Word: costas
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Where to go? What retirees tend to want most is--no surprise--a pleasant climate. Fortunately, they can find sunny skies in countries where the cost of living is low, such as Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Ecuador. Some retirees feel comfortable with a large expatriate community, which they can find in nearby Mexico. Many are lured back to places they have worked or visited--or to the land of their ancestors, say, France, Italy or Greece. Some Americans are braving the Irish weather or escaping to the wide-open spaces of countries like Canada or New Zealand. John...
Obtaining a visa in many countries, such as Italy and Costa Rica, can be quite easy, since American retirees bring in dollars and are known for their philanthropy. Other nations, such as Canada, don't really welcome permanent retirees but allow foreigners to stay part of the year. A country's embassy will help you find out the type of visa that might suit you. Be prepared to offer proof of good conduct and health as well as medical insurance. Some countries also demand a certain level of income. "There will be some bureaucracy to go through," warns Rosanne Knorr...
People like Amundson are responsible for a miniboom in language instruction in this small South American nation, where more than 60 schools, academies and tutoring firms have sprouted since 1995. With a total of 100 language schools, Ecuador rivals Costa Rica, Mexico and Guatemala as a Spanish-learning mecca, and government officials are hoping to turn language tourism into a significant generator of income. "It is exactly the kind of quality industry that our country so badly needs," explains Concepcion Barahona de Pozo, Ecuador's tourism undersecretary...
Such discomforts, though, are a small price to pay for the richness of the experience. Margaret Amundson's reward came on a subsequent trip to Costa Rica where she spent an entire day talking in Spanish with a tour guide. When she slipped at one point, he turned to her, surprised, and exclaimed, "I didn't know you spoke English." Recalls Amundson: "That really made my whole trip...
...stimulation they need. There are also concerns about children's safety in prisons, which are often not adequately childproof, and about the availability of adequate medical care. Then there are the potential long-term psychological effects. "Our concern is that kids will think prison is normal," says Bobbi Costa, executive director of Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims in Washington State. "We have to be concerned for our younger generation and what values they are developing...