![]() Ticos have a hard time embracing foreigners. ![]() Ticos interpret this message as expats saying “we know better than you”. The problem is by doing this you’re not being part of the community you live in. They stick together and make their own organizations. It shows expats aren’t willing to integrate or take part in community activism.Ĭommunity action is a fundamental part of democracy. Costa Rica is a democracy and allows community organizations to take part in guaranteeing equal access to enforce certain rights.īut what I see is, instead of joining community organizations, expats detach themselves. If you don’t want to do anything, then don’t complain. The important part about noticing the deficiencies here is to do something about them. But then you come to Costa Rica and it’s easy to see the deficiencies because you are not used to them when you arrive. The countries you come from are not perfect, but you’re so used to them, you don’t see their problems. Sometimes, when you are swimming in it, you can’t see what’s wrong with your environment. Like their home country was perfect in the first place.Įverybody lives in the boiling water of Friedrich Goltz. I am the first to criticize my country, as there are so many opportunities lost here.īut foreigners base their criticism of Costa Rica on comparisons with their home countries. Speaking as a Tico, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s hard to embrace a culture if you’re not willing to uproot yourself from your own.Įxpats love to criticize Costa Rica and its quirks. This also has the effect of limiting the ability to understand the host culture. Not being willing or able to absorb the host culture inhibits you from detaching from your own. Do you make friends with Ticos, attend Tico events, or care about Tico culture? What is a güipipía? Who was Carmen Lyra? Have you read “ Mamita Yunai” or “ Cocorí“? I might also add in laziness as a third factor but as I’m feeling kind, I won’t.īut ask yourself how well do you really integrate. First, the lack of integration with Costa Ricans and second, the tendency to socialize only with other expats. I know people who have lived in Costa Rica for decades and still can’t speak basic Spanish. Many expats cannot, will not, or do not learn Spanish. I often see foreigners in Costa Rica attached to their customs and cultures without integrating into the country they’ve moved to. In fact, they seem to get more attached to their homelands the longer they stay. But most foreigners don’t do that at all. The term refers to ostracizing one’s self from the homeland. It interests me how foreigners living in Costa Rica use the word “expat”. I’m inclined to believe they don’t.īoth groups view each other through the prism of their idiosyncrasies and stereotypes.įoreigners rationalize Tico behavior and culture through past experiences, through the customs of their home country, and with a sense they “know better”.īut Ticos are so obsessed with their nationality, they don’t accept the reality of their multiculturalism and face it with resistance. I often wonder if Ticos and foreigners living in Costa Rica understand each other. In this article he attempts to explain our differences and what we should do to bridge them. Immigration attorney Rafael Valverde believes the fault lies with both sides and multiculturalism in Costa Rica is a positive thing. And yet there often appears to be a gulf between Costa Ricans and foreign residents. Uber is available in San Jose and some other Costa Rican cities on your smartphone.Costa Rica is a multicultural society with many foreigners living in it. Taxisįor shorter trips and local transport, taxis are widely available. The cheapest way to travel around Costa Rica is by bus, and there is a wide network of long-distance buses that will take you wherever you want to go. Other airlines that fly domestically are Skyway, Aerobell, and Green Airways. Flightsĭomestic airline Sansa has regular flights between all of Costa Rica’s main cities. This is also festival season, with major events including the Fiestas Palmares (January), Semana Santa (Easter), and the Festival de la Luz (Festival of Lights, December). The dry season is the most popular time to travel, with daytime temperatures in the late 70☏s (mid 20☌s) - ideal for hitting the beach or hiking through the cloud forests. The wet season (May to November) sees daily showers up and down the country, with the heaviest rains occurring in September and October. When is the best time to visit?Ĭosta Rica has two distinct seasons. Most visitors from the US, Europe, and Australia will not need a visa to travel to Costa Rica but do consult the Costa Rican embassy for details. What is the best way to get there? Flying:Ĭosta Rica is served by two international airports: San Jose International Airport (Juan Santamaria) and Liberia International Airport.
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