Before arriving to Costa Rica, I was not aware of the diversity within Costa Rica and the different cultures that accompany this diversity. Dr. Ramirez explained to us that every province possesses unique attributes that differ from other provinces due to the different people and influences in them. She gave a great example by saying, “You would not expect all the people in the United States to be completely the same, just like you cannot expect all Costa Ricans to be the same.”
This began to make me wonder if there is any tension within the different provinces due to their loyalty to that specific region or if Costa Ricans overall stick together. For example, are there stereotypes of certain regions? There was no one better to lead me to the right answer than my host family. With a little help from google translate, they helped me understand that Costa Ricans are typically proud of their province and, especially in sports, are loyal to their province. They also mentioned that stereotypes of the different people within provinces are definitely present. However, overall Ticos are proud to be Costa Ricans, so they come together to represent their country. I feel this is similar to the United States. Everyone is loyal to their specific state or team in some occasions, but overall, they are more loyal and proud to be a part of the United States.
I am beginning to see more and more similarities between Costa Rica and the United States the more time I spend in Costa Rica. For lunch today, we explored the mall across the street from the University. It reminded me of the United States in many ways including the food court, the crowd, and the variety of American stores and restaurants spread throughout it. The malls in Costa Rica are fairly new and have only gained popularity within the last ten or so years. I wonder how the people who have lived here much longer than that feel about the malls. I am interested if it has caused some conflict within the neighborhoods, because I am sure it is taking up a lot of land and causing extreme traffic and crowds. Even within all of the modernization in Costa Rica and the implications of it, it is refreshing to see that there are still many traditions that are very present throughout the country. For example, the Boyeo and Oxcart that Dr. Ramirez taught us about and had us recreate. I love learning about Costa Ricans culture because they are so proud of it and have so many traditions, like the salsa dance we learned today and the typical family meals Dr. Ramirez shared with us. I do not think Costa Rica will ever lose their roots and traditions no matter the changes within the country.