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expat? or seasonal intruder?

12 months ago
This site is actually called, ExpatExchange.
the definition of 'expat' is:
: to leave one's native country to live elsewhere.

Yes, live... not just visit. But if a visitor learns something from a post here... then that is a good thing! Sharing is free.

To 'live' elsewhere means to experience and take part in a new or 'different' culture... the food, the traditions, the language, the climate, the history, music, etc. To do this, one must integrate themselves, at LEAST a little, into the community where they have chosen to LIVE.
I feel that there are many posts on this site that are not about that.
People who have, or ARE in the process, of integrating themselves into their respective CR communities, actually have information to share from their own experiences and contribute to the collection of data that continues to grow on the exchange.

I learn nothing about LIVING in a new country from posts about building million dollar houses on half million dollar lots to be sold to somebody that will spend a few weeks here 2-3 times per year (that is a person on vacation, not an expat), and rent the 'place' out the rest of the time to 'destination' wedding parties and creepy reality TV shows like the Bachelor. Those posts tell me and the rest of the readers who are tackling the various 'tests' that we endure while assimilating ourselves into new lives here in CR... absolutely nothing about 'life' here in CR. In fact, those posts don't even need a country of origin... they could be about 'building' in Thailand, Java, New Zealand, or Brazil.

But this site is for Expats who chose to live in CR... new lives in a new place. See the definition above, in case you missed it.

Maybe start your own site for that sort of subject since most of it wasn't specific to Costa Rica??? Like a business journal for developers of vacation homes in the tropics?
"Malibu with Bananas" ?? "Hamptons with Humidity" ???

Pura Vida...

William Russell
William Russell

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