British expat who moved to tropical paradise shares the biggest difference living abroad – ‘I’ve upset locals’

There are many reasons why Britons move abroad, whether seeking better weather, new experiences, or to immerse themselves in a different culture.

Speaking exclusively to GB News, one man shared his experiences living in Costa Rica for the last 20 years.

The expat, Richard Bexon of Costa Rica Investments, relocated somewhat spontaneously – “I was young, in love, and my girlfriend (now my wife) was from Costa Rica”.

While he didn’t have much, Richard “always wanted to live abroad” and decided to make the move at the age of 23, in 2005.

With a new country comes new experiences, and many of these make it worth sticking around, according to the expat.

He said: “People are so friendly, the sun shines every day and a very stable and secure country.” He added the food is fresh and he feels healthier.

However, making such a big lifestyle change also comes with its challenges and, at times, Richard felt held back by the size of the country.

He added: “It’s not the biggest country, about the size of Scotland and has a population of about five million. We say it’s a town, as most people know each other here. Sometimes can go a little stir crazy. But we travel all over the Americas when we want to get out.”

On top of language barriers, culture differences can cause more communication problems. Richard continued: “A little more about the culture as we Brits are very direct and here they are very passive.

“Therefore, at times I’ve upset Costa Ricans with being very direct, and then it comes out very passively aggressive later on.”

When moving abroad, it is important to learn about local traditions and their way of life so as not to offend or to be offended. Another big difference Richard noticed was the weather, explaining it can vary greatly across the country.

He added: “There are different microclimates. It goes from 0°C in some areas to 40°C in others. Therefore, you can really get most of the climates you want.”

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Moving to Costa Rica requirements

Relocating to Costa Rica is entirely possible as a British expat, but the process is not straightforward.

Britons can visit without a visa, but need to apply for a residence permit if staying beyond a tourist period, which is up to 180 days.

There are different types of residence permits available, and you need a valid passport, proof of sufficient funds, your birth certificate and a certificate of good conduct in order to apply.