El Residente 2011-03

2El Residente

This magazine has been published every two months for 15years as the official communications media of the ARCR. Our organization provides service to thousands of foreigners who have chosen Costa Rica to reside for short periods or for permanent residence.

Since 1984 the ARCR has been offering reliable SERVICES, INFORMATION and ADVOCACY to Costa Rica’s foreign residents. We have the experience and ability to help you with your residency application, immigration, business and financial management, real estate purchases and rentals, property management, insurance, pet importation and much more.

If you wish to place an ad in El Residente, please contact the ARCR main office. Goods & services offered are paid advertisments. Neither ARCR Administracion nor El Residente research the companies and take no responsibility for the quality of such goods or services.

Editorial Note:

In this edition, more on fruits, and the fruits of our labours.

This year we plan to continue bringing you updates in the areas of laws, insurance, and other changes in processes as they come about. The latest news will likely make it easier to legalize your documents for use in Costa Rica, once all the legislation is in place.

This issue is bringing you a number of changes at the ARCR, so pay close attention for new benefits, in insurance, the discount program, services, and much more. As we are growing, we are working hard on growing ht elist of services and benefits for our members.

In the following months we will be coming back to you to help expand the benefits even more, so please, watch for it.

- Ryan Piercy

Read about our new discount on INS medical, only for ARCR members.

3March- April, 2011

Presidents Reepoorrtttby The Board

Wise to Register,

When things started in Egypt, the US Embassy in Cairo was bombarded with urgent telephone calls from many of the 50,000 or so US citizens living in Egypt. Many wanted to know when & how the Embassy was going to get them out of the country. Some of you have heard me comment over the years that US citizens should register at their Embassy (other countries probably should as well) so that if the State Department decides that we need to leave, those of us who are registered will wave to the rest of you from our chartered flight as we fly away. We will have to pay for that service, but if the Embassy doesn’t even know who or where you are, it’s not going to be their fault if you are not notified. In any event, it is also now a requirement for residency in Costa Rica.

Now that I personally experienced that BUPA insurance pays claims on their Travel Policy, I won’t hesitate to recommend them. My policy covers me for all trips under 30 days out of the country, and for the entire year. Cost is about $230. You can call Mario or Ricardo at 2220-4451, 8856-2491, or 8856-2491, and tell them you are ARCR members.

For those of you who are interested, there is a new German/English magazine here by the name Costa Rica Spirits. For further information visit www.costarica-spirits.com. Some copies may also be available at the ARCR.

When you speak with someone at your countries embassy, it’s not a bad idea to ask for their name. If you ever have a question about what they said, or try to verify it with someone else, it makes it easier to follow up. At the US embassy if they won’t give you at least their first name, they must give you the name of their supervisor. This is according to Mr. Paul Birdsall, US Consul General.

Even when you talk to your bank, a store, your credit card company, and so forth, knowing to whom you spoke to, and their telephone/extension number may help if you have a problem later on. Once when I called my credit card, the lady told me that they weren’t allowed to give their name or even tell which country they were in!

A pleasant surprise I had, if you rent a car when go visit your home country, indicate that you live in Costa Rica and check the price. If you compare you may find it will give you a discounted rate!

An ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR is available to be donated by the American Legion Post 10 to someone who needs it, if the individual (or others) are willing to pay for the repairs and new batteries

(about $900). It is a Quickie Tilt-Master model p320, which would probably cost $3-4000 or more to buy.

From me, please try to remember that we are privileged to be visiting or living in this country. No matter what everyone else does, we should each try to avoid being identified as the “ugly American” (maldito gringo).

Mel Goldberg

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Association of Residents of Costa Rica

FIRST FRIDAY LUNCH

On Friday, May 6th, the ARCR First Friday Luncheon will be held in Alajuela at Jalapeños Central, a modest but popular gathering place for fun food and great gab.

Easy to get to in downtown Alajuela, Jalapeños is located 50 meters south of the Post Office or 250 meters north of the rear dome of the Cathedral (which faces on Alajuela’s Parque Central). There is parking along the street outside. We will be starting this month’s luncheon at 11 am to help those coming from San José or points west of Alajuela to avoid any lunch hour traffic. If you need more directions, here’s a map of Alajuela Centro: http://www.goodlightbooks.com/alajuela/map.html

Our host and the restaurant’s owner, Norman Florez, is happy to welcome our Luncheon-goers and says he will be cooking up a surprise or two on that day. This Tex-Mex tiffin is sure to tantalize our taste buds. I’m looking forward to one of Norman’s dynamite Margaritas, and a piece of perfect pecan pie, too!

Because of the size of this cozy little restaurant we will have limited seating this month, holding the size of our luncheon group to about 15 members. We encourage those wishing to attend the Luncheon to RSVP asap to Paul Mitchell at <stanhopi @gmail.com> or contact Ryan at ARCR.

Hope to see you there. -Paul Mitchell

Cover ShotAll over Costa Rica restaurants offer ‘refrescos naturales’, and commonly among them is cas. Cas is known also as the Costa Rican Guava or Cas Guava, and is found mainly in Costa Rica, but also to some extent in Nicaragua, Guatemala, and neighboring countries. It is quite acidic, but once sweetened is very delicious and full of beneficial traits.

4El Residente

5March- April, 2011

Insure Yourseelffby Franklin Martinez

New Benefits for YouAs always, our insurance office has the goal of keeping you informed about the most relevant issues that can help you out. This mission now gives us the satisfaction of 3 years working with A.R.C.R. members as happy clients and friends; this is the main reason for this article; after you read this information you can take more advantage of your actual insurance, and you will also have opportunity to acquire additional coverage, or change your actual insurance in order to have a better one, or by improving the one you already have…

Because of the actual open market, with the monopoly broken INS is now offering different and better types of insurance. One of them is the new Medical Insurance. In the past we just were offering individual policies with individual rates, but now looking for better benefits for A.R.C.R. members and after great negotiations with INS, we and the A.R.C.R. management obtained two NEW group plans offered from INS. These new plans would save you between 10% and 50% of the cost of the premium if compared with an individual insurance. These new options are available now for all the members of A.R.C.R. only.

Other information we suppose you may be interested in is how to save money with your insurance policies… so we are glad to give you some advice that will help you reach this goal.

1. The assistance that INS offers through their car and house insurance. The first thing you should know about this is that is FREE! Not like some other credit cards services that cost you as much as 5$ per month.

MULTIASISTENCIA HOGAR (Home multi-assistance): This “new” benefit for holders of Home Theft policies, Homeowners’ “Hogar Comprensivo” policies, and Home Fire & Natural Disaster “Hogar Seguro 2000” policies. Offers the following:

AIRPORT TAXI SERVICE, HELP WITH PETS, EMERGENCY LODGING, BROKEN WINDOWS REPLACEMENT, GAS LEAKS REPAIRS, PLUMBING, LOCKSMITH SERVICE, ELECTRICAL FAULTS REPAIRS and MUCH MORE!!

ASISTENCIA for roadside issues is of course still

offered as well, including help if you need a tow, to change a tire, and much, much more. Just ask us.

2. There is a new rate for your condominium insurance, which will reduce the premium significantly, with new options in Colones and Dollars.

3. Regarding Automobile Insurance, brand new vehicles of the current model year receive a 30% discount for the first year, and if you are a new client you get a 20% discount on top; for a total discount 50% for the first year!!! To get this discount the Invoice (factura) must not be stale-dated more than 5 working days.

Get a 20% or 15% discount off the entire premium if you are a new client for INS.

Also there is a FAMILY PLAN, which gives you 50% or 55% discount if you insure more than 2 vehicles.

And if these were not enough, we also give you an additional 5% discount off the Premium, by paying the bill online…

As you may know if you accumulate claims were you were at fault, INS can increase your rates or decrease your actual discount… call us to let you know how you can use an INS claim system that will allow you to not affect your insurance history!

Please feel free to contact us, to let you know how you can have access to these and other discounts…

If you cancel your Automobile insurance and then, apply for a new policy, you will get the same discount as you had before you cancelled. It is the same situation if you transfer your policy from another agent, you won’t lose your discount.

These and more options are available for you here at our offices beside the ARCR; for more information and details on this article, call Franklin Martinez 8318-225 or Juan Carlos Calero 2258-7041, or write us [email protected] or [email protected]

6El Residente

Legal Updateby Allan Garro N.

Popurri of Legal Advice II

This is the second part of the article printed in the January- February issue of El Resident Magazine. There are more short topics with helpful information for members of the International Community about the Costa Rican legal system, but in this article are secrets that may help in dealing with Costa Rican governmental and Public Institutions.

Saving on territorial taxes. Local Municipalities tax all properties in Costa Rica. The yearly tax rate is equivalent to 0.25% of the property value registered in the municipality. For example, a property with a registered value of USD $100.000 has to pay USD$250 per year in territorial tax. Many people ask if there is a way to save money by reducing this tax - the answer is both yes and no. Yes, because the law says those owning only one property in their personal name (corporations are excluded) can apply for an exemption of an amount equal to 45 base salaries or less, which currently represents about USD $30.000. If the property has a higher value, this amount can be deducted from the total and tax paid only on the balance. No, because if you do the math the total yearly saving will represent only $75, and the process of applying for the exemption can be time consuming and stressful.

If the property owned is classified as producing agricultural land it is possible to get a certificate from the Cattle and Agricultural Ministry stating that the land is being used in accordance with approved environmental standards, and then apply for a 40% yearly exemption from the Territorial Tax. A large farm owner can save big bucks. Keep in mind that municipalities can legally adjust the value of a property where a mortgage is registered against it for an amount

higher than the current registered value.

Cutting the red tape. People forced to deal with Public Institutions usually get frustrated by huge lines and endless lists of requirements required for administrative matters. It is not unusual to submit requested information or forms only to find more information or forms are required in what seems to be a never-ending process. Well, there is a law that can be used as a valuable tool to fight the system. Law number 8220, the Law to Protect Citizens from Excess of Requirements and Administrative Procedures basically states:

• The law applies to ALL public Institutions in Costa Rica.

• Once a person files documents with an Institution, those documents can’t be requested again for the same process.

• Public Institutions can’t request documents or information they handle. For example: INS can’t request a copy of the car’s Marchamo, since INS is the institutions that issues that document.

• All Institutions are required to provide information through public media as to the exact requirements for the procedures they handle, and exactly which legal authority gives them the right to set these requirements. Most show this info on their websites.

• Once a person submits the requested requirements, public officers are allowed to request additional

Continued on page 7...

7March- April, 2011

requirements only once. In case they demand more on three or more occasions, the person can refuse and request that disciplinary action be taken against the public officer for disregarding this law.

• In some specific cases such as permits, licenses or authorizations, once all required documents are submitted the public Institutions involved must provide an answer within 1 month, otherwise the Petitioner can consider the request approved through a legal right called Positive Silence. In this case a Notary will have to issue a document acknowledging all requirements were met and that the Institution did not answer on time. The exception to this rule is when the permits, authorizations or licenses are related to environmental matters.

In all processes involving Government Institutions, if excessive time is taken to make a decision, the Petitioner can file a relief suit or amparo before the Constitutional Court claiming violation of the right to Prompt Justice contained in article 41 of the Constitution. In this case the Supreme Court can order the Institutions involved to make a decision within a specific period of time, plus order them to pay damages the delay may have caused. It’s important to remember that articles 27 and 30 of the Constitution grant the right of Petition and Answer. Those articles force Officials to answer citizen’s applications, doubts or information requests promptly otherwise help from Constitutional Court can be requested, too.

A notary at your home. For years the National Registry has offered to the public information from all Public Registries such as Property, Vehicles, Boats, Corporations and Cadaster Plans on the website www.registronacional.go.cr. However, this information is exclusively for consultation purposes since only certifications obtained from Registry offices or issued by a Notary can be used as valid documents to submit to private and public Institutions. Based on the Digital Government Program, BCR Banco de Costa Rica and the National Registry recently launched the website www.rnpdigital.com where valid certifications can be obtained anytime. It’s necessary to apply to be registered by providing required personal data and then obtaining an access password to purchase certificates through a procedure similar to those purchases made on amazon.com. Average cost of a certification is 2.800 colons–a little more than USD $5. Payments are made through any valid credit card. Once

printed, the document will show a certificate number that can be checked by an Officer within 15 days on the same website to confirm its validity. This could be especially useful to those needing to obtain personerias or certifications proving the right to legally represent a company. This is an essential requirement to represent a company when dealing with most institutions because it proves who has the current right to legally represent the company.

Allan Garro N., Attorney at [email protected]

8El Residente

9March- April, 2011

Learning The Languageby Christopher Howard

Drinking TermsIn the last issue we discussed ordering in a restaurant. It is likely all that eating now is going to help you build up a healthy thirst, so to go along with the same topic, here we will cover some of the words and phrases that will assist you in ordering some drinks.

Añejo – aged Bebida embriagante – booze Blanco – white as in ‘white wine’ Cerveza clara – light beer Cerveza de barril – draft beer Cerveza cruda – draft beer (Costa Rica) Cerveza negra – dark beer Coñac – brandy Cosecha – the year of the wine crop or vintage Debil – weak (drink potency) Dulce – sweet En las rocas or con hielo – on the rocks Espumoso – sparkling Fuerte – strong Grado – proof Jerez – sherry Licor – liquer Ligero or liviano – light, like light beer Ron – rum Rosado – rosé (wine) Seco – very dry Solo – straight Tinto – red (wine) Una fría – a cold beer in Costa Rica

A pico de botella – to dring a beer right from the bottle without a glass.

Goma – hangover. We also say Gomón or gotera for hangover. Resaca is a more common word in most parts of the Spanish-speaking world but in Mexico they say cruda for hangover.

Guaro – a sugar cane based drink or almost any kind of alcohol here. When some is ill, we say "Falta de Guaro"..You need some guaro to feel better.

Tapis – an alcoholic drink, or to be drunk in Costa Rica. Jumas or jumo can also mean to be drunk in Costa Rican slang. Borracho, embriagado or pasado de tragos are more widely used terms for inebriation.

Here is your Costa Rican expression (tiquismo) for this week:

Zarpe– is the last drink, or "One for the road". El Ultimo Zarpe is the last 'last drink', or similar in concept to our "One for the ditch".

10El Residente

Wild Side LX

by Ryan Piercy

Splitting HaresNo matter which country you hail from, rabbits abound (pun intended). You would have to be from someplace like the South Pole, or Greenland, not to have encountered any… literally. Thus, as you can imagine, Costa Rica also has its share of these furry little favorites. Of course, unless you happen to have one of your own, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, no? Well, actually not really. In fact there are about 50 different species worldwide, and three can be found here. But more interestingly, one species is very much a local resident!

All three of the species found in Costa Rica are of the genus Sylvilagus, which are known commonly as the Cottontail (Good ol’ Peter & friends!) First we can take a look at Sylvilagus floridanus, which is the Eastern Cottontail. This is one of the most common species in North America, and all the way down to the southernmost parts of South America. It is a chunky red-brown or gray-brown, with long eras and a short fluffy tail, white of course. It is a very territorial animal, and obviously, very prolific. In a year a female can birth up to 7 litters, each of 1 to 12 young. They can run up to 18 mph, often in a zigzag pattern. They also do not burrow as some rabbits, but actually rest in a scratched out depression or hole in the grass or dirt, or often under brush.

Next we find the Brazilian Rabbit, or Tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis). This is a solitary creature that can be located in South and Central America. It is a forest species, found in these areas, often near rivers or swamps, and like our other furry friends, is fond of gardens. The Tapeti is known for short ears, short legs, and is a darkish colour along the body and tail, and definitely darker than the Eastern. Always be wary, as they can be known to attack with their nails if needed to protect their young. Again (like most rabbits) it must be somewhat prolific, as it is understood to be the only of its

species found in much of its range, not of course including Costa Rica, which brings us to …

…Our very own Sylvilagus dicei, or Dice’s Cottontail. This tropical bunny must be a little more laid back with the boys, as their range is limited to just central Costa Rica and western Panama. Unfortunately they are in fact on the endangered species list, and may be headed for extinction in the wild. Dice’s is a large bodied Cottontail, usually a mixture of black and brown on the back and tail, having blackish gray sides. It is white underneath with a brown patch on the throat, and more robust and larger than the other two species.

Apart from humans, Dice’s Cottontail is also hunted by coyote’s and other carnivores. This species is fond of humid cloud forests and highland areas. Local researchers believe they breed throughout the year, but hard facts are difficult to come by. Like most rabbit species, they are herbivores, feeding on grasses and plants, sometimes with bark and woods added to the regular diet.

It is believed that the cottontails are active year around here, but due to their habitat, and obviously there speed and tendency to run, make it difficult to find or spot these furry little creatures. It is believed that in Costa Rica Dice’s cottontails range through the mountains of Talamanca, Cervantes, and Cerro Chirripo. Little is certain as most of their habitat is in already protected areas, though some of these may have increased dangers due to encroaching species. If you are fortunate enough to come across one however, count yourself lucky, and enjoy a visit with a rarely observed local species.

11March- April, 2011

12El Residente


ARCR Updateby Ryan Piercy

Your Personal Info For Sale Shortly before publication, it came to our attention tha Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) has provided Racsa with access to information on all residents in Costa Rica, who will be selling access to Agencies and private companies, under a service called Interdata.

The intention is so that business can more readily verify the identity of foreigners using their services, however we have great concerns over this project.

While we can see the benefit that would help protect both the business and the individual from fraudulent issues, the problem is who will use the service, and could it perhaps simply give access to your information to the wrong individuals, as opposed to just the right ones?

We believe that many residents are going to be somewhat upset by this program, however it appears the system is already in place and being offered now. Thus ARCR will be checking into this more, and trying to see what, if anything, can be negotiated.

And just what sort of information can be seen? Well, nothing more than your:

• Cedula number• Last names, first names• Birth date• Nationality• Emission date of the cedula or permit• Expiry date• Immigration status• Sex• Photo• Signature

Discount Directory 2011 LIVE ARCR now offers you two forms to get more for your money, Daily Offers as well as our regular Discounts. Go and check it out at http://discounts.arcrmembers.net. This is a trial program to try and bring even more benefits for members.

What is an Offer?* 40% to 90% discounts on products & services.* Buy directly from the website with a credit card, debit card, or through SafetyPay.* Receive the voucher in your account at Miferta.com* Print the voucher or send it to your cellular.* Present the voucher in the participating business to receive the product or service purchased.* Enjoy saving!

What are Discount Coupons?* 5% a 25% discounts as always on products & services.* Take your discount directory, or download coupon free to your account at Miferta.com.* Print the coupon or send it to your cellular.* Presenta el cupPresent the coupon or directory in the participating business and receive your discount.

Contacts: If you have any questions or issues, please contact Miferta via their web chat on the site (discounts.arcrmembers.net) or by phone at 2258-6467 (Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm) You can also email them at [email protected]

If you experience any issues with Miferta, please contact the ARCR office.

Annual Legal Services ARCR has negotiated with one of the attorneys offices in order to offer an additional service. Pay one flat fee of $120 per year, and have no further charges on a number of legal services for the entire year. Personerias, notarizations, drafting and updating your Costa Rican will, labour calculations, reviewing any contracts, and much more.

Full a full list of what services are included in this Legal Package, contact the ARCR offices, or drop by and obtain the complete list.

14El Residente

A Day In The LLifeeby Allen Dickinson

My Tica’s Eyes.

Just to set your mind at ease, this isn’t going where you might expect. I’m not discounting the beauty and seductiveness that a Tica can communicate with her eyes. (Been there, done that, got the ring to prove it.) But this is about something different – about looking OUT of a Tica’s eyes, not into them.

I’ve always been a very observant fellow. I found out when I was older that for a period of time when I was pre-teen my parents worried about me. It seems I was always coming home with things I had “found” and they were concerned about my method of “finding” them. When they later told me about their concerns, they said that after observing me for a while, they realized that I was just very observant and saw things others didn’t. I once found a five-dollar bill several

other persons had walked past. And when I was young, five dollars was a lot of money!

In the late fifties I was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Part of the members’ duties was to man a lookout tower on top of a rise above town and report all over-flying aircraft, by phone, to a central station. I was considered the best spotter of the group and that was a matter of pride for me. My powers of observation were something I continued to take pride in for the rest of my life;. Even though my eyes aren’t as good as they once were and I need glasses now, I still tend to pick up on things and details others miss. But all I have found, all I have observed, all that has slipped past the notice of others but not me, pales in comparison to what my Ticas can spot.

Maybe all Ticas aren’t like that. I can only write about “my Ticas” because that’s who I live with – my Costa Rican wife and four daughters. There is a boy too, but he doesn’t qualify – he has a hard time finding his socks even when he’s wearing them.

For instance, my wife is always on the lookout for a new place to live – a bigger, better, and cheaper house to rent. The most common way to advertise a house for sale or rent in Costa Rica is not to put an ad in the newspaper, or post a flyer on a bulletin board at the local shopping center, or even list it on a web site. No, the most common way to advertise it is to post a small sign on the fence of the house that’s available. Nothing elaborate, just the words “Se Aquilla”



(for rent) or “Se Vende” (for sale) and maybe a telephone number scribbled on an eight by eleven piece of paper stuck up with tape of some sort. Often, those signs are posted in such a way as to not even be easily visible to someone driving by. But boy, does my wife see them! I cannot begin to estimate the number of times she has had me stop the car and go back so she can copy down the telephone number to call and inquire later. Many of those times, she’s finished writing while I’m still trying to locate the sign!

Okay, I’m usually preoccupied by driving and missing potholes, cows, motorcycles, and families walking in the street, so I can discount my missing the signs somewhat. If that were the only thing, I wouldn’t feel my powers of observation were failing. But, there are others.

This is a small country and one is bound to run across other persons whom you know from time to time. But we can be driving down the street, and there’s a motor scooter a hundred meters ahead, and one, if not all in the car (except me) will be able to identify the operator as their father / grandfather. That’s over the length of a football field! If you’ve ever sat in an end-zone you know it’s difficult to make out the big numbers on the players jerseys if they are scrimmaging at the other end of the field. But my Ticas know who’s on that scooter that far ahead!

To give a better idea of how perceptive this is, his scooter is white and his helmet is unmarked white – just like a thousand others. As far as I can tell, there is nothing particularly remarkable about either him or his vehicle: yet at a distance that I have a hard time determining the color of the ride, they know it’s him. With a 98% degree of accuracy! And


16El Residente

I’m not talking just locally, which could be explainable, this has happened on the Pista, in Puriscal, and in downtown San Jose. He gets around. (He must, he’s fathered twelve children by eight different women.)

Nor is it just people and House For Rent signs they spot. Just recently, while we were taking a drive in the mountains above Escazu, I got the order to stop and look at a bird. Everyone in the car was admiring it and its beautiful colors a good 60 seconds before I could pick it out. Once I zeroed in on it, sure enough, there was a Mot Mot twenty feet off the road, hidden in some bushes. How she had seen it from a moving car is beyond me!

Nor is it just my family, either. A friend of mine was having an innocent lunch in the back of a restaurant some ten miles from where he lives, a good ten meters from the street, when a Tica who knows his girlfriend walked by outside. Before he could get home his girlfriend knew where he had been. (No it wasn’t me. But in the days before I got married there were a couple of times I had to explain being seen somewhere I wasn’t scheduled to be.)

The same thing applies to my girls spotting friends and relatives too. They can see someone walking a block away, moving away from us, and will know who it is. I can’t even tell whether it’s male or female at that distance.

Yet, at the same time, they are oblivious to other things. I’ll spot something interesting (to me) like semi-truck we just passed that has a mural of a Tope painted on the side of the trailer, and when I comment on it I’ll get the response, “What semi?”

I’m really puzzled by this. I know it isn’t their vision, so it has to be something else. Maybe it’s cultural, not physical. I guess I’ll never know. What I do know is that if this country ever has a need for plane spotters, my family would surely qualify at the top of the list of applicants!

Allen Dickinson is a member of ARCR. After serving 23 years in the US Navy he settled in Pensacola, Florida, where he resided for 24 years. In 2006 he retired from operating his own licensed mortgage brokerage business and relocated to Costa Rica. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New York and a Master of Arts degree from the University of West Florida. He can be reached via email at: [email protected].


and farcical plays. The group’s monthly social meetings are held in the theatre on the first Monday of the month from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. and everyone is welcome. Membership: Student C2,500, Adult: C5000, Family: C8000. Also, earn your Wings, become an LTG Angel. For

more information Call the LTG Box Office 8858-1446or www.littletheatregroup.org

Marine Corps LeagueMeets the 2nd Saturday of the month, Int’l Baptist Church, in Gua-

chipelen. Call Bill Enell at 8812-0126.

Newcomer’s ClubNewcomers Club of Costa Rica (for women) meets the first

Tuesday of every month, September through May. September meeting will be an interest fair. Contact: 2416-1111 costaricaporo

@yahoo.com or http://www.newcomersclubofcostarica.com

PC Club of Costa RicaThis computer Club meets on the third Saturday of each month at Pan

American school, in Belen, 830 to 11:30 am2 months Free Trial for newcomers. For information call Chuck Jennings.

Phone 2266-0123 www.pcclub.net

Republican’s AbroadThe Republicans Abroad of Costa Rica meets the second Tuesday of

each month. Contact Francis 2203-6131, or fax 2282-2150.

Radio control Sailing ClubMeets at Sabana Park Lake. For information contact Walter Bibb.

[email protected]

Wine Club of Costa RicaPlease mark your calendars The wine club usually meets at 1 P.M. on the last Sunday of each month. Join us to tantalize your taste buds and

expand your education.For more information on upcoming events please contact us

Phone 2279-8927, 2257-2223

Women’s Club of Costa RicaMark Your Calendar! January 22nd, 10 am – 2 pm for the Book Sale Event Fundraiser of 2011 sponsored by the Women’s Club of Costa Rica (WCCR) at the Pan-American School (300 m south of El Rodeo Hotel & Restaurant) San Antonio de Belén. Also visit the Coffee and Baked Goods Sale Corner while browsing through the best selection in San Jose for gently-used books, DVD’s, CD’s, board games, puzzles and current magazines. This super book sale offers tremendous bargains for all book lovers, but no early birds please. Proceeds from this event will benefit the WCCR’s Educational Scholarship and Reading is Fun Projects.Take Action! Weed through your shelves – for donation drop-off locations please call Kathi Garrison, Book Sale Event Coordinator at 2589-2037 or 2293-5118 or email [email protected] the WCCR website at www.wccr.org

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (open to men too) Bilingual group meets in Heredia on the first

Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. in the clinic of Mireya Gonzalez. We work on peace and human rights issues. Call Mitzi 2433-7078 or write

[email protected]

Young Expats of Costa RicaSome Expatriates under the age of 40, and currently living in Costa Rica, have formed a new social club to be coordinated through their website

This club will help younger expatriates living in, or moving to, Costa Rica meet other expats in their age group for; friendship, romance, travel and

activity partners, and professional networking.www.YoungExpatsOfCostaRica.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars: Post 11207Meetings are held at 12 noon, the first Tuesday of every month, at Club

Colonial Casino on the second floor. All members are welcome and veterans who served overseas may join. For info please email the post at

[email protected].

Alcoholics AnonymousGroups meet daily throughout the country;

times and places change frequently. Call for up-to-date information.

San José 2222-1880 (Anchor club, also serves Narcotics Anonymous) Av 6 Calle 1, 2nd floor

Maryland Building.Heredia (Laura) 2267-7466, Puerto Viejo Limon 2750-0080, Zancudo 2776-0012,

Tamarindo 2653-0897, Flamingo (Don) 2654-4902, Manuel Antonio (Jennifer) 2777-1548, Jacó (Nancy) 2637-8824, Zoo Group Escazu

2293-4322.

Al-Anon MeetingsAl-Anon Family Group is for all family and friends of Alcoholics. Meetings are at the International Baptist Church, 2nd floor,

Saturday morning 10:30, located on the pista toward Santa Ana between the Multiplaza and Guachepelin exits. For information in English, please call Ken 2288-0317 and Rosemary 8993-1762; For

Spanish please call Christine 8840-4658

American Legion Post 10- EscazuPost 10, The oldest and largest American Legion Post in Costa Rica,

meets at 12 noon on the first Wednesday of each month at Club Cubano in Guachipelin. For information and map, please call Mel Gold-

berg at 2288-0454 or 8870-6756, or John Moran at 2232-1680.

American Legion Post 12- GolfitoMeetings are held 4 pm 1st Tuesday every month at Banana Bay

Marina. The Golfito GOVETS have been helping Southern Costa Rica for over 20 years. Contact Pat

at [email protected] or 2775-2809.

American Legion Post 16- HerediaAll veterans are welcome. Meetings are the second Tuesday of the

month at Hotel America in Heredia at 12 noon.Contact Post Commander Jim Young or Post Adjutant Ken Johnson at

2591-1695.

Bird Watching ClubThe Birding Club of Costa Rica sponsors monthly trips to observe local and migrant birds in various areas of the country. For more information

contact us at 2282-5365 or at [email protected]

Canadian ClubThe Canadian Club of Costa Rica welcomes all to join us for our monthly

luncheons, and at our special annual events. For information visitour website: www.canadianclubcr.com

Democrats AbroadDemocrats Abroad meets on the last Saturday of every month at the Aurola Holiday Inn, San Jose. Contact Nelleke Bruyn, 2279-3553,

e-mail [email protected]. Join Democrats Abroad at www.democratsabroad.org. Register to vote absentee at

VoteFromAbroad.org!

Little Theatre GroupLTG is the oldest continuously running English-language theatre in

Central or South America. The group currently puts on a minimum of four productions a year offering a choice of modern, classic, serious,

18El Residente

LegendsCompiled by ARCR Staff

The Waterfall of the BrideJust a few minutes from Paraiso in Cartago one can find a waterfall nearly six hundred feet high, called by some the Cascada de la Novia. Those who recall tell a story that the name was given based on a legend of what transpired there, some decades ago.

To celebrate their Despedida de solteros (bachelor party), a popular couple realized a trip with their friends to the Orosi Valley. The happy couple departed on horseback from Cartago with a group of their closest friends.

All, graciously dressed and mounted sidesaddle, as was the custom in those days, shined with their fresh and pretty faces. The men were mounted on their horses dressed, and trimmed with silver, and themselves in black boots with splendid shining spurs. Between smiles and laughter, they occasionally let out the short yells, typical of the country, and the females smiled back shyly.

Finally they had arrived to the Valley of Orosi, a place of spectacular beauty, where it appears that God went overboard on the day of creation. Through the day they danced and smiled, and occasional spoke a verse. There were many whistles and loving smiles, coquettish looks, much happiness, and even a few toasts. A toast was made to the bride, as is customary, and for the future, and for the ladies. Also the groom to the bride; for her smile, her large beautiful eyes, her dark hair, so carefully braided, and down below her knee; all for which, stated the groom, had to be obtained for this day a very special veil, and made of a

material so fine and transparent that it would not cover her beauty even for a moment, which was greater than even the very valley they were in.

All good things must end. The day was stretching on, and so the riders mounted again, and started on the journey homeward. It was on the return that the group passed near the great falls, and the eternal guardian of the valley; it was then, perhaps for the grooms prideful words, or even some other forgotten imprudence, that the bride’s own horse spooked, and perhaps even a little insane, jumped into the abyss below, taking with him the bride, her magnificent veil, big beautiful eyes, and braids of long dark hair.

The legend has now been long forgotten. All that remains now is the river, which daily throws itself into the abyss below, and it remembers still. It continues to repeat her screams as only it can recall, but in a strange language that nobody alive can understand…

Just a few minutes from Paraiso in Cartago one can find a waterfall nearly six hundred feet high, called by some the Cascada de la Novia.


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Cas Ice Cream

6 or 7 ripened cases 1 can (310g) of skimmed evaporated milk 1 can (395) condensed milk 1/4 cup cold water

Preparation;� Put the evaporated milk into the freezer until

crystals begin to form.� Liquefy the cases in the water, and strain them to

eliminate the seeds.� Place the evaporated milk in the mixer, and mix until

the volume of liquid has increased.� Continue mixing while adding alternately the

condensed milk and the cas mixture.� Transfer the entire mixture to a container to cover

and then freeze until ready.

Cas Coulis

Sauce made from the cas is another delicious desert that can be added to a piece of cake or roll, or simply eaten alone as a pudding. It is prepared as follows; 3 ripened cases 3 cups of water 2/3 cup of sugar 3 tablespoons of cornstarch

Preparation;� Cook the cases in the water until they boil.� Mash and strain the mixture well.� Add sugar to taste (approximately 2/3 of a cup) and

put the whole mixture to boil a second time.� Pre dissolve the cornstarch in a bit of water,

then add to the boiled mixture while still hot so it thickens.

� Serve hot or cold.---------------

Celina Carazo Garnier is a Dietitian, graduated in Argentina, and with 30 years experience in the field. She worked in the Clinica Biblica, the University of Costa Rica, and was head of the Department of Nutrition for the Ministry of Health in Costa Rica.

The Cuchara RRiccaaby Celina Carazo Garnier

In The Fruit Bowl: CasCas is a tropical fruit originating in Central America. Its name is of indigenous origin, deriving from the brunca ‘Kas Kra’, and its scientific name is Psidium friedrichsthalianum. The cas is known in El Salvador by the name arrayán, and in Nicaragua as naranja agria (sour orange).

The Cas tree can grow to a height of 5 to 10 meters, and grows ideally in tropical and subtropical climates.

In Costa Rica there exists small commercial plantations in areas like Escazú ,la Guácima de Alajuela, Villa Colón, Piedades de Santa Ana and Santa Bárbara de Heredia.

The fruit of the cas has a round shape, about 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter. The colour is an intense green with a firm consistency, slowly yellowing slightly as it ripens. The fruit contains numerous hard seeds, surrounded by a gelatinous soft flesh.

Cas should be picked once its colour has changed to a light green, and should separate easily from the stalk into your hand when pulled.

The Cas tree produces fruit practically the entire year, and its harvest is abundant. Entire fruits or processed pulp can be conserved frozen for many months, using enclosed and sealed bags or containers.

Cas is an excellent source of water, vegetable fiber, pectin and vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid. This vitamin is water soluble, or dissolves in water, and is destroyed by extensive cooking. Vitamin C is an antioxidant useful for protecting the body against free radicals which can damage the body’s tissues. It also helps the body’s immune system which protects the organism against infections. Vitamin C is also essential for the formation of collagen, a substance important for growth and reparation of the body tissue.

Cas is a very popular fruit in Costa Rica, and for its very acidic flavor the people are accustomed to eating it with salt or sugar. They are also used to prepare it in refreshments made of either raw or cooked fruit, mashing it, straining, and then adding water or milk, along with sugars or sweeteners to their personal tastes.Additional forms of using the fruit are for jams, marmalades and ice cream. From these we offer the following delicious recipes;

22El Residente

Dollars & $ennseeby Alan Weeks

What Recovery?

Eight Reasons Why This So-Called Recovery Is Worse than Any in U.S. History.This was the title of a very recent article(1) in which the author compared eight major economic indicators with past ones to arrive at this conclusion.

The major indicators he examined measured the following: employment, income, consumption, production, housing, and capital expenditures. Some of these important indicators showed very anaemic gains, far inferior to any in the past. The remaining ones remain well below those in any other post-war period. Several of the key indicators will be reviewed in detail later.

I agree with the author that the facts speak for themselves and it begs the question: What recovery?

With such grim economic facts so readily available and easy to understand, one has to wonder why the markets remain so overvalued relative to that in any past period of serious economic weakness. Investors have also continued to “shrug off” risks posed by serious happenings around the globe, any one of which could escalate quickly and cause significant financial and economic damage.

Because of all this, investors should be exercising extreme caution.

However, the majority of economists and strategists are still telling anyone who will listen that the economic recovery is now normal and are trumpeting this view to jump-start the stock market.

OSTRICHES & LEMMINGS

What some of us perceive out there in the world of investing is very difficult to express as a simple metaphor. As individuals, a large number of people seem to be in outright denial of even the basic facts about the global economy (ostriches); and yet they also appear to have a strong desire to be with the crowd (lemmings). It is hard to conjure up an image of umpteen thousands of ostriches with their heads stuck in the sand; and yet all moving in concert towards a cliff edge.

This section is being concluded with another Einstein quote that would seem to be appropriate: “There are two infinite things I know of – the universe is one and human stupidity the other. And actually, I am not sure about the universe”.

ILLUSIONISTS & SHILLS

In previous articles, I pointed out the real mission of all the folks on Wall Street and Bay Street is to make money for themselves and their firms. In order to do so, they need to keep “spinning” the economic and financial data in order to keep “stoking the flames of hope” so that investors remain optimistic and “buy into” the latest fads.

Just imagine the employment plight of a brave economist working for Goldman Saks to tell the world that there are significant chances of a double-dip recession (or worse), while the company needs to have “irrational exuberance” in place in order to “flog off” a minority stake in Facebook, for example, for a trifling $50 billion.

Throughout this article, it should become much clearer just how misleading most media headlines and updates by the “talking heads” really are, and why these sources should not




be relied upon by investors.

It should also reinforce the need for investors to do their own “homework” and then rely on their own common sense.

THE LATEST FED BOONDOGGLE

Within the next few months, the U.S. Federal Reserve (FED) will have imposed a total of nearly two Trillion dollars of “tax” on the American economy since 2009, in the form of “Quantitative Easing”. This has hugely benefited the wealthy bankers and investor class, and it spurred the current stock market and commodity asset bubbles.

Of course, this huge financial “gift” from the FED is a key reason why reports of retail spending have been positive. In fact, luxury outlets saw an 8.1% rise in sales from a year ago and sales of Cadillacs and Porsches are up 30% or more.

However, it took deeply discounted prices even before Black Friday in order to get most American consumers buying. Even then, sales at Best Buy, Target, and WalMart have languished. Furthermore, with only a 1.2% increase in reported sales before inflation, one needs to realize that the two categories with the biggest gains were the purchases of gasoline and clothing. Spending on food was also up.

These would seem to be much better indicators of commodity price inflation than any improvement in Consumer Spending, upon which U.S. economic growth is so dependent.

Therefore, this “tax” imposed by the FED is abusively regressive because it is creating commodity inflation not only on Americans but also on the majority of people around the world. This is because food and energy constitute a much larger position of a lower income person’s spending than that of a wealthy person.

It is also difficult to ignore the growing risk of energy and food inflation that is increasingly being felt in countries like China, India, Egypt, as well as many others around the world. This is also starting to ignite widespread, violent, riots.

However, one need look no further than the effects that the economic slowdown, coupled with escalating food and energy prices, is having on the majority of Americans to accept the statements out of Washington that “the economy is improving” are bogus.

This raises the real question: Are we being lied to, perhaps to keep us from becoming depressed, or are the elites simply delusional?

Let us delve further into this because investors should be aware that stock market valuations follow the economic trends (not the other way around). Therefore, instead of being a “lemming” and following the lead of the majority of

clueless equity investors and brokers, it is essential to our financial health to understand the real state of the economy.

IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID

Remember that nifty slogan that helped get a President elected in 1992? One needs to start realizing the seriousness of the financial and economic problems when Paul Volcker, the only respected U.S. FED Chairman still living, and old enough to remember the 1930’s, warned that: “the U.S. is caught up in the most difficult economic circumstances of the post-World War II era and so is almost all the developed world”. “The time is long gone when the U.S. could lay claim to be the world economic....... superpower. Instead, we are [still] faced with broken financial markets, under-performance of the economy, and......”

With the U.S., Europe, and Japan all in serious economic and financial trouble, and, with the real potential for China to ultimately have its own real estate bubble burst and create a banking crisis, this certainly does not bode well for the future.

The current situation reminds the No.1 ranked global strategists(2) (and myself), of mid-2007. Investors then were content to act like ostriches, (stick their heads very deep in the sand), and ignore the fact that “The Great Unwinding” had clearly begun. By September 2007, the “wheels were clearly falling off” the global economy.

The recent reaction to date suggests the market is in a similarly deluded “state of mind”.

Based on what we know of the Japanese “Ice Age” as well as from the U.S. 1930’s experience, that in a post-bubble world, the equity markets follow the economic trends. Right now, the leading indicators are pointing toward either a decisive economic slowdown or a hard landing.

24El Residente

WHAT HOUSING RECOVERY?

The stock market was encouraged in late January by “better-than-expected” new home sales. However, a long-term chart shows that since the early 1960s, the number of new homes sold per month rarely dropped below 400,000 units, and averaged about 600,000 units until the recent bubble surge.

The fact is; this reported “big increase in sales” was from a historically low level of around 300,000 units. At that low level, percentage increases can sound big but, viewed over the long-term, it looks like “random noise at the bottom of the barrel”. The real number that should have been reported is that new home sales are still down 47%.

In other housing news:

� Home prices sank further in all 28 major U.S. metropolitan areas.

� The size of price declines in most areas in the last quarter was greater than in each previous quarter.

� Unsold inventory is “piled up”.

� Home ownership is already below pre-boom levels.

� Millions more homeowners are at some stage of foreclosure.

� Many more homeowners owe more than their houses are worth.

� For the 1st time in U.S. history, banks own a greater share of residential housing net worth than all individual Americans put together.

Furthermore, respected professionals have ascertained that the U.S. came out of all other post-World War II recessions because growth in the housing sector provided such a huge catalyst. This time, the U.S. housing sector is “acting

like a wet blanket”, dampening any hope of an economic rebound for years to come.

THE GIANT SUCKING SOUND

Some of you may remember Ross Perot’s prediction in 1991, when he ran for U.S. President, that the “giant sucking sound” to be heard would be the huge number of American jobs leaving the U.S. In fact, the greatest percentage loss of U.S. jobs in history did occur through the 1990s, and losses have continued relentlessly since then.

In America today:

� The average time needed to find a job has risen to a record of over 35 weeks.

� Long-term unemployment (more than 6 months) has reached 42% of the total, something that hasn’t happened since World War II.

� More than 40% of Americans still employed are now working in service jobs, which are often very low paying.

� Initial weekly jobless claims were down at this point in past recessionary cycles. They are up 22% this time.

� The number of Americans now in the food stamp program is up 60% from mid 2007 and now stands at 14% of the U.S. population.

� The necessity of each level of government throughout most of the U.S. to make major spending cuts in order to close their huge budget deficits should create the next huge wave of job losses.

� The number of “chronically unemployed” is absolutely soaring.

There are not nearly enough jobs for everyone.

Wealth and power are rapidly becoming concentrated at the top, and big global corporations are making massive amounts of money. Meanwhile, many have come to believe the American middle class is being systemically wiped out of existence.

Unfortunately, the “globalization” and “free trade” that our politicians and business leaders insisted would be so good for Americans have had some rather nasty side effects.

As Thomas Friedman’s book titled “The World is Flat” stated: Obviously, American workers cannot compete with people on the other side of the world willing to work hard for less than one-tenth the amount (and without benefits) to



do the same job. And this is without even considering new regulations being frequently imposed on businesses that make it even less attractive to operate a business in the U.S.

In conclusion, I have never understood how the U.S. economy, so dependent (72%) on Consumer Spending for growth, can possibly come out of this “Great Recession” when so many Americans remain jobless or have had to take service “McJobs” in order to survive. Another major factor that is impairing any hope of recovery in Consumer Spending is that so many tens of millions of Americans have also lost so much of the “perceived” wealth in their homes and the market.

SOME BRICS ARE CRUMBLING

In a future article it may be appropriate to explore in depth why even the BRIC-progenitor(3) expects India and China to be in for a rough year.

One fact about the BRIC stock markets investors should keep in mind, however, is that the markets in three of the four BRIC countries have already “turned south”, and a couple of them have started to plunge. The last time this happened, you might recall, was in the months before the U.S. market

plunge commenced in late 2007.

FINANCIAL HEALTH WARNING

Readers are encouraged not to put blind faith in the above ramblings but rather to do your own “homework’”and then use your own common sense.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer.

For more information and reference details please contact Alan Weeks

At (507) 345 - 3714 or by E-mail: [email protected]

EL RESIDENTE 2011

26El Residente


Holidays of Costa Rica

March 19th ‘St. Joseph’s Day’

April 11th (ARCR closed)‘Battle of St. Rivas’

April 18th-24th (ARCR closed)‘Easter Week’

********************

A Touch of Wisdom

“Happiness isn’t a goal, it’s a by-product.”

Eleanor Roosevelt(1884-1962)

“Life has its little ups and downs.”

unknown

“Llfe is what you make it.”Grandma Moses

********************

A quick smile...

Two cows are standing in a field.

One says to the other “Are you worried about

Mad Cow Disease?”The other one says

“No, It doesn’t worry me, I’m a horse!”

Man: How can you tell if a man is happy?

Woman : Who cares?!

Teacher: Tell me a sentence that starts with an “I”.

Student: I is the....Teacher: Stop! Never put ‘is’ after an “I”. Always put ‘am’

after an “I”.Student: OK. I am the ninth

letter of the alphabet.

28El Residente

Documents

El Residente 2011-03