My time in Costa Rica has been great! Costa Rica is full of culture, beauty, and delicious food. I have had the opportunity to explore several of the providences of Costa Rica and visited some volcanoes, too. I have included a picture of Volcan Poas and Volcan Arenal.
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One thing that has been on my mind is Costa Rica's collectivist society; this has changed the way I identify myself back home. In Eugene and in the United States as a whole, independence is highly prioritized and building community can be hard. When I am in the states, I tend to see myself as my own independent instead of being a part of a greater community. This tends to come from the norm of not saying "Hi," not greeting each other in the street, and low interpersonal skills of many. In Costa Rica, greeting each other and community is highly regarded. Each person you walk past will say good morning, good afternoon, or have a good one, making you feel seen and part of a whole. With open connection and communication being so normal in Costa Rica, I have found it easy to create connections and spark conversations with taxi drivers, store attendants, and strangers. As a result of the openness to connection and community, I have begun to feel more extroverted and part of something greater.
While this culture shift was positive, there have been some negative cultural changes. One prominent change is the low prioritization of pedestrian safety. Costa Rica has been ranked as one of the countries with the worst traffic, and I can attest to that. Cars here speed and drive recklessly, weaving in and out of lanes. Pedestrians must be extra cautious when crossing streets and, at times, must run across the street. Cross walks are sparse and the time to cross is insufficient considering the length of the crosswalks, which can span up to 4 lanes at a time. Having to adjust to cars being the priority in the road has been difficult at times. I've had to begin accounting for the time needed to cross the road into my commute and I've grown extra cautious of possible dangers. It took me a bit of time to adjust to this change and to understand the flow of traffic to feel comfortable crossing roads by myself.
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Costa Rica has so much to offer. There's so much beauty, and so much community! I have been loving my time here and have felt the phrase "Pura Vida" every morning when I step out the door. I'm excited for the rest of my time here and don't event want to think about when I must leave!
Until Next Time,
Valeria Manzano Ballesteros, Diverse Duck Ambassador
Education and Psychology in Costa Rica