www.CostaRicaTicas.com

When I chose my handle, Sonrisa (Spanish for “smile”), I chose it with some intention. I’m a “cup half full” kind-of guy and look for the bright side of life even when I’m in a room full of horse manure (which has happened to me more than a few times, but thankfully not in a literal sense).

My hope is that all of us who are a part of CRT can “raise the bar” in more than one way. We are guests of another country and perhaps we can bring some smiles and a few random acts of kindness on our visits. Here are a few random acts of kindness I've tried this past year:

1) Treat everyone (yes, especially the ladies) with respect and kindness. Trying to secure the best price, turning down someone or rejecting the most recent cien proposition doesn't negate the opportunity to be nice. And with those special ladies, finding ways to be considerate is a win-win for everyone. The ways to be considerate are many and varied from making the ladies feel comfortable and secure to a small gift to a word of compliment to a small or reasonable tip. Any other ideas?

2) Learning some kind words of gratitude and friendship in Spanish. One of the great joys I have treasured over the last year of visiting Costa Rica is the opportunity to learn another language. I am not fluent, but I am functional and know how and when to say "gracias", "por favor" and “con mucho gusto” as well as now carry on conversations about families, friends and life in general. I highly recommend learning some Spanish as well as a little about Costa Rica history and geography. It has enriched my life and challenge me to use more than my little brain while there.

3) Snack treats. I'm not a big fan of giving money to the countless beggars (who knows what it will be used for?), but I do not mind at all helping someone with the basics of life, especially a little food. So one of my first stops (yes, even before HDR, Idem or Zona Blue . . . well, most of the time) is to stop by a grocery story and pick up some fruit bars. My first trip I brought some with me, but figure I might as well help the local economy in other ways than I normally do. When walking the streets of San Jose and someone asks me for money or I see someone obviously in need, I tell I have an extra candy bar/fruit bar and offer it to them. And whenever I see someone asleep on the street, I drop a candy bar or fruit bar next to them. I sure don't want to increase the beggar problem, but also do not want to be callous or insensitive to the apparent problems.

4) 5% more. Whenever I eat at a restaurant, when I receive the bill I look for the service charge (10% of the bill) and then leave at least 5% more as an extra tip. Initially, I thought this might hurt the regular Ticos by raising the expected price for them. But then I got to thinking, "Heck, with my light blue eyes, white skin and crappy accent they know I'm no Tico. So a little extra from a Gringo isn't going to hurt or raise the same expectation for the locals. It’s just a nice thing to do. And if the service and/or food was great, I'll throw in an extra 10%, just like I do back home.

So now, let me ask my fellow CRT members, what are your favorite ways or what might be your suggestions to express appreciation and/or practice a few random acts of kindness while we are guests of a very open and gracious country?

Do unto others what you would want others to do unto you.

This is nice to do while visiting Costa Rica and is nice to do in any other country. It is the only rule for ethics one needs in life.

Good for you Sonrisa.

Dear Bleeding Heart Meester Nice Guy,

I too try to bring a little sunshine into the otherwise dim and cloudy world that is Costa Rica. Like so many gringos, I have the ability to instantly improve the lives of everyone with whom I come into contact.

1. The prostitutes: I know a couple guys who buy little gifts appropriate for either male or female offspring of the ladies. Most of these gals have young 'uns; a good option is coloring books and crayons. Stuffed animals take up too much suitcase space. Often, the way to a woman's heart is to gift her k*ds.

2. Beggars and fruit bars. I'd be curious to know the reaction of the junkies, glue sniffers, petty criminals, vagrants, alcoholics etc. when little Murray Sunshine drops a fruit snack on their semi-conscious bodies. Let me relate the experience of a now-absent CRT member, El Lamero. Last year, he brought the Burnt Boy a sandwich, taking the guy's word that he was hungry. The poor, horribly-burned teenager took one look at the sandwich...then threw it into the gutter. This will sound incredibly cruel: Don't feed the monkeys. Sonrisa, these folks are beyond craving food. Most are looking for the next fix. You want to make their glasses half-full in the midst of all their private horse manure? Find a tube of airplane glue, a bottle of guaro, a pack of cigarettes or another drug whose discussion is prohibited by Forum rules. They don't need or want your damn fruit bars, gringo.

3. Learning Spanish: Yes it's essential, but you're not doing the locals any favors by speaking their language. You're just doing what is respectful and respected, not to mention making your own life easier. Good idea, nonetheless.

Aside from giving fruit bars to the mendigos, I agree with your post wholeheartedly, but come on. Isn't this how all of us were raised? The Golden Rule and all that? I have tried to live that rule, not only because it's part of my religious upbringing but because it makes good sense. And hey, I also believe in karma and that everything you do comes back to you.

My own rules:

1. Treat the local folks with the same friendliness, patience and regard you'd give your neighbors back home...but even better.

2. Treat a whore like a lady. Never forget that with all her lying, manipulations, tactics, falseness, insincerity, chicanery and occasional criminality, she's not just a Sperm Waste Disposal Site. Hell, treat her like your sister, particularly if you're incestuous.

3. Kick the beggars only if you can get away with it (you usually can't). Give the mendigos no more that a 50 colones (ten cents) coin...then make 'em work for it. Throw it, don't hand it. These apes carry diseases.

4. Tip policemen generously, particularly the Policia Municipal in San Jose. A 5,000 colones bill is always appreciated, but you'll need several 10,000 colones notes to gift your way out of any real legal troubles (like getting caught kicking a beggar).


5. Useful Spanish phrases that show you're a loving, polite person:

Huay puta (from "hijo de puta") = I think your Mom is nice
Besame el culo = I want to get to know you better
Tengo ganas a culear su hermana = I would like to get to know your family.
Chyupeme hasta que me inchan los huevos = Are you hungry? I offer food.
Me gustan drogas. Tiene algunas a compartir? = Let's spend some social time together.

And yeah, I'm a half-full glass guy.

(The above post was mostly, not completely tongue-in-cheek, in case you missed it).

"Optimist and pessimist,
The difference is quite droll
The optimist sees the doughnut
The pessimist sees the hole."
- Ogden Nash

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Keep it simple & always respectful, be good & good things will happen.

_________________
"Run silent, run deep"
Spunk glazed Chicas are the building blocks of the universe!

My 1st night at the Beatle bar an ugly chica pitched me for her services. I said no gracias, she asked me to buy her a drink, I did.The next night she pitched me again, again I said no gracias, and bought her a whisky. The next night I saw her and she just smiled, so I sent her a whisky. The next night , the bartender sat a fresh margarita down, told me who sent it and to say that she thought I was a good person. Hell , the bartender even paid me more attention after that. On the 5th or 6th night the ugly chica told me her cousin would be there soon and that she would need to make some money. The cousin arrived 11:00 and she was tall, slim and hot, fresh off a coffee plantation from northern CR. I offered 70 for all night and she accepted. This girl was probably the best looking tica I spent time with, a true GFE. The facts are that if it hadnt been for me being kind to the ugly chica, I would have never met the beautiful cousin. I think karma is real.

Raw, that may be the best report I've ever heard on CRT! ...a few acts of kindness...what goes around comes around, both 'good' and 'bad'.


You must watch Carson Daly too! (this is a 'My Name is Earl' joke).

I always tip the beggars (especially the burned K*D out front---you know who I am talking about) and the homeless youth on the street almost bring tears to my eyes. I always give them some cash.

I believe in Karma as well and I didn't really believe in it so much until I started giving money to the poor and hungry (my company donates several thousands of dollars a year to Food for the Poor, a non profit organization and the Ch**drens CHristian fun) and it seems the more I give, the more I get back.

Every time I go to TJ I bring some extra dollar bills to give to the homeless mothers who sleep on the street on the way to the border. Every time I do this, I come back to check my emails for online purchases and it is usually filled with several orders. This isn't why I do this though. I do it because I really feel bad for those poor people on the street. Now, I know that can be coincidental, but it happens more often than not so I will take it for what it is worth.

Plus most of the people in CR are so nice, it is almost hard not to be nice to them and/or give to them. My ex girlfriend was from CR and it was her niceness that drew me to this country. I remember thinking at the time "how anyone could be so nice and where in world is she from"? When I came to CR I found out.

Hola otra vez, mis amigos! Once again, this is Bleeding Heart Meester Nice Guy, Murray Sunshine and Sonrisa. Thanks for your input. All of your said it a whole lot better than I did on my elongated initiation of this thread . . . and a whole lot more succinct! As one of my colleagues said when I finished making a presentation: "That speech would have been twice as good if it'd been half as long." Looks like "The Golden Rule" and "Karma" are alive and well in our midst. And if we ever meet, El Ciego, I'll bring along a box of fruit bars we can enjoy with our Imperial beers as we sit in the CRT designated seating section of the Blue Marlin.

Okay. Thanks for the translation, I am sure there might be a few members that don’t know that.



Heard it before. Many people with a few posts think they are going to educate us poor mongers.



Mucho Gusto. I think that was what the army was thinking when they sent me to the Command Language Institute and sent me to Latin America.



The vast majority of the beggars are substance abusers, just like in the states. Give them a snack treat and they might just give you a smack treat, then treat themselves to your wallet.



Every heard the saying, “When in Rome……” there is a reason for it and a reason why lots of Ticos think we are foolish with our money, which we are and it just makes the situation worse, it drives prices up and makes people a little bit more jaded and greedy as they compete for the Gringos extra gratitude. When I was in London a year ago, I was told to pick up a few pence that was left on the server tray as they tip was a service charge that was included in the price of the drinks. Since an Englishmen was telling me this, I did as I was told. When in Rome….

Of course that is just my opinion........

Well, Tim, you certainly added a dose of antiserum to this love-fest. I say treat no one worse than you do gringas, esepecially those who've phucked you over the most. What's wrong with that?

Seriously, I don't think you need to be any other way than you are at home. There are plenty of poor people and girls who will phuck you in your own backyard if you want to exercise benevolence. What counts is one's behavior toward others in the long run. No single act of kindness will wash away the "Scrooge" effect, assuming that's who you'd prefer being.

_________________
"Don't never trust a woman, till she's dead and deep....One day she'll say she loves you, next day she'll throw you on the street."

"...and if men didn't have this unquenchable desire to have sex with women, then they wouldn't have anything to do with women at all. I certainly wouldn't..."

Something some of you may want to try,
is when you are talking to one of the girls,
even if you are not really that interested
in having sex with her, and she happens to
mention that today, or the next day, or even
the following week, is her childs birthday,
slip her $20, and tell her to throw her
baby a birthday party. A birthday party is something
some of these girls can't give to their Ch*ld,
due to higher priority items.
You will have a friend for life.
ShyOne

Raw,

That story is a classic.

It should be a sticky.

Ace.

_________________
PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

OK....here is my recent story

Saw an old DR worker that had spent some time with my friend going out of one of the popular hotels. She said she was out of the "business" and wanted to work in a restaurant at this hotel.
I put in a good word for her with the boss and gave her 5,000 colones to help her out a bit.
She did get the job and is very happy. I am very happy for her and wish her all the best improving her life.

King Costa

ok my turn...

One night i walk into HDR around 2/3:00 ish. I run into my "friend". She is a regular of mine, a very nice Colombiana (ya i know , but we have had MANY sessions together). Anyway, she looks very tired, said she hasn't had any business tonight, etc. I say "look, i just returned from my "semi-novia", i don't need any company (sexo), but if you want to go upstairs and sleep for a while for no money, thats fine". She said sure. We sleep, no sexo. Next morning while she is in the bathroom, i put 20,000 colones on top of her purse plus a couple candy bars from the mini-bar for her bambino's. We have breakfast at the Del Mar, i give her a hug, put her in a cab, and tell her to have a good day with her bambino's. Smart? Good karma? Damn right

Good one Raw. Makes ya put stuff in perspective. What comes around, goes around!!