Two Years Living in Costa Rica- 11 things I have learned
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 เม.ย. 2023
- Today marks my first two years living here in Costa Rica. We will look at 11 things I learned about living here in Uvita Costa Rica. We will talk about mindset , dealing with annoying people, crime and many other Costa Rica topics.
Now I have been here three years!
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Pros and Cons of Uvita Costa Rica
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Coffee Blossoms in Bloom
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Welcome to the Costa Rica Story TH-cam channel. My name is Ed and I make videos about Costa Rica, it's people, nature and what it is like to live here in Costa Rica. If you are considering traveling, vacationing or even moving to Costa Rica, you will find my many detailed guides helpful and I hope you will find all the videos on this channel fun and informative.
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The link to the shipping company "Get it here Jerry" that I mentioned in the video
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Congrats on 2 years in Costa Rica old friend! I remember the days in the office when you talked about just throwing your arms up in the air and saying "screw this! I'm moving to Costa Rica!" But you did the work and look at you now! Well done, sir! BTW I love your outtakes! :D
Thanks Byron , man how time flies. You and all of the other coworkers ( especially the coffee club) made that job a lot more bearable. The bloopers, well they just keep on coming🤣
Well, I have lived in the US for about 35 years. At this time I'm getting ready to moved to CR. With this video I realized that I have a lot of positive points in my favor, staring with the language. Thanks a lot for share your experience.
Yes, that Spanish ability will make life so much easier🙂👍
I think one of the biggest obstacles is the change of mentality. If you live here, you can't have the mentality of your native country, you can't make price comparisons, political, cultural or social system comparisons. If you do, then you are not going to adapt here because you will be thinking of the good and the bad. Down here, you have to think like a Costa Rican. Example of ways to change the mentality; 1-"Things are not expensive here, prices are how they are in costa rica", 2- "People don't arrive late, people arrive the same as everybody else in costa rica". When someone stops totally thinking of their native country, that's when you know you completely adapted to CR.
I think you hit the nail on the head Luis!
WOW!!! 2 years already! I remember the video when you were putting the rock down around the house before the sale and the move!
I'm moving soon to Dominicalito!
Best of Luck Brother!
Pura Vida
Hey Michael, thanks for watching all the way back then, yes it is a different world for me know.
Time goes by fast(This video is a year old now) and I have actually been here 3 years now!! th-cam.com/video/cWtbYiL3ABk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=tYKArsEXfKcFFXei
Muchas Gracias!
To footnote #2 (learning Spanish): There are websites that allow you to study foreign languages with a tutor that speaks the language as a native. If starting from a zero, i.e., no language skills whatsoever, give yourself at least a six month chance to study one on one with a tutor from Costa Rica. Lessons are very cheap, anywhere from $6 to $25 per hour. Additionally they can be customized to your specific level and need. You can usually record the lessons and play them back as many times as necessary. One or two meetings (or more) per week will really jump start your ability to hit the ground running when you do arrive in Costa Rica. Don't give up the ship!
Great advice Bmorga!👍
Well I'm stoked to find kindred spirits. I started in the mountains overlooking Uvita in 2011, lived my first year in a tent and then got a small house built with locals. I became a "Gringuisino" doing all the local traditional stuff including working in the coffee field and running with the torch in the mountain on their Independence Day. For ten years I was the owner of the small property and now I've moved on. But synchronicity has compelled me to come back after 3 years being MIA. Southern CR is one of the most complex dynamics one could ever find in Life. Hats off mate for making it through the swampy labyrinth of Uvita and coastal life, I know from vast personal experience that is no small feat!
It sounds like your Costa Rica Story is an interesting one.
@@CostaRicaStory Yeah it has been the most transformative soul surgery I never could have forseen. If you are up to be interviewed sometime, whether Zoom or in person, I would love to hear the play by play on 5 W's of how you got where you are today. Pieces of my story are on the Costa Rica playlist on my channel.
The constant swatting at flying critters was illuminating.
Sometimes they can be annoying, other times they are not even be around. It is usually worse if I am into the jungle than just near my front door.
Hello! I like your energy and dry, wry humor🤣 My husband and I are coming to scout for possible areas to move our small family to next summer. I’m going to continue watching your videos.
Thank you for sharing🙏🏾
Some very good points Ed. Everyone experiences moving to CR in different way, I’m no different. As much as you think you know, have studied and asked questions about living here, your personal experiences, whatever they are, will change your views. When you have the reality of actually living here, and it hits you, it will change much of what you thought you knew, quite quickly over your time here. “Your not in Kansas anymore” I think the line goes. Even living in your jungle like location, silence is never a given. 😅
Es verdad mi amigo👍
Good advice. I look forward to the video talking about the crime. I hear “petty theft”, but personally know someone who was a victim of armed home invasion robbery and heard others start mentioning it, but seems it’s a topic people don’t want to discuss.
Hola Ed ! Pura vida !
Entiendo las barreras que aveces nos pueden superar con los Idiomas, me pasa con el inglés, pero dejame decirte que tu español cada vez es mejor y lo pronuncias muy bien, admiro mucho la consideración de aprender español e implementarlo en tu dia a dia !
Gracias mi amiga y agradezco tu paciencia y comprensión. Poco a poco llegamos lejos🙂
I'm realy appreciate the even Costa Rica is no perfect you have a lot of respect and comprehend the difference and make it work.
Gracias Blanco, poco a poco🙂🤙
Excellent video!
Thanks for sharing 😀
Glad you liked it Paul. 🙂🤙
As a "Tica / Gringa", I have to say that Costa Rica has CHANGED A LOT in the last several years - and NOT for the BETTER !
The cost of living has risen tremendously from the early 2000's, when I and my "gringo" husband lived in the San Ramon area.
Back then, we were able to buy a nice ridge-top home with valley views for $36,000. We lived on a single pension check of $1,000 / month (house & car paid for). No crime, and the Ticos were very welcoming. NONE OF THAT is true today !
Best ending ever. I love this! ❤ thanks for all your great advice
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it🙂
Good tips, I think this is a helpful list for newcomers... Pura vida
Happy You liked it, Pura Vida🙂🤙
Very entertaining and informative ~ great edutainment!
Muchas Gracias and glad you enjoyed it😁👍
Ahhh the G.O.G....yes everyone's experience will be different...find your niche is key....nice perspective...and wow,two yrs already...I remember when you got there ..
Thanks Doug and thanks for the encouragement even when i was still back in the states trying to get here. Time does fly!
I wonder how will it be with me becaus I am not a gringa but I am not a Tica either. I am from Peru, look Latina and speak Spanish.I will be moving for NC. I guess we will see. Moving to Uvita in a couple of months.
Nice video by the way.
@@soniapalvarado Hola Sonia, I have a feeling you will have no problem adapting to life in Uvita. Having the common language is going to make fitting in so much easier and many people here are interested in Peru, with many wanting to visit there, so you will have a nice conversation starter when you mention where you are from.🙂👍
Great video! I will add that it’s is delusional to set expectations base on your last vacation in a surf paradise like Tamarindo, Guanacaste.
True
I came back from the US and enjoynit so much
Excellent post, nice job from a good guy.👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing video!
Muchas gracias Manua
You have a great attitude and I found this to be the most helpful video I’ve seen about CR.
Thank you very, very much, I am glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful
😊👍
bienvenido a mi pais! I am from CR and I know that it is a very slow country, going to the banks it is a night mare! you have to wait for hours in line, if you need to fix something or go and get something to the store make sure you put into your mind that you may have to come back another day, and another day. Things move really slow. Tico time is another thing. No one shows up a the time we tell you. And yes if you are a gringo, we assume you have money and we will charge you more, or expect more money from you. Crime is really a reality, take care of your phone, computers, wallet etc. Be careful! it is a beautiful country but I personally could not go back and live there, I visit a lot but to live it is not for me anymore after more than 35 years in the USA.
Gracias Carman, I love to hear the perspective of someone who has lived in both worlds, You have great advice. 🙂🤙
That was awesome dude! I have a female friend who move there and has VRBO.. your video was very informative I want to come. And thanks for the outtakes, LOL
Glad you enjoyed the video. Costa Rica waits for you👍
Thank you 😊
Con mucho gusto🤙
Wise words, I think the biggest barrier for anyone coming to Costa Rica like you said or any other country is the language barrier, you don't need to speak Spanish but you will be missing out on a lot of the culture and things that only by knowing Spanish you will understand. I have US friends that have learned spanish and they even speak with a costa rican accent lol, and there's a huge difference in how they see or understand day to day life here. I can also understand it can be very difficult for a person, specially if you are older to learn anther language. but I suggest anyone to at least learn the basic stuff, get immerse in the culture and history. On the other hand we are more and more becoming an english speaking country so who knows what will happen in the next couple of years.
Gracias Randy , I really admire anyone that can speak more than one language , it is definitely a superpower. Thanks for the Tico perspective🙂🤙
This clip was really informative! Thank you I love your honesty and transparency👍your out take of the Grumpy Old Gringo Syndrome is hilarious and SO TRUE 😂 I’ve met some of those gringos🖕
Awesome video
Gracias mi amiga🙂
good video bro thanks 🤙
You are welcome, thanks for watching
Thanks a lot for this one, Ed. These grumpy old gringos 😂...I also met a few during my Costa Rica trips and nearly all of them were as you described! After telling me their life history, they told me about being robbed, getting sick, loosing money etc...but a few of them were also very helpful.
There are other exciting news: the plans of selling our house will start in May! What we will do after that is not quite clear atm, but we' ll see...will relocation in Costa Rica be an option now? Let's see...
Wow congrats on making that big leap, those few steps are sure to send you on an adventure of some kind. As they say here ”CostaRica waits for you.” 🙂🤙
Me gusta mucho su actitud
Muchas Gracias Andrina🙂
Pura vida!
Pura Vida Sebastian 🙂🤙🏼
Great points. I've also been here 2 years and find that everything you point out is accurate.
Gracias Amigo🙂🤙
I'm moving to CR in a few months. I'm looking forward to saying stuff like, "I've lived here for 25 years..." 😂
Congrats on the move, that anticipation period before moving is great. 😁🤙
@@CostaRicaStory I'm gonna substitute the word "great" with "stressful". LOL There are so many moving pieces and things to tie up here. Here's hoping that I can get back there before rainy season starts up again. I want to avoid having to look for a rental with the restrictions that come with trying to travel in poor weather. It's bad enough that you might drive yourself off of a cliff at night, so adding rain to the equation just gives us less time to look at potential spots.
Saludos desde San Ramón de alajuela costa rica 🇨🇷, ahora el gran problema es tanta delincuencia en tiquicia 😮
Pretty sure I've crossed paths with you at the BM.
I am in there quite a bit, hola👋🙂
I lived in CR for Two 1/2 years and found myself missing the snowy winter's of the mountain west. It never got cold. I'm not sure I would ever want to be there full time in the future as a result
Yes, I think it is good that eveyone has different tastes in where to live, otherwise the one place would be totally crowded😅
Hola Ed! Yo vivo en Manuel Antonio hace muchos años y visito Uvita con frecuencia. Me encanta sus 11 recomendaciones. Todo muy cierto y divertido a la vez. Me pareció genial. Me encantaría conocerlo con un cafecito. Déjame saber si eso seria posible. Me llamo Elizabeth
Hola Elizabeth , Muchas Gracias y tu espanol es muy bueno!🙂🤙
@@CostaRicaStory Hola! Si pues gracias soy bilingüe/bicultural. Voy para Uvita Mayo 13,14 y 15. Talvez Ud esta disponible para tomar un café conmigo? That way you can pick my brain on all things Costa Rican! 😂🤣😂
Hola Ed, bueno podes reunirse conmigo este fin de semana para un cafecito y conversar un poco. Elizabeth
Very accurate and true. Thank you! My husband and I are coming up on 1 year here. Do you know of anyone who has actually brought over their household goods from the US and taken advantage of the new law that is supposed to allow those goods to come in duty free? Also, do you know of a good company that will ship household goods?
I used a place here in uvita called Get It Here Jerry to ship a pallet. www.getitherejerry.com I don’t know anyone who has personally taken advantage of that duty free incentive, but i do know you do have to have your residency as i understand it.
@@CostaRicaStory Muchísimas gracias. That's very helpful. I will get in touch with them.
When a Latino arrives in the United States and does not speak English.
US citizens say you are in America and you must speak English and they don't help at all.
In Costa Rica, we Ticos are not like that and we try to help foreigners and we give everything to make them feel good and at least in Costa Rica Spanish is clear and easy to understand compared to other countries.
Hey, great video. Curious where you move from. We are in Ontario Canada.
Upstate NY
Where did you pick to live man? I’m here 6 months. Coco for now but not for long. I relate to you!
I am in Uvita.
Hi, what about the mosquitos, which seem to be bothering you quite a lot?
I spent a couple of months in San José in the early nineties, and the problem back then was an epidemic of the dengue fever, spread by those bothersome insects.
They are annoying when you are in the Jungle, but really are not bad in general in this area. I did encounter some very hungry mosquitos in Sierpe though.
The ants here in Uvita,on the other hand have often given me stings when I least expect it and itch for a week.
🙏
💜💜💜💜💜💜
Absolutely not cheap!
Hi, thank you for your video, I want to ask you if you think if it was safe for my daughter and I to go there alone?
This is a controversial topic, but it is always much safer traveling in groups. My personal opinion is that regardless of where she was traveling it is much better not to do it alone, and that includes Costa Rica. Just my 2 cents.
Very funny!
Glad you enjoyed it
I've been here nearly a year now. The worst thing by far is the G.O.G.s. and the forcing of US politics on me even though I'm in CR and from Europe. I cut ties with several of these people here, very toxic individuals.
I agree, and US politics should not be one of the things people pack with them to bring here, leave all that baggage behind🙂
Just stumbled upon your channel and love your open demeanour about expat life. Having lived in many a different country, I can attest that there is always a self absorbed, entitled and somewhat miserable, Grumpy Old (insert label) that would want to vulture upon you like fresh meat 😅 "Well hey there shonny, when I was here that mountain was still a volcano!" On another note, how did you managed to have the merch listing on your channel? Don't you have to have like 10K subs before that? Interested!
Thank you very much Gavin😁👍The product thing became available at 1,000 subs. I can’t remember how to enable. I actually am planning to remove it , it is kind of a distraction
They got TICI TIME IN GA too 😂
The cost of living compared to where in the states NY prices?
Exactly. As I point out in the video it all depends on where in the states you are talking about and where in Costa Rica you are talking about.
Hey I would love it if you made a video on gentrification! Us ticos are having a hard time with all these “expats” unfortunately.
That is definitely a topic that deserves more coverage, hopefully in future videos I will be able to explore the subject more.
I was thinking to retire in costa rica.
Are robberies happening in rural areas? Or, in small to big cities? Also, do you think it’s all getting reported acutely?
There are robberies and break ins in rural areas, but not nearly as bad as in a place like San Jose. That being said , crime has been on the increase all across the board, hopefully some of the anti crime initiatives and community involvement will provide a deterrent.
At 70 years old I rather live in Costa Rica then live in a old age house this is my dream I pray to God everyday I just want to be in Costa Rica I know if I reach 85 my family will put me in the old age house I'm pray to God everyday to let me go to Costa Rica
Fingers crossed for you tomcat!
When you can make a video in spanish that long as this one, then you can say you really know the lenguage. It's my humble opinion.
Regards from Curridabat.
Yes, hopefully some day that will be the case. Poco a poco.
@@CostaRicaStory yes Because i Know a lot of foreigners that are here and dont speak spanish🤣
Yep….the GrumpyOldGringo syndrome is for real. Amongst my top three annoyances here is….other gringos. Pays to be very selective. I’ve run into some wacky conspiracy theorists as well (more than I’d like). Looking at an in-country relocation specifically for that reason.
Yes, I agree and I always dislike when an otherwise normal conversation takes that turn.
😂
as you've said, you may feel yourself like a complete idiot because wasn't able to learn Spanish during 2 years. It's not a big deal. Random people obtain B1 in English during 2 years and it is enough to communicate. Anyway, thank you for the video and your experience. Like
Gracias ThyDespair👍
Humbling experience to be an immigrant uh…
Very much so.💯
I'm a gringo and like fried bananas
I am with you on that one!😋
Like you said, mindset is gratitude balanced out by "F'n-G (Backup plans). D and I have lived in the valley now for over four years and really love it. Thanks for the video, as it's spot on.
Thanks, If people would understand that, it would make the transition much easier🤙🏼