This Week in Costa Rica - Expats Living, Working, and Traveling in Costa Rica

ORN’s OWN COREY COATES – PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND HOST OF “THIS WEEK IN COSTA RICA” JOINS MICHEL & ASHLEY

Corey Coates, Program Director for the Overseas Radio Network – The exclusive online radio network created by expats for the expatriate community (and home to the “Ecuador At Your Service” radio program) – will be the featured guest on “Ecuador At Your Service” this week.

Corey, who is also the host of his own ORN show, “This Week in Costa Rica,” tells us all about living and working in Costa Rica and about his experiences at the helm of Overseas Radio, as well as the future of Internet radio and podcasting. . Tune in for this lively and informative show that hints at a big announcement for Overseas Radio. Stay tuned!!!

For more information about this program, or to become a guest or sponsor, please write in [email protected]

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic,Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

Taking things a bit easy this week, Dan Stevens of the Costa Rican Times and I lay back and chill for this episode, sharing opinions and stories of the various places we’ve lived in Costa Rica. Making a decision to move to this country is ripe with opportunities for both success and failure. Due diligence and prudent scouting can make all the difference when choosing to call Costa Rica home.

Some of the news items covered in this week’s episode include:

Jose Maria Figueres mission for marine rehabilitation, the recent World Cup soccer loss to the Netherlands, the new electricity rates set by ICE, Bill Clinton’s push for solar power development, and the journalism program developments at the CRT.

For more information about this program, or to become a guest or sponsor, please write in [email protected]

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic,Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

This week I’m joined by Dan Stevens of the Costa Rican Times to discuss the Costa Rican soccer team reaching the quarter finals, an update on the parking meters in Jaco, repairs the road Calle Hermosa, another sad real estate fraud case, and bus services stepping up their customer service.

Next up, author Margot Page joins me to talk about her latest book, Paradise Imperfect: An American Family Moves To The Costa Rican Mountains. From her website, Margot self-describes herself as “A traveler who struggles with the truth of her relative wealth. I’d rather fall on a knife than write a

thoughtless-privileged-white-girl book. This isn’t easy as I am white, privileged, and frequently (I am sorry to say) thoughtless. When it comes to doing something valuable and meaningful, I try with middling success to act more, whine less.”

We had a great conversation ranging from her experiences in Costa Rica with her wonderful family, values and life lessons learned, and a wide variety of topics that happen when two gringos jump head first into such palavers. Find her work and likes to by the book here: http://www.margot-page.com/

For more information about this program, or to become a guest or sponsor, please write in at[email protected]

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic,Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

This week Corey covers getting medical insurance for residents and travelers via Robert Clarke Medical Insurance. As a user of the services himself, Corey speaks directly to his personal experiences using the service and interviews Robert Clarke himself. Robert addresses questions from listeners to the radio program on:

• the benefit of having private insurance in addition to the CAJA

• which hospitals in the USA honor the coverage

• if this medical insurance covers tourists traveling to Nicaragua and Panama

• if there are family and/or group plans available

This week Corey also speaks with Dan Stevens of the Costa Rican Times on the 2 World Cup wins by Costa Rica’s soccer team, La Sele, the parking meter conundrum in Jaco beach, and the new Solis administration seemingly working for good.

For more information about this program, or to become a guest or sponsor, please write in at [email protected]

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic, Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

This week we welcome Captain Paul Watson of The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to the program. Dan Stevens and I spoke with Captain Watson about his early days in Greenpeace and eventual founding of Sea Shepherd. In addition to the standard interview fare, we were of course eager to get the Captain’s take on:

• His current legal situation in Costa Rica and his appearance on Interpol Red List
• Sea Shepherd’s interest in murdered conservationist Jairo Mora Sandoval
• What he is asking the new President D. Luis Guillermo Solis to do for Sea Shepherd and for Costa Rica
• What the public can do to help his situation legally in Costa Rica
• The 2012 shark finning ban signed by Ex-President Laura Chinchilla with Sir Richard Branson on hand.
• The Kathy Tseng victory in her shark “spining” case.
• And much more…

To get involved in Costa Rica, visit Sea Shepherd’s Costa Rica Facebook Page.

For more information about this program, or to become a guest or sponsor, please write in at [email protected]

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic,Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Arun (Ernie) Nagratha, CPA, CA, CPA of Trowbridge Professional Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisors to discuss Canadian taxes for expats and those living abroad. Some of our questions and topics include:

• I understand Canadians can be seen as non-residents. What is a non-resident for tax purposes, how does this effect my citizenship or legal status in Canada?
• What criteria does one need to met to become a non-resident?
• What if there is a tax treaty between Canada and the country I go to? How does that impact me?
• What type of tax return is filed if you intend to become a non-resident?
• Do Canadians need to pay tax on foreign earned income abroad if one does not become a non-resident?
• How are Canadians taxed on their assets such as investments in Canada while living abroad?
• Can Canadians continue to use their Canadian bank accounts after expatriating?
• What if I live abroad and want to own property in Canada, can I? What if I rent it out what implications does it have?
• I want to bring my savings back to Canada from abroad, will Canada tax me?

Dan Stevens from the Costa Rican times joins me this week to talk about the FATCA delay, Miss Costa Rica 2014, the Chikungunya Virus, a conclusion to the Cuban in limbo in SJO airport, and the possibility that the new presidential jet may have been used by a drug cartel.

For more information about this program, or to become a guest or sponsor, please write in at [email protected]

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic,Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

This week I respond in part to a popular email about cost of living in Costa Rica. Many to move to Latin America in hopes of big savings and lower expenses. However, any expat will attest that this is entirely dependent on lifestyle choices and what you are willing to give up from back home. Should you be willing to adapt to the way of life in your new country, then it is entirely feasible to live for much less than in the U.S. or Canada. That said, most find quickly that they may be giving up much more than they hoped.

Next up, I rang up Dan Stevens of the Costa Rican Times currently vacationing in beautiful Tamarindo. We talk about the new jade museum, changes to tax laws, and how statistically Costa Rica consumes more alcohol per capita than other Central American nations. Further talk about cost of living with Dan enforces the earlier point of making lifestyle choices being the key element of budgeting and succeeding abroad.

For segment three I was pleased to meet Costa Rica Traveler Magazine co-founder, Andres Madrigal. Andrés Madrigal is a Costa Rican photographer and graphic designer. Over the years he has focused most of his work on the tourism sector, which he finds most rewarding. He is a native Spanish speaker and fluent in English. He lives in the mountains of San Jeronimo de Moravia with his wife, daughter and 3 cats. His beautiful work and much more can be found at their Facebook Page and Instagram account. This is a must-follow magazine for those who want to enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica!

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic,Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

This week Corey and Dan of The Costa Rican Times speak on:

• The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) would like to have a single global standard by which countries share tax information.
• The Russia’s ambassador in Managua verified that Russia would like to construct a military resupply base in Nicaragua.
• The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) announced that the UN allocated $3.7 million to the conservation and sustainability of 11 protected wetlands in Costa Rica.
• Drug traffickers transported 2,500 kgs (about 5,500 lbs) of cocaine inside a container of pineapples, from Costa Rica to Algeciras in the southern region of Spain.

Interview: Rebecca Clower of Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica

Since 2003, I have worked as a Licensed Realtor in Tampa, Florida and currently live in Costa Rica and own a Real Estate & Property Management company called Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica with our main office located near Playa Conchal in Guanacaste. Our tour agency, Blue Water Adventures, is based out of our Tamarindo office. We have 4 offices in total in Conchal, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Grande and Playa Negra to better serve our clients.

Our company has a full-service Vacation rental division for long and short-term luxury rentals at the beach. We currently employ 5 real estate agents, and 10 full time office support staff and like to think of our company as truly different. Catering to our clients every need in our #1 priority. Without an MLS in Costa Rica to search for properties, it’s important to work with licensed Professionals who will not only show you their inventory, but that of the competition. We are a unique company in that the broker is a Licensed Realtor in the USA (Florida ).

We are also members of NAR (National Association of Realtors) and CRGAR (Costa Rica Global Association of Realtors). I have been nominated as one of the “Top 100 Realtors in Costa Rica by the VIP Members of the www.WeLoveCostaRica.com website” and also have my CIPS designation (Certified International Property Specialist). I am a Board Member of CRGAR and have been featured on several episodes of HGTV’s new show called “Live Here, Buy This” and “House Hunters International”. We specialize in residential, commercial, development, vacation rentals and tours.

I am deeply rooted in everything Costa Rica, as my mother, including most of my family is from this beautiful country. My ability to speak fluent English and Spanish helps weave the way in the country. Our websites: www.bwpcr.com, www.bluewateradventuretours.com. Also visit us on FB and Twitter!

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic,Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

Tune in this week to get a sneak peak at the Relocation Rally coming to Costa Rica! This incredible experience brings a fresh approach to learning how to relocate to a new country with a full-day rally race through San Jose! For more information, sign up early to be considered for entry into this amazing opportunity.

Dan Stevens from The Costa Rican Times chimes in with his take in the real life Terminal, new dog fightinglaws, and the unfortunate death in the Tarcoles river.

Corey shows you a way to get a FREE Spanish class by innovative online teaching institute Learned By Me. Michael Frank explains the founding of this company and its premise of brining online classes to those needing to learn a new language in a comprehensive and convenient way.

James Richie from the Anit Aging and Wellness Clinic of Costa Rica. The Anti Aging and Wellness Clinic is your number 1 choice for anti-aging and medical tourism in beautiful Costa Rica. We cater to high net worth tourist from all over the world, with a large percentage of our patients coming from North America. If you are coming from Los Angeles California, Chicago Illinois, New York City NYC, or are traveling within Costa Rica, contact us and set up an appointment. We have the best procedures to keep you fit, young and full of vitality.

Dr. Mesen, Chief Medical Officer of the Clinic is by far the most experienced physician in the region for providing bio-identical hormone replacement treatment. He is a member of The American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine and is trusted. He has helped so many people get their lives back on track with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy he consistently receives written praise from his patients. Many even willing to get in front of the video camera and express their gratitude.

For more information about the program, write in to [email protected].

This week I welcome Holly Lynch of Seeds of Hope. Their vision is to eliminate sexual exploitation of adolescents through the successful replication of our program in Costa Rica. Please support their amazing mission to provide safety, rehabilitation, and education for at risk, or sexually exploited/trafficked children, ages 8-17. For more information about how you can get involved, visit www.seedsofhopehome.com.

Dan Stevens from the Costa Rican Times joins me to talk about the story of a miracle cure, shark sitings off the coast, the presidential inauguration, rainy season in Costa Rica, and progress on the internship program.

Thanks for the support of our wonderful sponsors; Robert Clark Insurance, Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic,Croc’s Casino and Resort, The Costa Rica Star, Global TESOL College, and Podfly Productions LLC.

For more information about the show, or to become a guest or advertiser, write in at[email protected].