1. Which state is the largest in the union?

A. Alaska

B. Texas

C. California

D. Hawaii

A. Alaska

TOPICS: That’s with a land area of 570,374 square miles!

2. What is Alaska’s position relative to the United States?

A. It lies along the northern boundary of the 50 contiguous states

B. It is separated from the other mainland states by British Columbia, Canada

C. It is an island like Hawaii

D. It lies in the exact center of mainland United States

B. It is separated from the other mainland states by British Columbia, Canada

TOPICS: Gosh, I certainly hope no North Americans guessed it lies in the exact center of the U.S.!

3. In 1959, Alaska was admitted to the Union. What state was it?

A. 50th

B. 49th

C. 40th

D. 1st

B. 49th

TOPICS: It was admitted as the 49th state in 1959

4. Who did the United States buy Alaska from in 1867?

A. Spain

B. Britain

C. France

D. Russia

D. Russia

TOPICS: The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000. At different times, the Russians, the Spanish, the British, and the French all tried to lay claim to part or all of Alaska.

5. What is the capital of Alaska?

A. Anchorage

B. Sitka

C. Juneau

D. Nome

C. Juneau

TOPICS: Juneau is the capital and Anchorage the largest city. There are plans to move the capital to Willow, near Anchorage.

6. When the Alaskan territory was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000 it was known as Seward’s Folly (after Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase). What changed that perception?

A. Gold

B. Fur

C. World War II

D. Free land

A. Gold

TOPICS: The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000 and was known as Seward’s Folly (after Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase) until gold was discovered in the late 1800′s.

7. Who originally discovered Alaska?

A. Russians

B. Danes

C. Siberians

D. English

C. Siberians

TOPICS: Experts agree that America was discovered by Siberian hunters, ancestors of most of the present-day Native Americans, who were following Ice Age mammals into Alaska.

8. The name Alaska is believed to be derived from an Aleut word meaning…

A. Cold

B. Light

C. Dark

D. Mainland

D. Mainland

TOPICS: The name Alaska is probably derived from an Aleut word meaning “mainland.”

9. Of the major volcanoes active during the 20th century in North America, how many were located in Alaska?

A. 0

B. 7

C. 27

D. 100

B. 7

TOPICS: That’s right, there are volcanoes in Alaska! It seems the Alaska Range is full of them.

10. What is a bidarka?

A. A kayak

B. A sled

C. A dog

D. An alcoholic drink

A. A kayak

TOPICS: A one- or two-hole kayak used by the Aleut and various Alaskan Eskimo groups.

11. When was the first Idiatrod Trail Sled Race run?

A. 1888

B. 1901

C. 1956

D. 1973

D. 1973

TOPICS: The inaugural Idiatrod Trail Sled Race was won by Alaskan Dick Wilmarth, who covered the 1,158 mile course from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska in 20 days 49 min 41 sec.

12. The Malaspina Glacier, at the foot of Mount Saint Elias, in Alaska covers an area larger than what state?

A. Rhode Island

B. New York

C. Kentucky

D. Texas

A. Rhode Island

TOPICS: The Malaspina Glacier, at the foot of Mount Saint Elias, covers an area larger than Rhode Island.

13. After the United States acquired Alaska how was it governed?

A. The law of the wild

B. Frontier law

C. Military rule

D. Civil law

C. Military rule

TOPICS: General Jefferson C. Davis, the U.S. Army commander in Alaska, became the virtual ruler of the new acquisition. Congress extended the laws governing commerce and navigation to Alaska and prohibited the importation, manufacture, and sale of liquor. Nothing was done to establish a civil government, and for 17 years, until 1884, Alaska remained under military rule.

14. Alaska was organized as a territory on Aug. 24, 1912, but when did it enter the union?

A. Aug. 25, 1912

B. Jan. 1, 1913

C. Aug. 24, 1913

D. Jan. 3, 1959

D. Jan. 3, 1959

TOPICS: This might be a hard question unless you knew Alaska was one of the last states admitted to the union-49th in fact!
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While everyone likes to go on vacation, nobody really likes the “grunt work” of making reservations. Luckily, the internet has removed a lot of the hassle in travel planning. Here are some tips to make your plans go smoothly.

Use your search engine and type in your destination or the type of trip you want, such as a cruise. Sort through all the information and choose which locations best suit your tastes and your budget. This will of course take some time so be sure to start doing this well before your departure date. For example, if you want to play golf in La Manga, Spain, you may not have the funds or the time to get there.

Once you have a destination in mind, you have a choice: You can either make all the reservations yourself or you can work through a travel agency or a travel website, such as Expedia.com or Travelocity.com. Doing the work yourself gives you some independence in your choices and you may find some great deals. However, you may find it quicker to work through an agent or a website.

If you don’t know which companies to use, ask around. Your friends and family members may have some advice. Learn from their mistakes and their good experiences when planning your own trip.

Whenever you use a website to make reservations, make sure it is a secure site before you provide any sensitive information, such as contact information or credit card numbers. You will probably have to provide a user name and a password, so be sure to use those that are easy for you to remember. Be sure to write these down in a secure but convenient location. Once the company has your information stored, you may find it easier in planning future trips, because your information will already be on file.

Before you agree to any reservations, you must take the time to read all the fine print. Yes, it is time consuming and dull, but if you don’t read it carefully, you may find some unpleasant surprises like extra fees. The fine print is especially important if you are responding to a discount offer. While hotels, airlines and car rental companies offer many discounts, there are often restrictions and other special requirements that can keep you from using them. It may be impossible to get a discount on major holidays. Be sure to read all the information carefully.

Be sure to ask about cancellation information. If an emergency happens and you must cancel your vacation, you don’t want to lose out on the money you paid.

Also be sure to print all confirmation information and save it in a secure place. If you wish, call the business within a day or two to confirm everything. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Be sure to bring all these printouts with you on your trip. It sometimes helps to have the written information with you.

If you follow these tips, you will find the online reservation process to be smooth and hassle-free.

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RV vacations are becoming a more popular and economical way to go for many families who want to see all they can on their holiday.

If you stick with flying from one destination to another and then renting a hotel room and car for that town, it can be budget breaking and inconvenient. On the financial side, there are the expenses of various airline tickets, then a number of hotels and all the car fees to have a vehicle to get around. Why not just be in a mobile hotel and have all your accommodations with you as you go from place to place. That is what an RV provides. You can unpack just once, and still visit town after town that you can explore at your leisure, and at the end of the day, return to the RV which has all the comforts of home, get a little shut-eye then head out to the next town without having to repack your bags or deal with time-consuming airport security.

If you travel a lot, purchasing an RV may be a wise investment. Likely when you first look at the price tag of a large recreational vehicle you may think it’s too much to pay for a vehicle, but traveling by road trip instead of by air will save you money in the long run. It’s an investment that will pay for itself every time you don’t have to purchase an airline ticket or hotel room. In addition, every meal will not have to be an expensive restaurant meal since most RV’s have a cooking area where you can still enjoy home-cooked meals together.

If you have kids, an RV holiday has many benefits. Think of the last time you tried to get the kids to sit still while you waited hours for a flight, or while you were checking in to the hotel. They are fidgety, fussy and a handful. But, if you were in a RV there is room for games, TV, DVD players and all sorts of things to keep them entertained throughout the trip.

When planning a RV trip, you will be pleased to know there are places to stop for the night almost everywhere. If you really want a great location to stop, check out the directory of National Parks and State Forests where you are planning to be and see if you can stay on the property. Parks such as Yellowstone allow you to camp there with your RV so you can enjoy the breathtaking view and history of the location and already be home at the end of the day instead of having to drive to a hotel.

Not everyone likes to rough it when they are out on the road, and if you’re one of them, you may need to choose your RV camping area a little more carefully. Check ahead to make sure they have hot showers and other facilities you and your family would like. Some even have restaurants, lounges and bars for the adults as well as play areas for the kids.
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Costa Rica beaches are one of the great treasures of the Central America. They have one of the world’s most beautiful and blessed coastlines. Many visitors who booked an inexpensive Costa Rica Vacation soon find themselves searching for a piece of beach front property on a world class beach. As a result the demand for beach front real estate has steadily grown in recent years.

The listing of real estate on Costa Rica beaches may be divided into beachfront properties and those which are ocean view properties. Beachfront properties, as the name suggests are those which provide beach frontage. They can either be from the coastlines of the Pacific or Caribbean. New beach front developments are being built each year to meet the increasing demands.

Beaches that have ocean view real estate are also seeing an increased demand. You can still enjoy the sun, sand and water without paying the high price that beach front property demands. Those who prefer the view of the Pacific coast should look for the available estate in Guanacaste, Tamarindo or Papagayo.

If you really favor the sea breeze of the Central Pacific, advise your agent to look for either lots or acreage in the Osa Peninsula and Dominical areas. Those who have preference for the Mid Costa Rican coast can choose to their pick from property in Los Sueos, Jaco and Faro Escondido. All have beautiful Costa Rica beaches.

When buying real estate on Costa Rica beaches, not only do you buy the property. You also buy the ambiance and atmosphere. This is also one of the major reasons why many citizens from all over the globe purchase winter and retirement homes in Costa Rica. Once you buy a parcel of land on the beach you can enjoy the bright sands of the beaches, bays and coves. Many of which are backed by hillsides with tropical vegetation mixed with small streams and waterfalls.

Once you have decided on the location of a property you c an do a simple search with Costa Rica’s Folio Real (computer system for properties). It will show detailed information regarding the property including property legal description, registered area, type of ownership, boundaries, exact location and any possible liens. Purchasing beach front property can be relatively easy but time consuming but very worth it. Costa Rica’s real estate professionals and property lawyers will make sure that there are no pending liabilities after the sale has been closed. Purchasing Beach front or ocean view properties is really quite safe.

The local phrase Pura Vida is a common Spanish expression used in Costa Rica. It is usually used to convey a feeling of enthusiasm or agreement. Probably, once you walk onto your newly purchased Costa Rica beach property, you can also exclaim “life is good”.
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Maine is a surprisingly exotic vacation destination. It provides the tourist with more than just a refreshing and honest exchange for his money. Each season has distinct sports that are played as a part of the seasonal attractions and witnesses the active participation of both, the visitors and the local populace, in full gusto. These sports offer the visitors the unique opportunity to bond with the locals. This makes the holiday unforgettable and different.

There is a variety of wildlife in the forests and hiking and spotting the varied fauna is a wildlife enthusiast’s dream come true. Maine also boasts of a Wildlife park in Gray, which is home to more than 25 species of wild animals, native to that region. There are moose, black bear and mountain lions that spot the woods and forests.

The main tourist attraction in spring is the annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. It is ideal for the adventure sport lovers. It takes canoeists and kayakers, from the small town of Kenduskeag to Bangor. It is reputed to be the most exciting paddling competition in this area.

Outdoor adventurers find spring- time the best, with the annual race. This sport takes canoeists and kayakers from the tiny town of Kenduskeag Village, through Kenduskeag and into Glenburn, before finishing in Bangor. It has the reputation of being one of New England’s most exciting paddling competitions. Maine also caters to the swimming enthusiasts and those who adore snorkeling and scuba diving. All the water sports can be pursued at leisure in Maine, along its unending, winding coastline.

Winter sports are well-loved events. There are major ski competitions held in the snow-laden mountains of Maine. All the four major disciplines that include slalom, giant slalom, super G and downhill are actively participated in by the local populace and the tourists.

Everyone loves the thought of a family vacation. At least it starts out that way! If you’re thinking back to a bad experience you have had on a family vacation, we’ve all been there. I’m guessing the trip went wrong because it was either poorly planned, too long or the trip was full of arguments. I can’t help with the last one; however here are a few tips to help you plan a great family trip in the future:

1.) Plan accordingly! There is more to planning a family vacation than just picking a destination, hotel and flight. You should really think about the time of year you are traveling. What is the climate like in this area during that time of year? Will the climate prevent you from doing some of the things your family will want to do? You should also think about the cost of everything in the area you are traveling. Even if you are going to a nice place, if you cannot afford to go to a few restaurants, buy any souvenirs or take part in the amenities in the area, your vacation might be a little boring.

Have you thought about events for the whole family? If you have children more than a few years apart, do you have a few events planned that everyone will enjoy? Will your 17 year old like going to the petting Zoo like your 5 year old will?

2.) Check out reviews before you leave. It’s easy to get to a destination and ask someone where a good place to eat is or what a fun activity to do is but they might be a little bias depending on who you ask. It’s a good idea to read reviews of places you are thinking about going before you leave so you can get a good idea of what to expect. Sometimes you can find out way more about a place from reviews than just how good the food was.

3.) How long are you going for? Sometimes family trips can be too long or too short. Time should be considered in all planning. If you are driving, think about the amount of time spent in the car. Will you remember how awful the drive was or the great things you saw or did on the way to break up the drive? If you are going to a place far away, are you staying enough days to enjoy the destination or are you spending more days traveling?

If you are going to a destination with little to do, make sure not to stay too long. You and your family could get bored if you are there too long without anything to do.

4.) Pack accordingly! “What’s the boy scout motto” my dad would always ask whenever we were packing for a trip. The answer of course “Always be prepared” we would mutter. The fact is its true… you would not want to spend a week somewhere without the appropriate clothing. It would be a shame to miss out on something for this reason. Buying clothing on a trip because you have to and not because you want to isn’t fun either.
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Ungulates:

1. African Elephant

Elephants usually live in groups of 10 to 20 females and their young, congregating in larger herds at common water and food resources. A cow may mate with many bulls. Vocalizations include a deep rumble felt as a low vibration, and a high-pitched trumpeting given in threat or when frightened.

Consuming 250kg of vegetation daily, elephants can decimate woodlands, but this may be part of the savanna’s natural cycle. They live for up to 100 years.
Distribution: Widely distributed in Kenya apart from the north.

2. Warthog

Warthogs grow two sets of tusks; their upper tusks grow as long as 60cm and their lower tusks are usually less than 15cm long. Sociality varies, but groups usually consist of one to three sows and their young. Males form bachelor herds or are solitary, only associating with females during oestrus.

Warthogs feed mainly from grass, but also on fruit and bark. In hard times, they grub for roots and bulbs. They den in abandoned burrows or excavate their own burrows.
Distribution:
Through out Kenya except in dense rainforest and mountains above 3000m.

3. Hippopotamus

Hippos are found close to fresh water, sending most of the day submerged and emerging at night to graze on land. The animals can consume about 40kg of vegetation each evening. They live in large herds tolerating close contact in the water but foraging alone when on land.

The scars found on bulls resulting from conflicts are often a convenient indicator of the sex of hippos. Cows with calves are aggressive towards other individuals. Hippos are extremely dangerous when on land and kill many people each year, usually when someone inadvertently blocks the animal’s retreat to the water.
Distribution:
Usually found near large areas of fresh water through out Kenya.

4. African Cape Buffalo

Both animal sexes of the African Buffaloes have distinctive curving horns that broaden at the base to meet over the forehead in a massive ‘boss’-the females are usually smaller. Local populations of buffaloes in habit large home ranges and at times herds of thousands form, but the population’s social organization is fluid; groups of related females and their young coalesce and separate into larger or smaller herds.

Although generally docile, buffaloes can be dangerous-especially lone bulls, and females protecting their young.
Distribution
Widespread, but large populations only occur in parks of Kenya.

5. Common (grey) Duiker

One of the most common types of small antelopes, common duikers are usually solitary, but they are sometimes in pairs. They are grayish light brown animals in color, with a white belly and a dark -brown stripe down the face. Only males have horns, which are straight and pointed and rarely grow longer than 15cm.

Their habit of feeding on agricultural crops leads to them being persecuted outside of protected areas, although they are resilient to hunting. Common duikers are capable of going without water for long periods, but they will drink whenever water is available.
Distribution
Throughout Kenya.

6. Water buck

Waterbucks have a shaggy brown coat and white rump, face and coat markings; only males have horns. Females have overlapping ranges, coming and going to form loose associations of normally up to a dozen animals. Young, non-territorial males behave similarly.

Mature males hold territories, onto which the females wander (non-territorial males are also often allowed access) these essentially independent movements sometimes produce herds of 50 to 70. They always stay near water and are good swimmers, readily entering water to escape predators.
Distribution;
Wet areas through out Kenya.

7. Reedbuck

Brown common reedbucks are found n the woodland areas; yellowish bohor reedbucks are prevalent on flood plains; grey mountain reedbucks inhabit grassy hill country. All have white under parts; males have forward curving horns.

Common reedbucks form pairs, though mates associate only loosely; female mountain reedbucks form small animal groups that range over the territories of several males.
Distribution
Throughout Kenya wherever suitable, well-watered grasslands occur.

8. Roan antelope

Roan antelopes’ coats vary from reddish-fawn to dark reddish-brown with white under parts and a mane of stiff, black-tipped hair. Their faces are black and white, their long, pointed ears tipped with a brown tassel. Both sexes have long backwards-curving horns. They prefer sites with tall grasses, shade and water.

Herds of normally less than 20 females and young range over the territories of several adult males; other males form bachelor groups. Female animal herds of up to 50 are common during the dry season when food and water are more localized.
Distribution
Mostly at Ruma National Park near Lake Victoria.

9. Sable Antelope

Widely considered to be the most magnificent of Africa’s antelopes, sable antelopes are slightly smaller than roan antelopes, but are more thick set. They have longer horns often reaching more than 100cm. Sables have a white belly and face markings; females are reddish brown, while mature males are a deep glossy black.

They favor habitats slightly more wooded than that of roan antelopes. Social organization of the two species is also very similar, but sable female-and-young herds are slightly larger-usually 10 to 30, but up to 70 or so.
Distribution
Mostly at Simba Hills National Reserve on the Kenyan coast.

10. Oryx

Well adapted to aridity, Oryxes can survive without drinking. Oryxes are solid and powerful; both sexes carry long, straight horns. Principally grazers, they also browse on thorny shrubs. In areas with abundant water and food, populations are sometimes resident and spot a social system like that of roan antelopes.

More usually, nomadic herds number around a dozen, but can total up to 60. Herds normally contain males and females, but there are strict hierarchies within the sexes. Herds, especially if small, may also be single sex.
Distribution
Beisa Oryx in Northern Kenya; fringe-eared oryx in southern Kenya.

11. Impala

Male impalas have long, lyre shaped horns averaging 75cm in length. They are gregarious animals, forming resident herds of up to 100 or so. Males defend female herds during the oestrus, but outside the breeding season they congregate in bachelor herds. Impala are known for their speed and ability to leap-they can spring as far as 10m in one bound, or 3m into the air.

They are the common prey of lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and spotted hyenas.
Distribution
Savanna regions from central Kenya extending south. Status: Very common animal and easy to see.

12. Gazelle

One of the most common medium sized antelopes. Thompson’s gazelles are smaller and form large aggregations (often of many thousands) on the open plains. They often occur with impala -sized Grants gazelles, which lack the distinctive black side stripe of the ‘Tommy’.

The social structure is flexible; herds often consist of females and young, with males defending territories around the feeding grounds of females.
Distribution
Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle common in savannah and woodland. Status: Very common in Kenya.

Yes, it is cold and dreary outside in much of the country, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mentally escape to the warmth of summer and a vacation. Start planning now and you’ll be on your way mentally!

When looking at a blanket of snow, it can be easy to get a bad case of the winter gloom. In some places where the sun barely shines, they even classify it as an illness. So, what can you do to avoid feeling down and out? Start planning your summer vacation.

So, what do you want to do this year? How much time do you have? How about a trip to Southern California to sit on the beaches? No, wait. How about a trip to Hawaii!? The choices are practically endless and transport you to the places of your dreams.

Another way to beat the gloom is to go back and review your past trips. One of the biggest mistakes most people make is failing to document their trips. Yes, they take a bunch of pictures and perhaps even a video, but this only tells isolated moments of the time in question.

The best way to make sure your trips don’t fade into the background is to keep a travel journal. Whether you are trekking around the world for two years or simply heading to a resort for a week, a journal is a much better way of capturing the time because you keep a record of what you were doing, why you were doing it and your general through at the time about life and so on.

Years later, pulling out your journal on a cold winter day can make for some good reading. Your previous writings will make you laugh at long forgotten moments and remember things that occurred that might otherwise have slipped your mind. It will also help you escape mentally to that time and place.

Whatever your current situation, you can take a break from the cold by cooking up vacation and travel ideas for this coming summer. You might want to visit places you’ve been before or try something entirely new. As long as it is warm, does it really matter?

Holden Beach vacations are becoming very popular these days. When families are faced with a choice about a vacation destination, it is either some amusement park, or a beach somewhere. The benefits of beach vacations are very evident, relaxation for adults who need time

off, water sports like surfing and body boarding for teenagers and youngsters, and very large, personal sandbox for the smaller children.

There are thousands of beaches and beach resorts around the world, and hundreds right here in our own back yard, the good old USA. The most popular beaches in the US are those of Southern California, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, etc. There are also lots of popular beaches stretching up the entire east coast, like Holden Beach of North Carolina.

Whatever destination you choose for your next beach vacation, you have lots of options and resorts to choose from. The nice thing is, for families, finances are usually tight. Most every designation that you could choose to vacation at has both luxury and budget conscious individuals in mind. From housing to recreation, you can find something that fits your budget!

One of the very best ways to find information about a particular beach or resort is on the internet. There are hundreds of websites dedicated in delivering information about your desired destination right to your screen. One of my favorite destinations is Holden Beach. There are at least a dozen websites that have excellent information about places to stay, things to do, and things you need to see. You should definitely take the time to research before you make actual vacation plans.

When visiting a beach for vacation, you need to remember to pack everything that you might need. If you are trying to travel on a budget, you have to remember everything or risk not having that idem or having to spend more money purchasing it once you arrive. Thankfully these websites offer you information about what you should bring with you.

When searching for lodging on a beach, especially in Holden Beach, you need to reserve it in advance. Beach properties go very fast especially as early spring starts to creep up on us. Also, when you reserve the property early, you can usually get some sort of discount. Not much, but some!

Family beach vacations are definitely very popular especially at Holden Beach. Don’t think that because you are on a tight budget that a beach vacation is not possible. Do your homework, find deals on travel, lodging, and transportation once you get to your destination and you will have an enjoyable beach vacation.

My wife and I moved to Costa Rica six years ago. We sold our business, our home, and almost everything we owned after 9/11 and relocated to Costa Rica’s Central Valley near a sleepy coffee town named Grecia.

We knew no one in Costa Rica when we moved here … and we spoke virtually no Spanish. The only time we had visited was ten years earlier…and then , to a different part of the country. And unfortunately, countless hours of reading and studying on the internet gained us absolutely nothing…because there is no substitute to actually being here…and reality is not the same as the printed word. (or digital word, as the case may be!)

I don’t know if my wife and I are different than most people that “retire” here or not. But what I can say…for an absolute certainty…is LIFE IN COSTA RICA IS DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME IN REAL LIFE AS IT IS PORTRAYED IN GUIDEBOOKS OR ON WEBSITES.

Costa Rica is a beautiful country…its diversity is astounding…the wildlife is amazing…and it is never boring. BUT, the differences between cultures can be huge…they can be frustrating…and (and this is a big one…that the real estate salesmen or the Costa Rica Chamber of Tourism won’t tell you) that a great many “gringos” (foreigners) who move to Costa Rica…simply cannot adapt to life here and move back after a short time.

Let me preface the next few paragraphs by saying this ” my wife and I love it here in Costa Rica and there is no way that we could ever imagine having to move back to our previous life in the States.” BUT…there are times when we are so frustrated that we want to scream. We have adopted that credo (when talking about the frustrating part of life here…) “it is what it is.”
It is one of the more common pastimes of expats here to continually bash the Costa Ricans and continually whine about all of the problems in the country. That is not our intent here as we believe that we are guests here and that our benefits far outweigh the negatives that we hear almost everyday. Many of these complaints are legitimate and we would like to focus upon the most common complaints and the inherent differences that drive many expats to leave after a short time.

Here are a few of the most common cultural differences and the “differences that drive most expats crazy”:

o There is a “hidden marketplace” of commerce here in Costa Rica that visitors will never see. The entire country works on an unspoken marketplace of referrals and commissions. Why is this such a big deal?…because you will never really know if a recommendation or referral is being made because it really is a “good deal” or because there is a commission involved. There is nothing that says that a commission must be disclosed.

o There is a two tier marketplace in Costa Rica…one for local Costa Ricans and one for everyone else. And the differences are substantial. And if you think that this doesn’t exist…call around yourself to different hotels and ask for the local price or the “gringo” price. It is illogical and illegal in the States or Canada…but not here.

o The common conception of the expat or “gringo” is that he or she has “money trees” back home… no matter that we have worked hard all of our lives…the perception is that we all have so much money that we will not even notice if we pay more. AND, believe it or not, it is actually taught that it is OK to relieve “gringos” of their excess funds because we have “so much more.” I didn’t believe this either when I moved here…now I do because I see examples of it everyday.

o Here is another that it took me a LONG time to accept: Ticos will tell you what they think you want to hear…instead of the truth (or reality, if you prefer). This is maddening because you feel oftentimes that you are living with Alice in Wonderland and never really knowing what reality really is. Sound stupid? Yeah, it is. Don’t believe it? Ask literally anyone who has lived here for more than a year… A good example is “when will my car be done?” , or “can you come for dinner?” or “can you clean my house tomorrow?” … remember, this is not a character flaw…it is simply cultural. Commitments mean different things here.

o The bureaucracies here are maddening. You think that you had long lines back home in your local supermarket or bank? Wait until you have to spend three hours waiting in line to deposit money. Or you have to wait for three days to open a bank account to deposit ten grand…or you have to wait for six hours ( even though you have an appointment) to get your car’s annual mechanical checkup. We can all look at these things as “learning experiences that force us into a slower pace of life”…but for those of us that simply cannot abide wasting a great deal of time…this alone can be a deal breaker.

o We have a friend who swears that all appliances that are American made are “seconds”. True or not, it is a fact that appliances and most things mechanical do not last as long here.

o Craftsmen and mechanics have a different attitude (for the most part) here than in the States. Many are competent , but sloppy. Carpenters and contractors do not cleanup after a job is complete. If 99% of the work is done…they are gone. If the new transmission is installed, it is not tested…it is pronounced “done”….all of which leads to frustration and wasted time. Mechanics are generally competent but sloppy…and then there is the situation where the mechanic will take two hours or his day to drive to you to fix your car that is broken down on a mountain road…”the good with the bad”. Talk about a conflict!

o There is a fair amount of talk about corruption and graft…but we believe it is probably really no worse than any other country in the world. Sure, the traffic police will probably take a bribe of $20 or so to let you go…but you were speeding weren’t you? And not everything can be solved with a few dollars. There are an awful lot of honest people here too. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that everyone can be bought here.

o There is, despite the publicity, a fair amount of anti American feeling here. It is not overt and is more passive but there is still here. There is , of course, resentment over the simple fact that “gringos” almost invariably have more money. There is also resentment that a large number of developers have made huge amounts of money here without following the rules and regulations and have given literally nothing back. While part of the reasons are due to poor oversight and supervision by the Costa Rican government, it does not change the reality of the situation.

o Simple things such as making an emotional decision to buy a house or property near a beach…and not knowing precisely what beach living entails…makes many buyers (statistics show over 50%) move back “home”. Spend time looking at different areas of the country…there is more to Costa Rica than just beach living. We personally live in the mountains for the views AND for the more temperate year round climate. And we visit the beach when we want to see the ocean. There are literally dozens of different areas that you may want to examine. “look before you leap”.

o As stupid as it may seem, please remember that Costa Rica is a foreign country…you are not in Kansas any more. In a great many ways, life is infinitely better here…but English is NOT spoken by everyone here and there is NOT highspeed internet everywhere and there is crime and poverty here (yes, we know that YOU know it too…but it is NOT a Shangrila here all the time)

Both Rhonda and I firmly believe that everyone should know the “good, bad and ugly ” about life in Costa Rica BEFORE moving here. We have seen a fair number of people that just simply could not adapt to live here…and usually it is not just one thing…it is a combination.

I wish to stress once again, that Rhonda and I have come to love Costa Rica and regard it as our home. But it is not for everyone.