Residente 2014 07 by ARCR Administration

El Residente Costa Rica’s English language newsle�er

July/August 2014

Published by ARCR Administracion S.A. Apdo. 1191-1007 Centro Colon San José, Costa Rica (www.arcr.net)

El Residente

Contents:

President’s Message ................ 4 Wild Side of Costa Rica ............ 7 - Ryan Piercy

Legal Update ........................... 8 - Allan Garro

Naturally Costa Rica ............... 10 My Costa Rican Experience ..... 12 - Edmond Alkaslassy

A Day in the Life ..................... 14 - Allen Dickinson

Editorial Note Beau�ful sandy beaches. Lush forest and jungle set�ngs. Topical islands both distant and near. Large natural parks and reserves. This is Costa Rica. This is El Residente. Our ar�cles this �me cover different aspects of the above from different viewpoints, yet they all share some commonali�es. Costa Rica is a hot bed of Natural Beauty. Beauty however does not mean perfec�on, so we will also take a look at some of the issues that surround these places, especially the legal aspects that we may not be accustomed to. Our regular contributors are here to share with you their experiences, advice, and stories that include the daily rou�ne, or problems and issues we may all face.

Costa Rica on the Globe ......... 18

We all hope you find the insights both entertaining, and helpful.

Club Corner ........................... 21

Ryan Piercy

Paradise, We Have a Problem ... 22 - Tony Johnson

Business Directory ................. 26

Contact Informa�on: This magazine has been published every two months since 1995 as the official communica�ons media of the ARCR. Our organiza�on 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 applica�on, immigra�on, business and financial management, real estate purchases and rentals, property management, insurance, pet importa�on and much more. If you wish to place an ad in El Residente, please contact the ARCR main office. Goods & services offered are paid adver�sements. Neither ARCR Administracion nor El Residente research the companies and take no responsibility for the quality of such goods and services.

July/August 2014

Published by: Email:

ARCR Administra�on info@arcr.net www.arcr.net Ed�tor in Chief: Ryan Piercy Adver�sing, Publicity: Cindy Solano Office Hours:

Monday- Friday, 9 am to 5 pm CRC �me GMT-6

Address:

#101 Casa Canada, Av 4 Calle 40 San José, Costa Rica Tel: 506-2233-8068 Fax: 506-2255-0061

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1191-1007 Centro Colon San José, Costa Rica

President’s Message

by Terry Wise

Keeping You Informed! First off this issue let’s talk about residency. Oh no, you say, not again. Well yes, again. I feel it’s my duty to keep informing you of the problems you can have without it. And there are some big ones that can occur. For instance, if you’re living here without residency (making regular 90 day visa runs) you should be aware that if you leave Costa Rica you can be prevented from reentering. I have been contacted twice in the last week by people who need to leave but are aware that Immigra�on has been ge�ng tough about le�ng people living here, using only a visa “refreshed” every 90 days, return. This has happened par�cularly to those re-entering from Panama.) They ask me what they should do; I reply, “Hope for the best and, if you get back in, get your residency!” Further, according to US Embassy staff members (Department of State Vice Consul), even if someone possesses a valid tourist visa stamp with remaining �me on it, they can be removed. That can happen when immigra�on, or other authori�es, go through a passport and count the amount of days the holder has been in country and the number of days they have been out (for example, 90 days in, 3 days out, 90 days in, 3 days out, etc.) Costa Rican authori�es can interpret that as a regular pa�ern of coming and going and therefore an indica�on that the person is living here illegally. (There is nothing in the law that establishes the maximum number of days you can be in Costa Rica in tourist status before you are considered living here as a resident.) This loophole gives Immigra�on the right to take whatever form of ac�on they decide on, and that can include deporta�on. So, something as minor as a fender bender could lead to a person having to live someplace else. If you need to apply for residency, the ARCR office staff can help you with the process. Call for an appointment. Speaking of the office, for those of you who have not visited us recently, I would like to introduce some new staff members. As you enter the office you will be greeted by Angelica at the front desk. She will be answering the phones but she will also gladly direct you to the person who can best help you. Inside the main office area you will meet Juliana and / or Jonathan who will be seated at the desk ready to help. Hany, another new staff member, is currently being trained to help members also, I’m just not sure yet where he will be placed. Reminders: Midterm elec�ons in the United States are fast approaching. You can pick up a voter registra�on form in the office, complete it, then deliver it directly to the U S Embassy

in San Jose. Or you can mail it yourself, if you wish. Earl T. or Terry R. in the office (most mornings) can help you complete the form. There has been an increase in the number of members asking the office for assistance in obtaining an interna�onal driver’s license. We are more than glad to help those who need either an interna�onal driver’s license or a Costa Rican driver license. Just call so the staff can arrange the appointment and go with you. Another reminder; Things change here rapidly; as you know it can some�mes be by the minute. A great way to stay up on the most recent changes is by a�ending one of ARCR’s monthly two-day seminars. Call the office for �me and dates. Another repeat is that everyone should take the �me to register with their Embassy, they’re here to help you, give them the chance. Nobody knows what tomorrow may bring. U. S Ci�zens can register online at travel.state.gov. Go to the S.T.E.P. tab to register. There is a lot of useful informa�on available on their web site too, check it out. In the last issue of El Residente I men�oned some discounts offered members by hospitals and clinics. Many of us use those facili�es to take care of small emergencies or get a test done sooner for our Caja doctor. One hospital used by members is Hospital Metropolitano, which is located in San Jose next to Hospital San Juan de Dios. They try very hard to work with your foreign insurance company and offer discounts to those who pay cash. If you want to see if they accept your insurance, email or call Aida Granados at aidagranados@ice.co.cr phone 2521-6565. If you are paying with cash, email Dr. Felipe Herrera at felipe.herrera@hospit almetropolitano.co.cr. Make sure you tell them you are an ARCR member. In the next issue I’ll give you the name of another medical facility offering ARCR members discounts. Or, you can call the office for a list. I hope to see you at a seminar and our monthly First Friday Lunch. The lunches take place on the first Friday of the month and are open to anyone. Recently personnel from the United States Embassy have been a�ending the lunches and they have been very helpful and willing to answer our many ques�ons. If you need more informa�on or direc�ons, please call the office. Remember too, I’m here for your sugges�ons on how to make this le�er be�er for you. Terry Wise

Contest Update: My Costa Rican Experience Experience has shown that Costa Rica is full of spectacular hideaways that are known by few, and Edmond Alkaslassy shares his tale of one such beach they enjoy, but you’ll have to search for this one yourself.

El Residente

July/August 2014

El Residente

by Ryan Piercy

Making Waves Not all creatures are easy to see in Costa Rica, either due to their habits, or in other cases, their loca�on. Costa Rica is fortunate to host at least one kind of Albatross, but only in the outlying islands of the country. Fortunate, because the Waved or Galapagos Albatross, like most of the 21 species, is on the cri�cally endangered list, and the only one of its kind to be found in the tropics. Its name is derived not due to habits however, but because of the wavelike pa�ern seen on the feathers of the adults of the species. The Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), along with 18 others of the 21 species, are today threatened with ex�nc�on for a number of reasons. In the past many were harvested for their feathers. In modern �mes the dangers have become even more prolific then before. Rats, introduced into the island by ships, a�ack and consume the eggs, chicks and nes�ng adults, reducing greatly the chance of survival. Of course the major issue remains mankind. Overfishing has caused a problem for food supplies, and addi�onally these birds are affected by long-line fishing directly, o�en taking the bait during their dive for food, and ge�ng caught in the fishing lines themselves, and drown. This albatross breeds almost exclusively on Española Island in the Galapagos archipelago. In off-breeding season they shi� eastwards, both southwards and northwards, rom Peru to Columbia, and in some small numbers to islands off the coast of Costa Rica, such as Cocos Island. The Waved Albatross is of medium size for its species but the largest Galapagos bird, weighing up to 71⁄2 pounds and measuring 34-35 inches (86-90 cm). Their wingspan can reach up to over 2 meters, and are strong fliers. The neck and head are a yellowish color, contras�ng with their brown bodies, and having the gray wavy barring on

July/August 2014

the underparts of their body and wings. They also have an overly large bright yellow bill and blue feet, making them stand out and easy to iden�fy in the region. An interes�ng feature on the bill are the nasal passages, and a salt gland slightly above that, which helps them to desalinate their bodies, necessary because of the large amounts of ocean water they imbibe. This excretes a high saline solu�on from their nostrils. The main source of food are fish of course, along with squid and crustaceans, though they have been seen to intake alternate food sources, even regurgitated food from other birds. They generally find places where the food will be just under the surface of the water, from 10 to 100 kilometers from the nes�ng chicks. Nests are located in areas of lava where there are boulders and li�le or no vegeta�on. Eggs are laid between April and June, and chicks remain un�l they reach adult size around January. They are feed an oil produced in the stomachs of the adults who forage, up to 2 kilos of liquid per feeding. The Albatross has a spectacular ma�ng ritual involving rapid bill circling and bowing, and a woo hoo call sound. Once paired they remain together un�l one dies. The Waved Albatross are spectacular in the air, and perhaps the most famous fliers. They are able to fly for long distances for hours without stalling, using Dynamic soaring. This is the complex use of flying through air masses with different wind veloci�es, normally located near ground or obstacles. The Albatross for example repeatedly dive into the valley of waves, using the energy to soar back up again out the opposite side, using the fact that wind speed at sea level is lower than it is about 50 feet above. Also when they hit a head wind, they spin around to increase speed and dive back behind the cover of the wave, flying for hours with li�le energy used. The Waved Albatross remains on the threatened list, with an es�mated 30,000 to 40,000 remaining within their range, some 680,000 square miles. There is a large upset in the ra�o of males to females, as they males are more affected by the long line fishing problem, and are frequently drowned. Evidently sigh�ng one of these birds in Costa Rican territory is difficult, as the birds are not commonly here. The first reported sigh�ng was around 1993, but the first photographic confirma�on didn’t occur un�l 2004. Obviously most tourists don’t visit the outlying islands or Cocos too frequently, thus chances of spo�ng one are very slim, and If you are among this group and do see one you should consider yourself very fortunate indeed… and please send us a photo if you are able.

Legal Update

by Allan Garro N.

Legal Madness On Beach Zones Is A Never Ending Story In 1977 a Law named “Ley Sobre la Zona Marí�mo Terrestre”, or Law about the Mari�me Terrestrial Zone, took effect to regulate beach front areas all over the country, as well as other relevant areas such as islands, mangroves and estuaries. The beach areas of Costa Rica have increased a great deal in value in recent years, due largely to their popularity. However, most investors have encountered an endless series of problems due to the lack of clear and uniform rules established by the law and other regula�ons. The Mari�me Zone consists of a strip of land two hundred meters wide, measured from the high �de line, as well as islands, islets and sea cliffs. This zone in turn is divided into: (a) Public Zone, consis�ng of a strip fi�y meters wide from the high �de line plus islands, islets and sea cliffs (for this reason there are no private beaches in Costa Rica), and (b) a Restricted Area, consis�ng of the remaining one hundred fi�y meters from the Public Zone. Although this area belongs to the Government it can be granted by concession to private par�es, allowing most beachfront hotels to operate.

The Restricted area is managed by the Municipality in which it is located. It is important to determine whether or not the Municipality has a master zoning plan within which it is possible to obtain a renewable Concession of between 5 and 20 years. When the Municipality does not have master plan the alterna�ve is to sign a lease for the usual term of 5 years with the Mayor of the Municipality. In both cases an annual tax called “Canon” must be paid to the municipality, pursuant to an appraisal made by the Tax Ministry. This gives

persons or corpora�ons the right to use, but never own, the land. The law establishes that Concessions cannot be granted: (a) To foreigners who have not been legal residents for at least 5 years, (b) To Foreign Corpora�ons, and (c) To Corpora�ons where foreigners own more than 50% of the capital stock. Also, Concessions can be revoked: 1. When the granted term has expired and extension is not requested in �me, 2. When the Concession holder resigns its rights, 3. By the death of a Concessionair without legi�mate heirs, 4. Where the holder has failed to comply with the terms of the concession or other regula�ons set by law. So far the above rules seem to be clear and easy to understand. The problems start when there are mul�ple excep�ons to these general rules. To name a few: •

Proper�es that were legally registered before the above men�oned law, so they are �tled property even though they are inside a restricted or public zone. That is why in areas like Jaco, Parrita and others it is easy to find proper�es that are legally located less than 50 meters from the high �de line. Owners can even sell or mortgage them.

•

The Papagayo Gulf Project, located in Liberia and Carrillo, is managed by the Costa Rican Tourism Ins�tute. They have full control of the area, rather than the Municipality. In this zone Tourism Projects have been allowed to mortgage the areas in Concession. The fact that the area belongs to the Government but Concession Holders are allowed to mortgage it is considered by some people as a legal monstrosity.

•

Some beaches are not managed by Municipali�es but by the Environmental Ministry. These are the beaches located inside Na�onal Parks and Protected Areas.

•

Areas considered as Main Districts are also excluded from those regula�ons. That is why is easy to see construc�on right next to the sea or estuaries in places like Puntarenas, Golfito, Puerto Cortes and others.

To further complicate things, in recent years the El Residente

Cons�tu�onal Court outlawed the gran�ng of concessions in areas that cons�tute Natural Heritage. In its judgment, the Court ordered that there should be an inventory of which areas are Natural Heritage. This process has resulted in Concession Holders being no�fied that part of their Concession is Natural Heritage and therefore their rights are diminished. In some cases areas without any trees or plants or a road access to a Concession, usually composed of gravel only, have been classified as Natural Heritage, which is obviously insane. Municipali�es have, in some cases, “ignored” parts of this new classifica�on, knowing that they will need to cancel the Concessions to enforce the new regula�ons. For many years Municipali�es allowed prac�ces that were considered as legal, such as permi�ng the owner of a concession to transfer it to another person via a simple assignment of rights, or even permi�ng the construc�on of buildings in areas that were part of the Public Zone or right next to mangroves or estuaries. But in recent years the Procuraduria General de la República – the en�ty that represents the Governmental A�orneys - started forcing Municipali�es to apply the law more strictly, which caused beach houses, businesses and hotels to be torn down following summary procedures, especially in the Atlan�c region, which is the area with the highest unemployment rate in the country. This resulted in a series of social movements who even called for a referendum to have various communi�es in the Southern Caribbean region annexed to Panama, as they felt that the government of Costa Rica had become their enemy. Against this background the government of Laura Chinchilla urged the passage of law 9073, called the Law to Protect the Inhabitants of Special Areas, which went into effect in late 2012, establishing that for a period of two years Public Ins�tu�ons would stop evic�ng people and demolishing buildings in the Mari�me Terrestrial Zone. That period of �me will expire at the end of this year (2014) so bulldozers might appear again in beach zones. At least people in the Southern Caribbean can breathe easy again, as last April 8th, 2014 a Law named “Acknowledgement of Rights for the Inhabitants of South Caribbean” will allow a number of people to legalize their status in certain beach areas. With other beach areas in the country: who knows what will July/August 2014

happen next?. To make the legal mess even bigger, there is another bill awai�ng approval called “Coastal Urban Areas Act” which will include other regula�ons that will contribute to an increase the spider’s web. In Costa Rica the ins�tu�on that marks the boundaries of the Mari�me Terrestrial Zone is the Na�onal Geographic Ins�tute. In recent years they have been changing many limits as a result of the emergence of new measurement technologies and Global warming which has caused the water level to rise and therefore the measurement from the high �de line moves markers further back. The truth is that many people may find a limit mark in their living room in the near future, instantly making their construc�on illegal. Last June 9th, 2014 Law #9242 appeared on the official Gaze�e, named “Law to Legalize Illegal Construc�on in the Mari�me Terrestrial Zone”, which gives Municipali�es the right to allow the existence of construc�on considered illegal by law, or to suggest modifica�ons to them, or even to order demoli�on if any danger or environmental damage is caused. Municipali�es that do not have a date regulator must approve a plan within two years, which is going to be complicated, especially in small cantons where local governments are usually low funded. It is clear that since 1977, government a�er government have only been patching the problem, un�l it has generated a huge and difficult to understand patch. All logic leads to the conclusion that what is required is a single, new law governing the Mari�me Terrestrial Zone with clear and uniform rules, instead of having a legal puzzle that confuses both investors and public officials. But the tendency to approve “patching” laws seems to be the course of least resistance. Will this new government take a different a�tude? Only �me will tell. So if you are a poten�al investor in the beach areas of Costa Rica, be sure to perform very thorough due diligence, hire lawyers, surveyors and other professional that can be of help and… it may also be wise to pray. ALLAN GARRO N. A�orney at Law www.garrolaw.com

Naturally Costa Rica About OTS The Organiza�on for Tropical Studies - OTS is a non-profit consor�um of more than 50 universi�es and research ins�tu�ons from La�n America, the United States, South Africa and Australia. OTS was founded in 1963 to promote educa�on, research and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics. As part of its mission, OTS offers courses to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professionals and decision-makers. The organiza�on also facilitates research; par�cipates in forest conserva�on; and leads programs in environmental educa�on. OTS manages three biological sta�ons in Costa Rica: La Selva, in Sarapiquí; Las Cruces, in San Vito de Coto Brus; and Palo Verde, in Guanacaste. These three sta�ons are open to the general public, offering food and lodging, guided hikes, workshops, and lectures on various subjects related to the environment and conserva�on, among other services. OTS also offers special group packages.

collec�ons of tropical plants in the world. Within its 10 hectares (25 acres), the Wilson Botanical Garden harbors a wide selec�on of ferns, bromeliads, ginger, heliconias, marantas and palms. More than 1,000 genera in 212 plant families are represented. La Selva Biological Sta�on is widely recognized as one of the leading research centers in the tropics. Founded in 1968, it was one of the first privately protected areas in Costa Rica. La Selva protects 1,600 hectares (3,950 acres) of primary and secondary forest, and offers 61 km (38 miles) of trails, of which 16 km (10 miles) are paved and 7 km (4 miles) allow wheelchair access. The biodiversity includes 2,078 species of plants, as well as 467 bird species, more than 500 ant species, and 72 species of bats. La Selva is connected to Braulio Carrillo Na�onal Park, forming a biological corridor that runs from 2,906 meters (9,534 feet) above sea level at Barva Volcano to just 35 meters (115 feet) above sea level in La Selva. Research at La Selva has resulted in the publica�on of more than 2,655 ar�cles, theses, and scien�fic books. Palo Verde Biological Sta�on is located within Palo Verde Na�onal Park, which is home to one of the most extensive wetlands in Central America.

Las Cruces Biological Sta�on is a center for applied research located in premontane tropical forest. It protects a total of 326 hectares (805 acres), of which 200 hectares (495 acres) are primary forest. The sta�on is an important center for teaching, scien�fic research, and environmental educa�on in the country’s southern region. Las Cruces is home to 413 bird species, 113 mammal species (of which 60 species are bats), and 2,000 plant species. The reserve forms part of the La Amistad Biosphere Reserve. The Robert and Catherine Wilson Botanical Garden is located on the grounds of Las Cruces Biological Sta�on. The garden comprises one of the most important

Palo Verde is an important refuge for endemic and migratory aqua�c birds. Common sigh�ngs include herons, storks, grebes, ibis, ducks, jacanas, cormorants and jabirus. Palo Verde protects one of the world’s last remaining neotropical dry forests. Since 2011, OTS, the Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment, and the Na�onal Wetlands Program have worked together to restore this important wetland. Researchers at Palo Verde also conduct important inves�ga�ons into the wetlands and surrounding tropical dry forest. We invite you to join us and support our efforts toward conserva�on. Please contact us for more informa�on: Phone: (506) 2524-0607 Email: info@ots.ac.cr www.ots.cr

El Residente

July/August 2014

My Costa Rican Experience

by Edmond Alkaslassy

It’s Not Just A Beach, It’s An Adventure In June 2013 my wife Pam and I rented a house on the South Pacific coast. A large tree had fallen next to the house and Carlos, the Tico gardener, came by to clean up the mess. We struck up a conversa�on and he pulled out his iPhone to show me pictures of his kids. From that day on, whenever we saw each other, we would take �me to visit and enjoy each other’s company. One day he men�oned that he knew of a nice beach he could show us. This beach was unknown to most – possibly all – gringos; Pam and I felt honored to have been invited and we quickly accepted the invita�on. Carlos might have men�oned something about needing a rope, but with my mediocre Spanish I wasn’t sure. We picked up Carlos and his nine-year-old daughter, Adriana, at 6 AM and then stopped to pick up his cousin Pedro and Pedro’s six-year-old son Josue. With the four Ticos crammed into the back seat, we headed off on a short ride to the coast. We soon parked and began walking. It had been years since either Carlos or Pedro had been to this beach and the trail was completely overgrown. A�er a false start or two they led us through an astonishingly dense mass of ferns, easily ten feet high. Their machetes rang with each powerful blow and we stayed well back out of harm’s way, playing with the kids. Eventually we got through the ferns and gained a forested ridge. We climbed higher and higher, and could feel the ocean breeze but could not yet see the beach. Finally our friends decided we had hiked far enough and it was �me to begin our descent to the beach. I could see the beach almost straight down below us but there was nothing resembling a trail; how were we supposed to get down there? Carlos had been carrying a large coil of heavy rope and, as he �ed one end to a tree, the truth slowly dawned on me: we were going to rappel down this extremely steep hillside. Now I am game for this kind of thing, but I am a big guy and the terrain was both steep and loose; one misstep would have resulted in a long and wild tumble that would end badly. I proceeded with great cau�on. And this was not a short descent. Each �me the gringos and kids reached the bo�om of the rope one of the Ticos would un�e the upper end, bring it down to us and �e it to another tree (or shrub!) so we could begin another pitch. (The Ticos did not use the rope; they told us that they used it when their

mother used to accompany them, and for the safety of the kids …. and the gringos.) There were three pitches in all and the effort le� me as soaked with sweat as it is possible to be; even my boots were drenched. In contrast Pam, who is small and light of foot, found the descent to be good clean fun. When we reached the beach she was exhilarated and had produced only one or two drops of perspira�on. The adventure of ge�ng to the beach was quickly forgo�en in the fantas�c beauty of the beach itself. Unusual for Costa Rica, this beach had black sand. (I later learned that a Tico friend of ours had laboriously hauled a large sack of this unique sand up from the beach to decorate the outside of his house.) Our friends had made sure that we would arrive at low �de so we would have plenty of �me to explore the �de pools. We saw many amazing fish: small mo�led brown ones that hugged the bo�om, electric blue ones that darted behind rocks, and most impressively several large Guinea Fowl Puffers in two life stages: one was very dark blue with light spots, and the other was en�rely golden. The pools were also populated with bri�le stars, their finely branched arms sinuously protruding from under rocks. Pam and I were touched by the enthusias�c and gentle way Carlos and Pedro pointed out the various sea creatures to us, and to their kids. It was obvious that this was more than just a day at the beach: our friends had a deep apprecia�on for the natural beauty of the area and they were passing that apprecia�on on to the next genera�on. We wandered up the beach to explore neighboring coves. A heavy, frayed rope hung down the face of an outcrop. The Ticos and their kids wanted to climb it because doing so would allow them to reach a slender rock arch that connected the outcrop to a nearby island. Pam and I could see that the arch was too narrow and El Residente

fragile for our taste, but we thought it might be fun to climb the rope, so we all did. A�er the Ticos and their kids walked across the arch and back, it was �me to move on. I was dismayed to see we would have to go back the way we had come and that the rope wasn’t really �ed to anything. The rope’s upper end was kno�ed into a loop and this loop was draped over a rather unsubstan�al rock projec�on. Although this anchoring system did not inspire confidence, it had held us on the way up and since there wasn’t any other way to get down we entrusted our fates to it; all went well. To reach the next cove we passed through a narrow gap between the high rocky shore and a large steep-walled island. On the far side of the gap was an even longer beach, as beau�ful and private as the first. We spread out and each followed his bliss. Some looked at birds, some hunted for shells, some sat and watched the waves.

waves and overhead when a wave came in. Carlos and Pedro went through first, cheerfully accep�ng their fate of ge�ng blasted by incoming waves, which they de�ly ducked under. Once they were through, we handed the kids to them and tossed the coconuts a�er. Pam is afraid of big waves and there was no way she was going to follow the same path our friends had followed. We had to climb up the steep side of the outcrop and move away from the waves. Unfortunately the only place we could climb down would also put us in the ocean, but only when a wave was coming in. Pam, aided by our friends, �med her descent well and she was soon dry and on the beach. My �ming was not quite as good, but no harm came of it. Our friends cut a few banana leaves as a tablecloth on which to spread our picnic. We had brought gringo food: hard, dry granola bars, apples and chocolate. They had Tico food: freshly made arepas, cheese, refried beans, juice, and coconuts. We all ate each other’s food and had a grand �me. As soon as the kids were done ea�ng they began playing in the waves, chasing the receding water down, then turning to run up the beach as fast as possible to avoid ge�ng swamped by the next wave. Pam and I were a trifle uneasy, as it o�en looked like a rescue would be required. But we were alone in our nervousness: the other four were smiling and laughing, fully enjoying the moment.

Our friends knew this beach had a fresh water spring so we went to collect some much-needed water. The spring was producing water but its origin was muddy and rocky. Carlos used his machete to cut down a small banana plant; then he pulled off one leaf. The part of the leaf that wraps around the stem is shaped like a round pipe cut in half the long way, which made an absolutely perfect gu�er for collec�ng water. Carlos pushed one end of the homemade gu�er into the ground near the spring to collect the water, which ran clean and true down the center of the banana leaf and right into the mouth of our wai�ng water bo�les. In short order we had all the delicious water we wanted.

This wonderful day of fun, adventure and friendship concluded with a strenuous climb back up the hill, then an easy downhill walk through the forest to the car. Back in town we stopped at the pulperia for refrescos. My last memory of the day is of handshakes, hugs, smiles, and hopes for more days like this one.

The �de was coming in so we started back toward the first beach, gathering a few coconuts on the way. But the �de had filled the narrow gap we had walked through earlier: the water was waist deep between July/August 2014

A Day In The Life

by Allen Dickinson

Bits And Pieces That seems an apt characteriza�on of my life lately -- I seem to be going in about three different direc�ons, all at the same �me. Who said re�rement has to be dull? First, I want to thank all the folks who sent personal emails of condolences about the loss of my daughter. That was very though�ul and the messages were a help to us all. Thank you. Now, about some of the bits and pieces of my life. Lets start with our pets. I have wri�en about the cat before, but in case you missed it, we have one. She walked in one day and announced she lives here now and we should feed her. Now! She’s bilingual -- she meows in both Spanish and English -- and says hello nearly every �me I come in or out. (Or is it hola?) Anyway, she talks to me.

By appearance she’s just like a half-dozen other neighborhood cats, but her dare-devil personality makes her different. We live on a some�mes busy street, but she has no fear of casually strolling, even si�ng in the roadway, only moving at the last second when a car approaches. I worry about her being run-over. Then she’d be a Flat-fat-mat-cat. Since losing my daughter we have acquired a wannabe dog. It’s assimila�on into the household is somehow related to my daughters death -- I’m not sure exactly how, but I am assured it is. I call it a “wannabe dog” because it’s not big enough to be a real dog -- it’s one of those �ny, white, miniature poodle things, about the same size as the cat. If it didn’t Yip! and spin like a dog, I would hardly think it big enough to fit the genus canine. It’s friendly and I suppose it is a good dog. However, he eschews his dog food in favor of the cat’s food, something the cat finds very irrita�ng.

Her home is in the garage, where she can come and go as she pleases, and the rest of the neighborhood. When’s she’s ‘in residence’ she likes to lay on the door mat in front of the main entrance to the house. Although I have warned her repeatedly, she blends into the mat so well I have some�mes stepped on or kicked her in the dark. I call her ‘Mat-cat.’ She’s gained weight, so some�mes I call ‘Fat-mat-cat.’ My Tico family doesn’t get it. Every couple of days she likes to come inside and just look around. It takes her about 5-minutes to make sure everything is in order and then she’s ready to go back out again, sa�sfied that no one has screwed up HER house. We keep her dry food bowl in the garage and she likes to share its contents with other, less well-to-do neighborhood cats. She seems to get great pleasure when they sneak in and chow down, si�ng a discrete distance away, observing. I think I see an expression of superiority on her face during those �mes like, “My family makes sure I always have plenty of food. What about yours?” Her generosity is cos�ng me money. I have tried to explain that, but then she gets all monolingual on me and ignores what I say.

That irrita�on comes, possibly, because the dog is a Tico at heart and finds nothing wrong with shoving the cat aside when it wants it’s chance at the bowl. When that happens the cat just gives him a very disgusted look and walks away. I am so ashamed. I got caught ‘red handed’, so to speak. I thought I was being careful -- I was all alone El Residente

in the bedroom with the door shut. I just forgot to lock it. And then my wife walked in and caught me and, oh, I’m sooo embarrassed. I don’t want to admit it -- I denied it when she found me, so why would I tell you? But maybe I should, just in case you are tempted to do the same thing. Ge�ng caught like that, with all the evidence right out there in the open, well, it was mor�fying! When she walked in on me, I was, sob, watching a La�n Novella on TV. (What did you think I was talking about?)

didn’t work any be�er than when I tried to get her to believe I dozed off and accidently triggered the remote to the offending channel. The truth is, as a writer, I find them fascina�ng! How so much strife, drama, and crisis can be condensed

A�er all the �mes I have made fun of them, all the �mes I have disparaged the constant extreme drama and unrealis�c behaviors the characters project, how could I allow myself to slip like that? Yes, the girls are all pre�y and dress provoca�vely. Yes, the men are handsome, extremely masculine and virile. But the drama -- it’s so over the top! I tried to convince my Tica wife was that it was research; I was trying and understand her culture be�er. That

July/August 2014

Kolbi frog on the pre-paid cellular telephone adver�sing signs, or Channel 9 (TV) vehicles, or as trim around a cellular phone repair store, but I have seen whole busses, houses, and cars that are some shade of that color.

into such a short period of �me is incredible. So my watching is strictly a clinical endeavor to help improve my cra�. (That’s my story and I’m s�cking to it!) Some know that my oldest daughter had a baby about 15-months ago, and now there’s a baby in the house. That’s a strange feeling which some�mes boggles my old mind. Like, when I was recently visi�ng a friend and my cell phone vibrated. When I answered I was told to buy diapers and bu�-wipes on my way home. I’m seventy! How the hell did this come about?! It’s not a bad situa�on, but buying diapers sure doesn’t fit my expecta�ons of what my ac�vi�es in my golden years would be! What happened to my sky-diving plans? Something which is driving me towards the edge of sanity is the color lime green. I realize that there are a hundred varia�on of lime green, so I’m just talking in generali�es here -- whatever you consider qualifies to be that color is OK with me. I know that this sounds strange, so let me explain. Somehow it came to my a�en�on that the use of the color seems to be much more prolific in adver�sing here, as well as other applica�ons, than where I come from. So I decided to look more and see if I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. Sure enough, I think I am. Mostly it is in things like the big sign in Santa Ana adver�sing some new real estate construc�on, or the

Usually, in adver�sing, it’s not a large percentage of whatever it is, it could just be an accent or a detail, but somehow lime green seems to be a part of everything. Don’t believe me? The next �me you are out and about, see how many �mes you see lime green used in some way. Limit your count to instances where paint was used, which excludes things like clothing, pictures of natural things, or the vegeta�on, and I’ll bet you will s�ll be amazed. I was. It’s everywhere! Green is an important color for me. I grew up in the Coastal Range mountains of Oregon where the constant rains assure everything growing is always green, so the verdant vegeta�on in Costa Rica was highly appealing -- and the average temperature here is much warmer than Oregon’s. But the use of lime green everywhere I look is star�ng to drive me a li�le mad. (I just walked into my bathroom and there were six occurrences of lime green -- some fish on the shower curtain, the toilet paper wrapper, some tea candles, a Buzz Lightyear shampoo container, a nail brush handle, and the band on a can of shaving cream. Argggg!) If you’d like to join me on my slide towards demen�a, just start looking for occurrences of lime green. But I warn you, proceed with cau�on. The down side is that once you become conscious of it’s prolific use, you begin to see lime green everywhere, even when you are not looking for it. Now, with my heightened awareness, and because it is so common, my catching sight of something with that color in it is driving me nuts! But, don’t worry about me, I’ll be okay a�er a while. (But if I discover someone is selling lime green diapers, it’ll be more than I can take!) Allen Dickinson is a member of ARCR. In 2006 he re�red and relocated to Costa Rica. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of New York and a Master’s Degree from the University of West Florida. He can be reached via email at: allen@humphree.net.

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July/August 2014

Costa Rica On The Globe by Ryan Piercy A Symbol Of Peace Oscar Arias Sanchez was born in Heredia into one of the wealthiest coffee-growing families in Costa Rica, on September 13th 1940. Since grade school he began to tell his companions he would one day be president of Costa Rica, and despite the fun they made of him, his desire became fact. Arias first studied medicine in Boston at the request of his mother, but s�ll inclined towards poli�cs, returned to study economics at the University of Costa Rica and earned a Ph.D. in poli�cal science from the University of Essex in England. In the 1960s he began working for the social-democra�c party, Par�do Liberación Nacional (PLN), and in 1972 he was appointed minister of planning in the government of Pres. José “Pepe” Figueres Ferrer, a post he held un�l 1977. He was elected secretarygeneral of the PLN in 1979, and in 1986 he won the general elec�on to become president of Costa Rica. At the �me Central America figured heavily in interna�onal news, due to the number and level of conflicts that were occurring throughout the region, including disappearances, death squads, and open massacres. The region was also the last chess board in poli�cal conflict in reference to the US-Soviet cold war .Though a peaceful country, there was fear that somehow Costa Rica may be dragged into the wars, or in taking sides, and Arias campaign focused on Peace, and in keeping Costa Rica neutral, along with promises for low income housing. He won over the star�ng favorite, Raphael Angel Calderon, with a 52% of the vote, becoming the youngest president in the countries history. As president, Arias took measures to cope with Costa Rica’s heavy foreign debt and other economic problems, but his main interest was in trying to restore peace and poli�cal stability to the strife-torn countries of Central America. He took office in the midst of the Contra war, in which rebel forces (Contras), supported by the United States but based primarily in Honduras, a�empted to bring down the Sandinista government of neighboring Nicaragua. Though harshly cri�cal of the Sandinistas, he forbade that regime’s guerrilla opponents from opera�ng militarily on Costa Rican soil, despite pressure from the USA.

Arias then concentrated on engaging Nicaragua and the other Central American states in a peace-making process. In May 1986, he met the Presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua to discuss the proposals for a peaceful solu�on that had been worked out by the Contadora group. They did not reach full agreement, but early in 1987 Arias succeeded in calling a new mee�ng at which he submi�ed his own peace plan, depar�ng in some respects from the Contadora plan. The accord approved by the five Presidents in Guatemala on August 7 was based on President Arias’s plan. The plan he proposed would set a date for cease-fires between government and rebel forces, ensure amnesty for poli�cal prisoners, and schedule free and democra�c elec�ons in those countries. Arias and the leaders of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua signed this plan in August 1987; although signed, the plan was never fully implemented, partly because of opposi�on from the United States. In October 1987 Arias was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in recogni�on of his efforts to achieve the beginnings of peace in the region, sta�ng clearly “ I receive this prize as one of the 2700000 Costarricans… .” “My son Óscar Felipe here present is 8 years old today. I say to him… and all the children of my country… Peace can only be achieved through its own instruments; Dialogue and understanding, tolerance and forgiveness, freedom and democracy.” In 1988 Arias used his Nobel Prize money to establish the Arias Founda�on for Peace and Human Progress, which promoted peace and equality throughout the world. El Residente

United States (Costa Rica had been the only Central American country not to join the pact), Arias won a narrow victory. In 2007 Costa Rican ci�zens voted in favor of CAFTA–DR by a slim margin in the country’s first na�onal referendum.

Arias was also ac�ve in various global nongovernmental organiza�ons that focused their efforts on promo�ng peace and roo�ng out corrup�on.

When receiving the Nobel Prize in 1987, Arias commented “We are a people without weapons and con�nue to struggle to be a people without hunger… We are for America a symbol of Peace, and we wish to be a symbol of development.” Now, for over 25 years, the country con�nues to be that symbol, not only for the Americas, but for the en�re world.

Though several of his successors were linked to corrup�on (two were jailed briefly in 2004), Arias was untainted by scandal during his tenure as president, and he was recruited to run for the presidency of Costa Rica again in 2006. Pledging to invest in educa�on and housing and to sign the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA–DR) with the

July/August 2014

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Alcoholics Anonymous Groups meet daily throughout the country; �mes and places change frequently. Call for up-to-date informa�on. San José 2222-1880 (Anchor club, also serves Narco�cs Anonymous) Av 6 Calle 1, 2nd floor Maryland Building. Heredia (Laura) 2267-7466, Puerto Viejo Limon 2750-0080, Zancudo 2776-0012, Tamarindo 2653-0897, Flamingo (Don) 2654- 4902, Manuel Antonio (Jennifer) 2777-1548, Jacó (Nancy) 2637-8824, Zoo Group Escazu 2293-4322. Grecia (Jay) 2494-0578. Southern Zone, mee�ngs in English & Spanish, 8634-9241. Puriscal, Fred 8866-0128.

of four produc�ons a year offering a choice of modern, classic, serious, and farcical plays. The group’s monthly social mee�ngs 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 informa�on Call the LTG Box Office 8858-1446 or www.li�letheatregroup.org

Al-Anon Mee�ngs English language Al-anon mee�ngs are open to anyone whose life has been/is affected by someone else’s problem with alcohol. Mee�ngs 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.

Newcomer’s Club Newcomers Club of Costa Rica (for women) meets the first Tuesday of every month, September through May. September mee�ng will be an interest fair. Contact: 2416-1111 costaricaporo@yahoo.com or h�p://www.newcomersclubofcostarica.com

American Legion Post 10- Escazu The A L Post 10 has relocated the monthly mee�ngs to Casa de España in Sabana norte. The next mee�ng will be March 5th beginning at 12:00 noon on the second floor. There is an elevator so those with a handicap will not have a problem entering the building or reaching the mee�ng area. If you wish to a�end please e-mail or call for direc�ons. Terry Wise, Cell#: 8893-4021, Outside CR: 011-506-8893-4021, U S # to C R: 904-352-7043. Claudio Pacheco, Cell#: 8876 1394, Home#: 2225 4239. American Legion Post 12- Golfito Mee�ngs 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. 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 informa�on 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 Celebra�on, 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 you can par�cipate whenever its convenient for you! For informa�on 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! Li�le Theatre Group LTG is the oldest con�nuously running English-language theatre in Central or South America. The group currently puts on a minimum

July/August 2014

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.

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 informa�on call Chuck Jennings. Phone 2266-0123 www.pcclub.net Radio control Sailing Club Meets at Sabana Park Lake. For informa�on 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 educa�on. For more informa�on 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, con�nuously opera�ng, philanthropic organiza�on for English-speaking women in Costa Rica. Founded in 1940, WCCR now includes over 250 members represen�ng 25 countries worldwide, drawn together by the mo�o: Friendship through Service. The Club a�racts fascina�ng women who are interested in serving community needs in Costa Rica, par�cularly focused on children’s educa�on while, at the same �me, making deep, meaningful, personal rela�onships. Along with its philanthropic fundraising ac�vi�es, WCCR also hosts regular lunches, teas and many special interest groups, including a Professional Women’s Group. Guests are welcome and further informa�on and a calendar of planned events can be found at www.wccr.org Women’s Interna�onal 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, 24337078 or write peacewomen@gmail.com.

Volunteer-Male or female, veteran or non-veteran, needed to help me with challenging but rewarding work with U.S.A. Military Veterans and widows. Requirements: U.S.A. Ci�zen with current passport, Costa Rica cédula, good fluency in Spanish, car a big plus, willing to learn how the U.S.A. Embassy here and the Department of Veterans Affairs help those who served and their survivors. Please call: Mel Goldberg 8870-6756

Paradise, We Have A Problem It’s Sooooooooo Boring! My wife calls me a “9 year old 66’er.” I’m always curious and searching, full of ques�ons, ideas, and projects, so I rarely get bored. But many who re�re to Costa Rica find it “beyond beau�ful” AND boring. “There’s nothing to do,” they complain. “No movie theaters, shopping malls, museums, or art galleries” (at least in the outlying areas). None of the “ameni�es” that made life rewarding back in…. Toronto? “It’s just a vast, boring expanse of green forests and a blue ocean. What was I thinking when I moved here?” Engagement (the second of the P.E.R.M.A. happiness guidelines) is important to our overall life sa�sfac�on. When we’re engaged, we’re fully alive. We’re living zes�ully. (The five P.E.R.M.A.s once again are: Posi�ve emo�ons, Engagement, Rela�onships, Meaning, and Achievement.)

by Tony Johnson

regular people in deep conversa�ons, gardening, cooking, reading, listening to music or playing a sport can get “into the zone”. But if life has become like “watching paint dry” or the “grass grow”, we feel dull, stuck, lifeless. Surely a passionately engaged life is far superior to a passive, resigned, inert life. So how do we get unstuck? Become fully alive again? I readily admit that if I was bored by life here, I’d want to escape the difficul�es involved and return to the US. Why bother? The view’s great, but I need MUCH more than that. I need a LIFE!! A reason for being here. Something to passionately DO. Coming to CR in 2010, I quickly discovered that happiness is less about WHERE we live, it’s about HOW we live, wherever we are. How does one show the resolve to pick up and move to CR, then become bored living here? We get bored when there are not enough challenging, s�mula�ng, important things to do. Or when the task and its demands feel beyond our understanding and capabili�es. Boredom is basically a defense against under or over s�mula�on: against too li�le or too much. Remember traffic school, where the instructor is repea�ng over and over what we already knew well, (too li�le) and we “tuned out”? That’s a defense, a way we conserve our energy and a�en�on from something way below our abili�es. We don’t want to waste those resources on a curriculum that insults our intelligence. (Does the DMV really think we’re this dumb??) Our bodies are present, but our minds are on things we WANT to do. Important things. S�mula�ng things.

Everyone has had some experience of “being in the zone”, of being totally immersed in some ac�vity. Time disappears. We forget about the clock and are amazed at how much �me has just flown by. There are no problems or worries. No “world”. No “me AND the challenge.” We become one with that ac�vity. We and life are at our best. Professional musicians in the moment of crea�ve ecstasy, sports stars making the winning score, and

We also become bored when we’re overwhelmed, like in that organic chemistry class (too much), we “tune out”, protec�ng our energy and ego from a task that is way beyond our ability to understand and carry out. Again, our body is in the seat, but our mind is on things we CAN do. Could your boredom be the result of missing the challenges of life in El Norte? From under s�mula�on? Many who re�re here do so with the plan to escape from the stresses of modern life. But they quickly discover, El Residente

process, that you conclude, “Why take on more - even if it could feel great - when I’ve already got so much on my plate?” Have you decided that you’ll “play it safe for now? And WHEN all this stuff gets se�led, THEN I’ll get involved”? When will “then” ever be?

like I did, that we NEED to be involved, challenged, stretched to grow. Are you going through “withdrawal” from the craziness of modern life, but inadvertently also forge�ng the sa�sfying purpose that drove your frene�c ac�vity? You CAN slow down AND s�ll have a passion that keeps you alive and fulfilled. Or, do you fear that passion? Fear that it might drive you to exhaus�on again, so you “tune” it out? That can leave you bored and stagnant because the only op�ons you allow yourself are the boring ones, way beneath your talents? Leaving yourself “too li�le”.

Are you ignoring the hints and sugges�ons that life provides about where your engagement might be? Are you thinking, “That looks like fun, but it’s not worth all the effort. It’s too li�le to bother with.” Are you denying yourself some source of engagement and sa�sfac�on, even if it’s small, brief and rare? If you’re totally lacking in inspiring ideas for engagement, try these approaches: Imagine that all risk is removed, failure is impossible, and success in any ac�vity you choose is guaranteed. What would you embrace? What would you get engaged in? Take away the risk, guarantee the rewards, and what pops into your mind?

Others are so overwhelmed by the “tropical storm” of changes necessary to create a life here, that they “shut down” to prevent themselves from “drowning” in all those adjustments; protec�ng themselves from over s�mula�on. NO ONE likes to feel inadequate, incompetent, or out of control, and naviga�ng our way through the storm surge of language, laws, customs, culture, climate, finances, and finding friends can make even Wonder Woman feel a bit in�midated. What I’m sugges�ng is that boredom is something WE do in response to too much or too li�le. For example, are you perhaps choosing safety and security over life and risk? Are you avoiding ac�vi�es that might threaten your SENSE of competence, health, or intelligence? Do you avoid surfing lessons because you’re convinced “I could never do that, I’d just look stupid.” Feeling it’s “too much”? Do you already feel so overwhelmed by the adjustment July/August 2014

Observe your daily ups and downs of excitement. Unless you’re clinically depressed (more later), your excitement level rises and falls throughout the day. You’re not constantly bored. What “floats your boat”, “lights your fire”, “gets you going”? What energizes and enlivens you? Iden�fy those interests and ac�vi�es and do MORE of them. Get more deeply involved. Take some reasonable risks. If you s�ll can’t get going…

Have you neglected to look for opportuni�es to soar in your area of strength again? Do you blow off the possibili�es for such high level performance? You might say, “I was the project manager for the NASA shu�le program. Costa Rica doesn’t even have bo�le rockets. WHERE could I find a chance to “shine” like that again?” Excellent ques�on. Yes! Where? Take away those enormous rockets and their cosmic payloads and gargantuan budgets. What skills, talents, GIFTS enabled you to put men and women into space?

Face your fears. No, not the big waves at Playa Pavonnes – not just yet. But your FEELING of fear. Ask yourself what exactly is the danger in joining the local theater group or weekly women’s get together? What painful thing will happen if you try these things? Are you sure that danger is real? If so, ask yourself, how can I reduce that risk and make success and safety more likely? How can I make these ac�vi�es work for me? Some people are truly content with just taking it easy. If that’s you, don’t feel guilty about it. Your life is your choice. But, if you’re frequently bored, then something is wrong. Did you assume that Costa Rica would “do the rest” once you moved here? Did you assume that engaging ac�vi�es would just come knocking on your door?

Iden�fy those strengths and find ways to exercise them right here in li�le old CR! If you could put humans into space, you must be able to . . . RIGHT? ALIGN more of your ac�vi�es with opportuni�es to exercise those gi�s, and watch your excitement take off and boredom be le� behind. If your problem is too much, break down all those tasks into manageable chunks. NASA didn’t land on man on the moon in one short burst of work; it painstakingly completed smaller tasks un�l it could “assemble” them into a triumphant whole, “one small step . . .” at a �me. These ar�cles are my a�empt to keep my “hand in the game” of my former profession, psychology. Share your thoughts with me about these ideas at: paradise.we.have.a.problem@gmail.com Next �me, I’ll look at the R in P.E.R.M.A. and why rela�onships are the most important source of our happiness - and the most frustra�ng aspect of our lives.

Each of us has “a signature strength”, something that you are especially good at. Some skill where you have a�ained “mastery”. You may not be THE best, but you’re REAL GOOD. Those key strengths provided you with some of the most sa�sfying moments of your life. You were your best you. Think of a �ger in a zoo, pacing obsessively. It’s given everything it needs: food,6 water, shelter, a mate. Everything except the opportunity to exercise its signature strength - being a solitary, predatory TIGER. Have you rejected your “inner �ger”?

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July/August 2014

Exchange rate of the Costa Rican ¢ to the US Dollar December January February March April May

507.80 519.63 553.54 553.63 556.16 559.88

Basic Interest Rate

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December January February March April May

6.50 % 6.55 % 6.50 % 6.60 % 6.70 % 6.85 %

Exchange rate of other currencies to the US Dollar Giro Canadian Dollar Euro Swiss Franc Nicaraguan Cordoba Danish Krone Norwegian Kroner Swedish Krona Honduran Lempira Bri�sh Pound Argen�ne Peso Columbian Peso Mexican Peso Dominican Peso Brazilian Real Guatemalan Quetzal Korean Won Japanese Yen Venezuelan Bolívar Hong Kong Dollar Taiwan Dollar Bolivian Peso Chilean Peso Russian Rouble Peruvian Sol Polish Zloty Australian Dollar Chinese Yuan

1.54047 1.08500 1.36270 0.89620 25.71450 5.47700 5.97750 6.66560 20.75000 1.67560 8.07950 1,903.50000 12.86150 43.07500 2.24010 7.78650 1,020.20000 101.76000 6.29210 7.75270 30.01800 6.91100 551.86000 34.84320 2.76750 3.03830 0.92990 6.24710

Libor Rate 1 month 3 month 6 month 12 month Prime Rate

0.15100 % 0.22740 % 0.32190 % 0.53440 % 3.25 %

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Holidays of Costa Rica Friday, July 25th Annexa�on of Guanacaste - Na�onal holiday (ARCR Closed)

Saturday, August 2nd Dia de Los Angeles - Observance Friday, August 15th Mother’s Day - Na�onal holiday (ARCR Closed)

A Touch of Wisdom “A father’s a treasure; a brother’s a comfort; a friend is both.” - Ben Franklin (1706-1790) “Blood is thicker than water.” - German proverb “Every jack has his jill; if only they can find each other.” - R. Cotgrave 1611 Funniest One Liners...

God made mankind. Sin made him evil. I don’t find it hard to meet expenses. They’re everywhere. I just let my mind wander, and it didn’t come back. Don’t steal. The government hates compe��on. Humpty Dumpty was pushed. Na�onal Atheist’s Day April 1st. All generaliza�ons are false. The more people I meet, the more I like my dog. Work is for people who don’t know how to fish.

July/August 2014

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