Expat Advice: Culture Shock in Escazu, Costa Rica

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Escazu

Did you "commit" any embarrassing or humorous cultural blunders? If you did and you'd like to share them, please do tell!

When visiting Escazu, it is important to dress respectfully and maintain polite and friendly behaviour when interacting with locals. It is also considered impolite to mention the country’s past civil wars or even to make joke about them. Moreover, be careful with your body language as a sign of disrespect might be considered rude. Another thing to be mindful of is to avoid overt public displays of affection as this might be seen as inappropriate in the conservative society. It is also important to maintain a normal speaking volume when talking since raising your voice may be regarded as aggressive. Lastly, do not take photographs of people without their permission, especially of Indigenous people.