Howdy! My name is Hadeel Balawi and I am currently on the Costa Rica study abroad trip. Being on this trip for the past week has been one of the most enlightening experiences of my life. Seeing how people live, how they spend their time, and the things that they value has been the most fascinating part. One cultural aspect that stood out to me the most is the fact that people here truly value spending time out in nature. This value has been incorporated into many aspects of their daily lives. For example, parks are very commonly found here, even in highly populated areas, such as in downtown San Jose. The malls here also have large outdoor areas where you can hang out with friends or simply sit and drink some coffee.
This aspect of Costa Rica has inspired me to incorporate more outdoor time into my own life as I have seen the massive impact that it has on us as human beings. People in Costa Rica tend to be much more relaxed and take life in a more laid-back manner, and I believe that their being surrounded by nature plays a big role in these characteristics. I especially see the importance of nature when raising children. Children here spend so much of their time at parks, even on weekdays, which helps build their connection to nature and encourages feelings of happiness. This is something that isn’t done nearly enough in the United States where our lives often get so busy that we quickly forget the value of nature and its role in making us happier, more productive people.
I have already learned so much about this beautiful country and its wonderful people, and I am looking forward to expanding my global knowledge over the next week of being here.
