Job Discussion Forums

[davechile]

Ok, Forum VET's Chime in here on a helpful post for newbies and people curious about Tico living and Teaching. Who knows maybe it will become a sticky?

What do you love about Living in Tico Land?
Culture?
Teaching?
Environment?
Day to Day?

What do you wish would be better?
i.e. things people should be prepared to deal with?

Pura Vida (pure living)

Dave and his Adventure Dog Cody

[JAppleby]

Having already spent time in Costa Rica when I studied here four years ago, I was ready for some of the cultural differences this time around.

What I love:

The food. Pretty much all the food here is good. And the fruits and vegetables are so fresh, especially if you get them at the weekly farmer's market. I don't know if I'll be able to eat pineapples and bananas when I go back.

Teaching. I am definitely meant to be a teacher. Although I had some student teaching experience before I came here, teaching Spanish, I had never taught English before, so that was a learning experience in itself. I love that I can tell how much better at it I've gotten. And I love it when something clicks for my students.

Getting to know my students and other Ticos. I've had a few students who I've kept in contact with after they finished my class and gone out with a few times. It's really neat getting to know them, and they know the places to go.

What I don't so much love:

Rain. Right now we're in the rainy season, and it's been that way since the end of April. It rains just about every day, usually when I have to walk somewhere. Even with an umbrella you can get soaked.

The Tico concept of time. This has bothered me a lot less then it did the first time, and I can mostly go with it. But it's very frustrating to have someone tell you a time, and then about half an hour later they show up. You end up doing a lot of waiting, and you pretty much just have to go with it, but it's hard sometimes.

Car horns. People honk their horns a lot here, and once one person does, everybody starts. Usually it doesn't solve anything, if you're stuck and you can't move. I can mostly live with it, but it gets to me when they do it right next to me or when I'm already stressed out.

Basically, I like it here, and I'm glad I came to spend 9 months here teaching. It has been a great experience 90% of the time, and an experience 100%.

Pura vida!

[John Hall]

[John Hall]

[Ecrivain]

The Good:
the beaches
cheap casados
tasty beer and rum
the beaches
warm, friendly, helpful people
highly motivated students
fresh, delicious fruit
a confusing but extensive bus system
tranquilo - the relaxed attitude toward everything (including time)
the beaches

The Bad:
theft
unmarked streets
unmarked bus stops
so much rain I've grown webbed feet
people viewing me (a gringo) as nothing more than a big wallet

[doreenp]

i agree with most of the likes and dislikes already posted, so i won't repeat but how about
likes
the mountains,
the rain forests
waterfalls
animal sanctuaries
and all the activities that go along with visiting them like
white water rafting, etc.
birds, turtles, whales
cheap travel to Nicaragua and Panama
well behaved street dogs of the most unusual breeds

dislikes
cucarachas the size of my thumb (the english word gets beeped!)lol
spiders the size of my hand
mosquitoes that give you dengue
umbrellas that don't do a d*mn thing in the rainy season
the fast hands of the pickpockets
taxi drivers who talk on the phone, change gears and steer with their knees, very talented people!
taxi drivers who take advantage of blondes that don't speak enough Spanish

and that's it! not bad a list for 3 years of living here.

and once you finally learn that manana really means any time in the future, you'll get along just fine!
cheers
d

[John Hall]

Nobody has mentioned incorrect or lack of signage on buses. In Cartago, a new variation of the sarcastic remark, "�Ah si! �Como no!" is now, "�Ah si! �Como no! �Zapote por la pista!" (literally, "Zapote via the highway," which is one of the main bus routes into San Jose).

[Ecrivain]

doreenp: So true about the filthy mosquitos and the absolutely worthless umbrellas (it's like the rain comes from every direction). And I love that "manana" means not only "morning" but also "tomorrow" or "someday, eventually, maybe." It's the essence of the "tranquilo" attitude.

JH: Finally! Now I understand what "X Pista" means on the buses. My dictionary translates "pista" as racetrack. Highway makes much more sense.

[John Hall]

This is how you check to see if a Spanish/English dictionary is any good or not:

Look up the Spanish word, "compromiso," to see what the first definition given is. If it is "compromise," then throw the dictionary away. It it is "commitment," then keep it.

[OleLarssen]

I know it's mentioned before but I'll say it again: I really, really like Ticos. They're just straight up cool people in general. Some bullshit (like sense of time) but nothing I can't handle.

Catholic beliefs, like most beliefs, are irritating when rubbed in your face.

Young drunk Ticos screaming and hollering when they see a white face is pretty annoying.

But all in all, my experience with this country has been overwhelmingly positive.

[whosear]

Greetings:

In general, I have come to accept Tico culture. But here goes:

The Good

senuality and the love of life
generally happy with their circumstances
Question when they are living like gringos whether or not the cost is too high in diminished human relationships.
A sense of style in service
Even our ugly women look good.
The unexpected pleasantries like a parade past the apartment, a religious procession and more.

The Bad
When they want to earn what a gringo earns, but do not want to do what a gringo has to do to earn that kind of money


The Ugly
Generally any negotiation starts with an outrageous high ball, then negotiations, then we arrive at a more reasonable price.
The honking....handle it with humor....when it happens outside my downtown internet cafe, I yell, "Ya voy!" at the top of my lungs. The Ticos even laugh at this one.

David

[jprimm]

Over all I really enjoy the country. I am rarely in a hurry and enjoy to slow pace of life. One has to adapt as it is not going to change because you are here. It is all about attitude...I love the beaches , the mountains, the weather, even the rain as it is not cold. The women are beautiful and the soccer is excellent.

My major complaint is the crime...a real pain the the butt.....I think the reasons for it are many; poverty, lack of police, poorly paid police and laws that are not much in the way of prevention, ie. a robbery, it is my understanding, is not a felony or serious until over $500.00. All too often robbers and criminals are immediately released...there are hundreds of examples...so just be careful...[/i]

[yankeechemist]

[quote="jprimm"]Over all I really enjoy the country. I am rarely in a hurry and enjoy to slow pace of life. One has to adapt as it is not going to change because you are here. It is all about attitude...I love the beaches , the mountains, the weather, even the rain as it is not cold. The women are beautiful and the soccer is excellent.

My major complaint is the crime...a real pain the the butt.....I think the reasons for it are many; poverty, lack of police, poorly paid police and laws that are not much in the way of prevention, ie. a robbery, it is my understanding, is not a felony or serious until over $500.00. All too often robbers and criminals are immediately released...there are hundreds of examples...so just be careful...[size=18][/size][/i][/quote]

I have vacationed there and was lucky, arethere any tips for not being pickpocketed?

[OleLarssen]

You can find anti-pickpocket-tips in any decent travel handbook. Carry with you only what you need (no bank cards unless strictly necessary), don't use your backpockets and if you are wearing a backpack, don't use the outer pockets. As far as possible, stay in areas that you are at least slightly familiar with, and avoid crowds. And try not to appear too obviously affluent (jewelry, Rolexes, Ray-Bans etc).

[yankeechemist]

Ole, I agree, I am vacationing back there (a short one) in december. I thoughts ticos were awesome, the only thing I noticed was they were not too friendly in monteverde. Again, assuming my parnet's health does not get worse, I am seriously considering teaching down there. I will see how their health is in the spring and if it's ok, I will do a TEFL there in teh summer. Also, I have a PhD in chemistry; will that help the teaching search?