by Ivo Henfling

This week, I would like to share with you some unusual things housekeepers in Costa Rica do that are very normal to them. Housekeepers do these strange things because they come from a different culture and background then us and you should realize this before you hire her. Some of these acts are committed because of lack of knowledge that we assume they have, other because their logic is different than ours, both because of a different lifestyle. It does not mean they are wrong.

I DO want to thank Don for sending me an email this week where he gave me the idea for this blog and # 1 on the list: Ivo, thanks for your new blogs. I always find them quite interesting and informative. An interesting but useless fact learned from an employee of the 3M Company over a glass of wine at a winery event nearby our home in October: Costa Rica has the highest per capita usage of 3M Scotch-Brite Sponges in the world.

By Ivo Henfling

Imagine never having to clean your house again, or having to do the laundry and ironing shirts and pants. Cleaning the windows, do the yard and clean your pool. You’ll be able to finally sit down on your terrace with a good book, or just have a rum ‘n coke and enjoy the views. You got it right, you have just arrived to Costa Rica.

The cost of living in Costa Rica has gone up but hiring a maid, gardener or caretaker is still very affordable. Being able to afford a full time maid or housekeeper to take care of your home is one of the main attractions of living in Costa Rica. While in New York you might have to pay $75 a day for a housekeeper, in Costa Rica you can have a full time maid for under $15/day.

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.

by Ivo Henfling

The 10 commandments for easy living in Costa Rica

GoDutch Realty agents and staff relocate people from all over the world every day. Depending on where they come from, they adjust easily or they don’t adjust. There is nothing in the middle even though some think otherwise. Most of us complain sometimes, it’s hard not to.

We all strive for a better life for ourselves, at least all of us who moved from somewhere else to Costa Rica. The question is what is the reason for moving to another country and are we successful with the move and adjusting to our environment.