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A short haiku about Costa Rica:

I was nervous, but
Costa Rica felt like home
More rice and beans please.

Growing up in a country as protective as the United States, I was taught that Central America and South America were beautiful places of rich history, but not to be visited. The American news embellished ideas of danger and kidnappings. South of the United States the only place talked about is Mexico, with its popularized drug trafficking and illegal immigration into the US. However, visiting Central America I experienced a very different atmosphere.

Upon my arrival into San Miguel, Costa Rica, I felt the piercing gaze of the locals, accompanied by nearly all fair skinned, light haired people, we stood out. Not deterred by our obvious visual differences and serious lack of Spanish communication skills, our host families and the towns people were nothing but courteous. I and two other non-Spanish-speaking students were placed with a non-English speaking family. Sure, the first night was a little awkward as we tried to communicate, but by the morning we fell into a simple pattern of smiling and “gracias.” Waking up to the sound of Spanish speaking cartoons we recognized, the similarities in our cultures was striking, and unexpected.

As much as modern technology has brought cultures together, perhaps the most interesting thing about life in America versus life in Costa Rica is the differences. As we rode around Costa Rica, our jolly taxi driver Freddie waved and honked at familiar faces. Nearly every person we passed would be someone he recognized. The friendliness of the people in town was remarkable, I got the sense that if anyone needed help they would be very willing to assist (but on their own time, the Costa Ricans are not the timeliest people).

A sense of family and kinship is another trait that I admire of the Costa Ricans. In the United States this trait is found predominately in the southern United States, where even four generations of a family can live together. I found this applied to the San Miguel life and in my opinion brought an atmosphere of belonging.

To wrap up, I would like to share my most exhilarating experience in Costa Rica. The day after my last final exam I was set to leave for Costa Rica. That night I was checking to make sure I had everything in order; a foreign country is no place to make mistakes. As I did so, I noticed that my flight back to Costa Rica is set for a day later than the rest of my group mates. I thought, “How could I have messed up so drastically? How am I going to survive without knowing any Spanish for an extra day, alone?” However, after finding out that to change my flight would be almost as expensive as booking it, I resigned myself to the fact that I would be in Costa Rica alone for the final day.

The week came to an end and I had my plans to stay in a hostel about five minutes from the airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Still nervous, I asked our contact in Costa Rica if he would hang out with me for at least a portion of the day. I didn’t know if I could read a book for the entire twenty-five hours I was going to be there extra, and in all honesty, I was scared to be alone.

We dropped off the other group members at the airport, wished them safe travels, and headed to the hostel. Once I checked in and dropped my bags off, it was time to explore the city. If you have never explored a city via motorcycle, you are missing out.

As the pleasantly warm air surrounded us, we zoomed around the city, cruising easily in between the bulky vehicles. The mobility was remarkable on the small crowded streets. Walking and driving around confidently, like we knew where we were going, we found a delicious Italian restaurant to eat at. Yes, I had Italian on the last day I was in Costa Rica. Can you really blame me after a week of rice and beans?

Being able to relax and take in the scenery was better than I could have asked for. Careening around I saw the beauty of a culture impeded by the United States, teenagers wearing Hollister and other American designed brands. This is an inevitable repercussion of a growing, globally connected world. I saw the Costa Rican youth and hoped that they understand how important it is to hold on to their roots. Maybe as middle-school students they do not grasp this idea, but from personal experience of having a lack of cultural background, I can appreciate the wish for a true culture to identify with. Cultural differences should be praised and shared, not squashed and insulted.

From my time in Costa Rica, I can without doubt say that I would go back. This short trip has opened my eyes to the importance of differences and similarities, and the importance of experiencing new things. Knowing that I will likely not see the Costa Ricans I met ever again, I can appreciate the impact that they have had in my life, teaching me things they did not know I was learning.

“Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are.”
— Markus Zusak, I Am the Messenger