Residente 2015 05

Costa Rica’s English language newsletter

May / June 2015

El Residente

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

Taste the tropics:

Mangosteen

Contents Across the Board Across the Board ARCR Board

Club Corner

Life in The Southern Zone Carol Vaughn

4 5 8

Legal Update

10

What is the ARCR Seminar?

12

Just a Little Logo!

14

A day in the life

17

Ask ACS

American Citizen Services

19

Paradise, We Have a Problem

20

Allan Garro

ARCR Staff

Martha Rollins

Allen Dickinson

Tony Johnson

Taste The Tropics Maxima van Houtem

Business Directory

24 26

Administración S.A.

Contact Information Published by:

ARCR Administration

Editor in Chief:

Allen Dickinson

Email:

Associate Editor: Marketing Director:

info@arcr.net www.arcr.net Mary Holmes Alejandro Vargas

Graphic Design:

Rubén Chavarría

Office hours:

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

Advertising, Publicity:

Address: Tel:

Fax:

Mailing address:

add@arcr.net

#101 Casa Canada, Av 4 Calle 40, San José, Costa Rica (506) 2233-8068 (506) 2255-0061 P.O. Box 1191-1007 Centro Colón, San José, Costa Rica

May / June 2015

Editorial Note

T

3

he March/April issue of El Residente was slow getting out to members, but by now all should have seen it and noticed the changed format.

It is our “new look” with larger type to make it easier to read, more graphics, and updated information. The credit goes to our new graphics designer, Rubén Chavarría, who took on the task on short notice. It took a lot of effort on Rubén’s part, we are now back on track and future issues should be in your In Box on schedule.

As everyone should know, we are now distributing the issues electronically, which saves ARCR a lot of money on printing and postage. However, we realize that some people don’t have computers, so we will continue to print a limited number of paper copies. They will be available in the office for pick up.

The second column in a new series, Life in the Southern Zone by Carol Vaughn, is in this issue. She writes from Perez Zeledon (San Isidro de General), and it has already become obvious that the Southern Zone has a lot to offer. Don’t miss her column.

The request that clubs update their contact information on the Club Corner page netted only one correction. If you are an officer in one of the clubs, please review the contact information and inform us of any changes. And, if your club is not listed, send us the data so we can include it in future issues.

Be sure and look at the Legal Update column by Allan Garro. Just as he predicted in the last issue, the government has published the changes to the law for Tax on Corporations, the first step in getting it into effect in 2016. Contact him if you have any questions about the new law.

We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, we welcome your inputs and suggestions. Please write us at info@arcr.net This 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.

Across the Board

El Residente

E

ver wondered if the Caja (CCSS) dispensary has a particular medication? Here’s how you can find out. You’ll need an internet connection and then go to: http://www.ccss.sa.cr/lom.

On the right side of the screen, click on “Filtrar por grupo”. From that list select the medical condition for which the drug is prescribed. (The available medications are listed under the medical condition for which they are applicable.) There you will see the different medications obtainable through

rization that allows ARCR to make the payments for you.

Keep an eye out for more, new, money-saving services for ARCR members, on the way.

To be sure to get the latest information, members should make sure their email address is up to date in our files. It not only means you’ll get El Residente on time, but you will also receive important notices from the Board of Directors and the Administration. the Caja.

Don’t forget the monthly First Friday lunches Update! The ARCR Board of Directors has es- sponsored by ARCR (though ARCR membership tablished a new mechanism for making Christ- is not required to attend.) These informal gathermas gift donations to ARCR’s Tree of Hope. This ings take place at noon at the Casa de Espana in is important because in 2014 the number of gifts the Sabana area. Good food, good people. (The declined, most likely because “walk in” traffic at cost for the lunch is minimal.) For directions call the office had declined. Next Christmas, after No- the office. Mark June 5 and July 3, on your calenvember 1, 2015, donations can be made via tele- dar for the FFL. phone. Members will be reminded by email when For all who have asked, Ryan’s health continues the donation period begins. to improve. It is, however, anticipated that he may Members should be on the lookout for an email not return for the remainder of the year. from ARCR Administration about the advantages final point. Members who travel to visit Costa of obtaining health insurance through the ARCR One or other countries outside their home nation, Group Plan. Please contact the office for more in- Rica are strongly advised to obtain trip insurance beformation. fore their departure. Many private or governmenA service which some members may not know tal insurance policies (such as Medicare) Do not about, or have forgotten, is that the ARCR staff apply outside of the person’s home countr y. An can offer invaluable assistance when it comes accident or health emergency can be extremely time to renew a driver license. For a small fee expensive if there is no insurance coverage in an ARCR staff member will accompany you to the place.

COSEVI compound and guide you through the minute! The March 26th issue of La Nacion, process. The ARCR workers know the procedures Last edition, published a story headlined “Forwell (and the COSEVI personnel know the work- digital Pensions Would be Taxed in Hacienda’s Proers from ARCR) which can greatly smooth the ex- eign Modification of Income Tax Law”. perience. It also means you avoid driving in the posed nightmare La Uruca traffic, having to find parking, Such a change could have an impact on many exor stumbling about trying to find the various loca- pats living here in Costa Rica, and members have tions you need to visit. Interested? Contact the contacted ARCR Administration asking about this possible change to tax laws. office for more information and an appointment.

New service: This one is particularly important for those who travel. ARCR can make the monthly payments to CCSS (Caja) for members, even when they are out of the countr y. A small charge of $10.00 USD plus 5% of the Caja fee (to defer credit card processing charge) will be made for this service. To sign up you must come to the office, have a valid credit card, and sign an autho-

ARCR would like to advise its members that this is a proposed change which has been promoted by the PAC Party and is not on any current agenda of the legislature. ARCR Administration is aware of the proposal and is monitoring it closely. Should the proposal gain traction, ARCR will vigorously oppose it. We will keep members advised of any changes to the status of the current law.

5 Alcoholics Anonymous

Groups meet daily throughout the country; times and places change frequently. Call for up-to-date 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 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, 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: 011-506-8893-4021, 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.

May / June 2015

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 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.

El Residente

6

Democrats Abroad

Democrats Abroad meets on the last Saturday of every month at the Aurola Holiday Inn, San Jose. Contact Nelleke Bruyn, 2279-3553, 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: 2416-1111 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

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

“Club members should review the contact information for their clubs and make sure it is up to date. Send any changes or corrections to: info@arcr. net, Subject line; El Residente.”

El Residente

8 Life in the Southern Zone

by Carol Vaughn

Photos by Bryan Herrera.

Master of the Monument: Gibrán Tabash

S

an Isidro de El General is a sleepy town somewhat known for being the gateway to other, more exciting places, i.e., Ojochal, Dominical, and Manuel Antonio National Park. No one would guess that we have been harboring one of the most innovative and creative emerging artists of Costa Rica: Gibrán Tabash, painter and sculptor extraordinaire.

One has only to walk through the Central Park to collide with one of his sculptures, Monumento a los Forjadores del Valle, Monument to The Workers, to realize what a treasure we have here. The sculpture measures 2.7 meters high by 8 meters wide, and depicts a male and female farmer plowing their fields. The work looks hard – the oxen are straining to pull the plow and the farmers look hot and tired, but noble nonetheless.

But wait, what is the material used for this work of art?

From a distance it looks like copper but, upon closer inspection, it looks like cement. Wrong in both cases!

Monumento is created almost entirely of recycled newspaper, hand crafted over a metal frame, and lovingly applied in a manner similar to Papier-Maché – it is Papier Maché on steroids; the sculpture contains some 200 kilos of recycled newspaper!

The final steps of the construction process were to apply a coating of cement, to make the work waterproof, and then the sculpture was painstakingly painted. This is the first monument in all of Costa Rica to be made of recycled paper.

The little-known artist behind this monument is a 37year old man originally from San José, but now living and creating here in Perez Zeledón. The Municipalidad had commissioned this work for seven million colones, intending to install it atop the Greco-Roman arcade in front of the park’s Cathedral, but for some reason these

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May / June 2015

plans changed and the monument is now on ground level. The artwork is somewhat protected by a metal fence, though a recent visit revealed that there was nothing protecting it from broken bottles and other trash. What a shame.

The Municipalidad has also not placed a plaque to credit Gibrán Tabash as the artist, but plans are in motion to have one mounted soon.

Another of his art works is a painting on the western wall of the Central Market. It also depicts laborers toiling in their fields. San Isidro was, after all, the Patron Saint of farmers and peasants. Tabash also has several sculptures in the town of Jaco, which portray the surfing life of the area.

Gibrán

In a country which prides itself on its enlightened ecological stance, Tabash stands out as its poster child. He looks alarmingly like Jesus, with long curly hair and a gentle, humble demeanor. His artistic visions and future projects make him truly an artist to watch. Among his plans, Tabash wants to create an Art Park in Quizarrá to honor the life of Dr. Alexander Skutch, Costa Rica’s most famous ornithologist and author of the birding bible, A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. The Art Park will become home to a number of Tabash’s sculptures and a welcome addition to the Nature Corridor Skutch created before his death.

Those wanting to learn more about Gibrán Tabash and his work should not only visit his monument and his mural, but also plan to attend a showing of twenty of his paintings at Hotel Zima in June. Invitations are available by calling 506.5019.4712.

Perez is truly fortunate to have such an artistic phenom in our midst.

Carol Vaughn is from Washington, DC and has been enjoying Perez Zeledon for three fabulous years.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Performing Arts and is a retired tap dancer. She can be contacted at: carolvaughn2012@gmail.com.

El Residente

10 Legal Update

by Allan Garro

Following the Rules to Sell a Business Can Save Headaches

I

t is very common for people to believe that selling a business in Costa Rica is the same as selling a piece of real estate. This, however, is not necessarily true as there might be other, different situations to consider that will change the scenario. A Business may or may be not part of the real estate transaction, meaning sometimes the negotiation is over a property whose owner also owns a business operating on that property, or just about the property, or the business only.

Sometimes the transaction can be easy because normally a business operates under the name of a company structure, like Sociedad AnĂłnima (S.A.), which is similar to what is called a corporation in the United States, or Sociedad Limitada (Ltda) which is a type of limited liability corporation. In those cases the simple way to go is when the Seller endorses the stock of the corporation to the Buyer which becomes the new owner. The next step is to perform changes to the legal representation and appoint a new board of directors and officers.

Acquiring an existing corporation as the way to acquire a piece of real estate or a business is very common practice, but there are some risks involved for the buyer. This is because for lawyers and tax counselors it is easy to check what are called public records. However, there may be other types of documents, like letters of exchange and promissory notes, which might not be on any record. That could mean that later a creditor could appear with a collection based on one of these documents that were signed – and not disclosed – by the former owner/representative.

Therefore, if an existing corporation is to be acquired it is always important to run credit reports on the corporation, the owners, and the members of the board. Also

the Seller should be required to sign a sworn statement declaring that there are no undisclosed documents which might create a future liability for the corporation.

Other obligations that need to be checked are taxes, employee social benefit liabilities, and payroll withholding responsibilities. Each one has a different statute of the limitations.

When acquiring the corporation that runs the business is not possible, or the buyer just does not want to take any risks, then is better to set up a new corporation to start fresh and clean. For this it is important to remember that a Business is composed of physical items such as furniture, computers and merchandise, as well as by non-physical things like commercial licenses, intellectual property, clients, and goodwill. It is logical to think that the Buyer will want to keep things that have distinguished the business in the past.

The way to go then is ruled on articles 478 to 489 of the Code of Commerce where rules are contained for the Purchase of Mercantile and Industrial establishments.

This is the legal procedure to transfer to a Buyer and new corporation all the physical and non-physical elements of a Business owned by a Seller. To do this the parties need to perform a document in front of a Notary which establishes that the Business and all its elements are being transferred and to disclose the selling price.

11 Once the document is signed the money is not delivered to the Seller, but is held in escrow by a third party – normally the Notary – until a publication is made in the official Gazette warning potential creditors about the transaction and granting them 15 days to concur and collect their credits from the selling price. Once the term is expired the money is given to the Seller and the transaction is completed, legally assuring that the Seller can make no further claims after that.

On an Interview with the Legal Counselor Jorge Eduardo Ramos Ramos (www.corredoresjurados.com) he stated as follows: “Even strictly following the procedure stated in articles 478 to 489 of the Code of Commerce, buyer must be aware of some specific liabilities that will not be covered by the protection given by the aforementioned law. As a rule of thumb, the legal ownership transfer process stated in the Code of Commerce will protect against non-privileged private creditors. Therefore, there are some not covered remarkable exceptions: CCSS (Social Security) and/or any other related institutions liabilities (DESAF, INS, INA,…), Labor related claims/rights and tax liabilities. Those Institutions will simply transfer any outstanding bill or liability from the previous owner to buyers social security account regardless of the com-

May / June 2015

pliance of the aforementioned transfer procedure. The same happens with any labor related claims or rights, as Labor Judges have consistently considered the purchase of a business as an unrestricted assumption of former owner´s labor liabilities. The Tax Administration will also pursue any tax related liabilities, regardless of legal transfer of ownership. So every single one of those details need to be double checked before performing any Business transfer. Acquiring a business requires the intervention of an experienced legal/financial team that can perform the necessary Due Diligence”.

Another point to be checked is that on May 20th of this year a new ruling, a new Movable Guaranties Act, which creates a system to grant credits over movable assets like all of those that are contained in a Business, and even over the contracts signed by such Business, goes into effect. This will make it necessary to check that the assets of the business were not given as guaranty before the Business is sold to a new buyer. Fortunately the system will be easy to check by any interested parties.

Allan Garro Navarro Attorney at Law www.garrolaw.com

El Residente

12 What is the ARCR Seminar?

M

oving to Costa Rica can be a confusing and challenging event. For a new arrival, knowing what they will face on a day-to-day basis can make moving and daily life much easier.

The two-day ARCR Seminar provides a great resource of information about many of the aspects of moving to and settling in a new country; information which will ease the way for the new arrival’s successful transition into the local culture. The seminar is a must for those planning on moving to Costa Rica, in addition to being a valuable resource for those who have lived here a while.

Each presentation will be followed by an open forum where questions can be asked of the presenters.

The following is a brief overview of the contents of the seminar:

Day One REAL ESTATE - BUYING AND RENTING One of the first things many arriving in Costa Rica want to know is, “Where will we live? Should we buy or rent?”

Property laws and contract procedures are different in Costa Rica than what most expats are used to, so knowing the ins-and-outs of the rules of renting or buying is essential before signing any contracts. An overview of the pertinent property customs and laws will be covered in this session.

ABOUT ARCR

by ARCR Staff

share technical or social interests, to performing arts, political groups, to veteran service organizations. In this session attendees will learn what these groups are and where and when they meet to help decide which one might fit their needs.

COSTA RICA LAWS AND REGULATIONS Living in a foreign country can be a cause for much confusion; the laws may be different than accustomed to, and the ramifications can often be unexpected. It behooves the new arrival (and longer term residents also) to be aware of the peculiarities of the Costa Rican legal system and to understand how those differences can affect them personally. Costa Rican laws can (and do) change frequently, often without much prior notice, so familiarity with the basics, as well as regular updating about the existing laws, is important for those living or visiting here. Such things as title insurance and finding a notary public will also be addressed.

MOVING AND CUSTOMS Moving to a new country can be a complicated and expensive proposition. What will Customs allow to be brought in? How do you find out what import duties are? Knowing what to expect from Customs once the goods have arrived can be critical to making a decision about what item(s) to include in a shipment. The more you know, the better decisions can be made about what to bring and what not to bring. Various shipping options and the costs involved, are subjects also covered in this session.

LEARNING SPANISH Spanish is the primary language used in Costa Rica.

Should you learn it? Can you get by not being fluent?

Who teaches Spanish and where can you learn?

What is ARCR and why are we here? What can the association do for me? Association officers will discuss the services and benefits of being a member of ARCR in this presentation. Common questions are answered and the floor is opened for the attendees to address more specific concerns.

U.S. EMBASSY SERVICES

CLUBS IN COSTA RICA

RESIDENCY

There are many clubs and social groups for expats in Costa Rica. They range from those whose members

Living as a perpetual tourist in Costa Rica can be a daunting proposition. What are the rules and what must

What can the American Embassy do for US expats? A representative from the Embassy will address the group and explain the services and procedures the Embassy provides.

13 be provided to obtain residency? Legal requirements, documentation needed, resources required, and the details of the procedure for obtaining residency in this tropical country are reviewed.

MOVING TO COSTA RICA Moving to a different country with a different language and culture can cause some culture shock. Being prepared for the differences can help avoid the difficulties of assimilating and can mean the difference between a smooth adjustment and moving back home. This important session gives a brief introduction to Costa Rica and addresses topics such as the country’s history, its people’s psyche, standards of living, sports, perceptions of time (tico time), and common courtesies. Some useful tips on adjusting to Costa Rica are presented.

COSTA RICAN CULTURE How does Costa Rican culture differ from what you are used to? Are there things you shouldn’t do? What should you know? A Costa Rican national will brief the group on some of the more common dos and don’ts.

Day Two

May / June 2015

cover treatment in Costa Rica? Private healthcare resources, options, and health insurance issues are discussed.

U.S. TAXES What taxes are U.S. expats liable for paying? Are there resources for complex tax situations? How does a taxpayer file? All these questions and more about the U.S. tax laws which apply to expats will be covered.

INTERNET AND COMMUNICATIONS Are there Internet services available in Costa Rica? How reliable are they? Can I communicate with friends and family back home? Everything an expat needs to know about Internet and VOIP services will be explained.

BANKING AND INVESTMENT How does an expat open a bank account in Costa Rica?

What is the difference between a national bank and a private bank? Do I need a local account? How do you get money from home into an account here? Banking requirements, international law regarding the transfer of money and/or Social Security and pension payments, and much more, are explained by a local banking representative in this presentation.

INS AND INSURANCE IN COSTA RICA

INTRODUCTION TO THE CCSS AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEM How does the Costa Rican social security and healthcare system operate? Who must join? How good is the system? The requirements and the costs of belonging to the CCSS and obtaining healthcare are the subject of this segment of the seminar.

DENTAL CARE Is good dental care available in Costa Rica? What services are available? How much do they cost? How does one find a reliable, qualified dental care expert? Practitioners in the dental care field will address the group and explain what services are available and give a general overview of the costs.

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE AND QUALITY OF SERVICES Are there options to the CCSS medical system? What are they and how are they found? Are doctors professionally qualified? What about insurance plans - do they

What kinds of insurance are available in Costa Rica?

Life? Home? Vehicle? Accident? Travel? What kinds of insurance should people have? Who can provide it?

Where can it be obtained? An insurance professional will guide the attendees through a summary of insurance related subjects.

LIVING IN COSTA RICA Getting out of your comfort zone and learning new ways of seeing and interpreting reality can be a stressful activity because, sometimes, human behavior can seem to be irrational, based on your cultural paradigm. This session is a brief introduction to Costa Rican culture and addresses some of the things you should know to live in this beautiful, tropical country, stress free.

These subjects and more are covered at each ARCR Seminar. The seminars are held on the last Thursday and Friday of each month except December. For more information on prices, dates, and location, or to reserve seats, contact the ARCR Administration at: info:@arcr.net

El Residente

14 Just a Little Logo!

S

everal years ago a talented friend was abruptly replaced and never paid for hours of work she spent developing a logo for a large organization.

After seeing the final logo I came to realize that the reason had to be a simple misunderstanding with regard to color and style.

What happened was that the head of the Logo Committee was a glass artist; my friend was a designer of jewelry using material and colors in earth tones… tree bark, clay, seeds and sunsets. The two women had totally different visions of what the logo should look like.

A logo appears to be a simple thing, but in today’s world it is a graphic distillation of personal or organizational style and purpose. It is often is the first thing anyone sees about the person or the organization. Therefore the creation of the right logo is an intense process and one which is particularly difficult when handled by a committee.

Recently I began to work on a logo for the Professional Women’s Network, a newly re-organized group of professional women, including myself. I was working with a very talented 20-year old artist, Hanna Dzsenifer, who is a part of our Outreach and Community Service activities; the group has been helping her to develop her career.

Hanna has been a friend of mine for four years. She is also deaf. She graduated from a special high school for talented handicapped students but was unable to continue with scholarships at either of two universities because the classes were too large. If she could continue her schooling at Gallaudet in the US it would be ideal because all classes there are conducted in sign language. The cost of the required first year, however,

by Carol Vaughn

is much too expensive. Therefore Hanna struggles to support herself, but because of her handicap she cannot work at a call center or retail store even though she knows English and Spanish very well. So, she works to use her artistic talent to pay for classes in art and graphic design.

Hanna didn’t know it, but she had a challenge ahead of her designing a new logo for the group.

I told her all about the organization and what kind of logo I thought we were looking for and she went to work. The first hurdle came when the entire Planning Committee wanted to see and approve her designs, so I circulated them to members by email.

The first logo that Hanna created had a black background with the full profile figure of a lovely young woman drawn in gold lines. Our committee broke ranks according to nationality. It was then I realized that there is a widely different cultural perspective when depicting the sexuality of women.

Latino women know full well that sex appeal is power, and professional women dress accordingly. Boobs spill out of shells and suit jackets. Skirts are tight and short.

Buttocks jut out as stiletto heels force the posture to become more enticing to men. Latin women are proud of their power and use it to their fullest advantage.

On the other hand, professional women from the United States and Europe tend to minimize their sexuality and mimic men in their dress; we wear suits, usually with shirts that have collars, sometimes buttoned up to the neck with something like a scarf that mimics a necktie.

Our skirts are loosely fitted, not emphasizing any curves or rolls of fat, and our shoes are feminine, but not all that high. We even used to wear nylon panty hose to work.

When Hanna had completed several optional designs they were circulated to the committee. When the results came back there was a large variance of opinion among the members.

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May / June 2015

While one Latina on the committee supported Hanna’s full figure drawing, which she thought was both sexy and powerful, she preferred a white background, others were less generous; those women preferred a drawing of a face only, no sexuality there! As a result of her Latin perspective, Hanna’s initial designs were summarily voted down by the larger number of non-Latinas; their response was; “This is not the profession we are trying to represent.”

concerns can be discussed by everyone in the group in real time. Arguments and counter-arguments can be made instantly. People can be persuaded to change their minds, and consensus can be reached fairly easily.

And, one meeting takes less time than a string of emails spanning weeks. (And sometimes the person responding to an email with an opinion has not read the entire chain of emails, they only read the last comment without referring to earlier comments.)

The next issue was color. Just like my friend five years ago, there were different emotional feelings regarding color. Hanna thought that black with gold lines made an elegant design. Most committee members, however, thought that black was too artistic and/or depressing.

When we held an actual meeting with handouts of all versions of the logo, those at the meeting quickly decided upon the final version; the one with green swirls but without the black box.

Hanna went back to the drawing board. Her next design had a face in profile with what turned out to be a perfect symbol for our organization; the woman appears to be looking at the symbol for wifi. The implication was that she was using her professional women’s network to communicate. But wait, one person on the committee did not get the symbolism and asked, will everybody else “get it”? Good question, so Hanna did a version with lines instead of the wifi symbol, which one person liked best. The final consensus, however, was yes, the wifi symbol was the most effective.

After it was all over I asked Hanna if she found the process to be too frustrating to do as a way of paying for her art classes. She told me that it was not frustrating for her and that it was fun; she just wanted to be sure to please us. In the end I actually think Hanna is a better professional woman than I! If you are interesting in hiring talented Hanna to do a logo, business cards, or anything needing graphics, designed for you or your business, please contact her at: Hanna Dzsenifer anarut.quesada@gmail.com

Now for color, Hanna tried white, red, on someone’s recommendation green, and even another version of black.

Two people even made their own color backgrounds.

Finally Hanna made a version with green swirls and the face in a black box.

If you are interested in hearing more about and/or joining this new dynamic and nurturing organization of talented, professional women, The Professional Women’s Network of Costa Rica, please contact our Membership Chairman at:

Again we voted via email. The results were predictable; every person on the committee preferred a different version of the logo!

or

Through this process I learned a valuable lesson; never make a decision in a linear fashion (one plus one plus one plus one, etc. It doesn’t work!) I learned that there is a reason that Roberts Rules of Order states that decisions made by an organization need to be made either face-to-face in a meeting or, in this age of communication by computer, in a conference call.

The reason is obvious: groups can reach consensus decisions, individuals won’t. In a group setting, any

pwn.costarica@gmail.com Martha Rollins rollinsmartha@gmail.com

May / June 2015

A Day in the Life

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have a friend in the United States who loves to grow things – he even supervises a community garden so others can join in the excitement of growing their own vegetables in the summer.

In a casual conversation I told him that there is a different version of the plant we know as cilantro in the USA here in Costa Rica, which is known as Culantro. (Cilantro, also called Coriander, is a common spice used in Costa Rica food dishes. Culantro, called Culantro Coyote, is also used and is available in local markets.) My friend expressed interest in seeing how different the Latin American version was, and asked me to send him some seeds.

I checked the local farm supply store and found they sold a factory sealed packages of culantro seeds, each containing maybe a hundred seeds.

The packets had been prepared by a commercial seed sales company and in all ways resembled the Burpee flower and vegetable seed packets sold in the US. It was a paper envelope with a color photo of the plant on the front and cultivation information on the back (in Spanish of course.) I bought one (300 colones) and put it in a small padded envelope.

Even though the seeds made a slight rattling noise inside their envelope, I figured that shouldn’t be a problem. I sent it to him via the Costa Rican Correo for a charge of 350 colones.

A few weeks later my friend reported he had received the padded envelope, empty. Inside was a notification from Homeland Security saying that the shipment was prohibited. Some sort of international seed threat, I guess.

Now I had a challenge, so I bought some more seeds. This time all that was available was a bulk package without markings; it contained maybe 10,000 seeds, but it was only 950 colones. I made up another envelope containing about 200 of the

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by Allen Dickinson small seeds (similar in size and appearance to marijuana seeds I am told, though I wouldn’t know about that) which I gave to a friend who was flying back to the USA for a visit. He had instructions to drop the envelope directly into a USPS box... if he got it through Customs. I even used my Aerocasillas mail box number as a return address to give it a look of legitimacy. Time passed. After a couple of weeks I inquired of my gardener friend but nothing had arrived. I assumed my mule had either forgotten to mail it or it had been confiscated at the border. I forgot about it.

About two months went by and one day I got a notice from Aerocasillas saying that “my package needed an invoice” for Aduana. Contents: “Seeds.”

I informed that I didn’t want the package and to just dispose of them – they weren’t worth the trouble.

More time went by and I had again forgotten the whole thing when one day, included with my normal mail delivery, came the mailing envelope, intact and with the seeds still sealed inside the inner envelope.

There was also a slip included saying I had been charged import duties and transportation cost for a total of 2,780 colones. I had successfully imported Costa Rican culantro seeds into Costa Rica!

Not being easily dissuaded (and harboring a growing desire to be a smuggler) I bought another of the smaller commercial packages of seeds, just like the original, and made up a third envelope with my American friend’s address on it. Another local friend who was flying home, and who also harbored a secret desire to thwart Homeland Security, volunteered to carry it and mail it for me – once he was inside the USA. But this time we got sneaky; the addressed mailing envelope he was carrying was empty; the actual packet with the seeds was in another piece of luggage. We also muffled the seed envelope so a rattle couldn’t be heard. My friend had instructions the two were only to be combined and mailed after he had successfully reached the interior of the country (or a jail which allowed outgoing mail.) The idea was that maybe that way they would get past the seed police. I gave him some money for postage ($1.00) and off he went.

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You know how they ask if someone has put something in your bag you don’t know about? That’s such an insanely stupid question! If you don’t know about someone putting something in your luggage, how can you tell anyone about it? Anyway, we figured that would be his excuse if the US Customs/Homeland Security people discovered those prohibited seeds and asked questions; “Honest officer, I don’t know how they got there – somebody must have put it in my bag when I wasn’t looking!”

In the end no officials or jail were involved in the illegal importation of those dangerous seeds; persistence had triumphed! A few days after my partner in crime arrived in the US the combined mailing envelope with enclosed seed packet arrived at its destination. My gardener friend has planted them is now awaiting their maturation. I figure that the plants he is growing are probably the most expensive culantro ever cultivated! (I just hope they don’t turn out to be some sort of “Kudzu.”)

I got a rush from the whole smuggling thing and now, having figured out how the underground seed railroad works, I am itching to try it again. (Well, in truth I was not the smuggler, but I consider myself the kingpin of a successful smuggling ring. That’s almost as good.) So I have set aside a significant amount of money ($2.00 USD!) and am trying to find a source to buy a similar packet of a different kind of seeds which my friend has requested to try. Wish me luck! But please, don’t tell Homeland what I’m doing. (I don’t even like the flavor of Cilantro OR Culantro!)

For more information about Cilantro, go to: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriander

http://

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 can be reached via email at: allen@humphree.net.

May / June 2015

Ask ACS Dear ACS, I am an American citizen, and I have lived in Costa Rica my whole life. My mother obtained a birth certificate at the U.S. Embassy for me when I was born, and I planned on doing the same for my child. But now that I look at the requirements, I am sad to see that my child is not eligible for a passport because I have not lived in the U.S. for five years. What do I do?

Sincerely, Proud to be an American, but Tico at Heart Dear Proud to be an American, but Tico at Heart: We are sorry to hear that you have not lived in the United States long enough to transmit citizenship to your child. You are correct that a parent must meet a residency requirement for their child to be born a U.S. citizen. The law to transmit citizenship to children has changed several times over the

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by American Citizen Services past 100 years, each instance lowering the amount of time a parent must have resided in the U.S. to pass on citizenship. However, the law’s revision has also made the residency requirements confusing. U.S. citizen mothers must have lived in the U.S. for five years, two years after the age of fourteen, to transmit citizenship to a child born in wedlock.

If the child was born out of wedlock, the mother must demonstrate that she resided in the U.S. for 365 consecutive days at any time of her life. For a U.S. citizen father to transmit citizenship, he must demonstrate that he lived in the U.S. for five years, two years after the age of fourteen, whether the child was born in wedlock or not. If both parents are U.S. citizens and are married, one parent must show that they resided in the U.S. for any period of time. If both parents are U.S. citizens but are not married, the father can transmit citizenship by showing five years of residence or the mother can transmit citizenship by demonstrating 365 consecutive days of presence.

We know that this is confusing, and we work with families daily to help them identify ways that parents can demonstrate physical presence. In cases like yours in which a parent has not lived in the U.S. long enough to transmit citizenship, there is another option – the “Grandparent Clause.” The “Grandparent Clause” allows a U.S. citizen grandparent to pass on citizenship to their grandchild in the case that their children did not meet the residency requirements. The grandparent must submit an N-600K to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, and the application can be found at www.uscis.gov/n-600k. The good news is that the physical presence requirement for grandparents is the same as for parents – they must show that they lived in the U.S. for five years, two years after the age of 14. If your mother proved that she met that requirement when you were born, then she should be able to do it for her grandchild.

Thank you for your letter and best wishes, ACS.

El Residente

20 Paradise, We Have a Problem

by Tony Johnson

Is Love Really “All We Need”?

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o relationship is permanent. As much as we’d like to remain in the in-love phase, all relationships must, and will, move on.

Relationships, rather than being finished like things where we “get one and we’re done”, are dynamic and ongoing; they are constantly evolving processes, more like life itself than static entities like stones. And really, would we want our most important relationship to be as lifeless as some rock while the rest of life constantly moves on?

Loving, intimate relationships go through predictable phases which can be called the Rapture, the Rupture, and hopefully the Repair and Renewal. Sadly, when Repair and Renewal cannot be attained, there is also the Resignation and Rejection, stage. (Others might use different aspects and names for the phases, but these will do for this discussion.)

Intimate relationships typically begin with a burst of passion and affection. It is during this Rapture period, during this magical moment, when we are filled with optimism and love. Nothing and no one is as important as our beloved. We feel fully alive, filled with energy and excitement because “the one,” our “soul mate,” has entered our life. We live for and would die for our loved one. Their needs are more important than ours and we are thrilled to get to know our beloved better. Indeed, life has never been better and we expect that our future will be even greater as a couple, with the expectation our partner will more than live up to our expectations, to our fantasies.

Many of us will never feel this good ever again, so it’s understandable that we mourn this period’s passing and wonder why it doesn’t last. But, it is a sign of the evolving relationship when we move past lust to the beginnings of real love because such intense, consuming feelings cannot last, as much as we want them to.

Where Did Our Love Go? In every relationship there’s an inevitable Rupture. As the “air is let out of our beautiful balloon,” the Rapture subsides and the love may even die.

Many explanations have been offered for the fading of love. It’s been said that “love is blind but relationships are real eye openers” and that may be correct. As we spend more time together, three things tend to happen, and all involve seeing the relationship differently. Let’s examine how those differences might occur.

First, every new relationship has a thrilling, fresh, unfamiliar, and exciting quality while we are getting to know and become closer to our partner and we are filled with joy. But nothing can remain new forever; every experience, no matter how wonderful, gradually gets “old” as our natural, adaptive tendency to become accustomed to, “get used to” everything, occurs. With age comes familiarity and what was once new and exciting becomes routine. When that happens our positive feelings about the relationship become taken for granted and we focus more on the pressing issues of daily life. The value of the positives in life tends to diminish and become “Been there, done that.”

Secondly, the initial infatuation we feel, our idealization of each other, cannot withstand the scrutiny of daily life.

Our “storybook romance” is impossible to sustain in the face of our partner’s, and our own, reality. No one could possibly measure up to the impossible ideal we created, just ask Prince Charles and Princess Diana! Even couples with the resources to easily manage the demands of life become disappointed with each other. It’s easy to see how much more difficult maintaining the ideal is when we also have to struggle to pay the rent.

Thirdly, it takes an enormous expenditure of energy to maintain the Rapture and that wears us out while the neglected aspects of life continue to demand attention.

The attitude of “Who cares about work, school, responsibilities? We’re in love!” can’t be maintained. Although things may feel “perfect,” our daily life suffers, and daily life is an unforgiving task master.

With time, we may discover that we have chosen badly. We might find that our partner is deeply incompatible with our values, habits, and life goals, and we with theirs. These explanations might account for the waning of love.

But even if we’ve “hit the jackpot” and chosen very, very well, we still find that our love needs more as we come to

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realize that what seemed so natural, so easy, so effortless at the beginning, now requires work. And not just effort, but also skills, regardless of how well we’ve chosen.

Might We Need More?

We may see that the Beatles were wrong. We absolutely do need love and life is at its best when we love and are loved, but as time passes we may painfully discover that the relationship needs more than just love. Yes, love created and maintained the initial connectedness, but we also need a good relationship to maintain that love.

Bottom line, the way we relate to each other, the way we routinely treat each other, how we conduct our total involvement with each other will determine the life of the love.

The “Love Doctor,” John Gottman, shows us what our patterns of relating do to our love. After studying thousands of couples over many years he learned what relationship qualities are love- protecting and what are love-destroying; in other words, he has identified the kind of relationship that makes love grow, and the kind that makes love die.

In his research, he carefully observed and recorded couples’ patterns of verbal interactions during disagreements. He also measured the participants’ physical stress responses during these encounters. From these detailed studies Gottman was able to identify two basic types of relationship: the “Marriage Masters ” and the “Marriage Disasters.” Admittedly this is an oversimpli-

May / June 2015

fication, but these two simple categories have much to teach us.

Both types of relationships involve different patterns of interactions and experiences for the partners. Simplified, the two types of relating are essentially different ways of treating our partner, and from those can be predicted the chances for the future of their love.

Gottman’s “Masters” typically treat each other with “kindness and generosity.” They are truly caring and considerate of each other. Even though they are far from perfect, they are calm and at ease and enjoy each other’s presence. These relationships tend to both survive and grow deeper and stronger.

The “Disasters,” by comparison, are on edge around each other. They feel a high degree of stress (detected

by Gottman’s instruments) even if that is not evident in their demeanor. This stress is easily explained by the way the couple treat each other; it generally has a history of attacking and being attacked by each other (usually verbally), which leaves them constantly “on guard” in each other’s presence. Such verbal (and sometime physical) assaults damage, and can eventually destroy, their love.

Both the “Masters” and the “Disasters” begin life together feeling intense love for each other. The difference is that the “Master’s” relationship pattern protects and deepens their love, while the “Disaster’s” pattern of treating each other abusively damages and may destroy their love. Both types can endure the rupture, but they handle it differently.

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Yes! We Do Need Love. And...

Yes, we most definitely need love, and when we love and are loved we’ve hit the emotional jackpot of life. But Gottman’s research also shows us why love is not “all we need” to make a relationship thrive. Boiled down to its essence, we need to routinely treat each other the way we would any other important person in our life; with care and consideration.

No one enters an intimate relationship intending to abuse their partner. We all wish to live up to our highest ideals and treat our beloved the way they deserve.

So, how could something so good be transformed into something so bad as constant quarreling, criticism, indifference, contempt, or even loathing? Gottman’s research shows how a downward spiral of negativity can begin and get worse.

The decline of love often follows a pattern. It starts by wanting, needing something from our partner and when we don’t get it we grow increasingly frustrated and feel disregarded or ignored. After all, we are giving them our best! In our frustration and disappointment, a request becomes a criticism, which is responded to with defensiveness. Both attitudes are gradually followed by contempt and stonewalling. Consequently the love and the relationship suffer. At each step down that slippery slope the couple can feel perfectly justified in responding to each other with increasingly negative responses, unaware of the damage being done to the relationship and the love.

and when the negative interactions outnumber the positive, the love is suffocated.

An example may better make this point. One spouse (let’s say the wife) asks her husband to record any ATM withdrawals in the checkbook to avoid bounced checks.

Certainly a reasonable desire. But the husband doesn’t regard this as an important matter and it quickly slips his mind. (These roles could easily be reversed.) After her repeated requests are unmet, the wife becomes frustrated and escalates from requests to criticism and attacks her partner’s competence. “You always neglect this simple task. You never bother to make the entries.

You can’t even help me keep the checkbook balanced.”

Notice the always and never generalizations? Does anyone always or never do anything?

Those statements, with no room for exceptions, causes the husband to feel written off, attacked, and his reaction is to become defensive; and the typical way we humans defend ourselves is to go on the offensive: “I never do anything right for you!! You are always criticizing me.

You are the problem here.”

After then defending herself and achieving no progress in recording the ATM withdrawals, the wife might feel so frustrated and defeated that she begins to treat her husband with contempt. That can lead to a more direct attack on the husband’s character, attacks which exhibit contempt, feelings of disgust, loathing, and moral superiority. She is now essentially saying, “You’re such a loser, such a worthless nothing, I feel only disgust for you. You are beneath me”.

23 Again feeling attacked, and perhaps trying to turn down the tension, the husband may then stonewall his wife by totally ignoring anything she says or does. And by doing so, the husband silently conveys his own very negative message: “You no longer exist. You are such an awful person that I am deaf to your concerns. If you totally disappeared, you would not be missed.”

In this example we can see how a simple disagreement can do serious damage to the relationship and to the love. Multiply a single disagreement many, many times over and it’s clear how love can be lost.

When negative, depreciating interactions become pervasive, the relationship violates Gottman’s main rule: If a relationship does not maintain a five positive to one negative interaction ratio, it is bound to fail. Gottman regards this ratio as absolutely vital to the life of the relationship and the love. In that atmosphere, whatever good that does occur between this couple is drowned, poisoned, in a flood of negativity. (More on this important idea next time.)

Furthermore, the “Disasters” couple now look for more things to criticize in each other. Contrast that to the “Masters” who look for actions and traits to praise in their spouse.

May / June 2015

The Gottman Method of Couple’s Therapy teaches workshop participants the specific behaviors and attitudes that must routinely be included (and avoided) for love to remain healthy. Essentially he teaches participants to avoid being like the “Disasters” and try to be more like the “Masters.” It’s easy to see how the “Disasters” treatment pattern is toxic to love when the negativity toward each other is so pervasive that much of the love is overwhelmed. Unfortunatetly, the remaining love is usually not enough to offset all the hostility and abuse.

As powerful and essential as love is, love needs an assist from a relationship focused on “kindness and generosity,” not on distrust, mistreatment, and abuse. We need more than love to remain in love. The “Disasters” show us what we must avoid if we want to keep our love alive.

Next time we explore what the “Masters” can teach us about the kind of relationship that helps love endure the rupture and move on to Repair and Renewal phase to grow and thrive.

Any disagreements about these ideas? Send them to paradise.we.have.a.problem@gmail.com, I promise to receive them without defensiveness.

Memorial Day Ceremony Saturday, May 30th, 2015, 11 AM.

Performed by the Marine Corps League Costa Rica. Located at Campo de Esperanza, Cemetery in San Antonio de Escazú. Everyone is invited to attend, especially veterans and widows of veterans and their families. Admission is free.

The names of the United States of America military veterans who had passed on in Costa Rica since the last memorial Day ceremony will be read along with others from the past about whom we were recently notified.

Directions: Coming from San José, take the first Escazú exit. Continue along the main street in San Rafael de Escazú past Tony Roma’s and Rosti Pollo. At the traffic light by Scotia Bank, continue up the hill to Escazú Centro. At the top of the hill, turn right on the green arrow light. Turn left at the second intersection, on to Calle 132. Proceed straight for about two kilometers. You will then see a yellow and black sign Interseccion Adelante.

About 75 feet after will be a sign on the right , No Estacion, and a left turn white arrow on the road. Turn left, go over a little bridge with yellow fences on both sides of the road. Turn right at the first street and go straight up the hill until you come to the Cemetery on your left.

Marine Corps League Costa Rica

El Residente

24 Taste the Tropics

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by Maxima van Houten

angostan, sometimes called the “Queen of Tropical Fruit”, is also known as mangostino, mangosto, mangostin, or mangosteen, and is the fruit of an evergreen tree originally from Southeast Asia, specifically from the Malay Archipelago. It has been gradually introduced to other tropical countries around the world such as Brazil, Honduras, Panama, and Costa Rica, where the trees are grown and harvested.

This tree, whose scientific name is Garcinia mangostana, belongs to the Clusiaceae family and can grow up to 25 meters tall. Its fruits may differ in appearance according to the variety (of which there are over 200) with some species that can produce fruit weighing up to 1000 grams. The fruits are usually deep purple on the outside and filled with a white, soft and gelatinous pulp inside. They contain the seeds which can measure up to 2.5 cm.

An interesting fact about the plant is that there are only females and no males, thus reproduction basically consists of cloning the mother plant. This is a disadvantage because there is no combination of gene pools, which makes the plant more vulnerable to diseases and prevents its evolution.

The introduction of the mangostan outside the Malay Archipelago was a long and difficult process because the seeds will die within a week if allowed to dry out.

Therefore, the transportation of the seeds required a great deal of planning and good fortune, particularly considering a boat on open seas was the only means of shipping them.

Highly detailed mangosteen print from 1880 by Berthe Hoola van Nooten. was the first time this honor was awarded to a single fruit.

There are several myths about the accomplishment which are reproduced thousands of times over on the Internet, all with apparently no factual basis whatsoever.

The first time the mangostan was introduced in the United Kingdom was about 1789, and the first recorded fruiting from seeds, which were brought by Captain White from Calcutta in 1833, was recorded in 1855.

One of those myths states that Queen Victoria attended the first fruiting of a mangostan tree at Syon Park. Nevertheless, there is no publication of the time that documents her attendance; there would likely be something written if it were true as the event was too newsworthy not to mention.

This triumph was accomplished by John Ivison, the talented gardener of the Dukes of Northumberland at their Syon Park estate. To accomplish this feat, the tree was grown in a greenhouse complex, designed and heated to maintain steady tropical temperature. It was considered a great success and the fruit was awarded the Gold Banksian Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society. This

Another story is that the Queen would grant knighthood to the first person that would bring her a fresh mangostan. Still another asserts that the she would pay a reward of 100 pounds. According to mangosteen.com, a website dedicated to the research and information about the fruit, there is no evidence to support that any of these are true. To make things more interesting, as of

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September 2005, this website offered a reward of $100 to the person that provides evidence of the connection between Victoria and the fruit.

Regardless, these myths have been used over and over to promote the marketing and consumption of the mangostan as “The queen of tropical fruit” or, alternately, “Queen of fruit”. Though there may be no connection with Queen Victoria, the fruit does have merits of its own that would easily justify such qualification.

David Fairchild (1869-1954) may have been the originator of the “Queen of fruit” moniker. During his travels, Dr. Fairchild had the opportunity to try a great variety of fruits from both temperate and tropical climates. He came to the conclusion that, from all the fruit he tasted, the mangostan was the one he regarded as the best and he refers to it as “the queen of tropical fruit” on page 7 of his book “Exploring for Plants” (1930).

In addition to its outstanding taste, the mangostan has very high water content and contains carbohydrates, which contribute to its high caloric value. It is rich in potassium, necessary for the generation and transmission of nervous impulses, muscular activity, and participates in the equilibrium of water inside and outside the body cells. It also has a fiber content which improves digestion.

Due to its consistency and sweet flavor, the mangostan is appropriate for children, young people, adults, pregnant/breastfeeding women, and seniors. Its richness in potassium makes this food interesting for those who take diuretics, which eliminate this mineral, and for people who suffer from bulimia and other digestive problems. Further, its low sodium content makes the fruit convenient for people with high blood pressure or blood vessel and heart ailments. However, those with diabetes and obesity should watch out for its high carbohydrate content.

The plant is truly versatile. Besides creating delicious fruits, the bark of the tree can be sliced, dried, pulverized,

May / June 2015

and infused to combat dysentery and chronic diarrhea in adults and children. This same powder can be turned into an ointment to control skin disorders. Furthermore, an infusion of the root is used to regulate women’s menstrual cycle and the resin and tannins in the skin of the fruit are used as a natural dye. Its wood can be employed in the construction of houses and furniture.

When it comes to picking your magostan fruit, look for those that are intact, firm, but tender when pressed with the finger.

To eat it fresh it is best if it is chilled when served. Like other tropical fruits, however, it does not stand refrigerated temperatures well and is very receptive of other odors. For this reason it is recommended to be kept it in airtight container. When it is time to consume the fruit it should be cut in half and peeled, like a hardboiled egg.

A good serving option is the chilled pulp accompanied with ice-cream or whipped cream. It can also be consumed as marmalade, syrup, and juice.

From the U.K. the fruit was first introduced to the Americas in Trinidad, then later to Honduras and the rest of the tropical countries which now produce the crop. In Costa Rica, mangostan trees are usually grown in tropical places with warm temperatures and a high humidity level, such as Guápiles and Pérez Zeledón. Furthermore, EARTH University has an academic plantation of mangostan located in a community known as Las Mercedes de Guácimo in the Province of Limón. According to EARTH’s Meteorological Station, the plantation has an average annual temperature of 25.1 Celsius and a relative annual humidity of 87%. The price is around 2000 colones per kilo of fruit.

In Costa Rica the fruiting season occurs during the months of December and January and during these months there is mangostan in excess. It is great for personal consumption or to share with friends who have never had the chance to try this exotic tropical fruit.

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Business Exchange rate of CRC to USD November 541.19 December 545.53 January 543.08 Februrary 540.58 March 539.08 April 538.11 Basic interest rate November Dicember January February March April

7.20 % 7.20 % 7.20 % 7.15 % 7.10 % 7.10 %

Exchange rate of other currencies to USD Canadian Dollar 1.24 Euro 0.92 Swiss Franc 0.95 Nicaraguan Cordoba 27.13 Danish Krone 6.85 Norwegian Kroner 7.75 Swedish Krona 8.47 Honduran Lempira 21.89 British Pound 0.65 Argentine Peso 8.98 Columbian Peso 2545.70 Mexican Peso 15.29 Dominican Peso 44.82 Brazilian Real 3.15 Guatemalan Quetzal 7.69 South Korean Won 1106.80 Japanese Yen 123.04 Venezuelan BolĂ­var 6.35 Hong Kong Dollar 7.75 New Taiwan Dollar 30.65 Bolivian Boliviano 6.90 Chilean Peso 613.46 Russian Ruble 50.47 Peruvian Sol 3.15 Polish Zloty 3.81 Australian Dollar 1.29 Chinese Yuan 6.21 Libor Rate 1 month 3 month 6 month 12 month

0.18485 % 0.28450 % 0.41865 % 0.73760 %

Prime rate

3.25 %

Directory

Across the Board Holidays of Costa Rica Friday May 1st Labor Day National Holiday Sunday June 21st Father’s Day Observance Saturday July 25th Annexation of Guanacaste National Holiday Sunday August 2nd Our Lady of Los Ángeles Observance Saturday August 15th Mother’s Day National Holiday A Touch of Wisdom Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou can’st.

Ben Franklin (1706-1790) The half is better than the whole. (Advises economy or restraint.)

Hesiod 40AD Those that dance must pay the fiddler.

Unknown Funniest One Liners Do not argue with an idiot.

He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

May / June 2015

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