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landmariner · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Pacific NW

I've got rough plans to head down to CR to teach in a year or so. Right now the boyfriend is already there studying at university.

I have found myself really surprised by the bad quality of the communications infrastructure so far, particularly speaking in terms of spotty cell phone service and internet service more nonfunctioning than functioning making Skype impossible.

The bf attributes it to the rainy season weather. Is this true? Is it a more permanent state of affairs? His neighborhood (San Pedro/Curridabat)? I've been there only briefly myself, but have had high hopes for the development level. Do I need to lower my expectations and just be happy that their development relatively exceeds the rest of Central America?

I Rub Ruchi · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 45 Location: USA

Yes, communications are really bad.

It's normal for people to wait 7 years to get a phone outside the capital. In rural areas, there might be only one phone in town. Forget getting a cell phone. Be prepared to wait in line to even use a public phone.

My school there in San Jose had 1000 students and only one line for the entire school. OH, they did have a fax line that I used to send messages to the school, much more reliable than having someone taking a message.

CR it still third world in many aspects, but well ahead of USA in many others (I always got around on buses and that was one of the nicest parts of living there for five years)

Good luck.