On New Year’s Day, our group hiked Volcán Poás, a volcano just outside of Heredia, where our group was staying for the duration of our trip. As the chilly wind wrapped around us, the hike wasn’t easy at times. Though paved, it was steep and winding. However, the end was worth it: a breathtaking view of a crater and a lagoon.
My time in Costa Rica felt similar to that hike. I often felt like I was on a steep incline as I experienced new cultures, language barriers, customs, and foods. In the end, adopting an adventurous spirit while having these experiences broadened my knowledge of self and of differences in conducting business in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica greatly informed my understanding of cultural differences between the United States and Costa Rica. First, food is not just fuel for the body, but rather, it’s a medium for telling stories and sharing experiences. One of my favorite aspects of our trip was staying at our host home, where my group’s Mama Tica, Nidya, prepared delicious meals for Walker, Om, and myself. As we shared this meal, Nidya and her husband, Franklin, laughed with us as we shared stories and discussed our favorite movies and sports. Not only did we share our own stories, but Nidya and Franklin often explained how the food was grown and how they use them in different dishes. Food in Costa Rica is both social and one of its greatest storytellers.
Other aspects of Costa Rican culture also expanded my worldview. First, family structures are different. Whereas children typically move out and live on their own at 18 in the United States, in Costa Rica, families often live together. Many of our host families not only included a couple but also their adult children or parents. This indicates how important family is in the culture. Additionally, through our time spent in the markets of Heredia and conversations with businesspeople, I realized that Costa Ricans consume less and live life at a slower pace (our Mama Tica described life in Costa Rica as “tranquilo”), directly contrasting our culture of consumerism and fast-paced business.
While learning about the culture of Costa Rica, we regularly engaged in lectures at Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, where we covered Costa Rican business topics. The greatest difference between the U.S. and Costa Rica that I noticed is the emphasis on sustainability. I have a passion for sustainability and held two internships where my work focused on sustainable policies. After two weeks in Costa Rica, I now realize that the U.S. often treats sustainability as a box to check or even a part of branding. However, in Costa Rica, sustainability is not only a calling but a foundational business practice. With laws that protect the environment, Costa Ricans emphasize taking care of the planet and the land they have so that their businesses can flourish and benefit the world for generations to come.
Through tours and experiences at Café Britt, Sibu Chocolate, nature trails, and ziplines, I also picked up on the culture of Costa Rican business. Britt showed us that businesses in Costa Rica often rely more on tourism and relationship building, hence why they give tours to visitors to build loyalty and increase international online orders. The zipline tour and lecture emphasized how speaking multiple languages increased the value of its workers as they effortlessly managed our group of English and Spanish speakers. Finally, Sibu Chocolate showed me the importance of crafting authentic experiences that market a product: specialty chocolates.
Despite these differences, I also realized our two countries are more similar than we think. We both emerge as leaders in democracy, value an open economy, and deal with issues such as urbanization and immigration. Overall, my two weeks in Costa Rica flew by, but the knowledge of the differences in culture and business practices will last a lifetime. As I aim to work in international agricultural policy upon my graduation in May, I will not only apply my Latin American business knowledge, but I will also work with confidence that I can work across cultures to make the world a better place.