Costa Rica’s English language newsletter
March/April 2015
El Residente
Published by ARCR Administración S.A. Apdo. 1191-1007 Centro Colón San José, Costa Rica (www.arcr.net)
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Contents
March
/April
José,
Costa
Rica
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ARCR Board
Club Corner Finally to Church W. Peter Vanderhaak
5 7 10
Helping Our Entrepreneurs
13
Paradise, We Have a Problem
16
Taste the Tropics
22
Farewell to Our Teacher
25
Martha Rollins
Tony Johnson
Maxima van Houtem
Martha Rollins
No more tax on corporations?
30
Good eats in Perez
32
A day in the life
34 38
Alan Garro
Carol Vaughn
Allen Dickinson
Business Directory
Administración S.A.
(www.a
2015
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Editorial Note
Tast
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Across the Board
March/April 2015
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ime passes, events happen, things change. One of those changes which has an impact on El Residente readers is that Ryan Piercy has stepped down as the Editor of this newsletter. He has asked Allen Dickinson to take over for him for during his absence; what we hope will be but a brief period of time. Ryan has worked for many years to bring this newsletter to the high quality members enjoy today and we all owe him a large thank you for the many hours of effort he has expended turning the basic ARCR “newsletter” into the fine publication it is today. No changes are anticipated for El Residente (why mess with a good thing?) and Ryan will still be with us in spirit as he recovers from the terrible events which have led him to resign the Editor position. During his absence the staff of ARCR and El Residente will do our best to maintain and improve the level of quality which he established and members have come to expect. Another change is the addition of a column about the Southern Zone. The expat population in that area is growing and ARCR has even opened a branch office there to serve our southern members. Carol Vaughn will focus her column on things of interest, events, and features in that area. Look for her first contribution in this issue. We are open to suggestions and comments from the members. Please write us at: info@arcr.net. In the meantime we will try and fill the large shoes Ryan has left behind, and do so as we eagerly look forward to the day he returns.
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his magazine has been published every two months since 1995 as the official communications media of the ARCR. Our organization provides service to thousands of foreigners who have chosen Costa Rica to reside for short periods or for permanent residence.
Since 1984 the ARCR has been offering reliable services, information and advocacy to Costa Rica’s foreign residents. We have the experience and ability to help you with your
residency application, immigration, business and financial management, real estate purchases and rentals, property management, insurance, pet importation and much more. If you wish to place an ad in El Residente, please contact the ARCR main office. Goods & services offered are paid advertisements. Neither ARCR Administration nor El Residente research the companies and take no responsibility for the quality of such goods and services.
Contact information Published by:
ARCR Administration
Address:
Email:
info@arcr.net www.arcr.net
#101 Casa Canada, Av 4 Calle 40, San José, Costa Rica
Tel:
(506) 2233-8068
Allen Dickinson
Fax:
(506) 2255-0061
Editor in Chief:
Advertising, Publicity: add@arcr.net Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, CRC time GMT-6
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1191-1007 Centro Colón, San José, Costa Rica
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Across the Board Good News! The Caja has reversed its position on requiring married foreign couples to pay for separate policies. This means that couples can go back to being covered under one policy, as it was before. The change must be made at the local Caja office; a document must be completed saying that the original document has been cancelled. We recommend to members that the couple take a Spanish speaking person with them to make the change. Be aware that if the couple applied separately for residency, the change cannot be done without repeating the residency process. Members may contact ARCR Administration by phone for assistance if necessary. It has been previously published in the online news that airlines would include the Costa Rica exit tax fees in their ticket price totals. Some members have found this to not be correct. A more recent article in Tico Times, however, has stated that the airlines are now including the tax. We advise travelers to check with the airline of their choice to confirm whether the tax has or has not been included, before leaving for their flight.
People often have difficulties transferring money in/out of Costa Rica. Most problems are caused by incorrect or incomplete information on the wire transfer form. Here’s a short primer on the necessary information which needs to be included to expedite a smooth transfer: A critical part of the required information is the IBAN number. Most North Americans don’t know what an IBAN number is or where to get it for their bank in Costa Rica, they only know about ABA, SWIFT, and BIC codes. (ABA is American Bankers’ Association identifying the transit number assigned to each bank in the United States for interbank transfers. SWIFT is Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. BIC is Bank Identifier Code.) Outside the U.S., these numbers, along with the IBAN number (short for International Bank Account Number and is the identifying code for an account held at a bank) are necessary. The IBAN numbers are critical and complement the SWIFT/BIC addresses to expedite wire transfers. These codes are necessary to route money internationally and using them can reduce the money transfer time by days. Additionally, the Central Bank of Costa Rica uses a code called SINPE (Sistema Interbancario de Negociación y Pagos
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6 Electrónicos) and all bank accounts in Costa Rica have a SINPE number (also called a “cuenta cliente”). A wire transfer request to transmit money should have that information also. This information was the subject of a much longer and more detailed article by Garland M. Baker, published in the on-line newspaper AM Costa Rica. For more detailed information check the AM Costa Rica story or write Mr. Baker at: info@crexpertise.com The Tree of Hope, ARCR’s effort to gather donations for children’s presents, was not very successful this past Christmas; we only received four donations. Anyone who has an idea of how to make the effort more effective next year, please let us know. Please read the story “Helping our Entrepreneurs” by Martha Rollins elsewhere in this issue. It was inadvertently left out of the last issue and donations for the Cabécar Project are needed quickly; before April 7, 2015. Please help Martha and others help these deserving women. ARCR has been advised by the Embassy of the United Kingdom that British residents who wish to register their presence overseas
on-line must do so on the Embassy site on Facebook, which is different from the process used by the US and other embassies. Two quick health related notes: Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance is now available to expats living in Costa Rica. For more information about availability, rates, etc. contact Soloman Lang at: slang@SCOCR.com or call him at 25055002. Metropolitano Hospital is once again accepting claims for treatment by Tricare recipients and those with policies from other North American insurance carriers. Call Jeannette Zarela at 2521-9595, extension 9556, to register so that at the time of need the hospital will have your data on file. There are also other healthcare providers who will take Tricare and some private insurance plan claims. Call Terry Renfer in the office for a list.
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7 Alcoholics Anonymous Groups meet daily throughout the country; times and places change frequently. Call for up-todate information. San José 2222-1880 (Anchor club, also serves Narcotics Anonymous) Av 6 Calle 1, 2nd floor Maryland Building. Heredia (Laura) 2267-7466, Puerto Viejo Limon 27500080, Zancudo 2776-0012, Tamarindo 26530897, Flamingo (Don) 2654- 4902, Manuel Antonio (Jennifer) 2777-1548, Jacó (Nancy) 26378824, Zoo Group Escazu 2293-4322. Grecia (Jay) 2494-0578. Southern Zone, meetings in English & Spanish, 8634-9241.
Al-Anon Meetings English language Al-anon meetings are open to anyone whose life has been/is affected by someone else’s problem with alcohol. Meetings are one hour long and held twice each week in Escazu centro, above the Buena Tierra Restaurant, 25 meters south of the San Miguel Catholic Church. Tuesdays at noon and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Tel: 89 93 17 62 (Rosemary) and/or 22 28 10 49 (Barbara) email: rosemaryzitek@yahoo.com. Also in Grecia on Tuesdays at noon (English), contact Cheryl at 2444-1515.
American Legion Post 10- Escazu The A L Post 10 has relocated the monthly meetings to Casa de España in Sabana norte. There is an elevator so those with a handicap will not have a problem entering the building or reaching the meeting area. If you wish to attend please e-mail or call for directions. Terry Wise, Cell#: 8893-4021, Outside CR: 011-506-88934021, U S # to C R: 904-352-7043. Claudio Pacheco, Cell#: 8876 1394, Home#: 2225 4239.
American Legion Post 12- Golfito Meetings are held 4 p.m. 1st Tuesday every month at Banana Bay Marina. The Golfito GOVETS have been helping Southern Costa Rica for over 20 years. Contact Pat O’Connell
at walkergold@yahoo.com or 8919-8947, or Mel Goldberg at 8870-6756.
American Legion Auxiliary The Legion Auxiliary meets the Second Saturday of each month, at 1300 hours in Moravia. Contact Doris Murillo 2240-2947.
Asociación Caritativa Canadiense- ACC The activities of this charity began in 2000 as part of the Canadian Club of Costa Rica. Our Vision is that every student has access to a clean, secure, well-maintained and healthy physical environment in which to learn and grow. The focus of the program is to build the capacity within the poorer communities to access resources for their schools to repair the infrastructure that compromises the education of children. We work with the personal in the schools and use our donations to complement what the locals can raise. Our donations come primarily from fundraising events. In the past 15 years, we have raised over $325,000 for 85 projects throughout the country. Our volunteer membership is made up of both Canadians and Costa Ricans, male and female. If you would like to contribute or learn more please contact Fred Boden, fredrick.boden@gmail.com
Bird Watching Club The Birding Club of Costa Rica sponsors monthly trips to observe local and migrant birds in various areas of the country. For more information contact us at costaricabirding@ hotmail.com
Canadian Club The Canadian Club of Costa Rica welcomes everyone to join us for our monthly luncheons, and at our special annual events, like our Canada Day Celebration, no passport required. As of this year there is no fee or dues to pay, just sign up with your email address and we will keep you informed of Canadian Events, so
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you can participate whenever its convenient for you! For information visit our website: www.canadianclubcr.com or email Pat at canadianclubcr@yahoo.com to sign up.
Democrats Abroad Democrats Abroad meets on the last Saturday of every month at the Aurola Holiday Inn, San Jose. Contact Nelleke Bruyn, 22793553, e-mail cr.democratsabroad@yahoo. com. Join Democrats Abroad at www. democratsabroad.org. Register to vote absentee at VoteFromAbroad.org!
Little Theatre Group LTG is the oldest continuously running Englishlanguage theatre in Central or South America. The group currently puts on a minimum of four productions a year offering a choice of modern, classic, serious, and farcical plays. The group’s monthly social meetings are held in the theatre on the first Monday of the month from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. and everyone is welcome. Membership: Student C2,500, Adult: C5000, Family: C8000. Also, earn your Wings, become an LTG Angel. For more information Call the LTG Box Office 8858-1446 or www.littletheatregroup.org
Marine Corps League Meets at 11 a.m. the 2nd Saturday of every month, at Tres Hermanas Rest. Big bull statue in front. On service road opposite Hospital Mexico on the autopista. Call Bill Enell at 8812-0126.
Newcomer’s Club Newcomers Club of Costa Rica (for women) meets the first Tuesday of every month, September through May. September meeting will be an interest fair. Contact: 24161111 costaricaporo@yahoo.com or www. newcomersclubofcostarica.com
PC Club of Costa Rica This computer Club meets on the third Saturday of each month at Pan American school, in Belen, 830 to 11:30 a.m. Two months Free Trial for newcomers. For information call Chuck Jennings. Phone 2266-0123 www.pcclub.net
Radio control Sailing Club Meets at Sabana Park Lake. For information contact Walter Bibb, wwbbsurf40@yahoo.com
Wine Club of Costa Rica Please mark your calendars. The wine club usually meets at 1 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month. Join us to tantalize your taste buds and expand your education. For more information on upcoming events please contact us. Phone 2279-8927, 2257-2223
Women’s Club of Costa Rica The Women’s Club of Costa Rica is the oldest, continuously operating, philanthropic organization for English-speaking women in Costa Rica. Founded in 1940, WCCR now includes over 250 members representing 25 countries worldwide, drawn together by the motto: Friendship through Service. The Club attracts fascinating women who are interested in serving community needs in Costa Rica, particularly focused on children’s education while, at the same time, making deep, meaningful, personal relationships. Along with its philanthropic fundraising activities, WCCR also hosts regular lunches, teas and many special interest groups, including a Professional Women’s Group. Guests are welcome and further information and a calendar of planned events can be found at www.wccr.org
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Open to men too. English language group in Cariari de Belen, English-Spanish group in Heredia, Spanish language group in San Jose. We work on peace and human rights issues. Call Mitzi, 2433-7078 or write peacewomen@gmail. com.
Veterans of Foreign Wars: Post 11207 No-host lunch at 12 noon in the Club Colonial Casino dining area, meeting at 1:30 p.m. on the second floor. All members are welcome plus veterans who served overseas may join. Call Bob Sempell at 2588-1475.
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10 Finally to Church by W. Peter Vanderhaak
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t is now Monday morning, the 13th of June, about 9 AM. We got up before 6 took an hour walk down to the beach and back (the back is the killer part) so Dr. Bucher will be happy to know that, besides eating healthier and at better times of the day, we are now exercising. We have committed to that walk at least three times a week and will take shorter less stressful walks whenever we can. Post the walk, we were into the pool to cool off, then shower, and breakfast of scrambled eggs and banana with fruit juice as a chaser. The girls (Turtle and Kit Kat) explored the shady side of the house while we ate and I got a couple of good pictures I will post later on the Kodak site. Believe it or not, this was our first visit to our beach since we got here. There is just not enough time for us to do it all. I pledge to bring the camera on our next walk as you will not believe what we have here, the beauty and sheer joy of the wild (both ocean and forest). The beach (Playa Blanca) is many times more beautiful in sand, water, rock formations, and exploration caves than the La Jolla shores. I took special interest in the driftwood on the shore that I could, if I were ambitious enough, turn into great lamps, table stands, and just decorative items. Too much work at this stage but the idea is there. The rest of the day is scheduled with a visit back to the lawyer or as I refer to him the “shyster”, on to the electric company to get the bill put into our name, and to check on our phone service while we are there. Then it
is wait and see if our chairs are delivered and if the electrician comes by to fix a few outlets that do not work. We will have to contact another electrician to install the clothes washer and dryer, but that is another day. The last I left off I believe we were expecting the delivery of our bed and another of the chairs we bought at the local furniture maker. Well, the bed came after a reminder phone call from us about 7:30 PM in a driving rain. Not to worry, the bedsprings and mattress were wrapped in plastic and delivered in a covered wagon (oops I mean truck). We weren’t quite as excited as we were when we went to the Marriott, but any lack of excitement was transferred to the cats that also have been sleeping on the floor. They were quickly up on top and staking their claim before we could get the sheets on. What Turtle likes best is that she now is up above the windowsills so she can see what is going on outside. We all appreciate being off the ground and Lisa squealed when the deliverymen pulled out screw on legs that attached to the box spring. We both expected to just lay the box springs on the floor until our custom bed was finished. Our sleep that night was not as sound as you might expect with all four of us trying to lay claim to a portion of the queen size bed. Because we were waiting for the deliveries, we again missed the Saturday night Catholic Church service in our community of Punta Leona. We had tried to go last week but timing was not right. We did, however, stop outside to look in to see if the women were wearing
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anything on their heads (scarves or hats were required in the olden times when I went to the Catholic Church in NY). They weren’t, so we could be prepared for the next Saturday service (no services on Sunday). While I was on the Internet last week Lisa picked up a card with information about a Calvary Church service in Jaco for surfers, so on Sunday we found our way to a home in down town Jaco where the Pastor lives with his wife and two children. They hold the services in his shaded carport and there were about 25 people in total. The attendees were mostly surfers, young and old. The service was all in Ingles with all in attendance presumably from the USA. The service included singing and a sermon (bit longer than we would like) that offered some things for us to think about in relation to our dealings with people.
Everyone was very nice and friendly. We met one girl that had come from Santa Monica (kind of hippie/surfer teen) who goes by the name of Blue (because there were too many Rebeccas) who has been here nine weeks and came with her Great Dane. She came on a whim, hoping to work or live with the church pastor, and found that she really had to go it alone. Her dog went through transition problems, almost died, and cost the girl about $2,000 (which was about all she brought with her). Since she got here she has worked as a heavy equipment operator, furniture sales person (for 80 cents an hour) and has just begun working for a developer as the onsite liaison. Obviously in the time she has been here she has learned a lot so we intend on seeing her again to find out how to get around. Oh yeah, she came not knowing any Spanish!
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12 We will continue to explore the secular options in the area, but given the right timing, I am sure we will return on occasion to the Pastor’s home. We also learned that our favorite wireless café (the only one we have found so far) is owned by the Pastor. To the chagrin of Lisa, I had parked outside the café before church (it was not open) and was “stealing” the signal while sitting in the car. One of the church members drove up to borrow chairs for the service and of course saw us sitting in the car with the laptop open. Little did we know that in about 15 minutes, this same man would greet us at the church service. No one
said anything but I felt Lisa hiding behind me during the introductions. After the service we were parched so we stopped at the Beetle Bar (named after the car not the rock group Brandon belongs to) for a Pepsi – ugh - and a ginger ale. On to home where we spent a relaxing afternoon in the pool with Lisa calling her dad and me trying to get Miche’s family. Jr. took a swim in the pool and that was the extent of our Sunday. I fried some Tilapia on the BBQ; we watched the sunset and were in bed by 7 PM. This life in paradise is very exhausting.
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Helping our Entrepreneurs
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by Martha Rollins
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n December 10, 2014, we sat at a rustic conference table with a group of Cabécar women, some who had walked miles to meet with us, on the property of the Bribri Indigenous Association. This was our second visit and we were meeting to discuss their ideas for a business that would work for them in the mountains on the Cabécar Talamanca Reserve. ARCR has long been a supporter of the Cabécar Project, a project that has grown from the delivery of 20 children’s books to an isolated indigenous school on Rio Pacuare, to
an extensive program of activities that range from the Boruka Reserve in the south, to the Bribri Reserve on the Caribbean, and the Cabécar Reserve up in the nearby Talamanca mountains. The growth of this project has been documented over five years in numerous editions of El Residente magazine. In this mini-article I’ll focus on one activity currently in progress as a special project of the Asociación Proyectos Especiales de Salud Region de Talamanca, which was created by Dr. Peter Aborn, a dentist who has worked in the region for 30 years.
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Gabriela Gutierrez from the Professional Women’s Group of the Women’s Club of Costa Rica and I, accompanied other members of Dr. Aborn’s team to the communities of Amubri, Sepeque, Bambú, and China Kichá, from December 7 through 11, 2014. As one of the Cabécar Project activities, Gabriela conducted business planning for 20 Cabécar women who are determined to start their own poultry business. The planning process included obtaining prices from local hardware stores and veterinarians for items such as lumber, wiring, and food and antibiotics for the chickens. From that information was calculated the specific start up cost per chicken. We were delighted to learn that the estimate arrived at through Gabriela’s process came to within pennies of the cost arrived by
the women themselves! We will support these women completely. We will be returning March 22, 2015, to assist them further in their enterprise. I, in fact, plan to buy their first chicken! Gabriela, acting as a private individual, created a web site to explain the project and to help raise seed money for these intelligent and determined women. If you would like to know more about the project, how you might assist these women, or to make a donation, please go to: www.treeseed.org/campaigns/ talamanca-emprende
El Residente
16 Paradise, We Have a Problem by Tony Johnson
Put out to pasture, or putting a new sense of purpose into play? Ever feel “no longer invited to the party?” “Put out to pasture?” That your skills, your experience, that you are no longer valued or needed? Ever feel that life has lost meaning and purpose? Older retired or younger resident, remember that you can always throw your own “party” and create your own sense of meaning and purpose. For many, retirement can be a relief from the problems of the work world and a welcome detachment from the world’s problems. In fact the word “retire” means both to leave a job and “ceasing the active life.” For some, both of those meanings are satisfying, while for others there’s a great sense of loss; a feeling of “what now?” Likewise, for younger immigrants to Costa Rica, life here can feel like an ending. It can be different, however, if you choose to make it a meaningful beginning.
The Benefits of Having Meaning and Purpose The “M.” in the P.E.R.M.A. happiness guidelines reminds us of the many benefits of having meaning and purpose in our lives.
In addition to Positive emotions, Engaging activities, satisfying Relationships, and Accomplishments, the full life requires focus, goals, a road map to our goals, and a powerful reason to live; life requires Meaning and purpose to be at its best. Having meaning and purpose answers that nagging question “Why am I here?” and gives us a reason to persist in the face the inevitable setbacks and losses of aging. It enables us to say “no” to distractions and to other people’s ideas about what’s good for us. It renders us able to go our own way when others may snicker at our life choices: “You want to live where!?”
Possible Sources of Meaning and Purpose Over the ages and its many cultures, humanity has pursued numerous meanings for life. While we may sometimes tend to think that there is only one meaning which is right for everyone, the reality is that there are some meanings and purposes which suit some but not others. It can be tempting to try to emulate others, but rather than copy them, what everyone must do is find their own meaning. It can be frightening to be responsible for creating our own meaning; who are we to think that we know the answer to “Why?” But, it can also be liberating to realize that we have the power to create our own meaning. If you don’t know what yours is, here are some possibilities to consider:
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Spirituality This view is that life, the entire cosmos, was created by a divine being or power who also gives our lives meaning:
result of our brain’s ability to create. So, any “meaning” that we give our lives is purely of our own devising since our lives have no transcendent purpose. Furthermore, the human capacity for creativity brings something to the cosmos that would not exist unless we create it. Is there some meaningful creation only you could provide the cosmos?
To know, love, and serve God… To achieve enlightenment… To become one with the ultimate source of all being… Our meaning, our purpose here, is to connect with the infinite, giving our lives some significance beyond our brief and puny existence. Such spiritual meaning systems often require our “doing unto others.” Does this view touch your heart?
Materialism A perspective which is adopted by many moderns is to reject the idea of anything spiritual. Matter is all there is. Passing on our genes is the only “reason” we live. Any “transcendence” of the material is purely intellectual or conceptual; an illusionary
Altruism Others choose to take the stance that whether life was created by a divine being or entirely the result of purposeless physical processes, it is a grueling struggle for all creatures. If in our human capacity for awareness we see the struggles of others and choose to lighten their loads, we can give our life significance - we made a difference! We didn’t just “pass through;” we did for others. Our giving/ caring can make some difference in other lives. Selflessness is actually the best thing we can do for ourselves, giving us meaning and purpose. Does this idea get your juices flowing?
El Residente the mundane, the ordinary. Exhilarating, awesome experience is everything. Plenty of opportunities for that in CR if that’s your meaning.
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Hedonism In this view, life is indeed grueling, but it also includes moments of pleasure and joy. We “beat the odds” and make our lives better by grabbing any and all opportunities for pleasure. Why bother to live if all we experience is pain? Since we all die, why not at least enjoy ourselves on our way to that grim end? Pleasure isn’t “sin” or selfish, it is the only aspect of living that makes lives bearable. If “life sucks, then we die,” it would be totally foolish to take the thing seriously and not enjoy whatever we can. Does this view make sense to you?
Personal Growth Another choice for understanding what meaning our lives have is to assume that we were destined from birth to grow bigger, stronger, and more capable of survival. We were never “designed” to remain infants or children. Just think of the drive in a baby to crawl, walk, and talk. Nor were we ever going to “top out” in high school or college when we may have been at our physical peak. There was and is a lot more growing to do, and it is growth, not stagnation, which is the aim here. Would that give you meaning?
Sensationalism Another way of looking at meaning is to say that life can be grueling and deadly boring; a long, slow slog to the grave. But we do have the chance for some excitement along the way: thrills, adventures, wondrous sights, sounds, tastes, sex. Go for it! Don’t be a “stick in the mud,” enjoy the show! Escape
To Love and Be Loved Some persons define their meaning as caring deeply and fully about someone else’s wellbeing. It is a guaranteed way of
March/April 2015 transcending one’s own isolating inner life. To be loved gives our life significance and purpose that none of the other meanings can hope to match. To be indispensable to someone gives us value and meaning. To find someone essential to us gives us the purpose of caring for them. Here “love is all you need.” Do you need some love? Of course, you’re well aware that we aren’t confined to just one of these sources. In fact, most of us adopt a number of them, integrating them in ways that are most meaningful to us. Each one of us has developed some strength, some talent; some ability that seems is our destiny to fulfill. What’s in your tool box? Maybe you wanted to become smarter, emotionally stronger, better understand the world and others? Be a better person, more empathic, more comfortable socially, more confident, less anxious? Did you take it to your max? Is there some room for improvement? Notice the sense of hope in every one of these approaches to meaning. Each gives a feeling that life can be, will be, better than our current, limited existence. If we____ (you fill in the blank) then we will feel____ (identify your need), is the implicit promise in all these systems of meaning.
Identifying Your Unique Life Meaning and Purpose If none of the possibilities “jump out” as a new direction or the rediscovery of some forgotten sense of meaning, how else might we find our answer to the “Why am I here?” question? Try some of these more concrete, less abstract possibilities:
19 1) Recall the last period of your life when you were thriving, when you lived with zest. Maybe it was reaching retirement so you could sing, “Ain’t gonna work on (somebody’s) farm, no more.” Well, now you’re free from all that “farm work.” Free from? Yes. But, more importantly, free to…? What does it “say” about who you are to have won that freedom? What is that person going to do with that freedom? 2) Volunteer: Every society, even one as naturally blessed as Costa Rica, has unmet needs. Those needs are opportunities for us to feel needed again. In my area, there is an animal rescue and a turtle egg protection project, as well as other conservation activities. Such organizations offer us the chance to “help God’s creatures;” “preserve the planet;” “love and be loved by puppies;” “feel the joy of playing with a happy dog;” “feel the awe of touching a giant sea turtle;” and so on. Organizations like these need our signature strengths and provide us with a chance to see “If I still got what it takes.” Imagine the satisfaction of being able to use your organizing/managing skills, your marketing, teaching, and health care abilities, your reliability and professionalism, etc. once again. As bad as you wanted to escape “somebody’s farm” I’ll bet there were aspects of the job that you loved. Can volunteering enable you to experience that expertise once again?
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20 3) Mentoring: There are other opportunities for “making a difference” and exercising your unique strengths, and mentoring others is one. You certainly have some skills that a Tico or maybe a Gringo would love to learn. In return, you live by your values of altruism, of love, of having unique experiences, or the pleasure of that great big smile of gratitude that you’re sure to get. Can there be opportunities for personal growth in teaching to others what you desire to master for yourself? Are there possibilities of enlightenment in better understanding the lives of others? 4) Community service: Some wonderful people in my area see that the roads are graded and passable, the water drinkable, and community informed. Are there any possibilities for making a difference, exercising your skills, or living according to your values in those activities? 5) Artistic creation: I’m always amazed by the number of painters, photographers, sculptors, and creative landscaping gardeners that populate my area. Might you create meaning for yourself by creating some art that expresses your life in paradise?
STILL Stuck? Try this. We can look at our lives as “stories” being told by our living. What does the story of your life “say” so far? What would you like it to “say” when the final chapters are written? Is there some theme in your life that provided you with a vibrant sense of meaning that you’ve lost sight of? For example, “My life has
always been about … In the past I was most fulfilled when ...” Look for those themes and find meaning and purpose by reconnecting with fulfilling trends from your past. You might think of it as “writing” a different ending finally capturing the meaning that eluded you earlier. Did you escape “somebody’s farm” just to indenture yourself to some different, oppressed life?
Re-Visiting Antsiri Last time I mentioned the inspiration that I found in a 5 year-old Tica living in a small, isolated simple home. If you recall, this child was bound and determined to enjoy and learn from the Gringo visitors who showed up when their car broke down. She was so exuberant, so zestful, so happy about living a life that many would consider impoverished and sadly limited. “Well, of course she was.” You might say, “She was way too young to realize what lies ahead.” Yes, clearly so. But you should ask yourself, have I become too old and jaded to realize that life always holds out the hope of some fulfilling purpose, IF only I Connect, Create, Give/Care, Enjoy, Experience, Grow, and/or Love? Your input, reactions are always meaningful to me at paradise.we.have.a.problem@gmail.com
El Residente
22 Taste the tropics: Caimito
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his tropical fruit shown on the cover has inspired names for many things, from cute black puppies to Nobel Literature Laureate Derek Walcott’s “El Reino del Caimito” (known in English as “The Star-Apple Kingdom). This beautiful work of poetry describes Manley, the main character, awakening to a Jamaica that has been torn by the devastating effects of brutal colonialism. Although not a traditional poem, it is filled with metaphors and other characteristics of poetic expression. Walcott’s poem uses the tree’s petals to represent “the mountain water that fell from the mill wheel, sprinkling like the petals from the star-apple’s tree.”
by Maxima van Houtem The fruit, however, is much more benign. It has several common names such as cainito, caimito, star apple, golden leaf tree, abiaba, pomme du lait, estrella, milk fruit and aguay. In Vietnam this fruit is called vú sữa, which literally means breast-milk, and in Malayalam it is called “Swarnapathry” which translates to “the tree with” golden leaves. The caimito tree (genus, chrysophyllum cainito) is endemic of the south of Mexico and Central America and belongs to the sapotáceas family. It grows erect up to 15 meters high and its trunk can reach up to 90 cm in diameter. It has a dense, broad crown of brown branches with abundant resin. The full grown tree has mature leaves which range from 5 to 15 cm long, slightly oval-shaped, bright green on the upper surface and silky and brown with golden orange underneath. Young leaves are more silver. It is an annual flowering tree and its small blooms can be white, greenish yellow, yellow, or purple with a round shape and five petals. They are grouped in the branch joints. The fruit is round, or sometimes shaped like a pear, and average about 5 cm in diameter. It can be purple-red, dark purple, or pale green. The skin is bright, smooth, thin, strongly adhered to the inside layer, and feels somewhat soft, like a rubber ball. Both green and purple caimitos have a milky, sweet, soft gelatinous pulp which contains seeds in the middle. When cut in half, the interior of the fruit appears similar to an
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asterisk or the points of a star, hence its name in English, the star-apple. The best caimitos are the ones with the fewest seeds. Caimitos are extremely versatile plants and the fruit is a good source of protein, calcium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, and Vitamins A, B, and C; it is also rich in carbohydrates and antioxidants. The usual way the fruit is consumed is by scooping out the ripe pulp. Best served chilled, its taste can be a bit sour or sweet depending on the variety.
taken as expectorant or cough medicine and to expel sputum through the air passages. At other times a liquid made from its astringent bark (rich in tannin) is drunk as tonic to stop diarrhea, hemorrhages, and even as treatment for gonorrhea and bladder infections. Further, the tree’s resin can be applied to abscesses, or when it is dried and pulverized, works as a potent way to eliminate parasites.
Caution, the caimitos’ skin, which is rich in latex, and the seeds, are not etable. Do not try to take a bite from one as if it were a regular apple. The caimito tree also has many other properties, some of which make it useful for medicinal purposes: The ripe fruit is eaten to calm the swelling in laryngitis and pneumonia; it is used as treatment for type II diabetes, and as a drink to soothe chest angina. The slightly green fruits are ingested to overcome intestinal disorders, although if consumed in excess they can cause constipation. Additionally, an elixir derived from a soaking the leaves or tree bark can be
Click on the caimito to see how it’s done (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73_AxheKBLA)
One of the wonderful things about being in Costa Rica is that the delicious fruit can be found in most farmers’ markets or ferias, usually held in towns once per week. So, do not be gnarly, go ahead and try it, you might like it!
March/April 2015
Farewell to Our Teacher
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is flute played a plaintive moving song of grief as twelve children and their families, indigenous leaders, and the new teacher gathered around Mitch Robertson, of North American indigenous heritage, outside the small school of Mallal in the Boruka Reserve. We were gathered together to say farewell to Yorleni Leiva Morales, the only teacher and director of the school. The young woman had died unexpectedly when she lost control of her truck on her way to school. One student was waiting patiently by the side of the road for her to pick him up before finally receiving word that she was dead.
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by Martha Rollins Mitch explained to the students, with Gail Nystrom as his interpreter, about the North American indigenous belief in stewardship of the earth, its inhabitants, and the role of ritual, songs and use of symbols in our lives. He then played his drum and sang in the language of the Pee Dee tribe of South Carolina. The children were startled by the unaccustomed loud sound of the drum, but when asked to try it for themselves, beat the drum with great intensity. I like to think it was a kind of catharsis for them! Gail then distributed paper and crayons and asked each child to draw a picture of Yorleni.
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26 Some drew pictures in great detail of the accident, others of Yorleni alone with flowers and birds and the school itself. She told them that we would place the pictures on the exact spot where Yorleni died on the road to Mallal. The children were given gifts in bags that were made by the women and children of La Carpio. All of us ate lunch supplied by the school and distributed hand crafted chocolates donated by the owners of Sibö Chocolates. Yorleni had lost control of her car as she hurried to school. She died instantly a few feet from the side of the road. We could see the impact site. We placed the children’s pictures, anchored by stones, in a row along the site and took photos of them. As we paused for a moment of prayer and reflection a bird began to sing. Mitch took out another small flute, made from the leg bone of an American Bald Eagle, and answered the bird with the exact same song. As the bird responded I thought to myself, what a fitting conclusion to closure of the deepest grieving for our friend and teacher Yorleni.
Yorleni Two days later we traveled to the isolated school Yorleni founded seven years earlier in the mountains above Turrialba. Escuela Paso Marcos and Sikua Ditsö are located on the banks of Rio Pacuare in the Simiriñak Territory. On the narrow road beyond the bridge at Bajo Pacuare we were preparing for the right turn into the Cabécar Territory when we were confronted with a mountain of mud and
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rocks, which explained the cars we’d passed pulled over on the narrow edge of the road. An hour later, after the backhoe did its work, we were on our way again. It had been raining all morning, and for days in the region, so we were not totally surprised. We were determined to make sure that the 82 children had a good end of school and navidad celebration this year of Yorleni’s death. Mij Sezzin, who is now living in the United States, knew Yorleni well. She sent by express mail 100 small toys…jacks, paddle boards, glow in the dark balls and bracelets and games that we remember as children in the United States, for a “Grab Bag.” We did not believe they possibly could arrive in time!
The congregation of the Éscazu Christian Fellowship responded to a call for support from Claire and David Charnock with many lovely toys, clothes and art supplies. One member of the congregation donated a model of a North American Indian man in his canoe. I asked that it be given to a very special older Cabécar boy. The reaction by the teachers, who knew immediately that it depicted another indigenous group, was amazing and joyful! After the “Grab Bag” the children lined up by pre-school and grades 1-6. Sixth grade will be the last grade of formal education for almost all of these children. We gave the youngest children toys and each child in regular school a notebook, colored pencils, and a toy.
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28 Everyone received a package of cookies donated by Café Britt. Mothers lined up with babies in their arms. George Sellers and ARCR President Terry Wise, who have been on many trips to these schools, visited nearby homes and distributed food to the most needy families and to the school kitchens. Our heartfelt thanks to many people for their contributions to our visits to the three schools, Mallal, Paso Marcos and Sikua Ditsö, all affected by the death of Yorleni: Mij Sezzin, Maia Sultzer, George Sellers, Terry and Normita Wise, the Congregation of the Éscazu Christian Fellowship, José Carter and the CR Bar Association, ARCR, American Legion, Britt Coffee, Sibö Chocolates, the Costa Rica Humanitarian Foundation, and the members of our team who traveled so far to support the teachers and children.
El Residente
30 No more tax on corporations?
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by Alan Garro
n previous editions of this magazine I wrote about the Tax on Corporations which came into effect in 2012. It was an annual tax on all corporations registered with the National Registry based on the Code of Commerce, such as SAs and LLCs, plus all branches of foreign corporations that obtained a corporate ID number for their Costa Rican divisions and appointed a legal representative here. The law was published in the official Gazette on December 27th, 2011.
On January 28, 2015 the Press Department of the Court issued a statement indicating that the Supreme Court had issued a ruling which declared the tax invalid, but under certain conditions. The main reason given by the Justices was the violation of the Principle of Advertising. This means that any bill must be published in the official newspaper and that if Congress introduces substantial reforms after it is published, then the project should be published again before being passed into law.
Most foreigners living in Costa Rica, either partial or full time, were caught with one or more corporations which they used to either run a business or to protect assets. This caused a problem in their budgets, because according to the new law inactive corporations would pay an annual amount of close to two hundred dollars and those that are active would pay an amount close to four hundred dollars. Many people owned several corporations and therefore decided to dissolve or merge some of them.
What happened was that after the bill was published the following reforms were added: a. To expand those subject to the tax by adding branches of foreign companies as well as holding legal representatives personally responsible, b. The tax rate varied since the original proposal was three hundred dollars per company and c. Two additional sanctions that prevented corporations from transferring or acquiring assets or obtaining certifications showing the legal representative were introduced.
In order to force payment the law established that every corporation reaching three periods without paying would be dissolved by the National Registry, and their legal representatives would be held jointly and severally liable for payment. However in 2013 a lawyer named Edgardo Campos filed an action against the law before the Supreme Court, so the Registry decided to await the outcome of the final decision. I was admitted as part of the case as a party supporting the case.
Now keep in mind that the Supreme Court ruled under important conditions. First of all the exemption from payment of tax begins in January 2016, which means you must pay amounts due including 2015. Second. the provisions allowing the National Registry to dissolve those companies that did not pay the tax for three periods consecutively remains valid, so a lien can be placed on their assets as security for payment of the tax.
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31 It is also important to note that after reading the judgement carefully, it is easy to conclude it leaves the possibility open for the Government to push hard for a deal with Congress by showing the need for such a tax to exist, in which case basically what is required is to publish a new projected law that gets approved without further modifications and fits to the principles already mentioned, in which case it would be expected that next year there would be a new Law of Tax on Corporations.
At the time this article is being written the full judgment of the Supreme Court is not available, but its basic guidelines are the ones explained above. Even the Director of the National Registry has stated that once they receive the entire document explanations or clarifications will be requested. It is best to watch to see what happens with this ruling in the coming months and to keep an eye on the local news for further developments. www.garrolaw.com
El Residente
32 Good eats in Perez
by Carol Vaughn
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an Isidro de El General (also known as Perez Zeledon) is not known as a dining destination in the Zona Sur of Costa Rica, and yet on the way to Dominical or Manuel Antonio, one just might feel the urge to stop and get a bite to eat. Here are six tried and true restaurants to sample next time you are passing through Perez. Bazookas Restaurant, Pan-American Highway, next to Beto Solis gas station, northern entrance to town.
Skip the traffic and one-way street confusion of town, and park right in front of this wooden hacienda. Indoor or patio dining, three meals a day, seven days a week. This is a good family-style restaurant featuring burgers, sandwiches, salads, Tico fare of casados and local fish, barbecue ribs or steaks. Desserts include apple pie (yum), ice cream sundaes, and tres leches cake. English spoken.
El Balcon Restaurant, downtown San Isidro, 100 meters west of Central Park, lunch and dinner seven days a week, street parking. Here’s a great place to while away an afternoon by people-watching from your perch along a wraparound balcony overlooking the new Fashion Mall and the busy street. Medium-priced, with an extensive menu of bocas (appetizers), a wellstocked bar, a respectable menu of well-prepared full meals, and televised sporting events and a disc jockey most evenings. Some English spoken.
La Reina Del Valle, northern end of the Central Park, northeast corner, street parking. This is one of three good dining choices right on the park – easy to find – for lunch or dinner. The restaurant is the real hangout spot for Ticos and Gringos wanting to meet someone new, or have a bite to eat and a beer while watching all the action in and around the Central Park. Good menu of bocas, a decent casado and other platos fuertes (full meals). The attraction here is really the park action and girl watching. Medium priced. English spoken.
Hotel Chirripo, right on the Central Park, west side, street parking next to park. This is a landmark restaurant which has had various owners, but is now owned and operated by the hotel itself. A recent remodel has provided a pleasant, airy ambiance overlooking the statue of Los Bueyes (Oxen), and the cathedral which anchors the park on the southern end. A mostly Tico menu offers many bocas and main dishes, with their casado being offered at soda prices – a satisfying meal at a great price. A fun place to people-watch at white-tablecloth-covered tables, while listening to the cathedral bells chime. Medium priced, three meals a day, full bar. Some English spoken.
Restaurant El Mangostan, behind Villa Herrera, free parking, seven days a week, lunch and dinner. The most recent addition to the dining scene in Perez (and a great one), they offer a full mediumto-high priced restaurant and bar, as well as several dining rooms for private parties, and a bonafide event hall for large gatherings. Owners have been very creative with the dÊcor and menu. Very popular with locals and Gringos alike, both for the interesting menu, and the open, airy ambiance. The kitchen is still working out the kinks, but service is excellent and it is well worth a visit any time you are passing through. Very family friendly (children’s play area out back). Some English spoken.
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33 Nasca Restaurant, northeast side of Central Park, Centro Comercial Fallas, at end of a long dark corridor. Lunch and dinner, street parking. Nasca is a little gem of a restaurant, serving Peruvian and Tico food at great prices. A true family run business with the dad in the kitchen and sons waiting tables. Best priced casado in town. If you require a beer with your meal, one of the sons will scurry out to buy you a cold one. Fast and gracious service. No English spoken.
El Residente
34 A day in the life
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fter the recent tragic and alarming events surrounding the disappearance of Ryan Piercy personal safety is in the forefront of many minds. The risk of being abducted is pretty negligible; it’s not a common crime anywhere, and even less in Costa Rica. But that doesn’t mean that expats should not be on their guard about other aspects of being safe here in this beautiful country. So now is a good time to share some tips about personal safety I have accumulated over the years. Now don’t take this wrong, Costa Rica is no more a dangerous place to live than some of the more developed countries. In fact, in some ways living here is probably safer than in some “First World” countries because there are no random terrorism events like the Boston Marathon bombings or the Paris Charlie Hebdo attack. The bottom line is that nobody should consider the existence of crime a deterrent to living in Costa Rica. We shouldn’t drop our guard completely, however, and should recognize that Costa Rica, like many developing countries, has a large percentage of its citizens living below the poverty line. In fact, according to a Tico Times article published October 31, 2014, the Costa Rica National Statistics and Census Institute’s National Household Survey revealed that, “. . . poverty and extreme poverty have climbed to a four-year high in Costa Rica – 22.4 percent.” And where there is poverty there is crime. Admittedly, there are some serious crimes committed here. For instance: home invasions
by Allen Dickinson (which seem to have been dropping off over the past few months, although they continue to happen, and not exclusively to expats) to the more cunning ones like the flat-tire-atthe-airport scheme, or the bolder robbery of someone after they leave a bank or ATM with a large amount of cash. But those are relatively rare. What are most common are crimes of opportunity, like snatch and grab, theft of personal property, unattended vehicles broken into, pick-pocketing, and credit card fraud, just to name a few.
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When those happen it is most likely because we slipped and gave the offender the opportunity. “Hey, I left the gate unlocked last night and now I can’t find my shovel. Anybody seen it?” (Remember, just because you don’t consider yourself wealthy or having a lot of possessions, it doesn’t mean that someone else doesn’t see you that way; comparatively, your small income or meager belongings can look pretty inviting to someone who has less.) And, don’t forget there are the scams, pitches, and schemes perpetuated by people on the street to watch out for too. “Hey Buddy, I lost my passport and wallet in a robbery last night. Can you give me a couple bucks so I can get to the Embassy and get some help, please?”
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36 Those can easily be avoided, but remember that a sad plea for help you are receiving might be a diversion for a different kind of theft, and that pick-pockets are sometimes active in crowds. There are many physical precautions which can be taken with regard to protecting our residences: gated communities, guards, walls and fences with razor wire, burglar bars on windows, security systems, and even guard dogs. Most everyone has taken steps to protect their homes. It is the minor type of crimes, scams, and small loss crimes where we need to place most of our attention; they can be the most vexing and inconvenient.
Many, however, can be averted simply by staying aware of your surroundings and being cautious. The first step to not being a victim is acknowledging that some crime does exist, taking appropriate precautions, and following some simple, common sense guidelines. And remember, the more affluent a person or their property appears, the greater is the possibility for being a target for crime. Avoiding the smaller crimes is not difficult nor does it require extensive preparation, just awareness of our actions. So here, in no particular order, are some simple tips which
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37 can help avert many of those “minor” events (and maybe a couple of bigger ones too): • Never leave valuables in open view in your car. If you are going to be away, even if it’s just a few minutes, lock them in the trunk or somehow hide them from casual observation. • Don’t fully open your car windows at stop lights for peddlers or beggars. • Be cautious when withdrawing money from a bank or ATM – look around to see who is watching and secure the cash out of sight quickly. Having a second person with you when making a withdrawal can be a deterrent. • Don’t lay your wallet down on a counter. • When out in a crowd, men should put their wallet and other valuables in a front pants pocket. • Lock your gates (and home) when you aren’t present. Living in a gated / guarded community is no guarantee someone might not enter and take something from your property. • Don’t go into seedy areas alone, particularly at night. • If you are having a vehicle repaired, don’t leave your house keys with the cars keys. • Curb your sympathies for the “sad story.” • If you are driving, don’t stop in dimly lit, sparsely populated areas if someone tries to wave you over. • Don’t flaunt your “wealth” and leave things out for the neighbors or someone passing by to see.
• Never blindly open your gate or door to someone. Know who’s seeking entry and why before you grant them access. • Don’t let your credit card out of sight when paying a bill (like in a restaurant), and examine your receipt before leaving. Also, review your credit card statements when they are received. • Women in particular, shouldn’t walk around in public wearing expensive jewelry. And make sure your purse has a long strap that can be put over your head. • On the beach, don’t leave car key, wallets, or other valuables unattended. It may be an inconvenience when not everyone can enter the surf together, but it beats walking home broke. There’s more, and I know sometimes it’s difficult to remember to be safe when you are basking in this tropical paradise, but a certain amount of awareness and caution is imperative; it’s not paranoia, it’s common sense. Oh, and by-the-way, in case you are wondering, yes, I have been a victim – more than once. Seems like I learn the hard way. Allen Dickinson is a member of ARCR. In 2006 he retired and relocated to Costa Rica. He holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of New York and a Masters Degree from the University of West Florida. He appreciates your comments and can be reached via email at: allen@humphree.net.
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Business Exchange rate of CRC to USD Octubre Noviembre Diciembre Enero Febrero Marzo
544.71 541.19 545.53 543.08 540.58 539.08
Basic interest rate Octubre Noviembre Diciembre Enero Febrero Marzo
7.20 % 7.20 % 7.20 % 7.20 % 7.15 % 7.10 %
Exchange rate of other currencies to USD Canadian Dollar Euro Swiss Franc Nicaraguan Cordoba Danish Krone Norwegian Kroner Swedish Krona Honduran Lempira British Pound Argentine Peso Columbian Peso Mexican Peso Dominican Peso Brazilian Real Guatemalan Quetzal Korean Won Japanese Yen Venezuelan BolĂvar Hong Kong Dollar Taiwan Dollar Bolivian Peso Chilean Peso Russian Rouble Peruvian Sol Polish Zloty Australian Dollar Chinese Yuan
1.26 0.92 0.96 26.93 6.86 7.96 8.60 21.35 0.67 8.82 2574.28 15.06 44.73 3.15 7.64 1091.05 119.79 6.35 7.75 31.03 6.91 613.29 56.62 3.10 3.74 1.32 6.20
Libor Rate 1 month 3 month 6 month 12 month
0.18 % 0.27 % 0.40 % 0.70 %
Prime rate
3.25 %
Directory Holidays of Costa Rica March 30th - April 3rd Easter Week - National Holiday (ARCR closed) Saturday April 11th Battle of Rivas - National Holiday May 1st Labor Day - National Holiday June 21st Father’s Day - Observance A Touch of Wisdom Great good nature without prudence is a great misfortune. - Ben Franklin (1706-1790) If you foolishly ignore beauty, then you will soon find yourself without it. - Frank Lloyd Wright Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today. - English proverb Funniest One Liners I totally understand how batteries feel because I’m rarely ever included in things either. A man just got out of jail and ran down the road saying, “I’m free I,m free” and this little boy said, “Wow I’m four.” My wife and I took out life insurance on each other - so now it’s just a waiting game. If at first you don’t succed, try two more times so that your failure is statistically significant.
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