Some public services are still very slow and badly organized
Try to get an appointment at one of the Social Security clinics or hospitals and you'll have go stand in line a considerable time before they open. For some medical specialties, they'll tell you to come back three to six months from then. By that time you can be dead unless you seek private medical care and pay the price. In the state banks you still must exercise plenty of patience to cash a check or be attended to. There seem to be lines everywhere, even to pay your real estate and municipal taxes.
In July 2001, the Ministry of Education announced that it had 4000 job openings for the next school year. More than 13,000 stood in a line 7 blocks long; many seekers having come from far off localities and taken their place in line at 2 a.m. Definitely no foresight or organization here. Gradually, however, the situation is improving, although not as fast as one would wish. The big word in Costa Rica as in all of Latin America is still Paciencia, Señor (patience sir). You have to have plenty of it. But the situation could begin to change. In March 2002, the government, through its Protección del Ciudadano (citizen protection), decreed that no citizen should wait more than a month for the solution of a specific request made to a government office or autonomous state agency.
People are not too keen on keeping engagements or being on time
Not everyone arrives at appointments on time. Even some salesmen, who want to sell you something, get to your place later than agreed upon. The big excuse nowadays is that there was a traffic jam. Three-time president José Figueres was well known for arriving an hour or more later than the time set for meetings and presidential inaugurations. When someone never arrives late at appointments, Costa Ricans say he's like an Englishman. I don't know where this expression started but the British are still enjoying this reputation given them many years ago for punctuality. Ever since the National Theatre in San José was built in the 1890s, it has been a custom that no one is allowed to enter once the performance of the opera starts at 8 p.m. sharp - a simple courtesy offered to those who entered on time, are enjoying the act and don't want to be distracted.
If you want to get paid, be consistent in your collection efforts
Not all buyers pay promptly on the dates designated if you give them credit. So be choosy as to whom you will grant it. And don't give advances on work unless you really know the person who will do a specific job for you. This is especially true with painters, carpenters, plumbers and building and home maintenance men. On several occasions I gave an advance for a repair job on the roof of my house or elsewhere and never saw the man again.
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