I'm an American raised in the South, not Costa Rican.

As previously stated.  I love Costa Rica.  I think some of the prettiest people in the world live here, not just for their outer beauty, but their heart as well. But I am not a Tica (name of Costa Rican Women).  Not that being a Tica is a bad thing, but I am truly happy to be a Dixie bread american woman!  Thank you father for my skins ability to bronze but no thank you for the assumption from foreigners that I am fluent in Spanish.  I do know enough Spanish I can get by and survive but it takes a minute to process what was said.  So, when my look of confusion crosses my face, they think I'm either death, so they say it again louder, or dumb.  I don't know which is better?  Maybe I'll just play dumb!