First Impressions of Costa Rica

Current Location: 10°0’11’’N 84°6’27’’W Jardines de Roma, Heredia, Costa Rica

Here follows a random selection of impressions that the country of Costa Rica has had on me. Firstly, no matter how much you try not to look and behave like one, everyone will perceive you as gringa; the latino version of “stupid American”. Secondly my neighbor’s dog is barking excessively and he should know better. The fact that I have both the knowledge and the toxic tools to kill him instantly, and currently the mental state of mind that I am actually considering it should put him off from his persistent activity, but this fact seems to be of little significance to him currently. He is living dangerously… Another thing that I have learnt is that you cannot eat pasta Bolognese at the campus canteen. I have never had pasta in worse condition. The fact that the sauce was slimy and on the verge of purple (how does one even accomplish that!?) should have been a hint apparent enough to not eat it I suppose, but since I bought it I at least ate half of it, something that I won’t do again. Costa Ricans are very similar to swedes in that they want nothing to do with anyone they meet in a public setting. They differ from swedes in that this antisocial phenomenon seems to be caused by fear of being robbed or molested rather that simply just wanting to be undisturbed in your private space. They pronounce their r’s like Americans, which makes them sound a little hypocritical when they call you a gringa. It makes them sound ridiculous when they order a beer: bi(r)hyaaa (birra). They are short, which consequently makes me feel like a heffaklump (the Swedish name for the large and supposedly scary creature that Winnie the Pooh and Piglet are afraid of). A blond one at that. I am currently being ripped of paying an immense amount of money for proper housing, but after having had a pretty bad living situation I am happy to pay rental prices equivalent to those in Sweden. The popo will get you right away if you are as much as sitting in a car without a seatbelt on, but they will never stop you if you are driving 40 kmh too fast on a road without sidelines. Costa Rica is safe during the days, but you can’t go out at night after six because then the scary monsters come out. Internet functionality is dependent on whether it is raining or not. The conception that Ticos are always late (tico time) is most probably due to the inability to estimate distances e.g. 25 km takes 20 min to drive. They like rice and beans and would be miserable without it. They look as if they saw an alien when they see a foreigner walking in a non-tourist setting. They are very nice and friendly people when you actually get a chance to talk to them. A lot of the women are ripped and I think the females are overrepresented at the gym. Old ladies (70 years plus) work out. The relations between men and women seems very equal and healthy, but when men are passing by in a cars or sitting purposelessly on the street they get the idea that it is sociably acceptable to call out demeaning and sleazy things to passing women – the women of Costa Rica seems to have accepted this as the ways of the men on the street. What baffles me is: aren’t these men of the streets also the husbands and boyfriends that are very respectful towards their women in all other social settings. Who are these rude and Neanderthal like men of the streets?

#costarica #impressions