What better way to learn about a culture than through activities! Today, Professor Dr. Laura Ramirez taught us about the history and traditions of Costa Rica through storytelling, listening to popular singers, and painting oxcarts. Due to its extensive history, this small country is home to diverse music, food, and even cultures. The geography of the land plays a huge role in whether a province consumes more fish or listens to folkloric tunes, for example. In fact, the Guanacaste province was once part of Nicaragua and seceded to join Costa Rica, which explains the unique cultural differences today.

We also learned the specific reason why there are so many universities close together: the army. During Don Pepe’s presidency in 1948, he ruled to abolish the army, which left the country with an abundance of resources. This money is now poured into other initiatives such as health, education, and social rights. For this reason, Costa Rica has a good education system with many universities.

The day wrapped up with a dance lesson, where our dance instructor, Monica Chacon, taught us salsa and merengue! Although my rhythm, coordination, and sweat glands could use some help, I really enjoyed learning some basic dance moves. We were able to utilize the information we learned about traditional dances and apply it on the dance floor. I am looking forward to our site visits tomorrow to continue learning more about coffee and the companies’ business operations.