Costa Rica’s vibrant history dates back to the beginning of habitation of the land by multiple, unique indigenous tribes. Today, we learned of the multiple ways that Ticos have worked to preserve this rich history and culture. Teachers like our guest lecturer, Dr. Laura Ramirez, work to preserve the history by teaching and raising awareness in, normally, a classroom setting. Besides teaching, the vibrant history and culture are preserved in several other ways.

Costa Rican art is one such way. Through art and music, Ticos present their history in a way where you don’t need to know Spanish to understand it. Art and music are universal. A piece of art can show and describe a story better than a description ever could and songs can just as easily impart a message on the listener. Even if you don’t understand every lyric, you can feel the rhythm and hear the melodies. Also, the family is another way that Ticos preserve what is important to them. Here, in my homestay, I can see how important the family is to Costa Ricans when my host mom’s children and grandchildren come over and visit together. In Costa Rica, knowledge and history are passed down from generation to generation, whether that be at Sunday dinners where the whole family gets together or in casual every day life.

Today, we also learned how to dance basic steps of the salsa and merengue dances and dancing is another important aspect of Costa Rican culture. Ticos like to dance to relax and have a good time with friends but they also use dance as a way to demonstrate their history and express emotions. Through dance, you can express heartbreak, joy, anger, sadness, and you can tell a story unlike any other. After our very quick crash course in history and culture today, I now know a little bit more about what makes Costa Rica so unique as a country; after all their care and love of their history/culture is unparalleled. I am looking forward to taking this new knowledge on our trip to the coffee plantations tomorrow!