Expat Community > Costa Rica

gcrtexas4
Joined 2013
Posts: 137

Costa Rica 1st Month

9 years ago

After almost 30 days I have found a house. They are out there but not as easy to find what you want as one might think. Living in a cabina in someone's front yard is not where you want to be for a whole month no matter how much you like who your staying with!

Biggest myth on the internet: There are enough Costa Ricans who speech enough Spanish that you can easily get by. People are very helpful and friendly when I asked how to say things properly. I always planned to learn Spanish but lessons in the US were expensive so I am on a crash course now. I have been able to get around but it hasn't been easy. People do their best to be helpful and understand but many just don't know enough English to tell you much of anything. I guess this isn't such a bad thing because it has really motivated me to learn Spanish.

One thing no one mentioned: Motorcycles! They are the most annoying things I have found. They can be heard from miles away (Alajuela, where I have been temporarily staying). The riders think the roads are only for them and they all seem to have a death wishes.

Biggest surprises: (1) How neat and clean most supermarkets and ferias are. Having been to Belize and Nicaragua, I expected less. (2) There are actually some street signs. I can get where I am going some directions and sometimes a map.

My new neighborhood is definitely an all Tico one - no concentration of expats. I think I like it that way. I will get to know the culture better. My landlady and neighbors, many of which are in the same family, have been welcoming and friendly.

I just thought that all the maybe expats out there might like to know what a newbie gringa resident was experiencing.

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SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

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Costa Rica 1st Month

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