Costa Rica definitely has many differences from the U.S. On this trip, we visited businesses, different cities, went on excursions, and made time for fun activities as well. While their daily lifestyle differs drastically, the business side of Costa Rica is also ran much differently than the United States.
One of the many ways that Costa Rican businesses differ from U.S. business is the amount of employees in a business. In the United States, it is likely that you’ll find at least fifty employees in a large business. However, Costa Rica tends to hire a lesser amount of employees. When we visited a coffee manufacturer, we noticed that there were only about twenty workers in the factory. Although employees for this company would have to work more efficiently, it saves the business a great amount of money. Moreover, the employees are most likely making a higher rate per hour, due to the small amount of employees.
During this trip, we had the pleasure of doing many exciting activities. Of these many activities, the Zipline Canopy Tour stands out to me the most. We were able to see so much of the Cloud Forest during this tour. As some may assume, it takes a great deal of time to build a new zipline. However, our tour guide did say that fixing a current zipline is much easier than starting a new one. This experience was truly one for the books.
While abroad, we have had the opportunity to get the full Costa Rican experience. We have been living with homestay families during our time here. With this, we’re able to see what it is like living in a Costa Rican home with a local citizen. Our Mamaticas have treated us like one of their own, so it has made this experience so much better. One of the biggest changes for me was eating rice and beans for breakfast. In Costa Rica, it is common to each rice and beans every morning. This came as a surprised to me, considering we eat rice and beans as a side dish for lunch or supper. Luckily, our Mamatica hasn’t made much gallopinto.
All in all, Costa Rica has taught me many things. As far as business goes, it has given me a sense of hope for myself. Although I wasn’t planning on opening my own business, I now know that anything is possible. Many of the successful businesses in Costa Rica started only with a dream. In relation to my personal interests, I have found that home is where the heart is! I am very grateful for this experience, but it has made me extremely grateful for the many blessings that I have back home. Life is much different in Costa Rica than in the U.S., and I’m not sure I was prepared for that much change.
