Posted on 02/16/2012 4:36:13 PM PST by uzumaki_naruto
I have a female friend who was asking me some questions on currency exchange. It turns out that she is involved in some gig in which the participant works on a coffee plantation in Costa Rica in exchange for room and board.
I would consider Costa Rica a dangerous location. I would classify it as a Third World country. Just look at the State Dept. website.
I was trying to gauge if this gig is legit. My friend is in her early 20s, fairly attractive. Her Third World experience consisted of a resort in Mexico. She has no idea what she's getting herself into, travelling alone to CR.
I've been trying to warn her about being careful etc or even considering cancelling the gig. However, she'll hear none of it. Her life is in this bubble-cocoon USA that she has no idea what the 3rd World is like.
Sorry for sounding prejudice. I have lived in the 3rd World. I know what it is like.
Luckily, this gig is short, only for a few weeks.
Freepers, together, please pray for Hillary's safety.
Prayers for her safety.
Costa Rica is surprisingly safe, for the neighborhood. It a great place to retire. Have her contact expats in the area were she’ll be to inquire about issues.
Maybe you should send her some info on sex trafficking. I think she’s most unwise to come and live on a coffee plantation by herself for “room and board.” Why does she even want to do this, first off? Very, very risky.
Here is a link from the Embassy of the U.S. Make her READ this!
http://costarica.usembassy.gov/crtip2011.html
Prayers for her. Sometimes women are contrary ;). You are right to be concerned. I would try two things.. one, what is driving her away (usually close relationships). Two, instead of a hundred rational reasons why she shouldn’t go, or should proceed with caution, give her a dozen reasons to stay (again relational). Every time I have desired to run off to some dark corner of imminent danger, it has been out of despair. Do you think some medication is driving this?
There’s not much wrong with Costa Rica. It’s actually a nice, peaceful country. Poor? Yes. Dangerous? Not really. They call it the Switzerland of the Americas.
Have her look up Juan Valdez.
I tried!!! She's taking the semester off to find herself that sort of thing! If I press anymore, we'll get into a heated argument. She thinks I am paranoid! Being in the 3rd World, being paranoid is not enough! Again, you can say I am prejudiced. I was born in a place bet. 1st and 3rd World, but people's mentality are 3rd World. I know. I just resigned and pray for her safety.
This gig is pretty short, a few weeks. On the other hand, Natalie Holloway went to Aruba for a weekend trip and was never found. Hillary is considering this as a short vacation. The problem with alot of us living in the USA is that we don't know how bad the outside world is. We live in a cocoon. This is an anomaly w.r.t. rest of the world.
I would just print up the info from the link I gave you and send it with a note that says you love her. Meanwhile, if I were her friend, I’d probably say, “I’m all for YOU finding yourself, it’s the other people I’m afraid of who will find you.”
you need to get to her family STAT!
I knew about those links before I came here! I already told her about it! She is very headstrong. Her family can do nothing. I hope God will watch over her! BTW, I can't really say "I love her". I think she's slap me in the face!
No use! The only person more stubborn than her is me!
No it is not. If fact, if she's willing to house sit my place and feed my cat, I'll go there in place of her.......
I will pray for your friend and I can honestly say she is being foolish with her life and what she will put her family through. Ask her to provide you with a toothbrush and hair with the root for possible DNA matching. No... it may not deter her but perhaps it will get her to think. Unfortunately, many “young” adults have been lead to believe that the world is “just like us”. We are all equal. It is exotic and adventuresome. Although this country may be beautiful and safe in areas... the premise of employment with free room and board would have me worried. Best of luck.
Thank you momtothree and all of you for your prayers. Like I said, nothing I or anyone can do. This gig is too suspicious. You're right. This world is a dangerous place even in certain parts of the USA.
What is wrong with you folks? Why are so many Americans paranoid about travel? There is no better experience and education than travel. Costa Rica is quite safe. Some of you really need a vacation to Sumatra or Tamil or Manila to get a little education and culture.
Cool yer jets, mustang. CR is a pretty reasonable place to be, provided you’re not a chump. The people are wonderful, but there are creeps any/everywhere in this world. If she’s got half a clue, she should be fine. The sooner she exits San Jose, the better.
What gets Gringos/Gringas in trouble is seeking out the dark side of society; not a place to dwell in any locale.
There is more sex trafficking in Oakland, California than all of Costa Rica. As others have said, it’s relatively safe.
No one can be absolutely sure on safety so common sense is advised, but my sense is you are over-reacting to this.
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