Debbie Downer Does Costa Rica…. The 3 main complaints.
Taking in the view from where I sit, high in the mountains above Atenas, I know I have everything I could ask for.
To the west, I have a view of the Pacific Ocean. To the east are San José and the Central Valley. Directly in front of me, there are miles and miles of green, forest covered mountains. The temperature is perfect, the breeze gentle and cool.
In the distance, a rooster crows and the cicadas perform in unison, creating a natural philharmonic orchestra. My neighbors, both two and four legged, are warm and friendly. The earth provides a bounty of luscious fresh fruits and crisp green vegetables for me on a daily basis.
After an introduction like that, can you imagine that paradise is less than perfect? Well, life is all a matter of perspective, perception, and choice. If you look for the beauty that surrounds you, you will see it.
If you focus on the molehill that irritates you, it will soon become Mount Everest.
After a quick visit to any local expat hangout in Costa Rica or by perusing expat online forums or blogs, you will see, hear and read the good, bad, and the ugly.
Unfortunately, the “Debbie Downers” are usually the ones that have the loudest voices regarding life in Costa Rica and they irritate everyone else in the process.
Discussing this very subject with my neighbors, John and Gay, who happen to be wonderful friends, I asked if they would put some time and thought into what they see and hear people saying about their experiences of living here in Costa Rica.
Following are some of their personal observations over the past year and a half of living here in Atenas:
Complaining About The Things That First Attracted Them To Life in Costa Rica.
“Time and time again, people visit Costa Rica, fall in love with the country and the people, and then decide to move here.
Once they arrive, some folks invariably start bitching about the very things that make Costa Rica unique; the slower pace of life, the country’s different approach toward bureaucracy and getting things done, and the attitudes of the Ticos themselves.
- Complaint: How long it takes to get things done, from getting residency to receiving a driver’s license or setting up a bank account.
Interestingly enough, the “slower pace of life” is one of the biggest reasons folks fall in love with Costa Rica. Then, once here, that slower pace of life turns into a major “inconvenience”.
[custom_script adID=150] The Ticos have their own way of doing things that have evolved to suit their needs over the years. It may take several visits or more time to accomplish things here that were achieved in one fell swoop back where you came from.
As a Tico gentleman told one of my friends, “We didn’t exactly invite you folks down here to change the way we do things.”
As the Rolling Stones song says, “Old habits die hard.” Expats really need to keep that in mind. People should move to Costa Rica for a change, not for the same old, same old!
- Complaint: Getting workers to show up or to complete jobs when they say they will.
We know a gentleman who makes beautiful custom cabinetry, which will always be “ready on Friday”. He does not mention exactly which Friday, but once he does show up (weeks or a month later), it is on a Friday!
Ticos are famous for saying, “I’ll finish that mañana.” Gringos need to keep in mind that tomorrow never really comes, as we are always living in the now of today.
When all else fails, think of Scarlet O’Hara when she famously said in Gone with the Wind, “I’ll think about that tomorrow!”. The Ticos feel the same way…there’s always tomorrow.
- Complaint: Ticos will always say “yes” even if something is an impossibility.
Having a kind nature, the Costa Rican people do not want to disappoint others. After all, they have an expression that only two things in life are impossible; that a river returns to its source, and that a parakeet can suck. Ticos always want to ‘quedar bien’ or be seen in a good light.
Keep that in mind when you realize that Ticos may over-promise, but under-deliver. They just don’t want to disappoint you by saying “no”!
So, from where we sit, the bottom line is that not everyone was meant to live in Costa Rica.
If you are bringing baggage with you (and I’m not talking about Samsonite), or if you arrive with the intent of making this country the “way it was back home”, then you may want to reassess just WHY you want to move here in the first place, and then strongly reconsider.”
At the end of the day, your life is what you make of it, whether you are in Costa Rica or not.
It’s important to remember the old adage, “Wherever you go, there YOU are.”
If you are honest with yourself about your reasons for wanting to move to Costa Rica and you stay focused on them, then the experience you will have in this tropical paradise (and in life) will far exceed your expectations!
Debbie Downer Does Costa Rica…. The 3 main complaints.
Article/Property ID Number 5134
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Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.
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