Mr. GR wrote:
[i]Personally, if I were ever again to jump into the novia game, here's how I would do it. First, have the luxury of spending an extended time living in the country - say, three months minimum - and immerse myself in the culture and in better learning the language. Next, make a concerted effort to meet regular "non-pro" girls with good jobs from good families, skewing towards their late-20's/early 30's, preferrably with no prior marriages or Ch*ldren, with interests and hobbies in common with my own. Finally, actually court them - spend time getting know each other, go out on regular dates - all the while offering the respect they deserve and insisting on the same in return. [/i]
And like QuickBlueFox said in another thread recently, I probably wouldn't pick Costa Rica as my first choice to try this - especially when places like Medellin and Lima seem to offer much better chances of success.
With all do respect to GR .... Its a good post ... and by no means am I questioning or passing judgement on anyone ... to each their own ... but for me there is always a cynical but real perspective to all this.
1. 3 months in another country ... for most of us or me ... ummm ... work would get in the way especially if your talking consecutively ... If you have the luxury of spending consecutive weeks by all means do it ... but to line up months at a time in a 3rd world country ... good luck keeping your sanity and your current job.

Not unless I get into early retirement or my own business ... and then the dynamics change ... time will probably not be the major issue ... now its about finding someone not too young and too energetic who is not looking simply for her next party ... every other day
2. Learning the language ... well that may be the easiest task of all ... it is always a good idea to increase the level of communication and regardless of the need for her to learn English...we should have a vested interest in learning spanish ... I think I can handle that one
3. OXYMORONS --- 1. Non Pro - Good Family in 3rd World Country (possible - like finding beachball in haystack). 2. Non pro - Good Job in 3rd world country (slightly possible - like finding a golf ball in haystack). 3. Non pro - In late 20's early 30's no Ch*ldren (Not Possible - like finding ball bearing in haystack)
4. Finding a 3rd world girl with hobbies similiar to yours? Hmmm...wonder if I can find one that is into golf, the NFL, traveling, woman in variety, etc (OK...maybe not woman in variety) ... or does that mean I need to get into soccer, going to the beach, surfing the net, cruising the local mall and marketplaces and eating rice, beans and plantains for every meal?
5. Spend the time going out on regular dates? Hmmm ... How many movies with subtitles can we see? ... and shame on me if I fatten up a 3rd world girl by taking her to restaurant after restaurant ... not many say NO. So I guess I shouldnt blame her when she goes from super fine to cute gordita. Is a date really ever regular when you see someone at a rate of no more then once every month or 2 or 3 or 6 or 12?
6. Respect. My feeling is respect, if you can even get it on your terms, does not come easy and not without Money ... and guess who has the money. You met her in the land of mongerers and regardless of whether she is non-pro or not (...and is she really a non-pro 100% of the time) she knows you have p4p in your blood ... and you will always be leery of her flipping the switch to "pro" status should a family or personal emergency/situation arises. Yes, she knows your a mongerer at heart ...why else are you in her country and spending your days doing really absolutely nothing in her eyes but wasting money that could be spent towards her needs/desires...Not unless the line about you coming to Costa Rica for the Coffee and/or fishing gets you over. LOL
7. Is Costa Rica the place? I have never met a pro that is interested in leaving Costa Rica ... I would doubt if a non-pro wants to leave (just my speculation) ... Costa Rica, however 3rd world we want to see it provides a peaceful home and simple life to those born there and those who come there from other countries ... they do not have rebels, insurgents, cartels and favelas chasing people out ... (yes there is crime and possible crooked cops, but it is no more there than in the better places to live i.e. North America) and on top of that ... I don't think I have ever met a girl from Costa Rica in the United States (and have met only a few who said that they were ever in the U.S.) ... not saying that there aren't...I just have never met one. Costa Rica is not Brasil or the DR ... there aren't woman there, like crabs in a barrel, trying all means necessary to get to the US.
However, I have met quite a few Peruvian woman here ... and good luck getting a Columbiana into this country outside of the mail order route.
Good post from way back GR always good for me to be introspective...even if sometimes in a cynical way
Peruvian woman ... great non pro call!!!