Today we traveled to Monteverde from Heredia. This part of Costa Rica is significantly different than Heredia because of the slightly cooler temperature, differing landscape, and much less of a human population. While on the way, I noticed we were passing through neighborhoods of lower income. These areas gave me a new perspective on Costa Rica that I hadn’t thought about before. The poor areas in Costa Rica are way less well off than those in the United States. There was trash all over, the houses were falling apart and extremely crowded, and only a dirt path separated “roads.” I felt very fortunate for myself and terrible for those who have to live in those conditions.

As we traveled higher up the mountain, there were still houses. However, they were much more few and far between. There were shops similar to the ones we stopped at that sold Costa Rican keepsakes. I would assume many of the shops in this area sell tourist goods since Monteverde is a strong tourist draw. Finally, I noticed a continuity of Sodas, which showed that some Costa Rican culture prevails throughout the country. Since arriving here, my perspective of Costa Rica has changed greatly. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, and on Sunday, I experienced some culture shock with the toilet paper, busy streets that seemed like a free-for-all all, and the old building styles. I’ve become more used to all that, but I have also seen poor areas and had more cultural experiences. However, Monteverde itself would have been easy to predict since it is a rainforest with many wildlife and beautiful views. 

Finally, we learned that Quakers from Alabama settled in the land in Costa Rica and built up the area around Monteverde. We were told that foreigners named Monteverde because of its lush, green mountains. They then built up the road system and implemented the first cheese factory, showing influence from the West. To keep these industries running, the first hydroelectric plant was created for the cheese factory, but it produced enough power for the entire town and thus gave electricity to the area. Additionally, Quakers introduced canning fruits to preserve them for much longer. Quakers also introduced a mail system, school system, and entertainment such as stage shows and square dancing, and led scientific discoveries to name new types of toads, birds, and other wildlife. These changes show the Quaker influence on the economy and culture of Costa Rica in Monteverde, as they enhanced the existing culture while bringing with them elements of Western culture.