Expert Info
on 6 Jul 2018
I have moved to Costa Rica for quite some time now and I still feel like I am failing to get the hang of the Costa Rican life. I know that I am a foreign man in an unfamiliar land; I already have my citizenship yet I still feel like I am only a visitor. I have the trouble in communicating with the locals there and you can only imagine the struggle that I have trying to understand the people around and trying to make them understand me as well. How should I deal with this?
Hi Eddie,
It doesn't feel good to be a stranger in a strange land.
How's your Spanish? I lived in Turkey at one point and, despite the natural hospitality of Turkish culture, at points, I felt similar to what you're feeling now. Learning Turkish really helped me to engage more in the country. I wonder if steeping yourself in Spanish might work for you. If you take 3-4 lessons a week, then you'll develop a Spanish tongue quickly.
Otherwise, having a hobby that you're passionate about helped me as well. People tend to give more to you if you have something that you already share.
Either way, good luck my friend!
Kyle