Que Pasa Grecia

2023 Update #1

What’s New in Que Pasa Grecia
Not much has been added since the last update. There is a house for sale or rent in Sarchi Norte, a brand new listing of one for rent in San Isidro de Grecia, and there are four new homes-for-sale listings in Atenas.

I want to remind you that our Items For Sale and Homes For Sale/For Rent/Wanted are added by our readers. As a subscriber, you are again invited to list your things, large or small, for free on Que Pasa Grecia.

With the economy now in the post-pandemic mode, many new and established businesses, services and restaurants are in full swing. If you have had a great experience with a business or service or have had a wonderful meal, please let others know by posting a recommendation on our site. Simply send a brief description including hours of operation and location (where appropriate), contact info, plus a photo of the owner, the facility, the product or business card to the editor: editorqpg@gmail.com. Also, if you have an interest in contributing an article for posting on Que Pasa Grecia or have a link to a website that might have useful information for your fellow subscribers, please don’t hesitate to contact the editor at the email address above.  


Come the First Week of February - No Uniform, No Education
As we’ve said many times here, elementary and secondary school is free to all children in Costa Rica, but without an official school uniform no admission to classes is allowed. For the very poorest families, buying school uniforms, which cost an average of ȼ20-mil plus shoes and socks for each of their school-age children, is just not possible. No uniform, no education, and no opportunity for parents to provide their kids with a basic education and a fighting chance at a better life than they have.

You really can make a difference. There are two programs organized by gringos that each year solicit donations to provide uniforms to their area’s neediest children. The oldest of the two programs is in Sarchi and has been providing uniforms to elementary children at most of Sarchi’s schools for seven years.

Lists of the poorest children and their sizes are provided by Sarchi’s elementary school principals. Uniforms are purchased for as many as possible until the money runs out. Another similar program has been organized to address the uniforms need on the El Cajon ridge in Grecia. Both are most-worthy efforts and your generosity would be greatly appreciated. For contributions for Sarchi, contact: Karen Temple-Davis at ktdcasacostarica@gmail.com or 8317-4319.(Karen will arrange to meet you or provide PayPal info). El Cajon contributions can be sent to Irina Just: ticajust@gmail.com or WhatsApp 8420-7285.


CCSS/CAJA Payments - Reclassification Canceled - We’re Still Waiting
As far as we know and as reported in our last update, the reclassification of widowed, divorced, new residents and those migrating up from temporary to permanent resident has been canceled. These changes included cancelation of contributions to the social security retirement program and cancelation of increased rates of monthly payments to the mandatory national CAJA health insurance program. These changes were due to the efforts of Outlier Legal Services and other lawyers serving ex-pat’s residency applications to amend a 2021 law.

However, there still is no date as to when these changes are going to be communicated to and recognized by local CCSS/CAJA bureaucrats. We will keep you posted on when these changes are actually implemented at local offices.


April Anticipation
One thing certain to arrive in April, the official start of the rainy season. (Much too soon for your editor after the long, very wet rainy season of 2022.)

However there are two other important and needed possibilities in April. First, the government is finally scheduled to start issuing long-overdue contracts for national road repairs and improvements. And another, while still just a rumor (not a word has even made it into news reports and the press) is a government move to purchase a COVID Omicron vaccine and administer it through CAJA.

COVID infection rates are on the rise in the U.S., China (an active economic partner with Costa Rica), as well as many other venues worldwide. The same COVID trend appears to be developing here. Having the updated bivalent COVID vaccine available here would be a very good thing as those already vaccinated with the original COVID vaccines and boosters now show much less resistance to the Omicron variants. Seniors, children and those with pre-existing vulnerabilities are especially at risk and, short of traveling to the States for a COVID variant vaccination, have no protective recourse in Costa Rica. Until then, keep masking up when in crowded public places or when indoors shopping.  


Sarchi Happenings
The Sarchi municipal pool and recreation area (located between the feria agricola and the municipal stadium) has just finished being refurbished. Information on pool and rec. hours, and reservations for pool use can be found on the Sarchi municipal website, https://www.munisarchi.go.cr/ (in Spanish). Additional info (also in Spanish) is on the Sarchi municipal Facebook page. (A simple search will get you there.)

Also, info on a monthly flea market held at the feria agricola site can also be found on the Sarchi Facebook page. There is another valuable promotional Sarchi tourism website, Destino Sarchi, https://destinosarchi.com/en/home/ (in English and Spanish).
Links for these sites can also be found on the Que Pasa Grecia website Links page. If you use Google Chrome, use it to translate articles in Spanish automatically into English.   


New Digital DIMEX
As of January 2, the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration (DGME) began the transition process over the next two years toward a new Immigration Identity Document for Foreigners (DIMEX), which will be through a digital identification in .pdf format. It will have a QR code that will contain the person's non-sensitive information. The QR code can be accessed through an institutional website in order to verify that the document is authentic and current.​

During the transition process this digital identification will be accompanied by a printed DIMEX with security and information features that guarantee confirmation of the identity of the foreign person.

This change is part of the process of modernization and digitalization of institutional services, responding to a digital transformation, in a safe, secure, and accessible way.   
 

“Ver todo color de rosa”
Literal meaning: to see everything in a pink hue.
English equivalent saying: to see everything through rose-colored glasses.
Meaning: despite evidence to the contrary, to be extremely positive and believe that everything is just fine.
Thank you Isabel Arguello for your continuing contributions!
Isabel teaches Spanish and does translations.
Find out more about Isabel on the QuePasaGrecia website.

 
Enjoy verano,
D. Davis, editor
Diane Cooner, webmaster