@Cheryl
When first here, I didn't want to see things that were 'not easy' as challenges; but YES, they are challenges and are part of the journey. I came from a big city in the states and now live in a tiny village of less than 200 here in north central CR.... so I'm not sure if what I find challenging HERE didn't exist in rural areas up there... but I'll share, nonetheless.
What aspects of daily life were the most challenging for you at first? Easy... it was the Humidity. I didn't come from Florida or the deep south; it was definitely something to get acclimated to. but it wasn't impossible and wasn't a deal breaker. I learned from example... the locals stay in the shade, know where the breezes come from, and get the 'work' done early in the day... before the humidity, together with the hot sun, makes it hard to function. I think I was 'used to it' after the first 2 years; and I don't think of it much anymore.
Another aspect of daily life is that the SUN comes up early, year round... always before 5:30 a.m. and even before 5:00 a.m. from Late May thru late July; and it goes down around 5:00 pm or a little later, again May-thru early August. Thus, the 'world' gets busy down here quite early. I had to adjust to that. Anybody coming around to do some work or borrow a tool can show up before 6:00 a.m. Have the coffee ready.
Third, and I hate to bring it up... but money. It is so much more of a 'live on the brink of nothing' kind of culture for many here, that money, or lack of it, is a constant cloud over many heads here. Like Edwin said above... the Ca-ching Ca-ching is something that the Ticos hear when in the pressence of a Gringo. It just is. I do tire of it ..and I've learned to handle it gracefully, for the most part. But if they push... I know how to push back. I'm from Philly.
How did you overcome these difficulties? Patience, observation, and the inclination to "When in Rome..."
Nobody should come here without knowing, beforehand, that there will be challenges. The 'change' is not for the 'weak' or the easily defeated. If you are 'thinking' of coming here... you must consider that.
Did you find any local habits or customs particularly surprising? Yep. Being late; or simply 'lax' when it comes to being even remotely punctual. It's not a habit here... it's a CULTURE. It drives me nuts and I actually have to go into 'meditation' mode when I feel a melt-down coming. I now just laugh it off and don't even bother asking why somebody shows up at 10 a.m. on Thursday when they promissed 2 p.m on Tuesday. They are better at making excuses here than Trump is at lying about golf. I just expect it and get a 'thrill' when somebody does show up on time. Yes... there are Ticos who are punctual... I'm not sure what the think about the rest who aren't. Maybe I'll ask somebody ???
2 more things about 'customs' that i won't get into, but must mention-ish... Many Rural folk consider 'working' as being more important than Education... so kids dropping out of high school at age 14 or 15 because they found a part time job working for $2/hour... is somewhat normal and doing so always comes back, later in life, to bite them. They just don't seem to learn from the mistakes of others. I don't get it.
Also... There is no tough love. They will live with a violent, mean, Drunk husband or whatever for 30 years or more... and never kick the bastard out. As long as he can somehow bring home some income... the women here will put up with an insane amount of crap if they can keep rice on the table. Same goes for bad kids... parents don't give ultimatums to bad kids... they just go sort of numb. My sort-of neighbors stopped going to church and socializing because I'm sure they are embarrassed of their opportunist, thief, liar, and addict son. Problem is, their problem becomes everybody's problem. I am not wired that way ... and thus, I told them that I will repeatedly call the police and speak with other neighbors about him as he plagues our neighborhood with theft and other kinds of unsavory actions whenever he is around. When you show them a video on your phone of their poor excuse of an adult son (who has a 14 year old of his own!!) running from your property with some garden tools... they just can't argue. I give them the option... buy me new garden tools, or I go to the police as well as the other neighbors with the video. Small villages love gossip; and they seem to fear that more than their rotten kid. My original tools are returned with a tear filed apology from his mom, who insists he's a good boy. I remind her that he is a grown man.
What has helped you in feeling more at ease in your new environment? Tico friends and knowing/using/learning Spanish. Look... learning some Spanish will exponentially improve your experience here... not just with socialization... but when going to the bank, or migration office, or the store, or taking a bus or taxi, or at a doctor's appointment. Spanish is the language here... if you don't try, you will miss a LOT. You decide.
Any funny or unexpected experiences you would like to share? Ugh... most have to do with language and translation. I thought 'Gracias A Dios' was only two words... as in "Gracias Adios" ... which I considered to be, "Thankyou and Goodbye." Nice enough?? right?? But it is THREE words (Thanks to God) and I'm an atheist... no need to elaborate further than saying that I used it for 2 full years before I knew what it really meant. There are other mix-ups but I don't want to give Edwin any more fuel to burn me with... hahahaha!!!
To conclude... many things about life here in CR are just as 'modern' as they are in the states... they have smart phones, computers, Wi-Fi, cable, modern banking, Donuts!!, EVs, etc. But it is also a somewhat remote place... not because of the 'location' of it on the globe, but the lack of being surrounded by other countries or states or neighbors. We have just two neighbors... one of which is run by a dictator and his wicked witch Nut-Case Wife to our north, and Panama... which is a place i almost NEVER hear spoken of here. And we have WATER... Pacific on the left, and Caribbean (is that still its name??) on the right.
Not crazy to say, but most Costa Ricans now very little about World Geography and thus... when you tell them that Texas is 13 times bigger than CR... it blows their minds. 74 Costa Ricas will fit in the continental US. Distance is both Immense and miniscule to them... as most have never left CR. If you tell them that NYC is a 6-hour flight from California... they have no response. So it's a place of familiarity, closeness and very little suspicion. Most people here seem somewhat 'content' with being Costa Rican... and IN Costa Rica. There really isn't much of a 'them' here... unless they are watching television.
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