What is snotty or pretentious american's fascination with costa rica?

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mntg

As a European that lived 11 years in US and have my Tico partner for 12 year,I can tell you that despite the smiles,Europeans AND Americans look at Costa Rica as a "playground".And that's ok...let them act like fools and charge them as one(asn long as they end up on the short end).
My problem with the foreign "invasion is that you open the newspapers in San Jose and see 2 bedroom apartments for rent for over $800 and houses(small,not mansions) for $2000.
How can any Costa Rican that works hard every day afford that?Why is he government not placing rent control?Why do honest Costa Ricans have to struggle to pay rent in a bad area while Americans are taking San Jose over and putting their standards?
Not even so..,in US rent can be way cheaper in the same standard area/house/accommodation BUT foreigners think they "dictate" the price for "civilization".
Then you see this pretty,young girls that have everything going for them self,jumping like "flies" over foreigners,willing to do anything.Very sad and disturbing that Americans see CR also as a "sex" spot.I wonder how the posters that reply to you feel about their own women offering them-selfs to OLD dudes for an extra mil colones.
Areas where Americans live are way better maintained,I can tell you for a fact that if there is a problem if I raise my voice in English,I get better help that Costa Ricans.Even in the hospital(had that filmed)
Again,as I foreigner,I am disgusted to see what SOME people that come to visit/live here think about locals.
I wish they will open up more and try to learn the beauty of a different culture.
I've had nothing but good learning experience with my neibouroughts and new friends.
However,there are a lot of foreign organizations started by private individuals,that immigrated here,embraced the culture and are creating needed projects for many aspects of the Costa Rican system.You really can't "judge the book by its cover".
Take me for example - I live in CR for over one year,I am from Eastern EU,my husband is Tico and our son is Canadian.We all speak English between each-other because my son grew up in North America and that was the only common language withing the family.
I walk down Sabana and talk to my kid,everybody assumes I am from US,trying to charge double ans etc...
I wonder what "ticosland2008" will say about racism here or when my son was attended to in The Children's Hospital before about 5-6 kids that where in line just because I yelled in English(not proud of that,but hey...my kid is my all).Racism toward Costa Rican's in CR - YES
Immigration and tourism is a hard issue

Despite all the signs on the airport I flew in with my son here(the dad came before us) without any question about his father/birth-certificate etc..(is common knowledge many criminals "run"here and many parents abduct their kids and come here,beside is an international practice for a single parent with a child,to ask for the second parent approval of travel proof)
Is no secret also that for about $500 CR celuda is obtainable within 3 months.
And on top of that for some reason,the government allows all foreign companies to hire as much "top dollar" help from outside as they want appose to Costa Ricans.
Locals are doing the job that will make you rich anywhere else for $5 an hour(and they thing is a good pay..).
Then there is the "common fear"(that's what I call it).You can wait 3 hours in the bank and it will take a Nicaraguan to raise some hell,you can be robbed in day-lite and NOBODY will try to help,you can walk in to your bank to make a deposit with you son and have to be searched as you are to rob them....
Many examples from both sides of the issue.However,please Ticos,no offense but you have to wake up and take control of your basic life needs - minimum pay vs. life standard,crime vs. prevention programs,special treatment of foreigners vs. discrimination and poverty of your own Native Indian People.
Damn..long post..
Last one - weeks ago a girl asked here why Costa Rican milk trucks need armed security guards.All Tico's reply that security is part of life in all countries.I beg to differ - any country that calls it's self advance,civilized country and cares about human rights,safety will NOT have such a silly "picture".
Again,no bad feelings but people that answer that way,bring the general "That's the way it is" attitude and they need to be asking for better rather than trying to "explain".
Bottom line is - I don't know who came up with the silly "Swiss of Latin America" nickname for CR - BELIEVE ME,you are walking back with the attitude of "defense".Swiss people don't need wires to defend their home and businesses(just a small,tiny example..)

*Amber*

Hahaha wow "gone f" has some serious issues. Dude needs to calm down and read a little about Costa Rica...does he even know where Costa Rica is?

Anyway...

I totally understand what you mean, Costa Ricans are very friendly towards tourists, unfortunately some tourists think they're royalty(not even royalty would behave like this, they have manners). They complain how some people don't speak english in Costa Rica...um HELLO? The official language is SPANISH, and these people don't have the responsibility to learn a language(English) just to accommodate your stay...if anything TOURISTS should be the ones learning Spanish.

Some people are just rude and ignorant.

ticosland2008

It seems like you have some serious racist issues. You are actually in the United States, so it seems like your father traveled there and decided to stay. If I am reading what you said correctly, you donÂ´t want anyone doing what your father did, especially not Costa Rica.
Wow, there are some real issues there. Good luck with your therapist for the next 5 or 10 years trying to resolve your xenophobic issues.

q_dog385

Because almost anywhere is more sophistaced (sp?)than america

FRaNN Strummer (Wise Monkey)

what the **** is your guys's problem with Costa Rica????

Costa Rica has its pros and cons as every country around the world... (and yeah that includes the US) PERIOD. !!!!

now go and solve all your internal conflicts somewhere else, in private!! not in the internet where thousands of people can see it and think wrong about CR(in this case) just because you are talking s***!

I'm american but I love Costa Rica and any country in general, different cultures are the most beautiful thing ever

Mo' Nee Quah! Ã‘ÂµÃÃ˜É«Ã¯Ã§Ð”

All tourists are annoying in my opinion.

Adyari

"mexicans, guatamalens, colombians and nicquraquins"

First off, those are capitalized, and its spelled "Nicaraguans" and "Guatemalans". Secondly, the largest percentage of Latinos in the U.S. (having over 1 million present) are Mexicans (26 mil), Puerto Ricans (3.7 mil), Cuban (1.4 mil), Salvadoran (1.2 mil) and Dominicans (1.1 mil). There are only a little over 730,000 Colombians, 758,000 Guatemalans, and ONLY about 280,000 Nicaraguans, You do the math.
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_&-redoLog=false&-mt_name=ACS_2005_EST_G2000_B03001

These "minorities" aren't "stealing" jobs, and the ones who are immigrants (with no papers whatsoever) are getting paid less than what you would if you did the job, but they are already low-paid jobs that the majority of "U.S. Citizens" won't/don't do. The people that are turning your country into a "tourist trap" are actually your own, they just partner with other people (mainly from the U.S.) and "spread the word" so to say. It is a really tourist trap, so many places online lead people to believe there is no crime in CR just because there is no army, i tell them, just look at their ordinary "Police Officers", their army is just not "official", but its there.

By the way, the population of Costa Rica is a little over 4.1 million, not "3 million or so".

william a

sorry if I answer this question with a question
what do you mean with America????????

because I know about 3 so I don't really know when you said America which one are you talking about???
thank you

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