My trip abroad to Costa Rica was the first time I had traveled outside of the United States. As soon as we landed, I could sense I was in a significantly different culture. The language I grew up learning and speaking was now the second language in Costa Rica. The country was very family oriented and lived up to the name of the “Pura Vida” country. I enjoyed trying all the different foods that they had to offer and taking in the beautiful landscape surrounding Heredia. Every morning, my roommates and I would walk to the university, and each day would notice small little differences from America. Costa Ricans wake up much earlier and start their days when the sun rises around 6 am. Each business put a heavy emphasis on sustaining the environment and making each tourist feel welcome. For example, Sibu Chocolate uses biodegradable packaging and changes out the chocolates they use for their tasting experiences. A big difference from the United States is that the main industry in Costa Rica is tourism. However, tourism is not the same all year round. So, businesses have to find ways to keep revenue steady during times of less tourism. Businesses have found ways to grow through word-of-mouth marketing and getting customers to continue to purchase their products and services. Costa Rica also has these smaller companies called, PYMEs, that get government benefits and fewer taxes than the more commercial companies. My experience abroad has opened my eyes to understanding the differences in cultures around the world and the multiple aspects of how businesses operate. After spending time abroad, it has become a new personal goal to learn Spanish to be able to communicate better with citizens in Latin America personally and professionally. Finally, I want to gain an even deeper understanding of the cultural iceberg of not only Costa Rica, but all countries around the world!
