Zman wrote:
The culture has changed quite alot over the last 10 years or so. Most of the young ticos I work with wear shorts all the time. There are also alot of Ticos downtown wearing shorts during the day also. I wear shorts downtown from time to time and I always thought what a petty thing to get upset over, a tourist wearing shorts.
At night in a nice restaurant , that is a different story. Tacky low class, makes you look like trailer trash. I read some report the other day which claimed that americans were the worst dressers while traveling in the world. The germans were the rudest.
One thing for sure that has changed in the last 10 years is the dislike of americans. That is definately on the rise. Ticos like to blame others for their problems but so many americans have no clue. Strutting around with your 20 yr old (girlfriend) when you are 60 or so does not impress Ticos. Nor does leering at 12-16 yr old girls. Lately it seems everytime I am talking to a gringo he is leering at some schoolgirls like he is in jr high school. Believe me that reinforces the gringo is a pervert stereotype. I always tell these guys hey she is about 12 yrs old, oh they say but she is pretty. A young girl cannot even sit in front of the national theater without some diddler trying to offer her some money, I see it all the time.
Act like a guest.
thats the shit that makes me cringe. i've looked on in horror while a young girl, albeit a working girl was chatted up on a busy street in san jose by a group of gringos. large crowds of ticos were present and the looks on the peoples faces was so unreal. i practically ran and hid around the corner. the hatred was palpable.
i remember catching myself staring at young latinas after my first ever monger trip to TJ. and then having the epiphany. just because you can pay for it doesn't mean you can Phuck anything that moves. i think a lot of guys never make the distinction.
its too bad because the rest of us have to live it down.