Experiencing the intricacies of culture shock over a period of years definitely helped me figure a few things out. The thing is: it’s not really one shock. It's more like waves.
I giggle and gasp as I discover these misunderstandings, or when I hear phrases that are normal to Spanish speakers but sound funny to me. Life would be less interesting without them.
Choteo, verbal play to take someone down a peg, has a central role in Costa Rican culture and language. It also presents a challenge to those trying to break new ground.
