I experienced several first impressions during my initial visit to Costa Rica. Due to having previously traveled abroad for school (specifically to Asia) and now returning to travel again, I noticed more differences that Costa Rica provided. The cultural differences between Costa Rica and the U.S. clearly demonstrate the people’s concern for the environment and for their citizens. These two values also remind me of some of the values I observed in Singapore, when I was studying abroad there (i.e., sustainability and community). From a business standpoint, Costa Rica was generally as I would have imagined it to be, primarily due to the emphasis on tourism. Additionally, I was surprised by the number of small businesses involved in the tourism sector. Costa Ricans truly live the motto “Pura Vida” (pure life), and they are all so kind and welcoming.
My attendance at cultural and business visits provided me with an understanding of the business culture in Costa Rica. For example, when we toured Bici Chocolate, I realized that passion is essential for the operation of a successful business in Costa Rica. Several entrepreneurs can operate and sustainably grow profitable businesses, solely through their genuine interest in them. Their focus does not seem to be primarily on making money; nor do they appear to be trying to compete with other businesses. Rather, they emphasize the importance of community and sustainability, while generating sufficient revenue to support their businesses and provide fair salaries to their employees. Fair wages are also mandated by the government in Costa Rica. Bici Chocolate embodies Costa Rica’s commitment to protecting the environment, as its owner has a long-term vision of running his entire business using bicycles.
In terms of a cultural experience, I thoroughly enjoyed touring La Fortuna Waterfall. This tour demonstrated a perfect example of Costa Rica’s commitment to preserving and protecting the environment and preserving ecosystems with little human influence. We witnessed the stringent regulations that apply to tourist areas such as waterfalls and hiking trails, including the need for approval for minor alterations to maintain biodiversity. I admire this approach, particularly since Costa Rica is home to approximately six percent of the world’s biodiversity. This was a common theme mentioned repeatedly during our trip, and was consistently expressed by every company we visited, regardless of size.
Compared to the United States, the most notable difference I observed was the emphasis on environmental protection and work-life balance. The culture of the United States tends to be more individualistic, and success is typically measured by working hard to obtain material comfort. In contrast, the culture of Costa Rica views success differently. Labor laws, compensation, insurance, and the general welfare of employees are protected by more regulatory mechanisms in Costa Rica. An additional and welcome difference is the emphasis on family-oriented lifestyles in Costa Rica. People tend to live more in the moment and place greater value on quality time spent with their families. This was apparent on New Year’s Day, when almost all local businesses were closed, but for one American bar where we viewed the Cotton Bowl game. While this was somewhat inconvenient, I appreciated that people take the time to spend with their families and view this as a national tradition.
