By Ivo Henfling

I was just checking the statistics on the traffic we get on our GoDutch Realty website and saw that Rudy’s blog about dishonesty attracted a lot of interest from our readers last week.

I just realized that even though I have traveled quite a lot in my life, I am also guilty of not knowing the customs in some other countries and careful of not to be taken advantage of. Allow me to explain.....

When I grew up in Holland we used to go to a nearby beach during the summers, which was much visited by the German tourists.

Though I was just a kid, I understood how many of those working in the tourist industry took advantage of those visiting Germans, because they spoke a different language and were not used to the different customs in Holland, so lots of local workers took economic advantage of them. And even though you are supposed not to bite the hand that’s feeding you, it happens everywhere in the world. It depends quite a bit on the educational and social level of the people you are dealing with and nationality is not important at all.

A lot of what might be seen as dishonesty, has to know with not having the knowledge.

When you are a tourist, you don’t have time to learn the customs of a country, because your visit is short. In Costa Rica, when you dine out, the tip is typically included in your bill and the tip for service is 10% by law, even though many waiters in Costa Rica will try to make you think tip is not included yet. If you really think the service is outstanding, you can tip some more. But the waiter in Costa Rica for example, earns a basic salary. Many waiters in for example Florida or Georgia, don’t have a salary and if you don’t tip them 15% or even 20%, I think they don´t want you to come back. But North Americans are used to tip. Europeans are not, because tip, just like in Costa Rica, is generally included in the bill. But how to find out what is correct? That’s up to you to feel comfortable about it or not. On the internet, there is a whole range of websites about tipping and some are actually pretty good, though all concentrate on the US, like TippingForSuccess.com, Tipping.org and lousyTippers.com

Don't over tip in Costa Rica, the tip is included in the bill

You're a rich gringo.

If you move to Costa Rica, you will have to deal with a lot of people who think you are rich. It took me a while to get used to that. How do you mean rich, I used to ask them. Oh, you’re a gringo, so you’re rich. Standard accusation….

When you come from a first world country, even though you’re just plain simple middle class, you don’t realize how rich you are in the eyes of the poor in a third world country. Thirty years ago, I saw some foreigners leaving the country hold a garage sale and offer empty butter containers for 1Colon (when the dollar exchange was still at Colon 8,60). I had no clue, but they had lived here long enough to understand that even those containers had value to somebody.

Empty butter container has value too

First world country people have different values than people in the third world. We throw things away that they still use. But some also think that we have too much of it. Your maid, who might be totally honest and will not steal your money, might take a roll of toilet paper or something from your fridge. This is something you don’t expect because it is not about honesty; it is about having or not having. This takes a while to understand and to get used to it.

Your gardener and your housekeeper.

When you relocate to Costa Rica, you will get in touch with different people, mostly Costaricans and Nicaraguans, who have a lot less than you have. It is your sole responsibility to get this issue under control, if you ever plan to have a housekeeper, a gardener or any employee who doesn’t have the same life standards you have. It is very simple, talk to them and explain that your possessions are yours and that you have them because you worked hard for them and you’re not willing to part from them. Tell them that if they need something, to ask for it. In Costarican factories they control the employees bags before they go home and I believe they do the same thing in many countries around the world…..

But from your side, you should also treat them right and pay them what they deserve. In another blog, soon, I will give you some guidelines on how to treat your housekeeper and gardener.

All this is part of your hard work to adjust to your new environment, to a different country with a different culture and a different language, all necesary to be able to live in Costa Rica without getting homesick.

Ivo Henfling, your Escazu and Santa Ana realtor who tries to teach you about the social and cultural differences you will have to deal with if you move to Costa Rica. I can help you find the lifestyle you are looking for and sell you Costa Rica real estate the right way. But I'd also like to sell you a nice home in Santa Ana or even a beautiful condo with a view in Escazu, because that's what I do for a living. I DO appreciate any referral you can send my way.