Going into the trip I was hoping to learn more about central American culture and how people interact and live life here.
When I first landed in Costa Rica, I felt a rush of humidity and as we stepped outside it reminded me of my trips to India; with similar flora and fauna, roads, street side shops, people out and about, as well as many similar fruits.
During the first couple of days at the homestay I noticed many things are geared around family, community and food!
I think the main difference that struck me was between Costa Rica and the USA is the food. There’s not a lot of processed food everywhere you look like you might expect in the USA. It’s typical here in Costa Rica to eat fresh fruit and freshly made beans and rice with every meal.
Families also tend to stay together in the same property even if they have the means to go out on their own. In a way it seems more efficient and better for overall emotional wellbeing since you can be with family for longer.
There’s also a culture of not wasting anything and having sustainable practices. Showers are shorter, not as much lights are used, sometimes no AC in houses, and not even ceiling fans because all you need to do for cold air is to open the window. People also tend to ride on public transport or scooters because of the price being low but again also because it lets wasteful.
I’ve also noticed that Costa Rica is a very diverse country with people of many nationalities living here. There are plenty of immigrant populations that have certain concentrations around Costa Rica and it brings a nice diverse set of food, customs, and culture with it.
I look forward to having more personal interactions with the homestays, Uber drivers, service workers, other tourists, and residents of Costa Rica so that I can grow a better understanding of the country.
