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costaricarelocationexpert

Relocation counselor and life abroad mentor. Supporting expats who want to make their dream a reality. Award winning author: Rich Coast Collection

Moving abroad lessons from a caterpillar 🐛 (who wa

Moving abroad lessons from a caterpillar 🐛 (who was safely relocated)

Using accents when writing or speaking in Spanish

Using accents when writing or speaking in Spanish is important - not just because it is the correct way to write (or pronounce) but because leaving them out can completely change the meaning of what you’re saying.

Por ejemplo.

“Feliz Año Nuevo” means Happy New Year.
But without the tilde, “ano” does not mean year. It means anus.

So “Feliz Ano Nuevo” becomes a sentence you did not intend to write or say, and one that will absolutely be noticed.

Accents are very much necessary and functional. That tiny line over the ñ is important.

Use the accent!

I wouldn’t really call this a “fortune” but it is

I wouldn’t really call this a “fortune” but it is a good reminder when living abroad to focus as much as possible on the positives, on why you chose to move abroad. There will be challenging days, but do your best to seek out the good, as much as possible.

The colón hit another record this week, sitting ar

The colón hit another record this week, sitting around ₡481* to $1 USD. It’s the strongest it has been in about twenty years, and if your income or savings are in dollars, you’re probably noticing the difference when you convert. And if you’re coming from Canada, the impact is even harsher.

Using ₡50,000 as an example makes this easier to see.
Back in 2022 when the rate hit ₡690, getting ₡50,000 cost $72 (USD).
At ₡500, it was $100.
At ₡481, it’s $104.
That shift from ₡690 down to ₡481 is roughly a 30% drop in how far your dollars stretch here.

Same errands. Same groceries. Same phone bill. The exchange rate is the only part that changed.

This is one of those practical realities of living abroad that people don’t often consider ahead of time, but it has an impact. A stronger colón changes what your dollars look like when you’re living here.

If you’re planning a move or already here and trying to make sense of how these shifts affect your daily budget, book a call and let’s chat. Over the years, I’ve watched the exchange rate rise and fall many times, and I can help you prepare for how those changes show up in everyday life.

-Chrissy

*Exchange rates differ from bank to bank. ₡481 was what BCR showed as their exchange rate a few days ago. Today's exchange rate at Banco Promerica is ₡480 whereas BCR is ₡484 and Google will tell you it's at ₡489.

FAQ: Does Costa Rica have organizations like Girl

FAQ: Does Costa Rica have organizations like Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts?

Yes. Their mission:
“We are a non-formal education organization that provides opportunities for children and young people, through an innovative and participatory educational program, to be protagonists of their personal development.”

I wrote in the book that dual citizenship between

I wrote in the book that dual citizenship between the US and Costa Rica is possible, but, in the most recent edition, I added a caution…

And now here we are. A US congressperson, originally from Colombia, is proposing to end dual citizenship altogether. It’s strange watching a prediction you hoped would stay theoretical show up in the news.

This proposed bill may not go anywhere. But I’m sharing the information because life abroad works better when you think through your options and pay attention to what’s shifting. It’s worth having a backup plan, even if you never end up using it.

And if you want someone who’s been doing this work for years to help you sort through the possibilities, reach out. That’s what I’m here for! I follow the realities of relocation closely so the people I support can make clear, informed choices.
- Chrissy

PS. For those of you with the original edition, the updates in the 2025 version are available through the bonuses link shared in the preface.

#costarica #movingabroad #livingabroad

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