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| Adjusting to life in Costa
Rica has proven to be a seamless transition
for most. Costa Rica's people are hospitable,
and its markets welcoming. |
| Courtesy ICT |
Globalization will never destroy all local habits
and cultural characteristics – those things
that in the end really define how well we are capable
of adapting ourselves to new environments. These
cultural differences cannot be learned from books
or travel guides, and often unfortunately the only
way to learn them is through real-life experiences.
Costa Rica, like any other country in the world, requires
its visitors and would-be immigrants to learn certain
little peculiarities. Following are a few concepts
to help you avoid a potential culture shock.
“Since Costa Rica is considered to be a paradise
by many, one of the most common misperceptions among
foreigners is that life in Costa Rica will suddenly
be like a one big, beautiful paradise,” says
Ryan
Piercy, general manager of The Association of Residents
of Costa Rica. While it is true that Costa Rica is
more peaceful than most countries in the region, and
contains stunningly beautiful nature, daily routines
will not suddenly disappear. Costa Rica has its fair
share of bureaucracy, and its infrastructure can frustrate
many a foreign visitor. It is indeed a paradise in
many respects, but one should not forget that, wherever
one goes in the world, a routine always sets in.
According to Mr. Piercy, it normally takes four to
five months to make a transition from the “everything
is new and exciting” phase to the “routine”
phase. If one does not begin to adjust oneself to
the new living environment after these few months,
Mr. Piercy’s recommendation is to ask oneself
a simple, but clarifying, question: “What is
it I don’t like about Costa Rica, and what don’t
I like back at my old home?” Based on his experience,
people sometimes get homesick after the “everything
is exciting” phase is over, and they decide to
take a break and return home for two months –only
to have a reverse culture shock and make a happy return
to Costa Rica after a period of just one month!
Costa Ricans can be like Asians when it comes to saying
“no.” It is almost as if saying no is considered
rude in their culture, and this is why it is difficult
to hear this short, but controversial word.
One example could be in taking a taxi. Suppose the
driver is unfamiliar with the address that you have
given him. He may very well drive around for thirty
minutes in a vain attempt to find your destination.
It is quite possible, like anywhere else in the world
that he is running up the meter; however, a more likely
scenario is, that he is too polite to tell you that
he doesn’t know the address.
Another difficult word to deal with is “mañana.”
Sometimes “no” can be interchangeable with
“mañana,” but often the latter simply
refers to an undefined future timeframe. To inquire
about a more precise time is useless since the speaker
probably doesn’t know the answer himself. Mañana
could just as easily mean tomorrow or three weeks
down the road.
Another typical example is a dinner party where the
guests were invited at six, but the first ones actually
start arriving at 8:30 p.m.
Even though Costa Ricans are bilingual, a few words
of Spanish are essential to know simply out of a sense
of politeness. “Mucho gusto,” with pleasure,
is an appropriate answer to many things. This is what
you will hear a lot from waiters and taxi drives when
taking down your order. Another true Costa Rican expression
is also “pura vida,” literally translated
“pure life.” By using these two, informal
words you will definitely signal that you have learned
a valuable piece of local culture.
The Association of Residents of Costa Rica is a good
place to turn for lessons. It is no wonder that the
association has been nicknamed the “relocation
company” by various embassies. This is mainly
due to a fact that the association organizes monthly
seminars on topics ranging from buying property, legal
matters, obtaining residency, customs, health care,
culture, to banking and investing. With eighteen years
of experience, and 1,500 members, the association
has grown to be the largest organization of foreigners
in Costa Rica. Each member pays a mere $100 in annual
membership. Spouses join for just $10.
“Our strength is in our seminars,” says
Piercy. “We have understood that the physical
act of moving from one country to another is the least
difficult part of the process. This is why our main
task is to advise people, prior to their arrival,
as well as afterwards, on cultural and social matters.
For example, we inform new residents on how to get
a social healthcare package for as little as $37 per
month, as well as on the new law of August 27 this
year, which orders people to apply for residency from
abroad.”
The Association of Residents of Costa Rica should
be one of the first contacts for anyone even thinking
of moving to Costa Rica. |
