Emigrating from the US (1 Viewer)

[the moops]

Intentional homicide rates per 100,000

Costa Rica 8.8

US 4.7

 

[comfortably numb]

Make sure you bring a toilet converter so it won't flush backwards.

and a self close seat

 

[Chemical X]

our place came with a bidet. when we remodeled the bathroom, we had it removed to create more floor space. they love their bidets.

 

[Fennis]

our place came with a bidet. when we remodeled the bathroom, we had it removed to create more floor space. they love their bidets.

Japanese toilet FTW

 

[IC FBGCav]

I remember see this and thought I would share. From a poker blog.

9. Do Some Background Research Before Big Meetings. True story.

At the 2006 WSOP, Absolute Poker was having some party, in part to introduce Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi as their new brand ambassador. Some of the Absolute Costa Rican crew was there. We were going to meet them and pitch doing some work for them.

Unfortunately, we researched the wrong thing before meeting.

Absolute was going to hire three internships, and we did a post about it. In doing the post, we stumbled across a statistic that in some regions of Costa Rica, 40% of women between ages 15-19 had genital herpes. While our math skills suck, we figured that more than 40% of women had the herp after age 20.

Anyway, we meet the Absolute guys, and one Entity immediately says, “So you live in Costa Rica. Don’t marry the women there. They all have herpes.”

The Absolute guy points to the corner of the room, and promptly directs us to his beautiful Costa Rican wife standing there. “Yeah, well she doesn’t have herpes.”

Know who you’re meeting with before you meet, and stay away from herpes jokes in general

 

[E-Z Glider]

Tons of American expats in Costa Rica, and everyone I spoke to couldn't say enough about it. Dirt cheap cost of living, and it's paradise, plain and simple. One of the most amazing places I've visited.

Besides the whole 3rd world country thing, right? Driving through San Jose every house has bars on the windows and doors. It is not all paradise.

Yeah that's like saying the US sucks because just take a look at Camden, NJ.There are nice beach houses in gated communities and secured condo complexes near the beaches, for a fraction of what you'd pay here. The locals are simple people and extremely friendly in my experience. I never once felt unsafe walking around town, day or night.

I felt the same way for the whole week stayed in CR. Then on the ride to San Jose airport, I made a wrong turn and suddenly found ourselves lost in the ghetto at night. There was loud music, flashing lights, and people everywhere on the sidewalks and streets. Next thing I knew, some guy "bumped" into the side of our car. Luckily we made it 4-5 blocks before the tire went flat. Apparently, they have long sticks with knives attached to the ends and slash rental car tires and then rob you when you take everything out of the trunk to change the tire. The guy at the rental company apologized and said it happens all the time.

Small sample size, sure, but I have traveled to a lot of different places over the years and this is the only troubling incident we ever had. That being said, I agree that there are "bad sections" of every place you go and I'd go back to CR in a heartbeat. I'd just avoid San Jose at night.

ETA - also remember that you had to throw your TP in the trash everywhere in CR. Not a big deal to me, but remember a lot of people being freaked out about the idea.

 

[McGarnicle]

Well we honeymooned at a 5 star resort in CR and were surrounded by beach & rainforest most of the time, so my perception may be skewed. But every American expat we spoke to said it was like they died and went to heaven.

 

[Chemical X]

Well we honeymooned at a 5 star resort in CR and were surrounded by beach & rainforest most of the time, so my perception may be skewed. But every American expat we spoke to said it was like they died and went to heaven.

maybe they did........

 

[Foosball God]

Switzerland. Easy for me though because I'm a citizen.

 

[SoBeDad]

Cuba may be on option in the near future. In the 1950s, many people drove their cars to Cuba via the Key West ferry. Currently, any investment in Cuba is high risk, but check back in 10 years.