In Costa Rica, non-natives are Gringoes. As far as I know, it’s not pejorative. But then again, I don’t speaka da Spanish, so how would I know? It’s kinda like calling somebody redneck. It’s OK if YOU are a redneck, but if you’re a hipster, it’s an insult.

So as a Gringo in Costa Rica, I offer you

… you might be a Gringo if:

• You refer to your country of birth as “the old country.“
• You drive around a bridge thru a dry river bed because it’s less rough.
• You call the above move, “using the bypass.”
• You volunteer to drive.
• You talk or text and drive.
• You still scoff when they serve a glass of ice with a beer.
• You own a watch.
• You wear a watch.
• The watch works and you look at it regularly.
• You talk in short phrases, and refer to the lapses as “buffering.”
• You refer to water from the tap as “cold.”
• You care about the price of vehicle gas more than the cost of propane.
• You have a “to-do” list.
• You know and use multiple attorneys.
• Your essential technology is GPS.
• You still get pissed off when you overhear a loud cell phone conversation.
• You still get a thrill when you see your seven figure bank balance (in Colones.)
• You say  “Como se dice” more than “una cerveza por favor.”
• The last thing you say as you leave the house is “got your passport?“
• “Why?” is still a question you ask repeatedly and expect an answer.
• Instead of shouting “alo” repeatedly into your cell, you say “can you hear me now?”

If you live in Costa Rica, please add your “you might be a Gringo if…” thoughts in the comments.