Now that my time in Costa Rica is over, I am starting to deeply appreciate the differences in lifestyle between the United States and Costa Rica. I am also starting to notice some of the differences in the way business is conducted in the US when compared to many Central American countries. Overall, however, I am so grateful for the experience and will forever cherish the lessons I learned and the memories I made abroad.
Costa Ricans like to live a more relaxed, “go with the flow” lifestyle, and that is something that is clearly reflected in the way they conduct business as well. Many of the companies we visited started off with a small idea and turned it into something great, but some of them did not really have a long-term plan when they started. Whenever an idea comes up that aligns with their values and goals, they execute it. This is something that I found interesting, especially when compared to corporations in the States. Here, corporations plan years and years in advance before they launch new products or campaigns. Although both have their advantages and disadvantages, I found the way that Costa Ricans conduct business to be much more authentic and realistic.
Many businesses in Costa Rica are built upon eco-tourism. Costa Rica has tons of environmental diversity, such as beaches, mountains, and forests, which explains why so many of these businesses revolve around the outdoors. We went, for example, to a ziplining company which I found to be extremely insightful. The founder of the company explained that he started his company simply because he knew how to climb trees, and because he knew that people visiting Costa Rica would enjoy seeing the place from above. His story is like that of several companies we visited; their skills, combined with the beautiful Costa Rican landscapes, resulted in the formation of a successful company.
My time in Costa Rica was nothing short of incredible. I got to explore the lifestyle of a culture so different to mine and have even incorporated some of their cultural norms into my own daily life. I truly look forward to travelling more in the future and broadening my global perspective. Pura Vida!
