©
Laure Alvarez
Costa Rica Travel Guide
©
Laure Alvarez
Costa Rica's customs can be a little different from what you are used to in England. For travellers who aren't used to Latin American habits, a little overview is indspensable!
It is common to ask your guest for news of their family. This shows they are important to you, which will please themand is considered to be polite. Asking questions about their job is also a good way to start a conversation. You could also ask questions about the country, of which they are usually very proud, and ask for advice on where to go during your trip. Don't talk about money if you don't know the person very well as it is a delicate subject.
During your trip to Costa Rica, you should avoid informal language when you first meet someone in any situation that is even slightly formal. It's recommended that you start by calling the person "usted" if you speak Spanish. Older inhabitants will often call each other " Don" or "Doña".
Unlike in England, the concept of punctuality is quite flexible. If you have a meeting with someone you should expect them to be a bit late, so don't get cross, it's normal behaviour. This is illustrated by a typical Costa Rican expression, "ahorita". In Spanish this means "now" but in Costa Rica it means more "in a moment" - which can vary a lot. You'll often hear this little word ring out during your journey round Costa Rica.
This may sound strange but be careful not to stand too long in the door of the bus in San José or anywhere else in the country. They are equipped with detectors to count the number of passengers throughout the day. If the money collected doesn't match with the numbers on the meter the drive can be held to account...Which explans why they are so bad tempered if you get on and then get off again! If you want to ask the driver a question you should do it from outside!
