Archives for February 2017

We’re living in a strange world. Consider it…

You have the phenomenon of mass exodus…refugees of war and human conflict and, soon-to-be, climate, seeking haven on safer, drier and higher ground abroad…

You have nativists at home clamoring for their governments to slam the door in the face of all comers, especially the neediest of them…

You have leaders, like Trump, as well as others, claiming that we must stick up for and protect our own in the midst of this movement of the masses…

What gets lost in all this is a simple truth. And that simple truth is that we’re all in this together. We have one and only one planetary ship on which to enjoy this one life and we’d better protect it and preserve the life that’s still left on it, or all this talk about “blank first” will go by the wayside and we into the dustheap of human history.

In my blog, Revolutionary Misfit, I talk a lot about the Big US. I like to use the metaphor of the Titanic. You know, that invincible ship that got deep-six’ed by a relatively small floating ice cube. And in that moment, when all was going to hell in a hand-basket, the ordered societal division that had ruled the decks turned into a chaotic quest for survival.

We don’t want to see our planet turn into that…now do we?

But that just might be where it’s headed.

So, what’s the answer and what does it have to do with “expat mindfulness.”

From the perspective of an expat, or those who’ve taken up residence in a host country, that concept does not seem so far-fetched, or it certainly shouldn’t. One thing being an expat for all these years has taught me is an endearing respect for immigrants, since I have voluntarily become one myself.

A couple years ago my wife and I decided that maybe we should move back to the U.S. for a while. We were having a hard time economically and we hallucinated that perhaps things could be better.

She’s a Colombian born citizen, but a Costa Rican nationalized one. Through our marriage she was able to obtain a U.S. visa. So, off we went. Little did we realize how hard it would be for her to move from the status of a tourist to that of resident, or even citizen. Let me tell you folks, it ain’t easy and certainly not cheap. And do you think for a minute that the majority of those poor Central Americans and Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande in search of a better existence, that Trump wants to block with his great wall, have the slightest chance of doing it the “right way?” The answer is no, they really don’t.

And the above doesn’t even begin to touch the plight of Syrian, and other, refugees. Those fleeing, not only from economic misery, but for their very lives. They also have little chance to make it to any semblance of safety unless countries like the U.S. help them. We can do it, but these days we refuse to. We refuse to because of a small us mentality. And that mentality is not the direction this world needs to head in. As Donald Trump likes to say…believe me!

The concept of World Citizenship is not meant to imply open borders. Countries have borders and they should be protected. That’s just the way it is. What it does imply is a different mindset held by those legally within those borders vis-à-vis “outsiders.” They are your brothers and sisters. It doesn’t matter what color they are, what language they speak, or what god they worship…we are all part of the same species living together on this revolving rock called planet earth.

And that, again hopefully, can create a better existence for us now and a better world for the future.

I’ve noticed over the years that there are two types of expats, or would-be expats, that arrive to Costa Rica, both with big dreams and high expectations…

The first type consists of those expats who are looking for a different style of life than what they left behind. They are often seeking a greener, less cluttered, less materialistic, and more sustainable existence.

The second type is basically looking to transfer the same level of materialism that he or she enjoyed back home to Costa Rica, but to experience it with a more tropical/exotic flare…and with better weather, of course.

You can probably guess the ones I prefer to work with. Although, truth be told, the second set usually arrives with more money in tow. That can make a Costa Rica real estate agent’s eyes turn green!…especially those with PHDs…you know, the poor, hungry and driven ones.

Truth is that I like working with any wanna-be expat because I get a kick out of showing off this great country, with its multitude of marvels and mysteries. I do get pissed off sometimes, however, when folks try to create their own personal version of it.

Costa Rica is what it is and despite the valiant efforts of a handful of materialistic-minded gringo expats, it ain’t gonna change any time soon.

I have written before about my view that “American-style” consumerism is at the root of many problems the world faces.

Often I’ve contrasted that high consumption lifestyle with what prevails here in Costa Rica. Comparatively speaking, the Costa Rica lifestyle is marked by low consumption, although the influx of North Americans in the last couple decades threatens to change all that.

Granted, low consumption isn’t for everybody. I understand that. But I can imagine that if enough people live this way, the earth might become a better place, or at least we’d have a more sustainable planet that might remain an enjoyable place for future generations.

What exactly am I getting at with this idea of a Costa Rica lifestyle of low consumption?

Let me provide some examples. As always, there are exceptions! But exceptions don’t make the rules.

Costa Ricans don’t, for the most part, use appliances, such as dishwashers and clothes dryers, that consume inordinate amounts of electricity.

In the higher altitudes of Costa Rica, like the Central Valley, no one uses air condition, nor heat.

Down on the coast that may be a different story, at least for a/c. But not really if you live high enough to cool things down a bit with an ocean breeze, as well as a spectacular view. Yes, there are places where you can “have your cake and eat it too” in Costa Rica!

In Costa Rica, we often grow our own food, or it could just be growing wild on its own, right in your backyard. We don’t need to buy our produce from industrialized farms that are depleting the soil and poisoning it, and us, with pesticides.

We often buy from local farmer’s markets. Again, food here is usually grown locally rather than on industrialized farms located far away, which then has to shipped to a grocer near you. There has been a recent push for organic or hydroponic home gardening. Many expats are growing or buying exclusively organic.

We buy used cars and then drive them to the last kilometer. This is in large part due to the ridiculously high cost of new imports, but it helps keep our consumption rate low compared to other “more developed” societies where consumers buy new cars every few years. We also like taking the bus and don’t view the act as having any negative socio-economic class implications.

In Costa Rica we are into protecting the environment because we realize it’s the main reason we get up every morning with a smile on our face. Not to mention the dollars it brings from others who like to visit frequently and enjoy a similar experience.

I could go on, but you’ve probably already caught my drift.

For those of you who are intrigued by the idea of becoming a less materialistic human who embraces the Costa Rican lifestyle of lower consumption, come on down, the water is very nice.

For those of you who aren’t, but would like to give the expat life a try anyway, we welcome you as well. Just please try to keep an open mind. Costa Rica might just teach you a thing or two!

There are downsides of Costa Rica expat living. I mean, it’s not all a bed of roses.

Here are just a few inconveniences you will experience on a regular basis in your new home…

Frequent power outages – due to storms, rationing, or perhaps just because the system had a hiccup.

Rain, Rain, and more Rain – Rain will become part of your life in Costa Rica. In fact, if it weren’t for rain, there’d be no Costa Rica, or at least not the lush green one that drew you to consider the Costa Rica expat life.

Bad Roads – I watched a 1947 documentary on Costa Rica the other day. It claimed that Costa Rica has some of the best roads in the world. Really? Not the ones I drive on. Costa Rica’s roads are notoriously bad. Like bad enough to loosen your tooth filings, or induce labor. But that’s just part of the adventure.

The Language Barrier – If you don’t arrive moderately fluent, and most don’t, you’ll soon discover that routine things like going to the bank become exercises in humility, patience and empathy for those poor non-English-speaking Mexicans in the U.S. that Donald Trump wants to deport.

Intermittent Internet – If you’re like me and do about 95% of your work online, well, having a secure internet connection becomes a very necessary convenience. That’s hard to find in Costa Rica. In fact, it’s downright impossible to find in most places in Costa Rica, especially those remote jungly and beachy places where expats love to congregate.

Bugs – I get a kick out of gringos who complain about insects. What do you expect, moron, you made a decision to live in one of the most tropical and bio-diverse locations on earth and you didn’t think that there might be bugs? By the way bio-diversity doesn’t just signify a plethora of those fuzzy and colorful creatures we like to snap photos of…it also means insects…and Costa Rica has about a gazillion different species of them!

The Slow Pace of Life – wait a minute, isn’t that supposed to be a positive thing? Well sure, but for most gringos who’re used to that fast track, rat-race sort of lifestyle, adjusting to the slowness of Costa Rica is quite a challenge. In fact, it can be quite a stressful challenge as all that gringo impatience is slowly squeezed out of your system.

Waiting in Line – the ticos have perfected the art of waiting in line, perhaps because they get so much practice doing it. Bank lines are a notorious example. I’ve little seen people pass out in a Costa Rica bank line. The line waiting skills of gringos are not quite so developed, but for the expat, you’ll learn them, soon enough.

Easy Access to Stuff – as gringos, we’re used to being able to find pretty much anything we want fairly quickly. That ain’t happening in most places in Costa Rica. If you live in an urban area like San Jose, perhaps it becomes an easier task, but still just not the same.

Easy Access to Cheap Stuff – and even if you do live in a big city like San Jose and can easily find most anything, you’ll still find that it costs a hell of a lot more than back in the U.S.

The Metric System – for those of us who’ve spent most of our life in the U.S., the metric system is, well, just plain weird. Who cares if the rest of the world uses it, we gringos are different, and we don’t. Of course, Costa Rica is on the metric system and they don’t give a hoot how different you are…adapt or suffer the consequences.

Now, none of the above downsides of Costa Rica expat living are insurmountable and neither should the fact that you will experience all of them dissuade you from moving forward with your expat plans. But it pays to know what you’re getting into.

One of the ways you can plan for them is to think about which ones are most important for you to avoid and try to choose a living arrangement where those particular downsides of Costa Rica expat living are less likely to be routinely experienced at excruciating levels of patience testing.

For instance, if having good reliable high speed internet and access to shopping on a level that you’re used to having back in the states is important to you, then you probably don’t want to opt for a life in some remote jungle, as alluring and adventurous as that might sound.

Costa Rica has a lot of options, from the remote life in some bio-diverse location to highly cosmopolitan city living in a place where new state-of-the-art malls seem to pop out of the ground like the ever-present lush vegetation. In my book, The Definitive Guide to Costa Rica Expat Living, I explore these options in more detail. The intent of that book is to help you choose among them.

What’s most important, however, is your attitude. It’s up to you to deal with the downsides of Costa Rica expat living in positive ways. Believe me, it’ll be easy to develop a bad attitude about these downsides, or about Costa Rica in general. Many come here and make that mistake.

Don’t be one of them.

Hey, my new book The Definitive Guide to Costa Rica Expat Living is live on Amazon. If you’re thinking about making an escape from the rat-race, whether for political or mental and physical health reasons, or all of the above, The Definitive Guide to Costa Rica Expat Living was written just for you!

Get the Book!

Shuttle diplomacy is when negotiations are conducted by a mediator who facilitates communication between two parties, usually leaders of different countries, who are reluctant to hold direct discussions. And that reluctance is often as a result of a high degree of distrust that has developed between them.

Unfortunately, in this world we are currently living in, parties of different cultures and languages are often reluctant, or fearful, of holding direct discussions, or making any effort to understand one another whatsoever.

One of the greatest joys in my 16 years as an expat in Costa Rica has been sharing the experience with others. I rarely have a negative thing to say about Costa Rica. And when I do, it’s usually said in a humorous spirit. The things that have annoyed me, I usually try to shrug off with a smile and not take them, or my annoyance, too seriously.

That doesn’t mean that life in Costa Rica has always been just peachy for me. Oh for sure I’ve had more than my fair share of ups and downs here. But I don’t let the downs color my overall outlook about the place. The picture I always try to paint for others is one of wonder. Costa Rica is a wonderful place to live. There’s just no doubting that.

So, why spread a negative message? I mean if you don’t like the place, then the decision to move on is probably your best option. But if you do, then tell others about it! Exercise expat shuttle diplomacy by offering to be the bridge between their culture and this new and mysterious one that they’re surely to be a bit curious about. If they ask you if the natives are restless, tell them, hell yes…they party all night, every night, because they are just that damn happy!

The world will become a more unified place when diverse cultures have a better understanding of one another. It will happen when we all come to the Big US realization that we’re really all after the same basic things…a life of dignity, peace, health, love and happiness…right? The differences between cultures should not be a wedge that separates them, but a magnet that draws opposites together.

You can be that magnetic force. To do that you have to immerse. You have to know the culture that you have assimilated yourself in and know it well. That will take some effort on your part. Ticos bear no real responsibility to share their culture with you. They will, just because that’s the way they are. But if you want a richer and fuller experience of it, you have to ask them. You have to seek it out. You have to place yourself in awkward situations. Oh yes, you will experience some embarrassing moments, when you say or do the wrong thing. But those are learning opportunities and memories that will make you smile in the years to come.

And what you learn from that immersion experience you should share with those of your home culture. Let them know how these “others” live. It will be an eye opening experience for them, just as it was for you. When you invite them down, don’t shelter them from it (the foreign culture, that is). No, rather expose them to it, even if that has the potential of making them feel a bit uncomfortable, like you once were. It will be good for them, as it was for you. Of course, help them through it…a little. It’ll also be a great opportunity to get a few laughs at their expense…no real harm in that!

In the same light, when you make those trips back to your home country, remember to carry along tokens of your adopted country and culture. Don’t be afraid to say “pura vida” and then take advantage of the opportunity to explain what that means. Cook up some gallo pinto for the family back home. Tell them stories from the deep dark jungle. I wrote a series long ago called Tall-Tales of Costa Rica Guy, in which I share sometimes slightly embellished stories of my adventures in Costa Rica. Starting a blog is a great way to share your experiences.

Have fun with it!