www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have lived in CR for about four years now. Believe it or not - the major factor that drives me crazy the most - is the amount of time I have wasted. When I peak into the future, and estimate how much more time I'll waste, I almost choke and think maybe its time to pack-up and move home again.

1. Time wasted to get a business phone line installed - which never actually got installed - 4 days.
2. Time wasted on cell phone issues with ICE - 4 weeks.
3. Time wasted on my residency - 2 years.
4. Time wasted on my drivers license - 2 days.
5. Time wasted at the US Embassy - 2 weeks over 4 years.
6. Time wasted trying to make money in CR - 4 years.
7. Time wasted parking my ass at the HDR or other spots in the gulch - 1 year.
8. Time wasted on the Registro Nacional - 2-3 days.
9. Time wasted waiting in line at the bank - who the phuck is counting???
10. Time wasted in traffic? 4 years, 2 hours per day... more or less. Distance = no more than 10 kilometers.
11. Time wasted on dead business prospects - months or more.

Now you understand my point. The problem I have is I'm gringo - or more correctly put - I'm Anglo Saxon. Us Anglos tend to put a value on time. In some cases, the value is monetary, such as my bill rate. In other cases, the value of my time, can be the opportunity cost of not doing other things - such as: having fun, making money, working on the house, spending time with my K*ds, enjoying the sunset.

For a tico - wasting a full day in line at Migration - is a day well spent. For me - its an abomination. The whole concept of "Hay que hacer fila" or worse "Hay que pagar alguien para hacer fila" is nothing more than pure stupidity. If I was retired and had 15-20 years to kill before I get "planted". Maybe wasting time is okay? That also seems to be reverse. Seems like you wouldn't want to waste time - during the latter portion of your life. However, I can also understand wanting to dip your stick, like a crazy old coot, before pushing daisies. Or, I suppose if I was running from the IRS or hiding from Ch*ld support, wasting time would be more acceptable.

My significant other is tica. To her, wasting time is normal. In fact, because tomorrow isn't important, the only way to schedule things are on the fly. She can't think 2 days into the future. Its an impossible task. It makes her eyebrows twitch and she gets all uncomfortable and mad when we talk about next month. I have been a consultant for most of life and have managed large software projects. Everything I have been trained to do is meant to be scheduled. Tracked. And, then reported. Hours earned versus hours burned. Scope creep and slippage. To my other half - a future without much opportunity - is no reason to panic unless they will cut your water off to remind you of it every week. In fact, the last time she emptied her Colones account, which is her allowance... I let them cut off the water and took a shower at the gym. Why? She still cannot make ANY ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MONEY, TIME AND BILLS. They are totally disconnected things. When she makes her account go to zero - I get charged a minimum balance fee of 8,000 c's. So, I timed that event - with the water event, and explained to her that she spent all of our money, now we can't pay for water. You would think she could make a connection - however - she only got mad because there was no water.

After three years with her, I can say that change is impossible. Or, perhaps impossible down here. If she could be exposed to the concept of a New York minute... and her family is not around to cry about it. Maybe evolution will happen. The Mexicans I knew in Chicago were certainly on the clock. Worked like crazy. Understood the value of money an time. Teaching her about time and money - is like trying to teach a rock to talk.

FYI... I'm only writing this post - because today I have to waste my morning away. She is busy with tramites and I'm watching the K*D - thus can't really work. Her tramite - she needs to get a doctors note in San Jose. Time required = 4 hours. Am I the only frustrated one?

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

Chi,
I agree with you about the inefficiency in CR. The banks are the absolute worst.

In the quote above, are you ranting about your girlfriend or are you saying that ALL Ticos/Ticas are this way? I don't believe all Ticos think this way. My Tica wife has never been unable to make the connection between money, time, and bills. In fact, she sometimes asks me if I paid an important bill that was due. It sounds like maybe you need to find a more mature/intelligent girlfriend.

Very entertaining post..


Cujo

_________________
"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

After reading that post and thinking back on a lot of your posts it really seems Costa Rica is not the place for you.

The way things are here is the way things are and they are not going to change because they do not fit into the way you are use to things working or the way you want them to work.

You can either adjust to Costa Rica or continue the way you are and continue to be frustrated, exasperated and any rated you can think of. The simple truth is Costa Rica is not for everyone and many gringos move back to the states because they were either unable or unwilling to adjust.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

costa rico banks......you walk in, grab a # sit there then wait and look and wait .....then after 15mins ...you look up and see that you took the wrong number from the machine ...the one you have is for the loan officer and not the one to exchange money,,,,as the tico's sit next to the entire time, knowing you have the wrong number ....for a place that is poor ....there she is alot of people going to the bank every day (never could understand why so many people are at the bank everyday)

.

Great post C_t some real insight into how it is for a guy down there that's used to getting shit done. Being of similar work ethic (time is $$, scheduling, meeting deadlines) I would also be pulling my hair out since things like incompetence, stupidity and standing in line for hrs. annoy the hell out of me. Good to know I made the right decision staying in the states- working hard when I want to and hopping on a plane when I want to. Buena suerte!

So how may time did you spend phucking...

_________________
"THE TRUTH IS' EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HURT YOU. YOU JUST GOTTA FIND THE ONE WORTH SUFFERING FOR"
Robert Nesta Marley

Well said, ID.

_________________
Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

ID - I agree with your point. I have tried to be flexible and I have tried adjusting. However, I will never, ever have the patience for the bureaucratic nonsense that happens everyday here. Don't get me wrong - I don't flatly hate CR. I'm just tired of the complete waste of my time. Today, I lost 4 hours of work because we needed a doctors note - to say that - yes in fact my baby was born in a hospital. Even though, the birth certificate clearly states "Hospital XYZ" in San Jose Costa Rica. When I turn this note in, they will probably tell me that its vencido or that I need stamps, which will be another 4 phucking hours of my life.

I'm currently trying to find ways to get my clan up north. This is why I lost 4 hours today. I need a doctors note, to validate a birth certificate, to get a US Passport. This wasn't the only thing I needed. I needed to run around town for days collecting all the documentation. Then, add traffic and retarded drivers to mix.... and you get my point - TIME WASTED.

FYI.... you all might say.... Whoahhhhhh thats the US Embassy, not Costa Rica. However, anyone that goes there enough knows that the US Embassy is just another large, bureaucratic tico organization. From the waiting tickets (just like in the banks) to the chairs that you sit in for hours upon end (just like in banks or any other organization, to the Tico that is sitting at the window..... to all the business processes inside. Despite the flag on the building, the US Embassy is more tico than gringo.

Can someone please explain a new driving technique that I have recently been seeing more and more? If a person needs to make a left, the person in back can pull up on the left hand side of that guy to TURN RIGHT, completely cutting off the person with the actual right to turn. And, turn RIGHT to get around traffic. Basically, the main street has traffic mostly in the opposite lane. So, the guy in back figures... phuck oncoming traffic and possible head on collisions. I'll go around. If he doesn't see me, then we will all crash and leave our cars in middle of the street, completely backing up traffic for miles.

I see this whole paragraph above as being symbolic of life in Costa Rica. Laziness and cheating (illegal right hand turn), bad traffic, bureaucracy (the investigators that come out), leaving your car out in traffic (laziness and waiting in line) and blocking up roads (more waiting in line)... and finally.... being late which is called tico time. This can also explain the other seemingly unrelated problems down here: lying, cheating and stealing. If you put enough generations through tico time, over centuries, what happens? People get poorer. People get lazy. Poor and lazy people typically don't work much. People who don't work much, still need to eat. Thus, lying, cheating and petty thief become a survival mechanism. No one has money. There is no incentive to work extra hours. There is no legal enforcement, because the system is corrupt and broken.

I guess I took the the thread in a new direction - however - I'm still waiting for the doctors note. Normally, tramites take 4 hour. This one is experiencing an extra helping of tico time, as it is taking six hours.

Entertainment and reality.

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

Not to get completely off point but since Chi_trekker mentions driving practices that are completely alien to those use to driving in the U.S. lets examine that a bit.

I submit and I think that anyone who lives here and drives will agree that traffic enforcement is basically non existent. Transito's, the only police force in the country that can enforce traffic rules, number about 800. Even if they all were on road duty at the same time that would only mean 1 officer for over each 5000 people. Lets disregard the fact that most of those on duty are sitting under a large shade tree either using a radar gun to monitor speed or looking at windshields to catch motorists without a current marchamo or retive decal.

Given that lets assume the same situation existed in the U.S. where from the time you got your drivers license you drove with relative impunity from traffic rules because you knew no one was going to pull you over and issue a you a ticket and even if they did pull you over a $10.00 bill would take care of the situation.

My take on this is if that were the case driving habits in the U.S. would very closely resemble what you see in CR. That's just my thoughts I would be interested in hearing yours.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

No disagreement there. However, you can use that argument or position with anything. For example, taxes are poorly enforced in CR. A tax guy came by my door once in 4 years. He handed me a bill with my direction, but the wrong name. I assume it was the former owner. I told him "I can't accept or pay a tax bill without my name on it." He said "Pura Vida!!!!!" and I haven't seen him since. Likewise, you could say if the IRS carried a "Pura Vida" attitude that ABSOLUTELY NO ONE would pay their US tax bill and our government would be broke like down here. (BTW... isn't the US government already broke? Assets = liabilities minus owners equity... probably so. Who knows?)

So ID, to answer you question - YES I AGREE. However, I'm not judging the actual people directly. For example, I'm not saying that tico drivers are naturally shitty. For example, a tico born and brought up in the US may drive exactly at the same level as anyone else. However, down here, there is a certain degree of idiocy to the whole thing. I agree the system in CR keeps them shitty drivers. However, the concept of tico time, laziness and cheating must make things worse. So, its more the environment they learn in and a bad enforcement system.

That cut-off right turn (in the oncoming traffic lane) is just pure idiocy. Not only is it dangerous. But, its a complete lack of respect for the guy with the true right to turn. You are not getting anywhere faster using this stupid technique. You are just being little sheister and will one day cause an accident. You can also say the same for the guys on the rotundas that cross three lanes and cut everyone off to exit... cussing the whole way. They never were taught that you need to "merge" your way to the outside lane to exit the rotunda. But, in reality, it is also a form of being lazy and cheating. Someone also needs to explain the concept of coming to a complete stop in the middle of a busy highway. I see this all the time and it is a perfect example of tico time extreme. The highways are designed for higher throughput, at higher speeds than traditional roads.

When they started the Peaje on the pista to Calderon, that giant tariff of $.55 was just too much for must commuters. First they got mad about it. Mad at the construction company. You name it. Then, they got brilliant and decided to use Calle Vieja instead. This is just about the most stupid boycott I have ever seen. So, what happened? They add about an hour to a trip that should take 5 minutes. Plus, they consume about $5 in gasoline more. So, it actually costs more in time and money. Woops - there I did it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made a connection between time and money. This is because I'm anglo. The ticos that cheat - to avoid paying $.55 - have zero value for their time. One hour means nothing. And, they are so lazy, they can't do the math, and realize it actually COSTS MORE!!!!! Or they just don't care, because the company that pays their salary, fills their tank.

Put that last paragraph in your pipe and smoke it... Later tell me what you think...

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

Chi you know I am a drug addict and x con. I started off saying that to let you know I have first hand experince of waiting in welfare and other lines that are there for the sole purpose of supporting the system. The US system.

And we are broke here looking for more ways to spend money. The affirmitive action bubble is killing us all. The economist this week says angery white men on the cover. The gist is we just appionted to the Supreme court a woman who made her name saying white men need not apply. We have forty years here of the least quilified being promoted because of their sex or color not because of their test scores. So, be prepared when you get back.

Next, your women the mother of your Ch*ldren will do what is needed. As long as she has you all she needs to do is be a mother. That will not change. If you die and she becomes a widow. Then you would be able to see how your K*ds faired. For you own sake. Just love her for who she is. If you expect the worst and it ends up better who will be happier? Just a thought.

Where you headed for in the states? Back to Chicago? Texas seems to be the only state with low unemployment and property vaules not going down. Well I thank you for all the good advice you have shared. I truly wish you the best. And wonder how your home made UPS is holding up? I am in the DC suburbs and would be glad to have you for awhile if in the area. RED

_________________
Take a walk on the wild side.

Thanks for the honesty redman! The homemade UPS works, isn't really homemade. I bought a 1800 Watt system with two 100 VA batteries. I have connected to it lamps, fans, tvs and computers via the circuit breaker. So, far it works like charm usually. Lights go out. Mine stay on. I'm the only one on the street with lights. In fact, someone even commented on how - I said spend $1k and you can have it too. However, doesn't always work perfect. If there is a giant spike up or down, it can't handle it, and kicks off. However, mostly works great!

On the affirmative action comment, although borderline political, I agree. My first job was a government job. I will become politically incorrect if I go any further.

Concerning my previous comment about the Peaje, I'm surprised on one else chimed in. Its the most ridiculously stupid boycott I have ever seen. Its only affect is:

The Calle Vieja is falling apart because it is not designed to handle the weight and volume (water main broke under the street once and they had to cut the water off city-wide twice to repair it. While they were working on it, traffic was at a stand still for miles. More tico time in effect.
The investment in infrastructure, which is supposed to be for the future good of the country is not getting paid for. Pura vida! The Spanish company that did the work will probably go bust and not be able to make improvements or maintain the thing.
Ticos are losing money. Not saving money. $.55 and 5 minutes versus $5.00 and 2 hours. Yep - the latter is much cheaper.
Tico time is fully being reinforced, because now everyone can say I'm late because of trafico.(well it because they took the long-cut to stupidly avoid the peaje

This whole thing has bothered me, because I use the calle vieja everyday. I live on a street connected to it. The day this bullshit all started, I voted (in my own mind) to build Peajes that are more expensive, so maybe $.75 or 450 Cs, to get into escazu via calle veaje. The Escazu Peaje money would go towards rebuilding the friggin' road damage in Escazu, water main breakage and infrstructure that is already destroyed. Ofcourse, residents of Escazu should enter Peaje-free with a sticker or something on their placa that denotes Escazu.

I bet the locals when then grudgingly start using the real Pista. The investment would get paid sooner. And, best of all, they don't have a reason to be late to work, because, the pista is built for speed and throughput. This is the ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WHOLE WORLD that builds a highway, then complains about it, doesn't use it, and then wrecks the main street through one of its nicest suburbs.

With respect to the new highway to Calderon and the tariff that people are boycotting, I elect to replace the term PURA VIDA!!!! with PURA ESTUPIDA!!! and TICO TIME with "I'M A CHEAP, LAZY, CHEATING AND STUPID PERSON AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING."

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

Manifest destiny is still alive and well I see. Lucky for the Ticos they have established a society of Pura Vida and by the sounds of it could give two $hits about western Ideas of "time is money = progress", you would know better then me though. I hear that in 'general' Ticos are some of the coolest/laid back folks around...Here's a good one. "There comes a point in life where you either accept whatever you're doing and just exist, or stop talking about what you used to be and do something completely different". I've lived on the west coast, in the Midwest and on the East coast of the U.S.A. and I've dealt with your same frustration in dealing with any bureaucratic situation. Just the way it is everywhere. Good luck with everything, hope it all works out for you. Just remember the grass is always greener...