problem and since has formed the Commission Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children in the attempt to halt sex tourism and trafficking. You might also notice a poster in an airport or government office warning against under-age sex tourism. Their efforts have not seemed to turn around the trend, however. INTERPOL has named Costa Rica as the the country soon to become the sex tourism capital of its hemisphere.
As far as STDs go, surprisingly Costa Rica is not a stand out for diseases. Possibly partly due to the ID cards and legal regulation of prostitution the amount of STDs in Costa Rica is comparable to those found in France, Italy, and Canada according to the CIA fact book.
Economy
Costa Rica has the strongest and most robust economy in Central America, and continues to grow. As of the 2011 census the population is recorded at over 4.3 million people with a growth rate of 1.5% annually. As more and more expats claim CR as their home, real estate prices have slowly crept higher. Other items, like cheese, fuel, and utilities have also climbed. If you ask an expat who has lived in CR for more than 5 years they will call CR down right expensive, seeing the slow climb in living expenses. However, expense is all about prospective. If you are moving from midwest america than you may find it to be comparable, if you are from Southern California then you will find it a steal! My advice to you is compare our budget charts to your current budget and what you get for your dollar or Colon, then decide if it is a steel or a rip off. Read more about cost of living and budgeting in chapters 3 and 5.
Culture
CR's slogan, "Pura Vida" is an excellent representation of life in the idyllic country. It literally translates to 'pure life' and is used as a greeting, declaration, and salutation. You will hear, experience, and see 'pura vida' everywhere you go.
Ticos model how to live the pura vida in every aspect of their lives. They are gentle kind people who rush for no one. They place family and human connection above aspirations for materialistic objects. They strive to please you, so much so it's to a fault at times. For example, if you ask about your car repair, needing it to be completed by the next day, you may be assured this is no problem when it is not likely possible. This is not because they want to deceive you, or suck more money from you, it's because they strive to gain your approval, are eternal optimists, and avoid disappointment and confrontation like the plague. Keep this in mind if, or more realistically, when you become frustrated. After all, what's the hurray, you're in the pura vida living on "tico time."
As a Roman Catholic nation, the culture is a culmination of old fashioned ideals that are often accompanied with the Catholic religion. When asked how a tico is a common response will be, "Bien, gracias a Dios." which translates as, "Good, thanks be to God." Many ticos do not endorse birth control, abortion is illegal, Sundays are like ghost towns with all shops shut down, divorce is frowned on but occurrences are on the rise, and there is an expectation that women should marry and make babies... Look for STATS
You will find many old traditions alive and well in CR. Particularly those rooted from it's heavy agricultural past. Ox carts, also called las carretas, provide an excellent example. An important symbol of pride and culture for ticos, the carts were originally pulled by people providing the only source of transportation. In the 1840s the demand for coffee exploded which created ever-more-heavy loads. That's when the oxen began pulling the carts. In order to differentiate families the carts were hand painted. Insert picture of ox cart
Today you see a combination of oxen and tractors pulling larger carts. No matter how many times you see the oxen, it is near impossible to become jaded because of their majesty, massive presence, elegant headwear, and historical significance. The hand painted carts are proudly displayed in parades and historical sites, the largest display is held annually at Escazú on the second Sunday in March. Tourist shops have capitalized in the carts popularity, selling thousands of miniature versions as souvenir magnets or keepsakes.
Ticos are among the most literate nation in the world at 94.9%! Costa Rica was one of the first countries in Latin America to offer and free and mandatory education for all children. Since CR has become a popular Expat destination there are many private schools around the nation that offer topnotch bilingual education geared for students from different countries. (See more about children and schools in Ch.5)
Gay/ Lesbian
While Costa Rica does not fly a rainbow flag nor recognize same sex marriages they are fairly tolerant of the LGBT community. Latin women are often seen holding hands or linking arms so lesbians can often blend in with the accepted culture. I am a proudly out married lesbian and I have encountered zero hostility. My next door neighbors are also married lesbians!
The only hitch that I encountered was being told by a hotel staff member that public display of affection was not allowed because Costa Rica was a traditional country and the guest complained. After speaking with the extremely apologetic hotel manager I was assured that the staff would be retrained, my meals were comped, and we were offered a free night stay. He insisted that they were gay friendly, and had just hosted a gay marriage the previous weekend.
Costa Rica is no less hospitable than the United States. In fact, I would argue that it may be more peaceful for gays here than many parts of the US. I attract many perplexed or curious looks but a good portion of that is due to the fact that I am a 6'0'' tall woman with short hair in a country filled with tiny women. I smile and make conversation with the curious and they are almost always cheery in return.
Small towns see very few openly gay Costa Ricans, however, San José is host to numerous gay hot spots. Men can expect a few more challenges in small towns due to the expectation of machismo behavior.
I have met numerous other lesbian and gay expats that have lived in Costa Rica happily without incidence.
Water
The water in CR is topnotch in many places and safe for drinking. Hurray, no need to use bottled water to brush your teeth! Even though it is safe to drink, it is always wise to allow your body to adjust to the new foods, bacterias, and minerals. Also, do some investigating of your own in your community to see about the quality of the water filtration system.
While living in CR I purchase a 20 gallon water bottle (for a dispenser) for about $5.00 USD and use it for my home water needs, but while I dine out I order "agua de la casa" or tap water. The reason that I purchase water is because I have read that the water in CR has a higher calcium contentand thus could increase the likelihood of kidney stones. The validity of this is completely unknown. Also, the community that I reside in has a common occurance of clay intruding in the plumbing. While Costa Rican clay is beautiful, in my water it's less than desirable.
Food
Costa Rican food leaves you feeling fulfilled, light, and ready for all of the adrenaline packed activities. The foods are mild and rarely processed. They utilize all of the excellent local produce! The portions are healthy, as are the foods. The national dish of CR is pinto gallo which consists of rice and black beans sautéed together with a variety of veggies. Pinto gallo is usually served for breakfast along side a piece of locally made cheese and a fried egg. The typical costa rican dish is called a casado, which is a creative name since the same word is also used for married. They marry the best foods to create a well balanced dish of rice, beans, a vegetable medley, small green salad, plantain, and choice of pork, fish, red meat, or chicken.
Costa Rica boasts some of the best fruit in the world. Picturing the mangos dangling on the massive trees encased in a warm blanket of tropical sun and salt water infused air, no wonder they turn out so sweet. No greenhouse, or chemical agers needed.
To wet your whistle you have a variety of excellent options! For breakfast you have world famous locally grown coffee in addition to refrescos naturales (homemade juices). Juice options abound in this produce haven from guanabana, passion fruit, tamarind, mango, and more. Gone are the days of orange juice being your only option! A little later in the day after the warm sun has parched your lips stroll over to the nearest bar or restaurant for an Imperial, Pilsner, or Bavaria beer. These three are the best beers brewed in Costa Rica. Imperial is bye far the most popular and is ideal for those wheat/light beer lovers. Pilsner is a bit more bitter for those that are looking for a little more bite, and lastly Bavaria is a fuller bodied beer that is also the only dark beer option made in CR.
Language
If your native tongue is anything other than Spanish then the above beer options can help loosen your tongue to converse with the locals. It is true, Costa Ricans do indeed speak Spanish.
While you will hear some english spoken in touristy areas such as: Tamarindo, Montezuma, Jaco, Monteverde, Playa Flaminco, and Arenal, your stay will be infinitely more enjoyable and doable if you learn Spanish. English is taught as the second language learned in the public school system, but currently about 11% of Ticos speak some english. As an expat, if you are coming toCR to experience their way of life and culture, language skills are a must!
The Caribbean Coast is it's own beast. The Jamaican descendants brought with them an english based creole called Mekaytelyuw; otherwise known as patois or pidgin. This one of the many obvious standouts about CR's Caribbean Coast.
Climate
Costa Rica climate varies from beautiful to gorgeous. You have a choice to live in the valley and experience a year round temperature of 72 degrees fahrenheit, live in the depth of the junglewith the sloths, trek to beach and bask under a 95 degree sun with the coconuts and McCaws, or live in the mountains where you can experience fall like temperatures year round! If your friends tell you that you are always in the clouds, then you might want to choose to live in them literally in the damp cloud forest!
There are two seasons in CR, wet and dry. The wet, or rainy, season is dubbed such because this is the time of year that CR gets most of it's rainfall required to maintain that mind-blowing green landscape! The wet season is from May through November. In these seven months CR receives an average of 40-240'' of rain dependent on the region. The northeast region receives the most rain and the northwest region the least. (See: costa-rica-guide.com/Weather/WeatherMap.html for rainfall in the region that you are interested in living) During this time the rain changes in intensity. In May-June it mostly rains at night providing an excellent sound track to snooze to, and some epic lighting shows. Picture palm trees silhouetted by lightning bolts! Then July-Sept it rains for an hour or two during the mid to late afternoon and again all night. Still, the rain is not yet interfering greatly with everyday life, or even tourism. By the end of Sept and through November the rain picks up drastically often raining all day.
The above descriptions are accurate depictions for the central pacific coast. Guanacaste is the driest region and therefore does not have many days of full rain. The north caribbean coast is the wettest region with heavy rainfalls often commencing in July. I once visited Tortuguero in July and the entire village flooded. Since the village is smack between mangroves, wetlands, and the Caribbean ocean there aren't many places for water to go but pooling together. By the time I was walking in two feet of water I found a boat tied to a tree with a "captain" willing to evacuate me and a few other backpacker to Limón for a fee.
Most locals and expats favor the wet season over the dry season for numerous reasons:
My personal favorite time of year is May-July.
Nature/ Animals
The 500,000 species roaming around the country make CR a stand out country hosting 4% of the entire world's biodiversity. Their are over 300,000 species of extraordinary insects like the silver beetle, mammals including the adored sloth and the rare puma, rare and deadly amphibians, slithering reptiles, along with a plethora of swimming creatures! The diversity of life in CR is what makes the 'pura vida'.
Because of the country's location between North and South America it is a host to an emergence of life. Costa Rica possesses the highest density of biodiversity in the world.
Transportation
Public transportation is ample in all parts of Costa Rica. Whether you are looking to get to the airport or the market there is a bus or multiple buses that will get you there. Taxis are also available in all major cities and are usually available in smaller cities by telephone request.
That being said, you must decide if public transit is for you or if you are accustomed to the freedoms that owning your own automobile provides.
I moved to CR with the idea that I would use a combination of public transit and my own two feet to get from point A to B. Within two weeks of moving to CR I started shopping for a vehicle. Admittedly, I moved to a small pueblo in the Central Pacific Coast that did not have a lot amenities within foot reach. I'm also very social and wanted the option to meet people for dinner or other occasions in nearby cities. The local buses in smaller towns stop service around 8pm, which would not accommodate that lifestyle that I desired.
Bus Experience
The buses are relatively clean, the seats providing adequate room for a person statured 5'6'' and less (most ticos I observe are between 5'0''-5'5''). If you are lengthier then your can expect to be a bit cramped, similar to most airline seats. Depending on your location and time of day the buses are susceptible to overcrowding and standing could be your only option. This can be inconvenient if your bus outing was to grocery shop. Standing in the aisle with your groceries in tow is difficult but not impossible. This only occurs in the busier cities and usually only during "rush hour".
If you get hungry or thirsty while riding, not to worry, venders often board and offer you a sweet snack or beverage for a few hundred colones.
Most local buses cost about 100-200 colones ($0.20-0.40US) and arrive within 10 minutes of their schedule (www.visitcostarica.com/ict/paginas/LEYES/pdf/ItinerarioBuses_en.pdf) Make sure and arrive 10-15 minutes early to the appropriate stop to assure that you don't miss your bus.
Take care of your belongings while on the bus. While I have not seen or experienced any trouble, I have read cautions and have friends who placed their belongings above them in the overhead compartments that were easily snatched. Keep your belongings on your lap and in between your legs.
Owning a Vehicle:
I have always preferred the freedom that having a set of wheels provides but there are special considerations abroad. Purchasing a vehicle has a few extra hoops to jump through in CR, see "Once You Have Arrived" for more information. Once you have successfully purchased your car knowing what to do if it breaks down, talking to a mechanic in spanish, taking care of preventative maintenance are all things that you will encounter as a vehicle owner in Costa Rica. See "Once You Have Arrived" for more information.
Driving in CR
Is not for the timid of hearts. If you are a timid or become overly stressed with a variety of driving conditions this might not be the option for you. In one outing you could encounter and navigate around tractors, oxen, horses, and other fast drivers. Many nights in the wet season are host to torrential downpours and with little to no lighting that makes driving very difficult. One night I not only had to navigate through the rain but around a massive horse running down the street! Many residents decide to simply not drive at night because of the increase in difficulty and safety. Which with the pace of CR and based on your personality is often not even an inconvenience.
Ticos drive "freely" meaning they treat rules as a guideline and do not necessarily adhere to them. While there are police enforcing driving rules they are not found as often in the smaller towns, so people drive as they like. If you are tagged with a speeding ticket the penalties are steep!
Costa Rica has the highest traffic fines in the Americas! Starting at $450US. If you are caught driving over 150Km/hr (95mph) you could spend a year in PRISON!! Turning right on a red light will grant you the same fine as it's illegal in Costa Rica. This is not a huge problem because there are very few lights in Costa Rica; only found in the larger cities. I live over 45 minutes from the nearest stop light.
If you do find yourself in San Jose, the largest city, make sure that you are not driving on a restricted day. Due to overcrowding the city has placed a no drive rule according to the last number on your license plate. For example, if the last digit on your plate is a 1 or 2 then you cannot drive on Monday, a 3 or 4 on Tuesday, a 5 or 6 on Wednesday, a 7 or 8 on Thursday, and a 9 or 0 on Friday. The restriction is only effective during rush hour from: 6am-8:30am and again from 4:30-7pm.
The restriction does not apply to motorcycles, taxis, buses, and people with disabilities. The penalty for breaking the driving restriction is much more mild coming in at about $10US. www.autorent.cr/trafficfines/
I only mention the above to inform you, not to scare you. I have driven in Costa Rica with no problem and almost never see patrol. When I do see an officer they are usually standing on the side of the road looking to see if your Marchamo and Reteve are current (the equivalent to registration and vehicle safety inspection).
If you plan on living in an urban city however you may come across many more enforcing officials.
Other common differences between driving in the US and CR are that roads are often not clearly marked, not illuminated, and your GPS may not work. I have happily utilized the Google Maps App on my iPhone exclusively for my navigation needs; cellular service is required. Read more about cellular services in "Once You Have Arrived."
Identification
It is highly recommended that you carry a copy of your passport and valid stamp on your person at all times. That doesn't sound practical but is required, thankfully, expats before you have mastered the process. There are numerous stores that offer "copias" or copies and lamination service. They can create a copy of your passport picture and info and shrink it to a standard card size, then they copy the most recent entrance stamp on the back of the above created card. Finally, they laminate the card, giving you a plastic waterproof card that is portable and easy to carry in your board shorts or wallet.
If you are pulled over without this ID you could find yourself in some trouble. I was pulled over once at a security check point and I did not have the passport copy on me. I just rattled off my passport number and that sufficed but I was lucky. Had I been pulled over for doing something errant I believe my luck would not have followed.
Table of Contents
IntroductionPart I - The Basics
The Basics: history, conservation, stability, military, crime, sex, economy, culture, gay/lesbian, water, food, language, climate, nature, transportation, identification
Immigration: perpetual tourist, 72 hour myth, the ABCs of Residency, Residency 101+, Where do I start?, required documents,
PART II - Making it Personal
Where in Costa Rica is your paradise? What & Where, W-A-S-P-S, Guanacaste, Alajuela, Heredia, Limón, Cartago, San José, Puntarenas
Try Before You Pry- Try it on, Rent, Buy
Cost of Living- My monthly expenses, Housing, Purchasing a Property, Closing Costs, Property & Municipal Taxes, Luxury Home Tax, Utilities, Transportation Costs, Vehicle costs, Domestic Help, Medical Care, Medication,
PART III - Logistics
Before you Arrive- square up debts, secure documents, four-legged friends, mail system, money matters, bank accounts, credit cards,
All of Your Crap- starting fresh vs. container, international movers, moving checklist, when to send your belongings
Electronics- Which devices you need to bring with you, streaming music and video,
Best Applications for Expats- Skype, TextPlus, Voxer, GoogleVoice, XE Currency, Google Translate, Card Reader, Tripit, Airport Ace, Convert Units, Kindle, Dropbox, Facebook, Photocard, Weatherbug, KVUE WX for iPad
Set up Your Communication- International communication, Skype, magicJack, Texting
What Do I Do With My Car? the money, the process, selling your car
After You Arrive- Colones, Finding A Rental, Purchasing a Home, Maritime zone, Corporations, Homestead, Real Estate Agents- Use with caution, Squatters, Setting up Utilities, Local Communication, Int'l Communication, How to Buy a Car, Taxis, Gather Your Bearings, Receiving/Acquiring Your Stuff, container, filling your house, filing for residency, documentation,
PART IV - Children on Board
Guppies- How are the schools?, homeschooling, private schools, list of schools with costs and ranking, would it help or hurt them?, work, is it safe?, cost of school?, Testimonials,
Acclimating the Children- language, schools, schedule, activities, exploration, hobbies, make it their own.
Colleges & Schools For You- U-peace, University of Costa Rica, Biology
PART V - Work & Business
Work Hard Play Hard- not retired?, Startups in CR, steps to creating a business in CR, Hiring and firing ticos, caja, tico-time, telecommute, virtual office 101, online banking, communication, virtual admin support, mail, electronics, merchant account, independent consultant, property management, teach english, tourism jobs, jobs off of the books
How to Live For Free- hotel/house/pet sit, setting up your profile, selecting the right sites, making the right first impression, house sitting ethics, work exchange, couch surfing,
Taxes, Corps, & Banking- Paying the man, corporation tax, free zone, Business Banking, which bank is best, Banco Nacional, Bank of Costa Rica, Bank of San José, Banco Popular, accepting credit cards, business loans, US taxes, foreign earned income exclusion,
PART VI - Healthcare & Golden Years
Healthcare- health, prevention, lifestyle, care, interviewing a doctor, quality, caja, opt out, private insurance, local health insurance, international health insurance, travel insurance, pharmacies, malpractice in the US vs. CR, availability, medical tourism
Retired Life- transitioning, healthy living, language barrier, love life, community, expel the monsters, your better half, game plan, plan for the end
The Part Time Expat- Lifestyle, the balancing act, snow birds, property management, house sitters, travel insurance
Culture Shock/ Moving Blues- culture shock
Basic Phrases to Get You Running- slang, restaurant, shopping, bargaining, fueling up, paying the utilities, opening a cell phone account, mechanical problems, house repairs, looking for a place to rent
Resource Directory
What People are Saying About This
"Packed with 'from the street' real life information that is sure to save you hours of frustration and facilitate a smoother transition into the pura vida! Shannon is funny, informative, thorough, and organized! I wish that I had this book when I made my journey here years ago! Well worth the the money!" --Rona Marino, expat