14
You're a Gringo—Get Over It
I don't use the term gringo pejoratively but as shorthand, as it is often used to refer to anyone in this part of the world who hails originally from North America or Europe. You can throw in Australians and New Zealanders, too. Considered collectively south of the Rio Grande, these folks—Americans, Canadians, Germans, Dutch, British, French, Aussies, Kiwis, and so on—count as gringos. Don't take any offense; usually none is intended.
Don't be bothered by being a gringo but don't forget that you are one, either. Recognize that this status can make you a target. It is commonly believed among the general population of Central America that all gringos are rich and therefore can afford to pay more for anything, from a hammock to a beachfront lot, than a local. When they see the color of our skin or hear the accent in our Spanish, they hike up the price.
In some parts of the world, land prices can be so low that even the gringo price will seem cheap. A colleague moved to Costa Rica several years ago and decided he wanted to invest in the local real estate market. The first year, he knew he was being quoted only gringo prices so he didn't buy anything but kept researching and scouting. The second year he thought he had penetrated to local-level pricing, because he was being quoted prices 20 percent lower than the year before (even though the market had appreciated nicely overall in the intervening months). He bought a few pieces of land and kept looking ...
