(CR!S) Americans might think they discovered Costa Rica but they didn’t. And the only thing they ever brought to Costa Rica was greed and they taught it well. Over decades.
The few first Americans arriving in the land of now called Pura Vida were good people but when then they came and made the place a tourist mongering scenario.
They flashed the cash and tried to make themselves superior in most things which only led to their downfall as ‘gringos’. They are the mark now. Because they taught the Ticos well who learned to either emulate the American style or steal from them.
One of the most common mistakes by Americans is not learning – not wanting to – learn Spanish.
This from a social media post of an American who came to Costa Rica in the time before:
I will give you an example back in the early 1990’s I was in line at a small store and the line was held up by some woman haggling for a deal where the sticker price on the item said the value , she wanted a discount. there had to be like 15 people in line but this woman would not budge. The lady behind the counter spoke spanish. The lady causing the disturbance didn’t. I thought I would break the deadlock. and see what the problem was . I talked to both women behind the counter, and the U.S. visitor who said to me ” can you not believe in this day and age that this woman can’t speak american?” “and I had to tell the guest ” the term is English I speak English and there is a term Español – Spanish- learn it, you’re visiting a country that uses it.
The poster continues (in verbatim):
I am not trying to knock anyone here that has lived through” the change” my first time here was in the 1980’s, and there were really pristine places and people. We used teletype to communicate. People lined up to use our phone in the community. I have met people like the Bragg brothers that came here in the 1970’s the wild time when going to Coco island in search of buried treasure was still a happening thing.
But to come here now thinking even in places like Nosara where yoga reigns supreme and everyone greets each other with namaste that they are what not getting home invasions and stolen from. You think the average tico is in to yoga??? or how to feed his family. Choose.
In places where people want to find peace of mind and being free unfortunately their getting ripped off. All I am saying is though I grew up in the days of cool things it’s not like that anymore. I remember this guy an american bought some land down by Jaco way. He didn’t tend to it properly and when he came back there was a bunch of squatters on the land , he tried the police , that didn’t work so he went with a few guys he hired, end result a firefight he died along with the head of the squatters. Now the land is back in the country control. No winners but a bunch of losers.
The point of all this is, don’t be the ugly American. You are better than that. You are in a host country, respect and be respected. No matter how long you have been here or will be here, you are and will always be a guest.
Learn the language. Learn the customs. Adopt what works for you, reject what doesn’t, but, don’t criticize, demean, take a higher than mighty attittute. It will not get you anywhere.
There is a reason why you are in Costa Rica. Don’t forget what that reason is.
And this goes for the Canucks (Canadians) as well. Though you may not consider yourself ‘gringo’, to Costa Ricans you are a ‘gringo’.