www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Instead of dumping money on putas, who make up stories of woe and misery, and are essentially playing games with unenlightened gringos - DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR XMAS. I'm fairly certain that her stories about electric bills, sick Babi*s, books for school are complete bullshit, while she sits in the Del Rey smoking cigarettes, pounding free beers, and blowing gringos for quick easy cash.

I was out last night with my german neighbors watching futbol. The theme of conversation shifted to "why do americans have such a horrible image in Costa Rica." This obviously was started by them and I had difficulty defending my nation. They alluded to the fact that they come down essentially to use and abuse this country. You guys ALL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'm guilty too, but not so much anymore as my mongering days are over (in the foreseeable future) and I have pretty much grown bored with massage parlors and hooker hangouts. However, I still feel responsible.

How can we change our image for the better? We are not all here to get wasted, bang prostitutes and piss-on the tico culture, because they are so inferior - or are we?

Here's an idea... don't send the chica cash for Xmas presents for Babi*s. She is lying. She is using Xmas as an excuse to extract money through whatever means from your account to her purse. Notice how I didn't say her account? This is because she doesn't have a bank account. Her purse is simply a temporary place where money sits, before she blows it on her clothing, drugs, smokes, booze, cell phones, etc. You get my point.

The standard RFM is $300. I don't know how they arrive at this number, but it is always the case. They either learn this in training school, or the consider it a night-off, as $300 is also the standard cost of a TLN.

Here are some alternatives to dumping $300 on your so-called novia this Xmas:

1. There is a Ch**drens hospital on Paseo Colon. There are lots of sick K*ds with cancer and a whole assortment of problems. Some have good parents who will be with them for Xmas, some don't. Buy $300 in presents for sick K*ds. Go to the hospital and ask for permission and hand deliver presents door to door.

2. There is also a Ch*ldren's museum in Barrio Mexico. As with all museums, they pretty much survive on donations. Walk in and donate $300.

3. There are countless non-profit organizations such as churches, schools and the like that also survive on donations. Why the hell not?

4. Buy a shit load of lunch boxes from Pollo Campero, and with an armed security guard and in the daytime, hand out meals to the junkies on streets around the central market. No one is going to mug you if they view you as someone who is truly helping out.

5. Buy a bunch of toys. Instead of sitting in the News Cafe, pounding liquor and gawking at chicas. Go out into the street and hand-out presents to K*ds. The average tico basically views the DR, News Cafe, and the like as pure evil and sin. Who do they see sitting in there? Gringos. Thus, you get my point. They see us as bad people. Look into the K*D's eyes and then the parent's eyes, as you hand-out the toy. I guarantee it will be a look of complete surprise. You will feel better afterwards.

6. Here's an easy one. Buy your maid toys for her K*ds. She probably has difficulty getting in the Xmas spirit, when she sees you dragging 18 year old chicas into the room for debauchery. After which, she needs to clean the cum-ridden sheets and condoms. Imagine her eyes when you sincerely hand her a present.

Okay, I'm not the image of moral perfection. However, this year I plan to do something different down here. Nothing major. I might even take my puppy to make visits to the K*ds hospital. I'm not certain. The point I'm trying to make is there is an alternative to sending hookers money and little by little, the ticos may begin to view us in a positive light.

Okay, I be done.

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Chi,

Good advice....I'm one step ahead of you. My carry-on is always full of toys, pencils, erasers, crayons, coloring books, etc. for the little ones. It really makes me feel good to do something like this for the Ch*ldren.....and the chicas reward me TEN FOLD...easily.

As you mentioned.....the donations are a terriffic idea as well. So many truly needy people in Costa Rica.

I have a Korean friend, about my same age. She was born about the time of the Korean War and as a Ch*ld, she remembers going hungry, but also remembers, and often mentions to me, the packages of food and aid with the wording on the package...."A GIFT FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES." Imagine the positive image this would create for the United States, around the world, if we could continue this on a much larger scale than we are presently.

Zebra

The donation idea is great. As for our image, I think it is tico jealousy more than anything. They could have the the money we have. But they would have to work more hours, something they are allergic to. I had quite a discussion after my afternoon spanish class on my last trip to CR with the school administrator and a few of the tico teachers. They could not believe I worked an 80 hour work week. After laying out my exact schedule they were shocked. I have been doing it for so long I would not know what to do with less of a schedule. And many of the people I know work 70+ hours a week anyway. Rather normal where I live. They all told me they do not like to work more than 30 hours a week and take as long a holiday as possible.

What we got down to was it was all a matter of choice and priorities. They want to work less and spend more time with family. I can respect that, just do not complain when you have less money than someone else. In the end, especially the ticos, should be very greatful for us gringos. We send money to the mothers of the Ch*ldren they quickly run away from. We allow them to earn money quickly so they can spend more time with the Ch*ldren ticos so quickly discard. Imagine if the gringos should disappear completely. These single moms would be reforming the laws and making alot of the same policies that states like CA have regarding Ch*ld support. Making life for these runaway tico dads more difficult. At any rate, we also provide a great cover for them. The ticos tell thier tica wives or novias that only gringos go to those kind of places, mps etc. Meanwhile they go twice a week.

Mr las vegas. Nice post. I would like to add that men tourist from other countries are also jealous as we seem to spend and tip the girls + the girls would rather go with an american.

thanks Chi.

great idea.

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(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Your view of ticos is the exact arrogance I was talking about. The population in CR is close to 4 million people. The ticos that ditched their wives and consequently become hookers in the DR are less than .5% of the 4 million. Not all ticos are lazy either. I too used to work close to 80 hours of week. It was complete bullshit and I'm happy to be out of that crap. Most Americans would freak out if they were stuck in 80 hour per weeks jobs. Europeans would just laugh at the thought. So, you are saying all ticos are lazy because the ones in your class couldn't imagine an 80 hour week? Open your eyes man!

You're ridiculous man. They were probably laughing at you for torturing yourself and bragging about.

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http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

Here's another point of ignorance and arrogance. Most jobs in CR are heavily regulated by labor unions. For example, grocery stores have strict regulations around working overtime. You need special permission.

Another point... my girlfriend works about 50 hours a week..... 6 days per week.... for almost nothing. You call that lazy? Her brothers work about the same.

I have a tico friend that has 3 jobs. He practically works around the clock to support his family. He wakes every day at 5 AM and works until about 9 PM.

You have a very narrow view of Costa Rica my friend.

_________________
http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

How will donating to a hospital instead of sending it to a DR girl change our image in the Ticos' eyes? What we send or don't send to putas has absolutely no barring on how we are seen in Ticos' eyes.

I fail to make the connection.

Ticos view us as rich, drunk whore mongers. How can you not make that connection?

_________________
http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

Thanks for the explanation , but I still don't get it.

Will you announce in La Nacion for all to see that you sent $300 to Ch*ldren's Hospital instead of sending it to Maria, Del Rey chica?

I still don't see how this will change our image, in general?

I'm all about donating to charity... It's a good way to make you feel better about yourself, but will do nothing as far as how we're seen by the general population.

just being polite and not drinking until you don't know who or where you are would improve our image..

KB Wrote:



I agree with this for the most part with one exception, the Ch*ldren and families that receive the gifts. The happiness of that Ch*ld to receiving a gift, could aid in his/her recovery. If nothing else, just happy as hell for that moment in time.

I will do this when I return in January, and I don't even care if the Ch*ldren that receive the gifts know who it came from. Receiving something at a critical time in their life, when it seemed life sucked, could possibly change their lives forever. If not, it will make them very happy for a moment when they could some happiness.

Chi_trekker, I would like to PM you prior to my arrival and make arrangements with you to do something for Ch*ldren in hospitals. If you think it would be better to have me do it, that is fine. I also have no problem with being a secret Santa.

Health & happiness to all.......

Steve - Santas Bro

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That is a good start for your girlfriend, but she needs to work 30 more hours. Then I will not think of her as lazy anymore.

I take it CR is your first overseas residency, a good start but hope you will branch out. I have lived/ worked in 6 countries. My work attitude/ ethic is Taiwanese, not American. One of the 6 countries I lived in. You will find yourself defending Americans more and more. Is part of the game. I only defended Americans when my Canadian coworkers were insulting us. Most of the time the locals are right. We have alot of undesirable people with passports, that is a problem.
But problem we may be, tourism off sets alot of local costs. Wether in Orlando, Las Vegas, Bangkok, or good old San Jose, CR visitors bring in alot of necessary tax dollars and create opportunities for locals. In the end ticos, unlike Mexicans, can see this and will benefit financially in the long run. And that is what is most important, anyway.

As for comments on Europeans, I have worked in Spain with Spaniards and the French. Both very dull and bitter groups of people. If they were laughing at me, I would take it as a compliment.

The gifts and donations are a great idea. They always are.

I have to remind myself that prostitution is a legal occupation in CR and really the only reason that I continue to go there and continue to spend money. I've seen the tourist sights, been to the volcanoes etc. but still continue to go back for the women as do thousands of other gringos like myself pouring ten of millions of dollars into the country's economy.

I guess I'm lucky, I don't get RFM but I am also pretty clear to the chicas that that is not an option.