Experience at U.S. Embassy
was without problems

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:
 
I just read the article by Jayne Dell concerning the U.S. Embassy.  Twice in the past year I have visited the embassy. I guess that I must be very lucky because I never encountered one problem!  Everyone I encountered spoke fluent English.  While my friend and I were in the waiting area, a lady came up to us and asked us if we needed any help, and she asked us in English.  I will be back there again in a couple of weeks, and, if I have a different experience, I will definitely write about it.
 
It is of course upsetting to hear that an American had such a bad experience, but, from my own experiences and those of some of my friends, I think it is a rare exception rather then the rule.

Conquer criminal element
even if a bit inconvenient

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

Your editorial on civil liberties here was interesting. However a coin has two faces, and your editorial should have looked at the other side of the issue.

Are not our liberties at risk when one is at risk of stray or deliberate gunshots? Whose liberties are at risk when your house or apartment is at risk of being broken into and your belongings stolen?  Where are your liberties when you are forced to live in walled or fenced in and guarded houses or compounds?  It is almost like you are in jail.  Do you have freedom when you are afraid to walk down a street especially at night?  Where is your freedom when your car can be broken into even at a stop on the street?  Where is your freedom when you can be robbed and assaulted at a bus stop? How are your liberties protected when the courts instead of protecting the public and punishing the criminals practice a catch and release program?

We are at war, whether you recognize it or not.  We have to  conquer the criminal elements, or we all suffer.  I would not object to a little inconvenience if it would help in winning the war against the criminals.
        

Slipping in competitivity
is wakeup call to country

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

The article on Page 4 of Fridays A.M. Costa Rica should be a wake up call for the Chinchilla administration. “In competitivity, Panama inches past Costa Rica”.

Just read the daily articles to see why Costa Rica is having problems maintaining there position over other countries. Look at the destruction that is easily foreseen on the Interamericana Highway, but ignored. If I were the president, I would be embarrassed for any dignitary to travel on this highway even without the mudslide. It is treacherous and injures and kills citizens frequently. Just drive this stretch from San José to the border in Nicaragua. Actually, the Interamericana improves when you enter Nicaragua.  I wonder if the president now or previous presidents have ever driven on these roads. The heavily traveled road from touristy Guanacaste to La Fortuna is another killer road among many others. When I have to take my car for the Reteve, I have to drive with delicate caution just so that the suspension will pass the inspection by the time I get there.

On another page Friday and Monday was the story of an American relaxing in Puerto Viejo is shot in the back of the head by another vicious criminal who most probably is a repeat offender who was let off by a judge who's hands are tied because of the legal system in Costa Rica and the overcrowded prison system.

Researching and reading a lot of news about Panamá and also talking to people living there and moving there, Panamá seems to be doing a lot of things favorable to draw retiring expats to move there. My experience here in Costa Rica for six years is that Costa Rica is doing all that it can to dissuade expats to move here and causing many that live here to relocate out of this country.

Many communities are asking expats to contribute to repairing the small town infrastructures. Such as repairing and supplying the schools who have been ignored, and the local police are asking for donations to repair the vehicles donated by China because they cannot get funds to repair or maintain them. Even asking for money for gas.

Where is the accountability? Why are the schools neglected? Why are repeat offenders being set loose to pillage and harm or kill? Why are we adding police when we can't maintain equipment? Why is the administration not trying to make it more easier to accept expats with money to become residents? Why are the laws continuing to favor criminals? Why is the labor laws so favorable to the workers that it dissuades hiring for fear of retribution in the form of law suits? Why do we have to drive long distances to make medical or ministerial appointments and then have to return whenever to have the appointments? Just some of the questions I hear repeated daily.

Ms. Chinchilla herself is quoted as saying that she would like to become a “developed country.” Just what has to be done to achieve this long-range goal? What has to be accomplished to achieve  transition from developing to First World? Personally, I would choose the safety of its citizens to out rank all else. I would also begin a campaign to eliminate wasteful spending and, if necessary, to hire experts in an advisory position outside the country for innovative ideas for advancement. The old ideas here are obviously not working. Make it desirable for more companies to relocate here by addressing the labor laws to reflect with with the work ethic and not hold the employers hostage.

As far as criminal offenders, I would most certainly look to making the punishment fit the crime and making parents accountable for their minor children. In closing, make it competitive actions to outrank Panamá and other smaller countries and make Costa Rica rank near the top to attract tourism and the future relocating desirable expats and others.


Another negative report
on visiting U.S. Embassy

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

This e-mail is being generated promptly after reviewing today's article about the American Embassy and the writers opinion of embassy shortcomings. Jane Dell did an outstanding job summarizing my thoughts exactly. I was so happy to read the previous article and then todays article.  The articles made me realize "it just wasn't me."  

I have lived in Costa Rica for the past six years and have had the unfortunate opportunity to visit the American Embassy three times.  All I can say is that it is always an adventure.  The first time, I spent over 30 minutes trying to figure out where to park.  I envisioned a guarded parking lot for Americans.  Oh no, park in the street and worry about your belongings in the car. Once inside I had the same experience as Jane, I remember thinking "why does no one speak english?'" 

The second time I decided to leave Jacó so that I could be at the embassy an hour before it opened.  Well, when I arrived there was this long line, so I again parked on the street.  When I got to the back of the line I looked for someone who spoke English because everyone in line looked like they were from Costa Rica.  Long story short, I decided to leave and do my other errands in San José.  I returned that afternoon.  I was amazed that I got my business done so quickly, but I do recall the American man before me being totally frustrated and cursing under his breath when he left the teller.  I ended up with same teller, an American lady who had the personality of a rotten grapefruit. 

I understand why he was frustrated.  She acted like we were from a foreign country.  The funny thing is that when I told a fellow expat about my experience and the long line, he said that I should have gone to the front and shown my passport.  Wouldn't you think that when there is a long line outside, that an American Embassy representative would look for us Gringos and escort us around the line of Ticos trying to get visas?  Too logical.

My third trip was uneventful because I now knew the ropes, but the experience was still the same:  a feeling of being a second citizen. I greatly respect being in Costa Rica as a foreigner, but I never expected to feel the same way when I entered MY American Embassy.  Perhaps they need to rename the embassy the Americostarica Embassy. Or better yet, form a panel of expats to recommend needed changes that will significantly enhance the expat experience when dealing with OUR American Embassy.  I suggest Jane Dell head up the panel. Jane, job well done.

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