I have an idea that many of you think that Costa Rica is a jungle with natives. Even though much of it is jungle, and a beautiful jungle at that, the people are modern and up to date. They may be poor and live in houses with dirt floors with walls that don't go all the way to the ceiling (probably for good ventilation) - they may not have a couch but they almost all have televisions so "know" all about the world. That reminds me to tell you that what most foreigners think about the U.S. is what they see on televison and that's not good for the most part.
Many Costa Ricans have a better lifestyle than Mexicans which is probably why you seldom run into them in the U.S. They don't need to leave to have a good life.
One difference I see in living in Costa Rica and the U.S. is that even though you can buy most of the same things here, there just isn't the choice we have in the States. The cosmetic section at the grocery store, for instance, is about 6 feet long - the entire selection of cosmetics is housed in this small space. You don't have the choice of brands and don't have the generic brands so if you want the "luxury" things like make-up, you have to pay high prices and take what you can find.
Actually, I am finding more American food products here in Costa Rica than I did in Mexico. I was so thrilled to get pickles, for instance.
People still live behind walls or rod-iron fences like in Mexico so we don't see our neighbors often, and I don't like that. We have to go through 4 locks to get to our car and get it out of the garage. If we have put the car in for the night, it takes something really big to make us get it out again before the next day. We aren't complaining as this is the first garage we've had since leaving the U.S.
The sun rises between 5 and 6 in the morning and sets the same time at night, year around. That means that the people start early. We hear talking outside our bedroom window every day about 5:20 - ladies going on their daily walk.
These are just some random thoughts about living "down here". Come visit us and see for yourself.
