Living in Costa Rica CULTURE SHOCK

http://TravelCostaRicaNOW.com It's not hard to understand why people want to uproot their life and move to Costa Rica. It's a beautiful country with a laid back attitude and affordable living. BUT a vacation in Costa Rica is NOT the same as living in Costa Rica and there's a few things you need to consider before making such a BIG move. Consider- CULTURE SHOCK. It's real and there's a few thing you must know. Check out this video to not only have an understanding of Culture Shock but learn a thing or two about Costa Rican culture......... and maybe even a couple of things about yourself. Remember, there's a reason why some 60% of people who decide to re-locate and live in Costa Rica head back HOME in short order... and it usually has nothing to do with lush rainforests, volcanoes, National Parks, beaches,pristine waterfalls, surfing, exotic wildlife and exotic adventures.

Now, for the video -
Hey guys, Im Michael alan for http://TravelCostaRicaNow.com first check this out.
Guys, is it any wonder why people are drawn to Costa Rica?.. I mean come on Its beautiful So the next thing you know youre wanting to live here. But once you get past the romance of it all, and the beauty of it all youve got to considered one thing big time cause this isnt the states youve got to consider culture shock.
Heres what our friends at Wikipedia say about culture shock: Culture shock refers to the anxiety and feelings of surprise, disorientation, uncertainty, confusion felt when people have to operate within a different and unknown culture or social environment, such as a foreign country. It grows out of the difficulties in assimilating the new culture. Causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not.
So, again, when you get pass the romance of wanting to live here youve got to considered a few more things okay were going to assume money is not a problem that you have money and thats not going to be a problem Costa Rica is pretty much like the United States was back in the 50s and 60s. Very traditional for the most part morals and values are rooted in religion, so religion plays a big part down here not saying thats good or bad Im just saying thats how it is.
Ticos are very polite. Theyre non confrontational theyre pretty Bever Cleverish .. you know. Theyre all about appearances in a way they dont like to air their dirty laundry down here that type of thing. Theyre very family oriented, so thats the base of kind of the culture down here.
Now as far as how they do things they are not performance driven. Like in the United States were all about work. We define ourselves through our work a lot of times here they dont do that. And they dont even really care they do not live here to work, they live here to live. Theyre all about the process of things theyre not very quick, theyre not very efficient. You have to jump through a lot of hoops down here, you have to go through a lot of red tape down here, theres a lot of paperwork down here, a lot of bureaucracy down here youre waiting and waiting for legal things to happen for your house construction to be complete. Hell, if you ask the guys Can you paint my kitchen tomorrow morning? hes say Sure. Well, hes not going to show up guys he might show up a week from now and when he comes to your door and you say Well, Im ready to leave right now. You cant do it right now hes like Im here now, whats the problem?. And youre like you were suppose to be here last week and hes like well, Im here now, whats the problem? So again, they dont care about that kind of stuff. Again, theyre about the process why would you have one person do it when you could perhaps have 10 people do it So, think of Costa Rica as one huge DMV line after line. Oh, get your insurance over there, come back tomorrow and schedule your driving test, Oh, youre in the wrong line youve got to start over, oh, you. Hahaha thats kind of how it is here if you can remember the DMV of old.

For more helpful travel information on Costa Rica make sure you check out our website and our blog.

Our Travel Tip Website- http://TravelCostaRicaNow.com/

All our videos - http://travelcostaricanow.com/index.php/Costa_Rica_Travel_Videos


michael alan's blog - http://www.DoingCostaRica.blogspot.com/

Our pictures from around Costa Rica - http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelcostaricanow_com/

Our Gay Travel Tip Webpage - http://travelcostaricanow.com/index.php/Gay

michael alan's gay blog - http://www.DoinGayCostaRica.blogspot.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Living Moving Costa Rica
• Retiring

[captainken452]

I appreciate the information in this video. As far as the comments go there happens to be a lot of racist and generalization comments coming forth. There are crappy people of all races, sexes, and origins. Lets not forget that and the hate that is perpetuated by generalizations.

[iCostaRica24]

@captainken452 Thanx. Well put. Appreciate the insight.

[juanpaxp]

men how weird is the world..i should b doin a video saying how to get along with gringos in usa xd...ive been 8 years over here n im tired of such a rush...i miss ma culture hard to live aside yours... pura vida

[iCostaRica24]

@juanpaxp You're right, you should. The 'rush' is one of the reasons I moved to Costa Rica...among many others......hehe

[MrSeinfeldFan2]

Just freaking impressed by the honesty of the guy and quality of the information.

You should succeed in your business, whatever that is, I like you, despite not liking people like you, if you know what I mean... but again, your product, is excellent!

[iCostaRica24]

@MrSeinfeldFan2 Much appreciated....always nice to hear when someone gets it....

[yanks2233]

Im American of Costarican background, The American culture does suck. All we are is money Hungry and nothing but working alot. I have been to other countries and I might say the way we live in the usa sucks

[DrVegal]

As a costarican I love the paradise that God gave me as my country, but there is nothing perfect. This video is very right you have to be very patient to live in this imperfect paradise. You have to live with the "Tico time" if you suffern of anxiety if you want everything right away this is not the place for you. In the other hand Costa Rica is the happiest country of the world, we (Ticos) share our happiness with everybody just "no rush".

[skb0rzn]

@goldengyrl2010 EXACTLY! And vice-versa.

[goldengyrl2010]

If you want shit the way they do it in America--keep your gringo ass in America. Costa Rica is already overrun with too many fat US expats and overpriced because of that. It will soon look like the Jersey shore.

[JCA562]

dude you are so wrong about us been lazy, i know you didn't use that term but the way you said it sounds like it..

i got 15 years in the U.S.A. and i know how lazy white people are, you guys just like the easy jobs here.....'comon don't give me that ...mexicans do the hard work for you guys, i'm like WTF a white guy talking about my country?.....please.....if you don't like it ...don't go there.

i love U.S.A. i live here , if i don't like anything i just shut myself up or leave ....

[frmadrigal]

yes,it´s totally true, we´ve got to change, but this is a nice place to live! You´re very welcome guys!

[atlswell]

Thump for the Marv Home Alone scream!!!

[pedalstp]

I liked the commentary very much and it made a lot of sense.