From where I sit, your having vocalized an unpopular but authentic point of view is really positive and constructive. But it’s authentic, not true, and it’s perspective, not fact. I think it’s an important distinction, relevant both to the general theme of truth-telling as well as to the particular truth that you’re trying to tell. Truthfulness is a habit and a skill — telling the truth means saying what it true, but it also means knowing what is true — that is to say, I believe you’ve given an accurate account of your experience in Costa Rica, but I also think you’ve missed a fundamental part of the story.
I lived in Costa Rica for a while, as well, and my experience was very different than yours, in some ways, and not so in others. My journey there was very different. I started out as a volunteer and made friends with a group of locals close in age to me. I remained living and traveling with them for a while, until I found a position teaching at UCR. There was definitely some animosity and/or opportunism in attitudes towards tourists, especially North American and European tourists, but I don’t think it was unwarranted.
Are you from a tourist town? I am. I think a complicated local-tourist relationship is pretty typical, and it doesn’t take a huge leap to imagine that tourists coming from places with significantly more wealth & influence than the host country might aggravate this dynamic. That’s what I remember people complaining about — the lack of respect toward Ticos and Tico culture shown American & European tourists and expats. In my opinion, the complaints were far from unreasonable.
Also, not for nothing, I had a Cost Rican bank account after about six months. My siblings had been there about a week when they opened theirs.
The bottom line: try a different angle. Faces are generally more pleasant than buttholes and most people have both.
I recognize and appreciate that you seemed to have had a different experience than us but then I also am left wondering “is she just deluding herself like the vast majority of expats in Costa Rica?” Certainly there are some locals, albeit few and far (far, far, far) in-between that are polite but generally, in our humble opinion, they are not a polite bunch- at least if you look like my husband and I. In fact, I’d go as far to say locals in Costa Rica are blatantly rude and opportunistic which makes for an unsettling feeling in a place one wants to call home.
Our intentions for why we were there makes no difference. We could have been supplying free education or food and shelter and it wouldn’t matter. You know how I know that, because even walking into a grocery store where nobody knows who I am or what I’m doing there, I’m met with animosity. My polite greetings are met with silence and attitude. Was it something I was wearing? Maybe it’s my hair? Or was it the california Spanish accent that was off putting to the many cashiers that treated me this way?
It’s quite unnerving when you’re sitting in a bus headed for Panama and a local man knocks on your window gesturing for you to buy a water (not the scary part) to which you don’t need so you reject, and he continues to yell at you, pointing to your wedding ring, simultaneously mocking your polite way of saying “no. gracias”. It’s just as alarming knowing that the bus is full of other people who haven’t been targeted and not only that but these other people are also doing nothing to help you, let alone act like they even acknowledge what’s happening. Wait… that guy probably thought I was somebody who “warranted” that behavior, right?
Honestly, I’m quite sick and tired of people playing off the thievery, the rudeness, the bad behavior of the local Costa Rican’s as “it’s to be expected when expats come down here with more money and resources then the locals”. So you mean to tell me that dehumanizing someone simply because you think they have more money, resources and influence (these are the words you used, correct?) than you, is okay or at the very least, to be expected? I find this attitude to be outrageous. I find the expat community that accepts this behavior and goes along ignoring it, to be guilty accomplices of a lawless community. I find it reprehensible to break into someone’s home and steal their belongings, their hard earned money, their safety, and sanctity just as abysmal whether it’s a North American victim or a Central American victim. When did we start to think it’s okay to treat people differently because the color of their skin? The excuse is there’s no excuse and expats who sweep this shit under the rug, or down play it are setting up every person who comes down to Costa Rica with dreams of starting a new life.
You say you are a teacher? That’s great! I am a teacher as well. Ultimately, I didn’t feel safe teaching or otherwise in a country where children are taught to take from me though. Perhaps it would have been better if I looked more like my Cuban expat friend who also stated her experience as being different than ours…
Look, I’m only trying to set the record straight here because so many people already down play this attitude in Costa Rica. Maybe your experience was one of acceptance, one of seamless assimilation, but I find that very hard to believe if you are an Anglo North America like ourselves. Let’s not perpetuate the lie that is feeding this crappy cultural norm. Enough people are doing that already and it’s costing us lots of money. Why not speak the “truth” for what it is without fear of being in the “unpopular position”. I think it’s more important to be “honest” than it is to be “liked”. What is laid out in this article is indeed authentic but it is most assuredly, truthful. Anyone who wants to move down to Costa Rica from North America should be well aware that they will face a ton of backlash, resentment, and obstacle after obstacle in their new home. The “gringo tax” isn’t a phrase I made up 🤷🏼♀️. Some expats have accepted their role and the fact that they will pay more for EVERYTHING, every. single. thing, than the locals. They’ve accepted that they will be ripped off for 10 colones (which barely registers in the conversion to USD) at every. single, toll booth. They even accept that if one dares ask for a cashier to repeat the total owed they most assuredly are going to get short changed. Sounds like a lovely place to call home, doesn’t it?
I’d love to focus more on the faces of the locals, that is your suggestion right, but I’m afraid if I do then I won’t know how much money their hands are taking from my pockets. So again, I’m left wondering “does the woman who responded to this article have any clue how much money was stolen from her or did she just lightly veil that fact with pura vida’s and excuses while maintaining eye contact with their faces ignoring their asses”, from where you sit @ripirate?
Hi! I should have responded to this first, before I read and responded to your husbands. I’m a little frazzled, maybe? I don’t know if that’s the word. Scatterbrained? But I’ll still try. I don’t think you’ve embellished or lied about anything, that wasn’t my point. Anyway, I’m sorry you’re having such a tough time. I hope it gets better.
Things are already much better, thank you. I’m glad you responded @ripirate.
This isn’t an attack, promise, my wife already voiced her frustrations with you and told the truth so I’ll try to keep this brief. Only problem with that is, I suck at short responses but I have the right to defend myself. Please don’t call her a liar as you did me—thank you! Also, thank you for analyzing everything I had to say and leaving such a detailed response, I appreciate that. I don’t appreciate you acknowledging I touched on your emotions and skipping out before sharing your free upvote with me. 👍🏿
Here, have a look at this article shared by a Costa Rican native. As genuine as you believe you are, I tend to feel his opinion holds more weight than the opinion of an expat—mine included. While you’re at it, have a look at the following screenshot, it’s his response to this article which also speaks volumes over that of an expat. 😉
I’m happy you and your family acquired bank accounts, good for you. What you failed to mention is you and your kin had both a Costa Rican phone number as well as a Costa Rican address. I, however, needed to produce my registry status before I could open an account. Would you like to call me a liar again, @ripirate?
The fundamental part of the story wasn’t missed by me, apparently you missed it. “Gringo tax” isn’t just an expression and anyone who believes it’s ok to impose such fees on another oxygen breathing human being because one is presumed to have more value in their bank account compared to the next, based solely on skin color, is part of the problem—not the solution. On that note, I know exactly what you and locals mean and I call those people “the white guy on the hill.” I’m not him and it’s disturbing to be classified as such. Those people are at the nucleus of the problem.
Congratulations on your UCR teaching position, is that supposed to intimidate me? I, too, graduated from a University, in the US, where I acquired a 7n1/2 year engineering degree and, quite frankly, I don’t appreciate you thinking your knowledge is superior—can’t we all just be educated? What was the point of listing your credentials anyway? Your resume doesn’t concern me, in fact, its completely off subject of this article. Am I supposed to compare myself to you now, tell you how I retired before age 40 and I’m only 43? (nearly half the age of those people on the hill) See what I mean? That isn’t the issue here—it sounds ridiculous.
Am I from a tourist town? I’m from Los Angeles, California, perhaps you’ve heard of it. I don’t know for certain, you may want to fact-check me on this one, but I think it’s safe to say I’ve met a tourist or two. LA, it’s right down the street from UCR, as in, University of California Riverside.
This is more truth, more fact, please check out Raserrano’s response to that one as well and try to refrain from calling me OR him a liar—he’s literally the only sincere Costa Rican I’m aware of. I learned about extortion and police corruption because I was personally attempted to be extorted from by Costa Rican authorities—I wrote about it here, more fact. I hate to disappoint you but you were wrong by calling me a liar.
You could’ve gone about your response several ways, @ripirate. I wish you would not have chosen the route that concluded I gave false information and, in your words, “not true.” I assure you, what I write, what I think, and what I know couldn’t have been taught via: UCR text book—I lived it.
Speaking of buttholes and faces, know which one you’re talking out of before calling me or anyone on this platform or, #life in general, a liar—it spoils your credibility like the produce at Auto Mercado. Dios te bendiga, @ripirate!
Woah — first — before I go forward at all, this: “I don’t appreciate you acknowledging I touched on your emotions and skipping out before sharing your free upvote with me. 👍🏿” — what does that mean? My free upvote? Sharing it? Also — you didn’t really touch on my emotions, I don’t think — I can’t quite remember, but this isn’t a topic I’m particularly emotional about. I’m a little shocked right now, or, at least, caught off guard.
I want to try to clarify at least some of the misunderstandings — you and your wife seem to be having a really rough go of it and you both took the time to write such detailed responses. First of all — I don’t really know why this is standing out to me so much, but I definitely didn’t mention UCR to intimidate you. I’m a 34 year old single mother of 3 who carves shells for a living. I’m constantly broke and raising my children in my parents house. I sleep in the same bed I grew up in. I can keep going if you want. If there’s any kind of a competition you definitely win. I mean, a lot of people win against me in that respect.
I think I mentioned UCR, along with the rest of the brief summary of my time in CR as part of an explanation as to why my experience was so different to yours. I didn’t have Costa Rican contacts before I arrived, but I had close friends who were locals by the time I decided to stay. I came in through the backdoor, so to speak. Plus I was single and in my twenties — it’s a different world than when you have a family to look after.
Also — I didn’t think I called you a liar, exactly — I definitely thought I was clear that I didn’t find your post remotely deceitful. I mean, for the record, I did specifically say, twice, I think, that I believe you gave an accurate account of your experience. I just wanted to point out that there are different perspectives and that perspective doesn’t equal truth. I’m brand new to Steemit and I was trying to engage in a meaningful way. This happens to be something I have a meaningful experience with.
Oh — and the butthole and face thing — wait — what? I’m talking out of my ass? Well, now I do feel like an asshole for having responded at all.
Thank you for taking the time to get back to me, I appreciate it. About the voting thing, if you’re really concerned what I’m getting at, I’ll explain it to you but it’s not a big deal—don’t worry about it. I’ll see you around, @ripirate. It’s not too late to say “welcome to Steemit,” it? 😉 Welcome to Steemit! Your kids are lucky to have you.
Don’t. Continue engaging and doing what you do, that’s what this platform is all about—you’re doing great! But you have to expect responses like I left you if you use phrases such as “not fact” and “not true” in reference to an authors material that is fact and is true—“100%.” Have a nice weekend.