Am I being played? - Healthcare in Costa Rica

[LorenTheronMorton]

I met an amiga at a massage parlor that I´m very fond of. I´ve only visited the place twice and I went with her each time. This last visit I was talking with her and lightly suggesting we might get together outside of this place.

Shortly after telling me that, she mentioned how her father has been in a coma for a few months and she is working so much to buy medication for him.

At the end of the session she mentioned that I wasn´t like the other guys. I was cariñoso, and especial. I got a little suspicious, though I was treating her well and it would be fair to say that I was nice to her.

I´ve been with girls in thailand on two separate trips there and know that the oldest trick in the book is to ask for money for an illness in the family. My bullshit detector went off. She hasn´t asked for money, and I¨m not even sure she understood I want to go out with her outside the massage parlor, due to the language barrier.

Do you think I´m being played? She could be ready to ask for a huge amount of money to go out with me, although she hasnt even brought up money yet. Partly Im suspicious because I suspect CR might have a decent healthcare system, and that if her father was in a coma for a few months it might not be a financial burden. What is healthcare in CR like?

Any tips or advice appreciated! :wink: I´d love to offer to take her out Saturday or Sunday, but am now wondering if I should even pick her next time I´m at the place. It´s a bit sad of a situation, because she´s gorgeous and has a good attitude.

 

[jaker]

Not to be so blunt, I say next.

 

[Needfulthings]

When I was living in San José last year I came to understand that the phrase "eres muy especial", when used by a working chica, usually translates as "I think you're a sucker that I can play for some money".

Most Ticos receive free health care.

Chuck Green

 

[Hannah G]

She's obviously laying the groundwork for a big cas grab. So, what? As long as you're not stupid, you can continue to see her from time to time, treat her nicely, and pay her what she earns from your sessions.

If/when she attempts to escalate the relationship, just tell her you can't do it. Maybe some would disagree with me about this, but I think it is without class to lead girls on, allowing them to believe there may be some future with you if there clearly could not be. Call me an old-fashioned monger.

I know there is a lot of subterfuge, but messing with a girl's psyche beyond the night your with them is dishonorable.

I know this isn't the purpose of your thread and there is no evidence that you did anything wrong. It just provoked me to think about these things.

 

[Gabriel]

Shortly after telling me that, she mentioned how her father has been in a coma for a few months and she is working so much to buy medication for him.

Ask her what her father did for a living before his unfortunate affliction that led to his coma. If she replies he was employed then he and his employer contributed to the social security system (CAJA) and his medical care and ALL medication is provided at no cost.

 

[?Rachie? ?Liz?]

I think you should help with her medical bills. Every time she comes to see you at your Hotel, you should give her 30K.

 

[Red Head]

I think you should help with her medical bills. Every time she comes to see you at your Hotel, you should give her 30K.

I agree with that also 30k= sesenta. Don't blow up the stock at the same time. Treat her well but, fair. 8)

 

[willow ?]

I appreciate all the rapid feedback. Based on the feedback I got here within an hour of my post I went back to that MP tonight, saw her there, made eye contact a few times, but picked a different tica.

The other tica wasn´t as fun sexually, but we had a great conversation.

I do plan to go back and talk to Ms. ¨father in coma¨ further. I´ll just explain that I make it a practice never to pick the same tica 3 times in a row. I don´t think I´ll suggest again that we meet outside the MP, but I will ask about her father´s previous occupation. I´m debating how confrontational I want to be. Because of the language barrier I seriously doubt I´ll make any accusations or probing questions. I probably will ask about her father´s previous work, though. Good suggestion!

Thanks again for the advice. What a great resource this is. I plan to make a longer post when back in the states to give something back to the community.

 

[Fred375]

Dude,

Don't turn Disneyland into Jerry Springerland.

I think you've done the right thing. You'll find other girls just as good as she is. Let her and it go. It's just a game. She played a questionable hand and got burned. Still was a good bet, because she could have made thousands if you bit!

Good Job.

 

[Mimii]

I agree with Slickwings first post about "why not see her again as long as you can keep it within the bounds of getting out of it as least as much as you put in?" I also agree with his other comments though I believe he meant by his "double negative" that "I DO think it's WITHOUT class to lead girls on" based on the context of the rest of his post. Have a good time with the girl. Play it out for the GFFE, IF you get along with her and IF you feel you can keep yourself thinking straight. Let her know you DO care about her and her problems, but maintain a healthy skepticism and don't make any promises you don't intend to keep. Tell her you'll think about it as about as far as you should go. Better yet, don't offer money but offer to go with her to visit her father in the hospital. If its for real it should be interesting to see what a CR hospital is like and you can verify the situation with the doctors. More likely, she'll suddenly forget about her father (or he'll make a miraculous recovery) and she'll have to scramble to think up a new sob story. At least you'll have quieted her demands momentarily. Remember, no matter what fantasy you and her may have in your heads, she is not a real novia and based on the manner in which you met there is a great liklihood (more like near certainty) that her agenda extends WELL beyond the mere affection she probably does feel for you.

That said, what do I think of the healthcare issue per se? There is a good chance it is TOTALLY made up solely for the purpose of having a heartbreaking sob story to tell you to get you to open your wallet. HOWEVER, it is ALSO possible her father is INDEED sick. Maybe even in a coma though I suspect more likely some other far less dramatic illness. Free public healthcare is good in CR, but still has its problems. For example, I would not want to be on the waiting list for heart surgery. You'll get it eventually, but you may not live that long. Most gringo ex-pats get some sort of supplemental insurance (which is still relatively cheap) and combine using the public system for routine checkups with private clinics for more serious ailments. Also, one should keep in mind that even if the doctor's bills are covered if the main breadwinner in a family is incapacitated by illness and unable to work there are going to be other expenses for the family as a whole that won't be covered. In sum, I agree with others that figure this girl is playing you but I just felt that one shouldn't overstate the virtues of the CR health system.

 

[Sareena Green]

One thing I noticed when I was out there was that it seemed to be some many of these ladies birthdays. Maybe costa ricans like to Phuck and concieve a baby around jan-march. Make me go hmm.

 

[POTUS]

Free public healthcare is good in CR, but still has its problems. For example, I would not want to be on the waiting list for heart surgery. You'll get it eventually, but you may not live that long.

This is so true in any country I have seen with socialized medicine. It is very common for the native people to laugh about this exact situation that their relative will die before he gets help & it is really not funny but true. Also the USA is starting to follow the rest the world down this same road watch over the next 10 years!! :? :evil: :evil:

It has been my experience that these Latinas don't make up all these family health problems for the most part which is logical since so many have bigger families than here & life is tough there. They also stay very close as family units go with much love & dedication involved so it is normal to expect all this. Believe me I have seen Ticos marry a Latina from another poorer Latino country & they end up trying to take care of the poorer family of the spouse & they are only slightly better off? If they want really good health care they will have to pay out of pocket. This is also what I have seen in other countries that go socialized with medicine a 2 tier system unfolds. :wink:

I would bet a PRO would lie about health problems much more than someone new too the scene. We all have family members with health problems somewhere in the tree I would think so I hope we take care of these 1st? :? What can one really do anyway life is a bitch & then we die & for me I bet I never regret all the loads I shot along the way? 8)

Yes it is enticing to want too help something that is sweet & young full of life & beautiful but it is like the twilight zone because you get sucked into the whole family & all of its internal problems. Amazing how something so pretty can turn so ugly for so many so fast! Better for me to stay out on the perimeters of all this & just enjoy the fruit, much safer & easier on both heads!! I think older men are much more vulnerable here than young men for many obvious reasons.

 

[akdzqqfq]

" I also agree with his other comments though I believe he meant by his "double negative" that "I DO think it's WITHOUT class to lead girls on" based on the context of the rest of his post...

I fixed it. Thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt!