Yes means NO

I get so much accustomed to the culture that sometimes I forget the obvious. Have you noticed while living in Costa Rica that no one will ever tell you “no” they cannot do something or “no, I don’t want to do that?” You probably have not because it just appears that the Tico’s and Tica’s are being polite by going your way all the time. The secret is Costa Rican’s do not like the word NO for some reason.

If you ask someone if they want to go to the mall, they will tell you “ok” or “yes” every time. They will never ever tell you “no I don’t want to go” because they would consider this rude.

This is one of the things that make the natives of Costa Rica so endearing. They at all cost will not hurt your feelings by telling you “no” they can’t do something or “no” they don’t want to do something.

Long and short of it… their Yes means No in some instances.