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Sometimes I wish the old days back….I applied for residency in 1994 but did not pick up my cedula until 1997 😯 in the meantime I was driving basically without a drivers license. My German one was invalid because I was over the 3 months, and without the Cedula they did not want to give me a C.R. license. Only one time a policeman stopped me, grinned and fined me with 2000 Colones ….. 😀
One of our clients who bought land almost 2 years ago, and built a house on it, was able to open a bank account at BNCR without DIMEX. They wanted copies of his electric bill and water bill, 2 reference letters from BNCR clients (me and 1 Tico), reference letters from his U.S. banks, and income statement from the U.S. they did not ask for translations into Spanish, nore for an income statement drawn up by Costarican accountant. However, he will not be able to do SINPE transactions.
[quote=”VictoriaLST”]Oops. I stand corrected. Although it may be a legal responsibility, it is seldom done out here in the hinterlands. Probably more usual in the cities. I know our caretaker was surprised and delighted when I told him I would pay his CAJA as no one else has ever offered.[/quote]
The “hinterlands” are not that hinterlands any more and I have seen many cases where all of a sudden 2 or 3 CCSS inspectors walk on a property and interview the workers. I have seen employers not only pay the difference for several months or years but also pay a fine as much as $2000. Caja (CCSS, Social Security) and workers insurance INS is not something one offers, it is any employers obligation, unless the job is done by “contrato por obra determinada” and the contracting company does have workers they send to do the job (and pay their CCSS, INS and benefits).
Some workers are still humble and shy, but they are not stupid and they know their rights, and after being fired, some go to the Ministerio de Trabajo and get their calculation sheet telling them what they were supposed to be paid vs. what they have been paid, including amount of aguinaldo, cesantia, vacaciones and preaviso.
Some employers are lucky, others are not, but you never know what group you belong to until you fire your worker (or CCSS walks on your property).
[quote=”costaricafinca”]When we immigrated to Canada from Britain, many years ago it required the country’s need for a specific trade and a family member taking/accepting responsibility for us… which may have be required in immigrating /relocating to Australia. Not having to put out $60K+ …and then they can’t work for 4-5 years.
The are beautiful places all over the world, promising the possibility of greener pastures…[/quote]My Ex-Husband had an uncle in Australia, so the family part would have been taken care of (it was not in the requirements), but still, they wanted people with special careers and ours were not on the list. Or they wanted you to invest a huge amount of money, don´t remember how much that was but it was more then Costa Rica is asking for.
I am considering that the person posting is already an Australian Citizen, therefore he doen not have to go through the immigration-pain-in-the-butt.
And as I said before, back in 1988 there were beautiful areas in Australia (I think they are still there), it is a huge country and not all of it matches your description.
We could create a long list comparing both countries,
Saltwater crocs vs. Costa Rican drivers…8)
Heat = Guanacaste etc. etc.During my 21 years in Costa Rica I have been observing many children going through the education process (including my own 2).
Back in the early 90s it was very common for Tico parents to say “if my kid does not want to go to school, he can still work with the machete (or get married for the girls)” now the machete-generation has weed-cutting mashines and the girls have 4 kids and/or are going through divorce.
Very popular among college students was “turismo” and school teacher, attorney-notary (real estate transactions are easy money), or to get a job at ICE for those who did not make it to college (government job = good salary and lots of benefits).
I have not heard many say “I want to be an engineer” or technician of some kind. Popular careers where those that did not have much to do with Math (Most kids in C.R. are weak in math).
Today the different Universities in Costa Rica get approached by companies looking for qualified people in certain areas (mostly those that require a lot of math).
They publish lists of the most wanted careers at the end of the year to motivate kids to make the best decision for their future. School teachers and tour guides are not on top of the list.
http://wvw.elfinancierocr.com/ef_archivo/2008/febrero/03/enportada1395935.html
[quote=”VictoriaLST”]CR mandates a certain number of years of education. Then they tell you, “but make sure your child has the proper uniform and supplies”.
So, you make c40,000 – 50,000 a week as a farm worker. Uniforms and supplies are c80,000 – 90,000. Or you can buy food. No wonder so many children end up with three years of education.
[/quote]
Poor peoples kids can apply for “beca” which is government support for uniforms and supplies. Their parents know that and normally take advantage of that.
At public schools all kids get one free lunch per day, if they want. At public high school they pay 200 Colones for lunch, cheaper can mum not cook at home I think. They also get free transportation (school bus).
Why would someone from Australia want to move to Costa Rica ? I have been in Australia many years ago, spent almost 2 months there and drove half way around the country (east coast and outback). There are so many beautiful spots in Australia, plus you have the same advantages (at least those that I apreciate) like in Costa Rica: beautiful nature, exotic animals, and no real winter (no house heating expenses). Aussies are kind of funny and so are the Ticos. Men are machos and so are the Ticos. Typical food is not very great in either country. If you look for an exotic woman, Asia is close by. If Australias imigration laws had not been that tough, maybe today I would live in Australia.
Or maybe it has changed a lot ? I was there in Winter 1987/1988, has been a while…….
Another reason to stay in the Tilaran area:
Cañas y Tilarán a la cabeza – POR UN PAÍS MÁS LIMPIO
http://www.nacion.com/2013-02-23/Opinion/Cartas-a-la-Columna.aspx#sb0
[quote=”davidd”][quote=”VictoriaLST”]I hate $16 chickens, so we are raising our own. Farmer’s markets for fruits and veggies until I get my own started, a slow process since i have back trouble but coming along. I really want a couple of pigs and i have room for a vaca or two.
I love CR.[/quote]
$16 chickens???? I buy roasted chickens fully cooked for $$8 pricemart???[/quote]
In Tilaran everything is more expensive than in the Central Valley (I see the adds in La Nacion). In Tilaran a whole raw chicken is 4 $ per kilo, so the whole thing may cost you 8 $. In order to get it on the table you have to add spices, water, electricity, kitchen equipment depreciation, and your time.
I have been reading that the average income per head in C.R. is around 1000 $. There are many that do not make half of that, so it is like everywere, a small number of people take the big piece of the cake.I would be careful with those cooperativas. Some went “south” in the past.
I remember when Coopemex was offering 8 % on Dollars (when BNCR paid maybe a 3 % maybe..) and 18 % on Colones, about 8 years ago, and 3 or 4 years ago they were closed. Banco Popular took over but people are still waiting for their money.
http://www.crhoy.com/miles-de-asociados-de-coopemex-deberan-esperar-hasta-2014-por-su-dinero/
So if you consider investing there, ask them for their emergency plan.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”][quote=”elindermuller”]
I haven´t seen a store with Tico-Prices for years :evil:[/quote]Hmmm . . . That seems like a contradiction in terms. Isn’t any store that sells to Costa Ricans selling at “Tico prices”? If Costa Ricans are setting the prices, and if Costa Ricans are paying the prices, are they not paying “Tico prices”?[/quote]
I made this comment because the poster before was asking if Walmart has gringo prices. I have not seen what I would consider a Tico price for many years. When I came to Costa Rica in 1992 live was quite inexpensive and stores had what I would consider Tico prices (much lower than in Germany or the U.S.). Some restaurants had a Tico-Menu and a Gringo-Menu (same menu but different prices). Ticos very soon started to figure out how much things cost in other countries and put the same price tag on their products “made in C.R.” (Queso Monteverde – same price as good cheese in Germany). When I went back to Germany in 2003/4 I brought a suitcase full of hairspray and other cosmetic stuff back to C.R. because it was so much cheaper there. So, what are really Gringo- or Tico- Prices ? The rule Tico = cheap, Gringo = expensive, does not exist any more. Now nothing is cheap any more, I don´t know how they survive. But when I go to San Jose and see how many malls / Walmart stores etc. they build every year, and see the parking lots stuffed with Prados and other luxury cars, I ask myself, what in the hell am I doing wrong ? Do Central-Valley Ticos have secret gold mines in their back yards ? Are they all drug dealers and money launderers ? Are they politics working for the government ?
[quote=”johnnyh”]Is the average Costa Rican flocking to Walmart stores? Are the prices Gringo prices?[/quote]
I haven´t seen a store with Tico-Prices for years 👿
[quote=”waggoner41″]This is a totally laughable situation.
While living in the U.S. we refused to be enrolled in Medicare while I was employed. Immediately on retirement we moved to Costa Rica and found that we could use the Caja.
We have been totally satisfied with the service that we have received through the Caja. We do not wait in line at 5 in the morning to ask for an appointment and we do not wait until the last moment to get preventive health care. We go to the clinic in the afternoon to ask for a preventive health care appointment and are given an appointment time that is within two days.
The cost is much less than we would have to pay for Medicare in the U.S. and one tenth the cost of medical insurance.
Canadians incur the cost of flying to Canada when they need medical services which in itself is more than paying for Caja.[/quote]
Where is the clinic that is willing to give you an appointment in advance ? Not in Tilaran 🙁 they tell you that CCSS in any part of Costa Rica is not giving appointments in advance because half of the Ticos would not show up. It seems Ticos have kind of a reputation among their own people ….. 😯
[quote=”johnnyh”]I hear a lot of good things about Atenas. A lot of gringos are retiring there. Go to Google maps and you will be able to see that it is in a great location to drive west to the beaches of Puntarenas province, and close to the International airport in Alajuela and not too far from San Jose.
If you don’t mind living under the Arenal volcano which is still active, well, why not. Personally I was in C.R. back in 1962 when it exploded suddenly and killed quite a few people. At that time it was mostly farmers. The next time it will be expats! Take a risk? But then I’m a cautious person. I won’t bungee jump, or skydive or sky in the snow. I won’t even skateboard. I do ride a touring bike, and I just had an operation to repair a separated shoulder due to an accident I had in the strand close to the Huntington Beach pier back in the year 2000. I had the operation December 24th, and right now I have a stainless steel plate with screws and a hook. Even now is still hurts! And it’s not over, I have to go back sometime in June for a second operation to remove the dam*d thing. Ouch.
Me, I’m thinking of the Caribbean Coast where It’s more laid back, and not as overbought as the Pacific side. There are some smaller but yet beautiful beaches towards Cahuita-Puerto Viejo-Manzanillo area. And they are really far from the San Jose congestion.[/quote]
In june 2011 La Nacion reported:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-06-10/AldeaGlobal/UltimaHora/AldeaGlobal2806155.aspx
Arenal Volcano has been inactive for a while and OVSICORI says it will be for another 50 or 60 years (one of their sysmologists is a friend of mine). Small clouds coming out of the crater are from steam (it is still hot inside, cooling down slowly). However, it is not save to climb the volcano, but it will be a while until the next explosion, and we will not be the ones to observe it. It is more likely to get killed in a car accident than by the volcano.
I have been living at Lake Arenal (Tilaran, Tronadora area) for the last 21 years and have been all over Costa Rica but never wanted to be anywhere else.
