Today we learned more about the history and culture in Costa Rica. My favorite tradition that we learned about was the “Boyeo and the Oxcart.” In Costa Rica, all of the oxcarts are painted with very bright colors and intricate patterns. This is to represent the “boyeo,” or livelihood of Costa Rica and its people. This practice shows the generous and colorful nature of Costa Rica and holds a legacy of value and hard work. It also shows the Tico way of viewing the world. In essence, the Ticos perceive the carts as “singing” when they roll, rather than making noise. In fact, these colorful carts were claimed as the UNESCO World Heritage symbol for Costa Rica on November 25, 2015. After learning about the Boyeo and the Oxcart, we all channeled our inner Bob Ross and painted our very own oxcarts. ¡Que divertido!

My favorite part of the whole day, however, was learning traditional Costa Rican dances. We took a dance class at la Universidad Latina where we learned how to Salsa and Merengue, and it was so much fun! I did a little bit of research about the history of each dance and found out that the Salsa originated in Eastern Cuba and was inspired by mambo, Guaguanco, and Afro-Caribbean beats. The origins of the Merengue, however, are a bit more unclear. Many believe that it was invented by slaves who were chained together and thus were forced to drag one leg when they walked. Another story of origin is that a great hero was wounded during a war, and when he came home, everyone celebrated by dancing with a limp out of sympathy. Regardless of its mysterious origins, the Merengue is undoubtedly fast-paced and fun. I am very excited to practice my new dance moves and continue learning more about the country of Costa Rica. ¡Pura vida!