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Costa Rica is a Land of Many Rivers

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There is something fascinating about a river.

A river is perhaps given birth by a small pool of fresh water high in the mountains.

In Costa Rica we have two coastlines, the Pacific and the Caribbean.

The unwavering law of gravity pulls the water in one direction or the other, towards one of our coasts, where the river unites with the sea.

This is a continuous occurrence with no discernible beginning or end.

But the truth is that the river is in a constant state of change. The river you observe in one moment is not the same as that which you observe the following.

Actually on some level that is hidden from our eyes, this is true of all matter…all is in a constant state of change, even our own bodies.

It’s just more easily seen with the naked eye in case of ever flowing rivers.

Sometimes I think, childishly, will the river ever just stop flowing? As if there were a giant spigot that could just be closed somewhere up there from whence those waters flow.

In Costa Rica the level of our rivers rises and falls with the seasons. During the green season the power flowing through them is amazing and intimidating. During the summer season, when the rains end, the rivers lose much of their intensity…it is as if their wrath subsides and they become more tranquil and clear.

Better for diving in to beat the heat.

The rivers are alive. They both emit and evoke strong emotions.

To be such a small country, it is amazing that so many rivers call Costa Rica home. We have the mighty ones like the Pacuare and Reventazon, which are natural playgrounds for those who like to experience them up close and personal. We have rivers like Celeste that at times can be as blue as the sky.

There are so many more that I could mention. These rivers give us so much to be thankful for.

They nourish us, physically, emotionally and spiritually. They provide power.

Truly Costa Rica is a land of many rivers. It is one of our greatest resources and one that must be guarded and protected at all costs.

Like all forms of life, the living rivers are vulnerable. There are those who seem to not understand that if we sacrifice our rivers, we are just killing ourselves.

That is so true in Costa Rica, as well as anywhere else in the world.

Costa Rica would not be the same without its rivers and neither would the rest of our planet.

Costa Rica – The Great Big Little Country

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Most blogs about Costa Rica are promotional in nature (certainly this one is no exception).  There are a precious few really good ones out there, but if you pay too much attention to what is being said, you could get the wrong impression.

Often, since most people live in or around San Jose, you get a constant stream of gripes about life in the city.  About the crime and the grime, the traffic and other daily annoyances. I lived there for 10 years and if you search for them you’ll find a few posts like that in this blog.

And all that is legitimate and true, but to capture a real vision of Costa Rica, I believe you have to step back for a moment and take in the bigger picture.

First of all, Costa Rica is not San Jose, nor is it Jaco or Tamarindo, or those places where people tend to gather.  This is Costa Rica – the great big little country.

While being tiny in geographical comparison to most others, the country is overwhelmingly rich when it comes to diversity, all kinds of diversity…not just the biodiversity of flora and fauna that you here so much about.

And therein lies the number one amazing fact about this great big little country that I have grown to love so deeply.

I was traveling around a while back in pursuit of a Costa Rican Indigenous project, making art buys in places like Guaitil, Guanacaste and Guatuso, Alajuela.  These are remote little gems that most people never get to see or experience, but are well worth the effort.

You see, to really get to know this country you have to get a little bit dirty and that ain’t going to happen if you make a b-line for the beaten path.

You need to take a few  of the “scenic routes.”

You’ve got to take to the open road, park and walk down not so well-lit paths.  Doing so is good for the body and the soul and amazing discoveries can be made.

Below I have inserted a short video showing some of Costa Rica’s gems that are off those beaten paths.

So those of you out there considering a Costa Rica vacation (don’t know why else you’d be reading this), go ahead and do your research…

but I am here to tell you that often what you are reading belies the truth of the bigger picture…

a picture that’s nothing short of amazing!

Costa Rican Greeting

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There’s a difference in the way people greet one another in Costa Rica as opposed to the U.S.

For sure you have the cultural tradition whereby females are greeted with a light kiss on the cheek.

And that is certainly a distinguishable custom.

But I am talking about things below surface level observations.

Compared to Costa Rica, folks in the U.S. are generally a bit “flippant” when it comes to their modes of greeting one another.

A man may greet a friend, acquaintance, or even a family member, with a slight wave of the hand and a “hey what’s up?”

Or, there may be no formal greeting at all, but simply a nod or other subtle gesture that acknowledges the presence of the other person.

So what’s the big deal about that, Costa Rica Guy, you ask?

Well nothing if you want to remain wrapped up tight in your bubble and never make an impact on other people.

I have noticed a much higher level of vibrancy when it comes to the way ticos (and other Latino cultures, such as the Colombians) greet one another. They really put some energy into it.

It is a cultural habit that I have had a hard time adapting to.

There seem to be hundreds of different phrases that are used for greetings here. Ones that go way beyond the Spanish 101 of “buenos dias,” or “como esta?”

This post is not meant to be a language lesson, so I will not go into those here.

In fact, what I am getting at with this post has little to do with the words used in a greeting, but with the attitude that one brings to the greeting.

A while back I read a book entitled The Love Dare. It is about learning how to really express love for your spouse or companion. One chapter was on greetings.

I liked this quote…

“When someone communicates that they are glad to see you, your personal sense of self-worth increases. You feel more important and valued. That’s because a good greeting sets the stage for a positive and healthy interaction. Like love, it puts wind in your sails.”

I have to say that I have allowed my U.S. cultural inclinations to stymie my adaption to the warm and energetic way in which Costa Ricans greet one other. My Colombian wife often scolds me for the cold and insensitive way that I tend to greet.

It is just the way I was brought up…as in, it ain’t no big deal.

But the quote above shamed me.

You see the Costa Ricans will greet each other in this way even when they don’t feel like it. That’s because the greeting is not for their personal benefit, but for the benefit of making the other person feel good and for the benefit of creating a positive setting for interaction.

It probably is one of the main reasons why social events of the ticos end up being more raucous and fun events that what I can remember from the same in the U.S.

Latinos are less resistant to “letting their guards down” when it comes to social interactions.

We in the U.S., for some reason, tend to keep our guards up, ready to deflect the possibility of personal affront.

Why?

Maybe it is that we are more self-conscious about our image, i.e., afraid of blowing our cool.

In pocas palabras, we take life, and ourselves, just a little too seriously.

Why not lighten up a little. Let that guard down and bring some pura vida energy into your greetings. Give that next lady you meet a kiss on the cheek, or that next guy a high-five.

That’ll surely “alter their state,” as Tony Robbins is fond of saying.

Okay for those dying to learn a cool Costa Rican greeting, here’s one…

“Que mae, todo bien?”

Use with an energetic smile…and a…

Pura Vida!

image credit: Blackstallionhills.com via Compfight cc

The Hidden Cultures of Costa Rican Indigenous

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I have written often and quite fondly, generally, in this blog about the culture of Costa Rica. However, there is a rich and diverse culture that to my shame I have not mentioned as much.

It is often said, and even taught to children in schools here, that when the Spanish conquistadors arrived, they found mostly virgin forests, towering mountains and beautiful coasts. In contrast to other parts of Central America, there were very few in the way of indigenous groups inhabiting this wild and exotic new frontier.

Well, that perspective involves a bit of re-making actual historical fact.

In reality there was a diverse population of indigenous living in almost all parts of the country.

In fact, an excellent short synopsis of Costa Rican history entitled aptly, Historia de Costa Rica (in both English and Spanish versions), by professors Ivan Molina and Steven Palmer, claims that around the year 1500, when the Spanish first arrived, there were some 400,000 indigenous in the territory now known as Costa Rica.

Well, those numbers have diminished a bit, as one might imagine. Nevertheless, there is a rich and diverse indigenous culture that remains in Costa Rica, although it is often hidden from the rapidly growing tourism industry.

One of the best ways to get to know Costa Rican indigenous culture is through the arts and crafts produced. From the exquisitely carved and colorful ceremonial  masks of Boruca to the pre-Colombian style ceramic pottery of the virtually extinct (or, assimilated) Chorotegas on the Nicoya peninsula, the indigenous of Costa Rica were and still are true artisans in every sense of the word.

While Costa Rica’s indigenous do enjoy limited government assistance and protection, they nevertheless suffer some of the most extreme poverty in the country.

The largest group is the Cabecares that inhabit diverse small villages deep in the Talamanca Mountain range. They tend to remain isolated from the rest of Costa Rican civilization.

Other groups include the Malekus, Bribris, Guaymies, Huetares and Terrabas.

Some time ago I embarked upon a project to display their beautiful works of art online and increase awareness of this hidden culture of Costa Rica.

You can see some of the results here.

Also, some time ago I created several videos of my encounters with various of these indigenous groups. Check them out on my YouTube Channel.

image credit: Amadeus travel agency via Compfight cc

Costa Rica Commitment to Peace

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Costa Rica is unique in many ways.  One of the most puzzling to outsider attributes that sets Costa Rica apart is its lack of a military.

Many ask how can Costa Rica be safe when there has been so much strife to its north and south without a military to protect itself?

To understand more fully Costa Rica’s steadfast commitment to remaining neutral in the numerous conflicts of its neighbors a bit of a Costa Rican history lesson is needed.  Like the U.S., Costa Rica was hit hard by the worldwide economic crisis of the late 1920’s known as the Great Depression.  This gave way to increased influence of the Communist party and social unrest.

The “New Deal” for Costa Rica came with the election of president Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia, who served from 1940 to 1944.  His administration enacted sweeping economic and social reforms such as social security and the labor code.  However, the mercantile elite did not support Calderón’s reforms and linked him with the Communist party.  In 1944, Calderón’s candidate, Teodoro Picado was elected, but his election was declared fraudulent by Calderón’s opponents. Despite Picado’s attempts to appease the opposition, mistrust in government grew during the period from 1944 to 1948.

In the election of 1948, Otilio Ulate defeated Calderón, who was seeking re-election.  But the results were annulled by the Congress, which was dominated with Calderón supporters.  This led to Costa Rica’s only civil war, with the opposition led by José “Pepe” Figueres Ferrer.  The armed conflict lasted about five weeks and left some 2,000 dead.  The Figueres’ led forces defeated the weak Costa Rican military.

Figueres first move was to outlaw the Communist party.  He also rejected the so-called “Pacto Caribe” that would have allowed Costa Rica to be used as a base for campaigns against its neighbor’s dictatorial regimes.

But the most famous decree of Figueres was the abolition of the military. A new constitution was adopted that gave women and blacks the right to vote.  The Supreme Electoral Tribunal was established to monitor elections and prevent future electoral fraud.  Figueres stepped down after 18 months, handing his power over to Otilio Ulate, and ever since Costa Ricans have settled their arguments constitutionally.

In short, under Figueres democratic freedoms were enshrined in Costa Rica.  And the rest as they say, is history.  Costa Rica has been at peace ever since.

The abolition of the military allowed the government to invest more in social programs like health care and education.  In the ensuing years the middle class was elevated.  Don Pepe, as he is affectionately called by the ticos, died in 1990 at the age of 84.

Costa Rican’s owe a great deal of gratitude to Don Pepe and his courageous actions that help to make Costa Rica perhaps the most free and democratic of all Latin American countries.  Since those days Costa Rica has remained neutral in the conflicts that have brewed in neighboring nations.

During the late 80’s when the civil war was raging in Nicaragua, Costa Rica refused to allow the U.S. to use the country as a base of military operations. And it was Costa Rica’s then president Oscar Arias who negotiated an accord that helped bring about peace in Nicaragua.  Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize as a result of his efforts.

Arguably, there is a time to take up arms, especially when lasting peace is threatened by dictatorial regimes, such as was Somoza in Nicaragua.  Don Pepe “smelled such a rat” back in 1948 and took decisive action that led to lasting peace.  Since then it has been the unique Costa Rica commitment to peace that has defined the country in many ways, made it an admiration of the world and a wonderful place to live and to visit.

More Facts About Don Pepe

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Costa Ricans are Americans Too

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Map of America from 1744

I feel compelled to re-address a “pet peeve” of mine. It is the habit of folks from the U.S. to always refer to their homeland as “America” and to themselves, in an exclusive manner, as “Americans.”

A Little Geography and History

The fact is that “America” or “the Americas” consists of the continental land mass with three divisions, being North America (of which Central America is actually a part), the Isthmus of Panama and South America. The name America first appeared in the early 1500′s and is often attributed to the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the east coast of Brazil from 1499 to 1502 (although attributing the name to him has been disputed). This great land mass covers 8.3% of the surface of the earth, 28.4% of its entire land mass and 13.5% of all earth’s inhabitants.  It is also referred to as the “New World.” Before the explorers from Europe arrived on the scene it was entirely inhabited by native Indians.

Who is an American?

So when, where and how did the U.S. suddenly arrive to become widely known as “America” and solely the citizens of that one particular country (out of the 55 that exist) as “Americans?” I can tell you from experience that it is offensive to the folks here in Costa Rica to hear a person from the U.S. refer to his country, or to himself, “exclusively” in this way. What is meant by it anyway? Is it just a lazy, or ignorant, habit? Or is there some underlying motivation?

Do we who are from the U.S. truly believe that we are so exceptional that we embody 100% of what it means to be “American” and that all those poor schleps to the North and South of us just don’t quite “cut the mustard?”

Long ago I wrote about Obama’s speech at Cairo University and of the quote in which he stated, “any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail.” Throughout the course of human history, nations, and groups of people within them, have done just that and it hasn’t generally led to good things.

Anyone who calls home the northernmost reaches of Canada to the southernmost of Argentina, as well as all points in between, has the right to call him or herself “American.” It’s just a geographical fact.

We’re all Americans

There is a degree of resentment, however, among the folks that inhabitant the southern region of the Americas. They seem to have often gotten the “short end of the stick” when it comes to being part of America. They are often portrayed in U.S. culture as being of a lower class or social order (as in the gardener, house keeper, or drug cartel member). In short, they have often been looked down upon (and even exploited) from those to the north.

The habit of referring to oneself, if you happen to be from the U.S., as American to me is indicative of a major impact blinder. I admit, I did the same thing when I arrived to Costa Rica 12 years ago and was often scolded for it. It was a habit that took some time to shed. But shedding that habit of speech, or, worse, of thought, was the right thing to do.

Yes I am American, but so are my brothers and sisters from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and all other countries that make up the Americas. If it sounds like I am lecturing, well, I guess I am.

So, the next time you become conscious that you are about to refer to the U.S. in a way that connotes the one true embodiment of America, think before you speak, especially if you are in the audience of someone who might feel a bit excluded. Remember, Costa Ricans are Americans too!

To a nation that originated almost entirely of immigrants, that should be understandable.

Costa Rica Culture of Politeness

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Palabra Magica

Costa Rican society is decidedly polite compared to that of the U.S.  It might be the biggest area of reverse culture shock one will experience after being here for a long time and then returning to the U.S.  At least, that has been my experience.  Some describe Costa Rica culture as “passive-aggressive.” I prefer to just call it polite, since no one ever really knows what is going on behind a smile, but it’s still a more pleasant experience than a scowl.

Now there are exceptions to every rule.  Those apply here on the streets, avenues and highways.  Just put the most polite, well refined Tico behind the steering wheel of an automobile, and it is like pouring water on a “gremlin” (you remember those lovable little creatures from that early Spielberg kid-flick?).  Yea, they become little demons hell-bent on destruction.  But outside of that environment, politeness rules.

I am still trying to adapt, because sometimes I just don’t feel like being polite.  Those times are usually when I am too wrapped up in what is going on in my life at the moment (or in my head) to take the time to try to brighten someone’s day with a simple, disculpe, por favor, or gracias.  Here folks are just polite, even when they may not be having the best day.  It is not as if they are “faking it.”  The politeness comes natural.  In the culture of the U.S., you can readily tell when someone is faking it, can’t you?  You know, the so-called “courtesy laugh” at that joke you blew, or the “courtesy smile” when lurking just behind it is seething cynicism.

I am one of those persons that tends to wear his emotions on his shirt sleeve and that does not always go over so well in this culture.  I am learning to be naturally polite, because I admit I am not (as any of my friends here will attest).  I am polite when and if I feel like it.  The Spanish language of politeness does not roll off the tip of my tongue as easily as “hey that’ll be 20 dollars of super and check the oil while you’re at it.”

But politeness will get you further in Costa Rica.  It will open doors that sometimes appear to be shut to gringo expats who haven’t learned the language of politeness yet.  It will develop and strengthen relationships. It will make you feel better because you are making others feel better.  Because in reality life is not all about us, is it?

To refuse to learn to adapt to this culture of politeness is to remain in the cynical and pessimistic world where one always demands that his needs be met and to hell with anyone else. That does not go over so well down here.

So take a tip from the Costa Rica Guy and make your first Spanish lesson be to learn the language of politeness. And the “palabra mágica” is……P-O-R F-A-V-O-R.

Gracias, Adios!

Costa Rican Gallo Pinto

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Costa Rican gallo pinto

Since coming to Costa Rica 12 years ago I must say that I’ve shed a few inhibitions that I initially had.  Those like dancing (salsa, merengue, cumbia) and singing (after downing a few whatevers, I used to regularly sing Karaoke in Spanish in the bars around San Jose) come to mind.

But one thing I can’t say that I’ve shed too much of is the extra weight around my mid-section.  Probably the single largest reason for that is that I love gallo pinto (also Imperial, the local beer, but that’s another story).

Gallo pinto (or just pinto, for short) is a dish that is normally served at breakfast and consists of rice and beans with certain spices (like cilantro) and a lot of Lizano sauce (local mustard base and very tangy sauce that is applied to just about everything). Gallo pinto is actually served all over Central America.  For instance, the gallo pinto in Nicaragua is also very good.  I like to eat my gallo pinto with a big dollop of “natilla” (essentially sour cream that is a little sweeter than what you may be accustomed to), which is another reason I haven’t lost weight in Costa Rica.

The gallo pinto is prepared differently in various parts of the country.  In some areas they use black beans, while in others red beans.  In some areas (like the Caribbean) they cook in coconut oil, while in others vegetable based oil, and so on.

Being from the south, I am used to big breakfasts.  Back home there was no better breakfast than grandma’s eggs and smoke-house ham with grits and red-eye gravy. No offense grandma, but a plate of gallo pinto with fried eggs, fried cheese and platanos maduros (ripe plantains fried in oil) will give your country cooked breakfast a run for its money.  I guess I still am in the south anyway, just a little further south.

Okay enough talk about breakfast, I am getting hungry!

Traditional Recipe for Costa Rican Gallo Pinto

Ingredients (for 6 servings):

– 3 cups day old cooked rice
– 2 cups cooked black beans
– 2 tablespoons onions finely chopped
– 1 tablespoon bell pepper finely chopped
– 2 tablespoons cilantro finely chopped
– 3 strips bacon, fried and crumbled
– 2 tablespoons oil
– 2 tablespoons Lizano sauce (or Worcester if Lizano is not available)
– ½ tablespoon of Tabasco sauce (optional)

Sauté onion and bell pepper in oil on medium heat. Add beans and cook 2 minutes more. Add cooked rice and mix together. Cook 5 minutes more and then add Lizano (or Worcester) sauce, Tabasco (optional), cilantro and mix well. Garnish with bacon crumbs. If desired top with sour cream.

The Art of Nonconformity in Costa Rica

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Chris Guillebeau Art of Nonconformity

Read Chris Guillebeau’s manifesto for the first time this morning. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to do that. I am a big fan of this young guy. I have read $100 Start-Up and follow his blog. Chris is much younger than I am. I only wish I could have had his wisdom in my 30’s. Instead I was thinking like the typical conformista. Doing it the way it is “supposed” to be done. And as time did tell, that didn’t work out so well for me.

The manifesto is entitled, A Brief Guide to World Domination. In it Chris instructs us how to live a nonconformist life, and do things like take over small countries. In reality, his manifesto has impact mindfulness written all over and under it. He just uses different terminology.

I guess in some ways I did follow his advice. I did “occupy” a small country. And the manifesto inspired thought this morning on what that all means. What has turning nonconformist and occupying this strange place that I now call home really meant to my life? In other words, what is it that I really love about this place?

My entire worldview has drastically changed as a result of my over a decade long experience of Costa Rica. What can I honestly say that I like most about that experience? Is it the language, or the landscapes, the waves, or the women, the freedom, or the frivolity? As impressive as all of those things are…nope…it’s none of those things. What I like most is the change living here has wrought upon me…primarily in the following 3 ways…

Change #1: Learning Humility

When I first came to Costa Rica I was anything but humble. I was a lawyer-MBA type who was flown down to orchestrate a large business deal. It was a heady experience and one that indeed did go directly to that part of my body. I had what you might call a Mark Sanford-esque experience (and anyone from my home state of South Carolina will know exactly what that means).

But all that came crashing to an end and when the dust finally settled I did as well, in my new home. And I learned, gradually, to be humble. Living in a foreign country can do that to you, if you really immerse. Oh, there are plenty who come here and never do that. But that is not my nature. I did immerse and it changed me.

How? Well, I believe the natural grandeur of this place put me in my place. I was, and still am, humbled by both the beauty, power and fragility of nature. I was humbled into dismissing the notion that human progress can proceed in a way that puts us at odds with nature. Nature will either win that battle, or the “spoils” will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of the victor.

I was humbled by living shoulder to shoulder with people who were different. I gradually came to the realization that being from the world’s largest superpower doesn’t make me any more exceptional than they already were. Neither did my education, money, language, customs, intelligence, or anything else. That we are all just people striving for the same basic thing…to live a dignified life.

Change #2: Learning Respect

I came here thinking very firmly that I had all the right answers. That the indoctrination of my upbringing, education, church and nationality made me a much brighter person than I really was. I often notice that attitude with gringos who come here either to visit or live. If it is to live, you either learn to respect, or you are in for a very unhealthy experience. Those are the ones who grow bitter and continuously grumble about how the ticos have it all wrong. Well, they may have it all wrong, but they’re smiling (actually laughing at you) while you sit miserable.

You see, it pays to learn to respect other viewpoints. It enhances your human experience to learn to stand in the other fellow’s shoes, especially if those shoes are far different from ones you have ever tried on. It is one of the greatest lessons of life I have learned here. It has served to remove those impact blinders that I came here wearing. I began to see the world from a different and far more open-minded perspective.

Change #3: Learning Patience

For many years this came as a hard lesson for me. I did not understand the concept of time that existed here. It seemed as if time didn’t matter, or at least that these people certainly didn’t respect my incessant worry over its scarcity. They seemed to take the view that there really was enough time to go around and meet everyone’s needs. Maybe that’s because there is a far different definition of “needs meeting” here than exists up there. People here just get along with a lot less and are content with that. The idea of arranging your life to achieve maximum efficiency with the goal of having more just doesn’t occur to most people here. The goal of life is not to have more, but to live more. The two are not the same (I know that may come as a surprise to many).

So a much slower pace of life is what prevails. One that breathes deeper meaning into the concept of “relaxing and smelling roses.” And there are so many “roses” to smell here…maybe that’s the impetus. In the U.S. people strive to make a gazillion so they can have maybe 50% of the peaceful experience that a tico making less than half the poverty rate in the U.S. has simply by walking outside of his humble choza (home) and taking in the spectacular and completely free panoramic vista of his daily existence. So why should he be in a hurry? Not!!

So, first out of sheer necessity, and later out of a deeper understanding of true happiness, I slowed down. And I believe (hope) that it has added years to my life. It has certainly decreased the moments of panic and rage.

Maybe you expected something different with this post. Maybe you expected me to tell of my favorite location, activity, or experience. But no, my favorite things about living here are the life’s lessons it has taught me. I have learned the art of nonconformity in Costa Rica. I am grateful for that.

Oh, and if you would like to learn more about those lessons, you can always get my own Misfit Manifesto.

The Art of Nonconformity in Costa Rica first appeared in the Costa Rica Guy Blog.

Cultural Faux Pas in Costa Rica

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I thought I would bring to your attention a few cultural faux pas in Costa Rica that we gringos are often guilty of and that aren’t very endearing to the typical tico or tica.

10 that quickly come to mind are:

1. Slamming doors – this is especially the case with taxi cabs. You should know that most cab drivers are “packing” and will not hesitate to reach for it if you slam that door hard enough. This is a habit I am still trying to get my kid Zack to relinquish when he visits…before he gets shot!

2. Being rude – We gringos have a tendency to take politeness less seriously that folks do down here. Case in point: you will get approached by street vendors wanting to sell you all manner of things you haven’t the slightest interest in, as well as beggars who just want some of your spare change for whatever reason. Here is a tip…refuse politely…with a “no gracias”…not a get the f*** out of my face attitude…others will notice.

3. Being impatient – related to the above. Ticos are many things, but “in a hurry” ain’t one of them. And they don’t appreciate in the least gringos who try to rush them.

4. Flaunting wealth – In general Costa Ricans don’t enjoy anywhere near the level of material excess that most gringos, even poor ones like me, enjoy. It is just bad form to show off when you are down here. And it is an invitation to get robbed, or worse. A good rule to go by is “never tempt a poor person.”

5. Flirting inappropriately – This one is for the guys. Yes, Costa Rican women are beautiful. I am sure you have heard about that and may suffer from the mistaken assumption that they are “easy” as well. That would be woefully incorrect and acting on that assumption can get you in a whole heap of trouble with the ladies. Now I am not talking about the ones in places like the infamous “Hotel Del Rey.”

6. Being overly suspicious – I have seen many times, even with my own customers, an overly suspicious manner of dealing with the ticos. It usually surfaces mainly out of confusion about currency exchange, but it comes off very offensive. As if you are insinuating that every commercial exchange is an opportunity to “rip the gringo off.” That’s not true. Get clear on the currency math (it’s not that difficult) and lighten up on the economic paranoia.

7. Vulgarity and General Bad Manners – Costa Ricans (and Latin Americans in general) are not vulgar and don’t appreciate vulgarity…not with speech nor in other forms. Burping and worse, definitely a no no…even among friends and family.

8. Drawing Undue Attention – Loud and obnoxious is not the way to win the hearts and minds of the ticos…sure, they can be that way, especially during a heated fútbol match, but this is their country…so they kind of have a right to be that way here, we don’t.

9. Expecting people to understand your English (or poor Spanish) – I have to admit this one tripped me up quite a bit back in the day (when I couldn’t muster up the fluency to ask where the bathroom was). If you don’t speak Spanish, communicating in a place where that is the language spoken will be a challenge. Accept it as such with a light-hearted attitude and you’ll have more fun and get by just fine. If you take every communication mishap as a personal affront it will be much more difficult to win friends or influence anyone.

10. Calling ourselves “Americans” to the exclusion of the rest of America – Oh this is a big pet peeve of mine. Here is a geography lesson for you. America actually consists of two continents (North and South) joined by a “land bridge” (Central). All of the inhabitants of those three land masses have the right to call themselves “American”. Technically, Central America (including Costa Rica) is part of the North American continent, just as is the U.S.A.

I am definitely playing the role of “black pot” here and don’t mean to sound as if I am preaching to the kettle. If so, just take it as coming from someone who has been here and done many of the above more times that I would want to freely admit. It is not endearing to the folks down here, so best to avoid all 10 of the above cultural faux pas in Costa Rica.

Oh and note that the term “gringo” is not used pejoratively in Costa Rica…so don’t take offense to my use above, nor to the frequent usages you will definitely encounter upon arrival…Costa Ricans are quite fond of us actually, as long as we act in the manner of a gracious guest.  And, after all, you would demand no less from them, correct?

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