5 Social Faux Pas Every Expat in Costa Rica Can Avoid

People are more or less the same wherever you go.

We remember different foods from our childhoods, but most of us love our Grandmothers.

We like different music; but the generation before usually despises the next one's favorite.

Everybody likes a barbecue!

Humans are social animals - we want to connect, belong, have a purpose, and have our basic human dignity recognized, and we meet those needs through culture.

That said, culture is a social construct and what might seem innocuous to a visitor from the USA may be regarded as uncouth by our Costa Rican hosts.

Here's what you need to know to avoid the most common social faux pas…

Tastes like chicken.

Mind Open: Mouth Shut

August, 2015

Cobano, Costa Rica is a lovely little village on the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula.

We stumbled into town, hot, grumpy, and out of sorts, looking for something and somewhere else.

But we found paradise.

If you know what kind of flower this is, please tell me. 

Our cabina is not fancy or new, and our room doesn't have air conditioning.

But it's perfect for us.

Mangos litter the ground.  Howler monkeys throw them down constantly - sometimes with one or two bites out, sometimes perfect and ready to eat.

Dude, your aim is crap. 

A brown gecko the size of my index finger lives in the bathroom.  I call her Morena.

This afternoon, the proprietor spent 45 minutes or so with us in an impromptu conversation about Costa Rica, United States, people, culture, and language with lots of good humor and laughter.

Kindness knows no language barrier.

Although this place is the hub to Lots! Of! Exciting! Activities! the thing I'm enjoying most is just being still, enjoying our numerous animal neighbors, and savoring the quiet moments.

It's a superb place to rest.

Pura Vida.