If anyone ever told you that living abroad in Costa Rica, or anywhere for that matter would be a magical, fairy tale paradisaical experience, take it lightly. Yes, living in Costa Rica is awesome, especially being at the beach.
However, when moving abroad you have to come with an open mind and open heart and be willing to be tested and put in tough situations at times.
It’s not easy moving to a brand new place, even if you’re in the same country. Costa Rica is no exception – many people market and advertise it as “living in paradise,” which it IS but that doesn’t mean coconut drinks on the beach and infinity pools everyday.
I think no matter how much research you do and how prepared you think you are, there will always be things that surprise you when you’re finally there. Some are good, some are bad but that’s what the experience is all about!
5 Things that Surprised Me About Living in Costa Rica
Immersing in Spanish – Como Aprender Español?
I’ve had quite a few friends who studied abroad for 6 months or a year and came back completely fluent in the native language. I kind of expected the same when I moved here. I would be immersing myself which apparently is the best way to learn and it wouldn’t be long before I would be watching telenovelas and reading los periodicos every morning.
Didn’t quite happen that easily. Since Coco is such a touristic area, many of the Costa Ricans speak English. And they love to speak English to you once they know you do! Many times I’ll have to ask them, podemos hablar en Espanol? so that I can practice. Plus I don’t expect them to speak Ingles to me at all, I want to learn and practice!
Also this one is kind of my fault but since Yeison’s English is damn near as good as mine, it’s just easier for us to communicate in English than me stammering, sputtering and mumbling inaudible and unintelligible Spanish.
I found that I had to learn on my own – can’t count on other people to do it for me. I buckled down and did my research. I love to learn on my own so I looked up apps and software to help me learn Spanish. I discovered that watching Grey’s Anatomy in Spanish subtitles helps a lot. Derek te amo. Eligeme, escogeme, amame!
Kindness of Costa Ricans
In the States, if you are an immigrant or foreigner and you don’t speak English very well, people aren’t that nice. I’ve witnessed this with my own eyes and ears as some Americans have assumed I don’t speak English, mocked me right in my face and told me to go back to China, telling me I’m not a real American. (I was born in the US if anyone is curious).
So imagine my surprise when I first moved down and how incredibly nice people were when I did try to practice my Spanish with them. Nobody ever made fun of me, nobody ever told me to go back home. Instead they patiently listened, gently corrected my mistakes and when I said the few words I knew, you could tell they greatly appreciated the effort.
Another example of their kindness. If you’re ever in an emergency in Costa Rica, you might be surprised as how many people are willing to help you.
One of my friends and her husband were driving in the middle of the countryside. Their car broke down, they had no cell phone and it was getting dark. A truck full of teenage boys pulled up beside them and instead of taking advantage of their vulnerability, they helped them push their car to the next town and let them borrow their phone.
Stories like this are incredibly common here.
I’ve heard stories where a tourist fainted and a Costa Rican stayed with the couple to show the wife where the hospital was, 40 kilometers away. Yeison is the same way, he’ll help anybody who needs it. They do what seems to be above and beyond for us foreigners but really it’s just normal for them.
Not All Expats Are Alike
You would think that every expat: American, British, Italian, Russian, whoever, would have the same mindset when they moved here. We’re here to experience a new culture, find a new life for ourselves and open our eyes to the world. We want to live in a peaceful country, to escape the rat race and the gossip and to just live simpler and happier.
Nope.
You ever heard the phrase “Some people never change?” It applies to people here too. We live in a small town and a small community where everybody knows each others business or they deliberately pry into each others personal life.
For some reason, some expats here still like to stir up drama. Some really are here to live a different life, some are here to live their same life just by the beach. I’m not really sure why or how they can expect things to be exactly the same as the States or Canada (or even Western Europe).
It’s Costa Rica, things are done differently here as it would be in any other country in the world. Costa Rica’s not a perfect country, there are definitely flaws but what system is perfect? None.
Why move here if all you will do is complain and why move to a country where you don’t even like the locals?
Diversity
Costa Rica has a population of about 4.8 million people. Not a lot but it is a small country.
The second time I visited Costa Rica we went to Limon and Yeison pointed out many Chinese communities to me. In San Jose, we met lots of Taiwanese people which I was pretty surprised about.
To be honest, I never thought of Costa Rica being one of the more popular places for people to move to. But in reality, it is.
I learned that Costa Rica has always been a popular country for people to immigrate to, especially from Asia and the Caribbean islands due to the huge appeal of the ability to make a new life and good money in the city.
Costa Rica is a large melting pot. You can find people from all over the world – heck Yeison is half Korean half Costa Rican! We’ve met many half Costa Ricans half Italians, half Costa Rican half Russian, half Costa Ricans half Chinese. Just all sorts of diverse people.
And if you’re born in Costa Rica, you’re a Tico or Tica. That’s it. Doesn’t matter where your parents were born, if you have an accent or if you speak a second language.
Subtle Culture Shock
It probably helped that I visited quite a few times before I moved here so I had an idea of what things were like. Living at the beach helped a lot too for sure. You always had a great central place to go to meet people, always had somewhere to go and something to do.
Besides the language, the rest of the culture shock was not as intense as I thought it would be. This time, I already had amazing support and experience which was more than anything I could ever ask for!
There’s always ups and downs to living abroad but I’m loving it everyday. I suggest everybody to go international for a little bit! It doesn’t have to be for a long period of time but just to experience something completely new and see the world in a different light.
If you enjoyed this post you might like my other living in Costa Rica stories!
Things I had to get used to living in Costa Rica
Robin says
Thank you so much for your post. As an American thinking of moving to Costa Rica, it is nice to know you are adjusting well there. Now to learn of some of the pitfalls. I don’t know Spanish at all and plan on learning as I go. Me fear has somewhat abated knowing the locals are patient. Off to continue my research.
Sammi says
Hi Robin! I highly suggest learning some Spanish before you come. It’s quite intimidating at first to be in a country where you don’t know a single word and knowing even just the basics helps so much. Locals are quite nice here if you tell them “estoy aprendiendo espanol” and they’re very patient when you practice with them. I planned on learning as I went and I really regret not starting before I left! Just my two cents 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Adriane says
Sammi,
My friend and I are talking about possible moving out of the US to another country. Although, I do have an 8 year old daugher. Both her and I speak spanish fairly well. My friend does not but teaching her I’m sure wouldn’t be that hard. What I am worried about is Work…I am a nurse here and she is in the social work field…I know neither of us would have to have these exact jobs but how hard is it to find a job in Costa Rica? We would come with savings but as we all know that doesn’t last long. How is the schooling in Costa Rica? I could always supplement my daughters education at home.
Curiosity killing this cat,
Adriane
Sammi says
It’s actually quite hard for a foreigner to find a job in Costa Rica unless it is waitressing or something like that in a touristic town and that doesn’t pay very much. If you want a “real” job that pays more, I really suggest doing it the legal way and getting a work visa. Public schools are all free in Costa Rica and there are private ones, which can run a few hundred a month depending on location and the grade. Most foreigners who work in Costa Rica have started their own business or work online to support themselves and the good job opportunities are in San Jose. The salaries in Costa Rica are also much less than the US so don’t expect to be making the same amount. It’s something many foreigners don’t know before they go and they don’t realize the reality of actually working in Costa Rica.
Ruthi says
As a Brit who has been an expat for 30 years now I can definitely relate.Now in China things are very different as we are a rarity here and get gawped at snd there is much less diversity here. But it’s still an smazing ride.considering my next move now maybe Costa Rica?Thanks for the info!
Sammi says
I can relate since being Asian I’m a rarity in Guanacaste and I get stared at and pointed out a lot. It’s an interesting experience I must say from being one of thousands to now one of two! Haha Costa Rica is always an option 😀
Syd says
Great post! I’ve lived and studied and traveled abroad a lot, but I’ve never really been in any one place long enough to consider myself an expat. It’s interest to see how the experience changes if you’re living in a place long term. As for the Spanish….keep it up! And make Yeison speak Spanish with you!
Sammi says
Thanks! Yeah it’s definitely quite an experience and eye opener once you stay in one place for awhile and see how it’s really like. haha I’ll try. Lo intentaré!
Stacey Sandlin says
Hi Stacey stopping by from Baskets Life! Love this blog ! I’m an expat to ~ purely for love as well! Our first stop Lithuania whew culture shock! So funny my husband is the same his English is so good that I’ve still never learned Lithuanian! Shame on me! Love your stories! Good to know there are other expats out there like me!
Sammi says
haha love that we can relate! I’m glad to find your blog through #sundaytraveler, I’m looking forward to reading your expat journeys in Lithuania! And goodness, Lithuaian sounds difficult anyways! Always fun to learn a few words though I bet 🙂
Emma says
Loved this post, so interesting! I am lucky, I might be English and my language ability is not that amazing (although I do try, it’s ignorant not too, and I do have lessons!) but my English husband is amazing at languages, he can speak several and that makes things sooo much easier! 😀 Costa Rica sounds amazing, would love to visit one day!
Sammi says
Thanks Emma! haha it’s always great to have a multi lingual partner, makes traveling a bit easier. Hope you get to visit sometime it is amazing 🙂
Anastasia Sofia says
In England too, I find people can be particularly unforgiving of visitor who don’t speak much English, which is kinda shit – wanting to learn is a fabulous thing! I’m also learning spanish now and hoping to get over to Central America maybe this summer to really knuckle down at it. I will also be begging everyone to speak Spanish, and only spanish with me!
Sammi says
I completely agree Anastasia! Yes English is the universal travel language but there’s nothing wrong with learning another one, even just a few words here and there. I am sure once you are here you’ll be hablando en español in no time 🙂
Erin says
I love the honest look at living an expat life. Could apply anywhere, I bet, but gives a great inside look at the workings of life there.
Sammi says
Thanks Erin! Definitely people think moving abroad is like a fantasy almost and then they get hit with harsh reality. It’s work no matter where you go, not a vacation!
Mrs. Chasing the Donkey says
So much of this is just for ‘expats’ no matter where you move. You have an advantage that you visited quite a few times before I moving. I have heard so many horror stories from people, who hated where they moved – because they did not do their homework. Great read.
Sammi says
Yes I know so many people who came to Costa Rica for a 1 week vacation and then moved here, not knowing that it’s not just life at the beach and easy peasy. They get a HUGE surprise when they find out how things really work here and then leave in less than 3 months. Do your homework people!
Ticatexas says
I truly enjoyned reading your post. There is nothing I could disagree about your experience. We know there is not such “perfect” place to live because we are not made perfect at all. Live simpler, happier, in our means with a positive and hard working mentality will take us anywhere.
Personally I married a US citizen and I became US citizen as well. We are seriously planning our move to Costa Rica. I really don’t care about the next updated Iphone. I just want better quality life in general!
Sammi says
Thank you! That’s exactly what we want in life, not the best or most expensive thing but just a happy simple life appreciating what we have. Come back to CR! 😀 They have the next iphone here too loL!