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Himno Nacional de Costa Rica

We have one and a half years to learn the National Hymn of Costa Rica. If I listen to this everyday, I’m sure I can master it. I will also know how to spell National Hymn of Costa Rica in several languages:

Lyrics so you can sing along:

Noble patria, tu hermosa banderaexpresión de tu vida nos da;bajo el límpido azul de tu cieloblanca y pura descansa la paz.

En la lucha tenaz,de fecunda laborque enrojece del hombre la faz,conquistaron tus hijoslabriegos sencilloseterno prestigio, estima y honor,eterno prestigio, estima y honor.

¡Salve, o tierra gentil!¡Salve, o madre . . . → Read More About Himno Nacional de Costa Rica

8 May 2008
6 comments - (Comments are closed)   Citizenship, Legal Arrangements

Filas, Firmas y Fechas

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 your Important Documents don’t get pounded by a rubber stamp, you aren’t done. Wait for further instructions. The Stamp of the Final Bureaucrat is Costa Rica’s Holy Grail.

Last month we got a double dose of CRB (Costa Rican Bureaucracy). First, we renewed our passports at the American Embassy, as entrenched in CRB as any CRB. Then . . . → Read More About Filas, Firmas y Fechas

7 May 2008
10 comments - (Comments are closed)   Citizenship, CR: Bureaucracy, Legal Arrangements, Living-In

The Baby Back Door

Last week, my friend Isabela (her real name) called me and asked if my new maid, Ginger (not her real name), could leave my house to go babysit for guests in one of Isabela’s rental condos. Seems the wife was giving birth RIGHT NOW and someone needed to go watch the two year old.

Sure, no problemo! A taxi comes, takes Ginger. I end up doing my own laundry. As horrible as that is, I figure things could be worse.

Later, Isabela and I are chatting. I’m wondering, didn’t this woman know she was having a baby, . . . → Read More About The Baby Back Door

13 November 2007
25 comments - (Comments are closed)   Citizenship, CR: Working, Living-In, Moving-To, Residency & Visas