Subversive Uncle Frank Answers Questions

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Anne says:

I just read your "primer" for Central America, and, with all due respect, am disturbed about your advice and observations. You speak of the "region of Central America" then go on to give all of your examples from Costa Rica and ignore the fact this area includes six very distinct countries each with their own culture, customs and laws. I have lived in El Salvador for nine months, and nothing that you have said in your article applies to this country. Your article is intended only for those "expats" who have enough money to recreate their former ambiance in the States and who don't wish to experience any of the richness of the countries where they live. I continue to be disgusted with those from the US who come to this area only to purchase property and businesses, live like kings, and refuse to speak the language or to interact respectfully with the population. I am ashamed of them and the advice you have provided encourages these persons to continue this arrogant behavior. Just a note: Nothing except food in the public markets is "cheap" in San Salvador; medication is three to four times more costly than in the US; and, with Honduras, is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world with approximately 12-15 murders per day. I am happy to live here, but it is hardly the portrait of tropical paradise that you have portrayed. Clean up your act, and try to be more balanced in your presentation and respectful of the countries you are writing about.

Subversive Uncle Frank says:

It's all what you make of it.

I found El Savador to be quite inexpensive, safe and the people delightful.

The same goes for the Hondurras.

Of course I didn't hang out in San Salvador or Tegucigalpa. That is asking for trouble. Roatan is safer than most major cities in the U.S. Most areas of El Salvador are as well.

All articles have to be edited for length. I couldn't cover every warning of what not to do (such as living in the capital city of any of the C4 which I agree can't possibly be a positive experience and has no advantages that I can think of).

I have the utmost respect for Central Americans and have found very positive things in every Central American country. You do have to look for the positive though. Just like in the United States, you can go find the slums of the major cities and look at only negative and come to a very different conclusion.

I choose not to do that.

Subversive Uncle Frank says:

I forgot to cover medication. If you insist on using the same medication that your U.S. doctor prescribed, then you are probably correct.

But remember that medicine is actually MORE advanced in Costa Rica and Panama and at about the same level in the C4 as the U.S., just different.

The evidence for that is life expectancy. Costa Ricans and Panamanians live longer than U.S. residents on average. The C4 Central Americans still live about the same length of time if you adjust for income.

So if you want inexpensive medication, take a trip to Vivien Pellas in Managua or Clinica Biblica in San Jose, Costa Rica and see a real doctor. Tell them about why you take the medications you do and ask him to be treated like a local.

The local medications are more effective in most cases and much less expensive. That was a difficult adjustment for me because I had medical training.

An example that really disturbed me was the inability to get an epi-pen for my jump kit just for an emergency. In the U.S., anyone who has had a severe alergic reaction has been prescribed an epi-pen to carry with them in case they have another. The drug is epinephrine which is a trade name for adrenaline.

They consider it a very dangerous drug in Central America and gave me a pretty tame steroid and a standard injectable needle instead (needles aren't regulated here). I was disppointed. How could this tame steroid do the magic that epinephrine does for anaphalaxis.

Well, just months later, I got a bad cold and then was exposed to some kind of alergen that caused an anaphalatic response. I thought I was going to die. I use the steroid. It worked way better than epinephrine and had none of the side effects.

Look for the positive and you'll find it. Go to the capital of any major city in central American and look through the slums for high prices and danger... and you'll find that too.

Of course you'll find the same in the United States.

Except in the United States, when you go to look for a subtropical paradise... you won't be able to find that outside of Hawaii.

Michael says:

Great primer on Central America. For a quick read, covering much territory, helping educate the uninitiated in the plusses and minuses, you did a terrific job.

Thank you.

Michael says:

Great primer on Central America. For a quick read, covering much territory, helping educate the uninitiated in the plusses and minuses, you did a terrific job.

Thank you.

Jack Heape says:

I enjoyed your article in Escape From America. I was in the Navy for 10 years and traveled the world. I found that if you were willing to absorb and abide by the local culture and treat them with respect, you could have fun and enjoy your time almost where ever you go. Like you said, common sense is always required.

Anne says:

Subversive Uncle Frank says:

Subversive Uncle Frank says:

Michael says:

Michael says:

Jack Heape says:

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