Greetings

If you ever exchanged emails with Costa Rican people, you will become aware that it’s a simple courtesy to start each email by greeting the person and saying you hope they’re doing well. In the United States, you might typically start an email by cutting straight to the message you want to deliver, but in Costa Rica, this comes off looking brusque and confrontational.

The same is true on the phone — if you call someone, even if it’s a friend or a business associate you commonly speak with, you would generally open the conversation with a friendly greeting and a little chitchat before you get around to the point of your call. In some cultures, these little niceties might seem like a waste of time, but in the culture of Costa Rica, they’re practically a requirement.

The same rule applies to almost all face-to-face interactions with Costa Ricans. Even if you’re meeting with a lawyer to discuss an important legal issue, it would be customary to exchange a few pleasantries first before you get down to the important business at hand. Your lawyer might charge by the hour, but he’ll have a few minutes just to shoot the breeze!