As we arrived in San Jose at 3 am on Sunday, we were greeted with a charter bus and a guide named Eddie who had the brightest smile. Eddie and the bus driver, Tuco, fearlessly drove us around the chaotic roads of the Grand Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica. Both of the Ticos radiated with pride for their country as they gave us a tour of the area and gave us a glimpse of the culture.?
On Monday, we had the incredible opportunity to engage with a service-learning project where we got to work with young children and were initially exposed to the limitations the Costa Rican bureaucratic red tape imposed when it came to funding and budgeting a ministry. Later, we got to visit a construction site for a safe house where we were informed on the procuring differences between nonprofit and profit companies. Additionally, we got a glimpse of the struggles Costa Ricans are currently experiencing with reliable labor amidst the pandemic.?
On the second day, we got to see firsthand what a developing country encompasses. After leaving the comfort of our two-course hotel breakfast, we went to a neighborhood that was rated an ?8? on a scale of 1 (middle class) to 10 (severest poverty). Getting to serve in that community truly set the stage for the Senior Commercial Officer U.S. ambassador who we met with afterward. He presented with us how he works with U.S. companies to increase their revenue while employing Costa Ricans to help their unemployment rate. We initially giggled when we saw numerous McDonalds, Walmarts, KFCs, and Taco Bells but were later impressed when we realized it was helping their unstable labor market. Later that night, we got to explore the area, try local empanadas, practice our Spanish, and engage in fellowship.
On our last full day, we started off at a private equity firm called Mesoamerica. We were greeted with the typical Tico, over-the-top, hospitality: coffee, fruit, and smiles. During the investment management presentation, we were informed that there are three major values in Costa Rica and/or Latin America that one should prioritize when investing or consulting; they are decarbonization, decentralization, and conservation. Additionally, we discussed the volatility associated with investing in developing countries and learned about the programs being implemented to encourage Central Americans to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. To end the afternoon, we had the privilege of meeting about 15 teenage girls where we got to laugh, dance, and discuss our greatest hope in life. Although this was not originally planned, we experienced what they call ?Tico Time,? which is prioritizing spending time with people rather than being unadaptable.
If you are given the opportunity to study abroad, I highly recommend going! Learning about international business in a foreign country with a Socialist form of government helped me come to a better understanding of global markets. I also got to do it alongside 16 of some of my closest friends and had the time of my life. I cannot express my gratitude for this life-changing experience! Pura Vida & Study Abroad!
