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Letter to the Editor
  
 
 

Travelers' Tips:(Jul08)

Many of the points raised in the article were helpful. However, one point is a total miss. Disabled facilities, including parking, hotel rooms, and so forth, are for DISABLED people, not those who think it's a great way to get a somewhat larger room. This is totally irresponsible and selfish in the extreme. In 2007, I had surgery that did not go according to plan, and was left disabled. I have little mobility, walk with much difficulty, and am not able to do much anymore of what I used to consider "normal, everyday" things. I cannot get into a bathtub, so I cannot stay in a normal hotel room. I need help rising from chairs or a bed. I cannot walk any distance. I have trouble enough getting into and out of a car. There is nothing as annoying as going to a hotel that has rooms that are accessible, only to find that some selfish, self-centered yuppie has installed him- or herself into it "because it's a bigger room." This person can navigate bathtubs, can certainly walk down the hall, and can sit or lie anywhere. I can't. I recently booked a cruise that's many months out in the future. How many of the accessible cabins were left, of the 25 they have on this ship? ONE. The last time I traveled, I noticed who came and went from the accessible cabins (the ones that were totally unavailable to me - I had to settle for a regular cabin, which severely limited my activities the whole time). Not one of them used a cane, a crutch, or a wheelchair (for me, a mobility scooter is necessary to even consider booking travel). One couple was in their early twenties and spent the entire week at the rock-climbing wall and using other sports facilities. I, on the other hand, was able only to sit in the lounge. How nice for this couple that they got to enjoy that extra space. The entire travel industry needs to start requiring evidence of disability before booking any of these scarce accommodations. In the meantime, it would be nice if human beings could remember that not everyone is as fortunate as they are, and that some of us actually need to be in those accessible rooms. It's nothing less than a disgrace to occupy an accessible space if you do not really need it. If you want a larger room, save some freakin money and BUY a bigger room!

J Simone
 
 

I just finished reading Doug Bower's "The First Step in the Expatriaion Adventure" and as impressed as I am with his observations, I am very sad that we will probably not be spending any extended periods south of the border in the future. We both speak fluent Italian and my Spanish is more than adequate to get along in most situations. The problem is my wife's refusal to even attempt to learn Spanish. My fluency has improved greatly over the past several years due to travel (Spain, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica & Panama) and taking Spanish classes both here in the states and in Spain, Costa Rica and Panama. Spanish is close enough to Italian that my wife can understand most Spanish speakers if they speak slowly. She just doesn't have much interest in communicating with them if it has to be in Spanish. In addition to the language resistance problem, we have family here that would not take kindly to our relocation even for part of the year to someplace in Mexico or Latin America. My situation reminds me of an Italian aphorisim "Dio da pane a chi non ha denti" which, loosely translated means, "God gives bread to somehone without teeth." In other words, when it comes to language fluency, I could easily and I believe happily adapt to expat living, however, there are several obstacles that I haven't quite figured out how to overcome.

Mike Knoll
 
 

I have had no such experience getting my permesso(A Day at the Questura, Aug08). although it may be easier as I am English. To put things in perspective I would ask Americans to consider the difficulties facing non Americans trying to get a visa to stay in th US. rather puts things in perspective.

Carole Chapman
 
 

If you're going to be discussing retirement finances, then you need to discuss real money issues like inflation. Having a majority of your money in bonds that yield at best 2.5% in an inflationary environment where the money supply expands at roughly 15% per year means retirees lose at least 12.5% of their purchasing power by doing so. There are alternate investments like precious metals which are trusted inflation hedges which retirees should consider for diversifying their portfolios.

A.Magnus
 
 

For several years, I have enjoyed your publication. Much more so than International Living where I felt like most every article was a hussle to buy something. Your absence has been a definite void in expat information, but it was worth the wait. The articles in this new issue are much better written by people with a stong background in the subject they are covering. Past articles of personal experiences were interesting but not necessarily informative. I am looking forward to the next issue.

Michael Svinth
 

I read the article in the latest issue about getting plastic surgery in Costa Rica. The article suggested that the medical facilities there are on par with the hospitals and staff in the United States but for half the cost. My experience there tells a different story. I was living in Costa Rica for three months earlier this year. While there I got terribly sick. i had a 103 degree fever for several days. I finally decided to go to CIMA, one of the private more "Western" hospitals near San Jose. The main symptom I had was a high fever, yet no one took my temperature. My doctor spoke some English, but not great English. (My Spanish is usually ok but I was a bit out of it.) They ran some blood work and a urinalysis and then the doctor told me I had "urinary infection". I had no symptoms of a urinary tract infection so I was puzzled. He put me on a ten day course of antibiotics that he did not explain to me at all. He didn't tell me about the side effects, whether to take them with food, nothing. The medication did not come with any documentation.(Again, I was pretty out of it so it didn't occur to me to ask.) My visit with medications was $200 US. I found that to be a bit pricey. Afterwards I went to an internet cafe and looked it up online. My symptoms, test results, and medication were consistent with a kidney infection but my doctor wasn't able to communicate that to me. I recognize that I'm the foreigner abroad and I certainly don't expect people in other countries to always speak my language by any means. I am only mentioning this because Costa Rica self-promotes its healthcare system as being equivalent to the United States but I did not think the level of care I received was very good. Anyone thinking about voluntary medical care abroad in Costa Rica might want to consider this.

Sincerely, Rachel Silverstein
 
 
 
 

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