Costa Rica is still cleaning up the mess from the 6.2 earthquake in early January. It will still be sometime before things get back to normal near the epicenter.
In the area where I live, on the east side of San Jose, there wasn't any damage from the quake and I didn't even feel it because I was getting to my destination in a taxi just as the quake struck. I was wondering, though, why people were coming out of the building, but soon found out.
Taxi Strike Tomorrow!
I thought about going out tomorrow, but tomorrow there is a big taxi strike and it's possible some bus drivers might join in. This means a huge mess for traffic in and around San Jose, and the possibility that it will be impossible to find a taxi at various times and locations, so, if you don't have to go out tomorrow, that would probably be a good idea.
In other news, Domino's pizza closed without warning over the weekend, leaving their 130+ employees in the lurch. There have been other layoffs here recently, but not as many yet as in the US and elsewhere. I think one of the reasons is that as companies seek to tighten their budgets up north, they get rid of employees there and hire new ones here at less than half the price.
The call centers here save them considerable money over what they would have to pay elsewhere, and so part of the fallout of the economic crunch is that there are some new jobs coming here.
For example, Amazon is opening up a new operation here, and other companies are expanding the operations they already have here.
Normally, gringos can't work legally here, so many work under the table and under the radar. Other young couples are doing the "baby drop," which means that if you have your child in Costa Rica, then the parents can get permanent residency ad later citizenship, and the baby can get dual citizenship. You can't do much better than that!
In fact, I know a realtor friend of mine who has the perfect "baby drop" condo for rent right next to Cima Hospital, the best private hospital in the country. If you are interested, go to my consultant page in the list on the left and I will see if I can get you in. There is a long waiting list, though, so book early!
Meanwhile, that arrogant, bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy otherwise known as ICE is finally getting what they deserve -- COMPETITION! The new regulatory agency, SUTEL, has just been set up and they are already telling ICE that they can't just unilaterally raise rates whenever they feel like it with impunity. And, it looks like World Com wants to be their first competitor here.
It will be so nice when there is a real choice of internet service providers [maybe we will finally have world class service here]. And it will be a real nice day when you don't have to wait months or years just to get a cel phone....
Meanwhile, Costa Rica's coffee exports have dropped by 15%, so the world economic crisis is having an impact here.
Well, until next time, this is John Allen signing off!
Why not check out my new Consultant webpage in the links to the right and also check out our new Offshore and Costa Rica classified ads?
And, if you're a real employer looking for a free place to post your help wanted ads, place an ad on our new site.
There are lots more goodies there, so just click the link to check it out!
In other news, Domino's pizza closed without warning over the weekend, leaving their 130+ employees in the lurch. There have been other layoffs here recently, but not as many yet as in the US and elsewhere. I think one of the reasons is that as companies seek to tighten their budgets up north, they get rid of employees there and hire new ones here at less than half the price.
The call centers here save them considerable money over what they would have to pay elsewhere, and so part of the fallout of the economic crunch is that there are some new jobs coming here.
For example, Amazon is opening up a new operation here, and other companies are expanding the operations they already have here.
Normally, gringos can't work legally here, so many work under the table and under the radar. Other young couples are doing the "baby drop," which means that if you have your child in Costa Rica, then the parents can get permanent residency ad later citizenship, and the baby can get dual citizenship. You can't do much better than that!
In fact, I know a realtor friend of mine who has the perfect "baby drop" condo for rent right next to Cima Hospital, the best private hospital in the country. If you are interested, go to my consultant page in the list on the left and I will see if I can get you in. There is a long waiting list, though, so book early!
Meanwhile, that arrogant, bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy otherwise known as ICE is finally getting what they deserve -- COMPETITION! The new regulatory agency, SUTEL, has just been set up and they are already telling ICE that they can't just unilaterally raise rates whenever they feel like it with impunity. And, it looks like World Com wants to be their first competitor here.
It will be so nice when there is a real choice of internet service providers [maybe we will finally have world class service here]. And it will be a real nice day when you don't have to wait months or years just to get a cel phone....
Meanwhile, Costa Rica's coffee exports have dropped by 15%, so the world economic crisis is having an impact here.
Well, until next time, this is John Allen signing off!
Why not check out my new Consultant webpage in the links to the right and also check out our new Offshore and Costa Rica classified ads?
And, if you're a real employer looking for a free place to post your help wanted ads, place an ad on our new site.
There are lots more goodies there, so just click the link to check it out!
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