Job Discussion Forums

[No Moss]

Well, I lived in San Jose twice, in 1994 and 1995. Here are my memories.

Nice city, good weather. The buses were poorly maintained, so they spewed their diesel exhaust in a way that made walking downtown an unpleasant exercise in avoiding them.

The food was invariably plain--the plata casada was invariably beans and rice and some sort of nondescript meat, with perhaps "platanos", or plantains. There were a few nice restaurants in town, Italian and Korean, as I remember. Vegetarian restaurants were ubiquitous. The roast chicken places were great. Bars abounded, and they were pretty cheap, especially for happy hour.

Medical and dental care was excellent and cheap.

The Spa Coribici, in the Coribici Hotel, was the place to go for working out and watching all those pampered housewives and daughters in their itty bitty bikinis.

Ticas are pretty nice, very social, but the streets were a little bit dangerous in certain areas--mostly pickpocketing.

Trips to the volcanos and beaches were expensive.

Teaching work was easy to find, provided you were a native speaker with something on the ball. Didn't pay much, though.

Apartments were reasonable, but not what you would describe as cheap.

Here are my questions:

Has it changed much?

What can you rent a fairly nice 2-bedroom apartment for these days?

Are there more restaurants these days?

My specialty is teaching kids 8-13. Can I get work teaching privates in San Jose? I expect about US$12 per hour (6500 colones).
Thanks for any answers.

(I'm teaching over in China these days. I make about US$26 an hour teaching privates.)

[John Hall]

[zeddiez]

Sounds to me as if you didn't have much fun here in Costa Rica. Why come back if you are making $26.00 an hour?

My opinion (I've been here since 97), it's fun with perfect weather, fun places to visit and great students to teach in the corporate world.

[davechile]

Wow

You must have seen it all in 10 years! CR must have changed alot. How is the corporate work? Can you get a good regular gig doing corp work? I think I would be good at teaching Business English.

If you don't mind me asking. Did you marry a tica/o? I am coming down in a yr and was thinking of living in the Cartago area...Orosi Valley. I imagine I will be working in San Jose. Do you have any other suggestions.. that are quiet and close to SJ? I have a big yellow lab I am bringning with me. So, I am most likely going to rent a place...though I would love to live in a Homestay...doubt that would work with my Dog..Cody . He is a big baby a beta dog through and through plus he is a lab.

I am going to get my CELTA at Britanico plus my background in business (BA finance). Ironicly from San Jose State University..haha

I 've been down in 2001/2005 both times I rented a enduro/motorcycle to get around and loved it. Any contacts to get a used bike down there?
I am driving down from California, San Fran. Most likely in a deisel pickup and sell it off when I get in CR for a loss or break even.

I am open to your views on everything wrote as well as others that might be able to add to my understand and create a smooth transition in the CR!

[No Moss]

[zeddiez]

Hey Chile,

Corporate work is good if you hang around longer than 6 months. That�s the problem after 6 months they pretty much figure you are going to leave and won�t offer you more jobs unless they have no teachers.
Yes, I married a Tica in the states and I have a residency here in Costa Rica. You can live in Cartago but I don�t know about jobs there. There might be a company out there. Ingles Empresarial and Whittemore de Costa Rica go out there but I�m not sure about the other companies. I would recommend the Sabanilla area to live with Cody. Cody may have to jump some hoops to get into Costa Rica with shots and stuff. Not really sure about taking an animal to Costa Rica.
Be careful of used bikes. I know a teacher who paid almost a thousand dollars and I really believe he got ripped off.
About your truck, again check the Costa Rican consulate. I heard if you take a vehicle in Costa Rica (lots of red tape), it has to go out every 60 days and you have to go out every 90 days. I�m only the messenger so don�t shoot me, it is what I heard.

[davechile]

Yeah I plan to live in Costa Rica for a year or two. I figure I would sell the truck to a costa rican and have themdeal with the registration part. Obviously I would take a hit on the sale price. I figure I would take a lose on it.What do you think about a 16-passenger van? drive that down ? Maybe someone in the tourist industry would be interested? Or is a F250 diesel pickup ie work truck a better choice?
I figure I will spend 4-5k on the vehicle and get a couple of traveling companions to defer the gas costs. Then Sell in it in CR for like 3-4k? I don't want such a big vehicle in CR. If you know anyone that has done something like this have them drop me a line. (pls excuse the grammer)

Any other neighborhoods you might suggest for my hound and I?

Cheers,

Dave

[zeddiez]

I'm the last one to ask about taking a vehicle down here to Costa Rica.

Cody and you can try craigslist. I would recommend San Pedro, Sabanilla, Sabana, Pavas, Escazu, Heredia, or Alajuela. But that's up to you. They are all good areas.