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When you come from a different country and you want to use hand gestures in Costa Rica, you have to be a bit careful. You might be saying something totally different with your hand gestures than you’re really planning to. You might hurt people with your gestures without even knowing it. There are quite a […]
by Ivo Henfling
When moving to Costa Rica or just visiting you will need to change money for your day to day expenses. Often, clients ask if it is difficult to change money and if it is really necessary. The legal currency in Costa Rica is the Colon. Nonetheless, U.S. dollars are used for more expensive items like […]
by Ivo Henfling
Have you ever had the need to block the neighbor from your life? Well, I certainly did. And I’m pretty sure you do too. When you buy or rent a home, the neighbor comes with it. And … maybe you’re ready now to block the neighbor from your life. If you own or renting doesn’t […]
by Ivo Henfling
Did you know that Costa Ricans have two last names? When born, children are given first the father’s last name and second goes the mother’s last name. If you come from a non-Latin American country, it’s kind of hard to figure out why Costa Ricans have two last names and what happens when they marry, […]
by Ivo Henfling
Almost everyone comes late for an appointment in Costa Rica. Is it hard to adjust to that? Yes, it is, unless you make the rules. Doctors, dentists, lawyers and salespeople, few have respect for someone else’s time. They are always late for an appointment. In my opinion, that happens because their patients and clients put […]
by Ivo Henfling
This year, for the Holiday Season, I’ve decided to re-publish the 4 Most Popular Living in Costa Rica blogs 2017 as well as those that I wrote for the Tico Times. The Most Popular Living in Costa Rica blogs means those that were visited most and readers took at least 2.5 minutes to read them. […]
by Ivo Henfling
Traditional Costa Rican Christmas food is probably much different than what you used to eat during the Christmas holidays when you grew up. Getting used to local food in Costa Rica might be harder than you think, as Tico taste buds are very different than yours (and mine). The use of spices and the main […]
by Ivo Henfling
Christmas traditions in Costa Rica are probably not what you are used to. You can prevent culture shock by learning what Ticos do during Christmas holidays, and where they go. Christmas Eve in Spanish is Nochebuena. Adjusting to another culture is one of the most difficult things to do when you live in another country. […]
by Ivo Henfling
When you move to Costa Rica, utilities are a very important, if you purchase or even rent. Some just forget about it, others leave it for the last possible moment. How can you figure this all out? Imagine having to live without internet for 3 days? Not ready to buy a house but planning to […]
by Ivo Henfling
I’m pretty sure you don’t know what a chorreador de cafe in Costa Rica is. In simple English, it’s a Tico coffee maker. The correct verb for using a chorreador is chorrear café = to pour coffee. Ticos swear by a real cup of coffee. Why wouldn’t they, we have the best coffee in the […]
by Ivo Henfling