Costa Rica Forum

enn1951
Joined 2013
Posts: 18

8 years ago

Crooked Americans Hoodwinking fellow Americans

8 years ago

Since I started my recovery from heart failure more than a year ago, I've become very forgiving. I was so thankful that I did not die that my ability to be completely patient has impressed all my family. However a little blip popped up on the screen that really pushed me to the limit. I'm a retired teacher and am having difficulty dealing with the boredom. In the past few days I responded to an ad placed by an American in CR to teach EFL English for Ticos at her school. I won't divulge her name, the name of her school or its location. What I will divulge are exact quotes from her emails.
First she claims that all her teachers have access to CR's universal health care and second she states that her teachers must make visas runs every three months. I've got about 20 years teaching experience, mostly in the field of EFL--English as a Foreign Language-- and I know a story when I see one. My greatest teaching years occurred in Taiwan, but I got there tricked by a fellow American, a recruiter for a Catholic EFL school. He promised us work papers and then forced all 13 of us to go on visa runs to Macau every 3 months. We didn't know it but we were hired to work illegally.
The fact is she's hiring American teachers and having them do visa runs every 3 months. That is very dangerous. On top of that she's promising access to free CR health care knowing full well that just can't be.
AND I QUOTE FROM THE FILE SHE DESIGNATES AS 2015 Fall Foreign Language Department Program Info:

Visa Run Stipend: (Our school) pays ¢25,000 (approximately $50) for the visa runs in March/April, June/July, and September/October for full-time teachers

Private Health Insurance- The majority of our teachers choose against having health insurance to cut down on expenses. Since health care is universal in Costa Rica, and teachers can get medical care regardless of their ability to pay for it, having insurance is not vital. It is also easy to purchase medicine of any kind, and prescriptions are usually not needed. In the pharmacies, there are often doctors who can prescribe and administer any needed medication, and the service is free.

Visa Runs- Tourist visas expire every 90 days and therefore teachers must leave the country for 72 hours. Overstaying one’s visa is not advisable. Thus, teachers make “visa runs” which are normal and easy to arrange. The total expense of the trip depends on your willingness and/or ability to budget, but you can expect to pay around $150-300.

I've been around long enough to have figured out that some of my fellow Americans occupying certain positions of power cannot be trusted. They will mess you over and leave you out to dry. It irks me that some Americans are so down on foreigners when in fact some of us are the very worst people around.

Thank you!
P.S. I asked her to clarify her statements and she stopped communicating.

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