Jun 2, 2010 | Bureaucracy, Immigration, Legal Arrangements, Teenagers, Travel Tips
You will be, too, when you read this, especially if you’ve ever had first-hand experience with migración. If you are moving to Costa Rica, a visit to migración will be required sooner or later. By the way, be sure to take your own papel higenico [pa-PELL...
Jan 28, 2010 | Bureaucracy, Driving
Like the last time I ventured alone into the disturbing netherworld of Costa Rican bureaucracies, by the end of this adventure (trying to get Morgan his driver's permit) I got back home wanting to cry, then choke something, with just a smidge of incredulity thrown...
Feb 15, 2009 | Bureaucracy, Driving
We renewed our driver's licenses last week. We both dreaded the event. Costa Rica is not known for its efficiency… In fact, remember 27 January – almost three weeks ago – when we were headed back to migración for a stamp? ONE stamp? Had...
Jan 27, 2009 | Bureaucracy, CR: Working, Earthquakes, EFT = Emotional Freedom Technique, Hope, Volcanos, Weather
The tremors under my office chair, all the way over here on the other side of the valley from the epicenter, have finally subsided. We had one – a long one – at 3am Monday morning, but it’d been several days since the one before that. Thank goodness!...
May 7, 2008 | Bureaucracy, Citizenship, Legal Arrangements, Living-In
Translation: Lines, Signatures and Dates. Or Things a Costa Rican Bureaucracy Can’t Do Without. I left out estampilla [s-tom-PEE-jah, stamp] because it doesn’t start with an f. But this is actually the critical item. If at least one (and usually all) of...
Dec 12, 2007 | Bureaucracy, CAFTA or TLC, Cost of Living, Crime, Drug War, Living-In, Political Blah-Blah
Ok, this is ridiculous. I’m having a flood of anti-Costa Rica experiences. Maybe if I get them out of my system, this rock in my gut will disappear. IN THE NEWS. Don Oscar seems hellbent on getting Costa Rica into the 21st century. Only I don’t approve of...
Dec 11, 2007 | Adoption, Bureaucracy, Expat, Legal Arrangements, Living-In, MORGAN, Residency & Visas, Serendipity
In the adoption world, Gotcha Day is the day we gotcha, the day we brought our new baby home. I get all teary remembering our two Gotcha Days. Yesterday, December 10th was Mo’s 16th Gotcha Day. To celebrate, Jen made cookies and brought them over. Hey, Jen, we...
Aug 4, 2007 | Bureaucracy, CAFTA or TLC, Cost of Living, Driving, Expat, Living-In
Last month, Manrique wrote a comment on a post and I loved getting it. Write more, Manrique! So valuable to hear perceptions from his side of the fence:Hi Saratica!First please excuse my english if I don’t write it perfectly (I read it more than I write it). I...
