Inside LHU's study abroad opportunities:
A glimpse of Costa Rican culture
Jose Soto
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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The northwestern region was part of the Nahuatl culture by the time the Spanish "conquistadores" came in the 16th century, and the Atlantic coast became populated with African workers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Nowadays, the population is mainly of European descent, after all pre-Columbian culture there was nearly wiped out. You can also find English-speaking Caribbean, Asian (mainly Chinese), and African influence. The northern plains (Guatuso) and the southern mountains (Talamanca) were relatively untouched during colonial times.
The main language in Costa Rica is Spanish, but they, like most other Latin American countries, through time have developed distinct patterns in their language. Costa Ricans don't use the same Castilian Spanish that you find in Spain. The Spaniards are known for using a lisp in their c's and z's, and they use the "vosotros" person. Costa Ricans in the other hand use the antiquated form of "vos," and the more formal "usted" when addressing someone. They all mean "you" but they vary in their formality.
Costa Rican Spanish is full of "tiquismos," which are unique sayings and argots. Costa Ricans are called "ticos" because they add this word as a suffix in order to create a diminutive. In other words, instead of saying "blanquito" (small, white), they might say "blanquitico" or "blanquititico", which means the same thing. Ticos also use many different terms of endearment, which shouldn't be misinterpreted to mean nicknames.
For example, it's common for Ticos to call people "flaco" (thin one) or "gordo" (fat one) without intending any offense at all. People of other races are usually called by their race, like "chino" (Chinese) or "negro" (black one). This would definitely stir up trouble in other parts of the world, but you should always remember that while some things may seem offensive to your culture, they truly shouldn't be taken as disrespectful.
The country has four major public universities: The University of Costa Rica (UCR), the Instituto Technologico de Costa Rica (ITCR), Universidad de Educacion a Distancia (UNED), a correspondence institution. Lock Haven University has a partnership with a university in Costa Rica, one of the four major universities there, the Universidad Nacional (UNA).
As commonly seen in Latin American cultures, music plays a big role for Costa Ricans. Most of the music originally comes from the north of the country; the part that once had Mayan influences. Costa Rican music, a rhythm known as "tambito" as well as a distinctive musical genre known as "punto." Some examples are the Punto Guanacasteco, which hails from the Guanacaste province, and the Sacarleño, which is from San Carlos in the province of Alajuela.
The traditional cuisine in Costa Rica is a combination of Spanish, American, Caribbean, and South American influences. Although local variations have appeared in the countries, this style of cuisine is shared by most of Central America.
One of the national dishes is Gallo Pinto, which translates to "spotted rooster." It's pretty much a combination of black beans and white rice, and spiced with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt, and sometimes they add Salsa Lizano, which is a local condiment. This dish is normally eaten with breakfast eggs and sometimes sour cream, which they call "natilla."
There are some regional differences involving this dish. The Caribbean side of the country, because of its roots, enjoys Gallo Pinto, but with coconut milk added to it. The northwestern part of the country has a strong tendency towards corn pro ucts, and is famous for large, cheese-filled tortillas, along with many other corn dishes.
Popular phrase: Pura Vida, which literally translates to "Pure Life," means something like "full of life," "going great," "cool," and "this is living!" It can be used as a greeting, as a farewell, or to express satisfaction.
Places to visit in Costa Rica are Fortuna, Heredia - where our partner school is located, and San Jose - the capital. According to virtualtourist.com (a website I highly recommend to look at if you're interested in traveling), there are a few popular things to do and places to visit.
In San Jose, you have te National Theater, Museo Nacional-National Museum, Jade Museum, and el Mercado Central-Central Market.
Something to do in Heredia if you decide to study abroad, is the Aerial Tram and zip lining within parks like the Braulio Carrillo National Park, which is about an hour from San Jose. If you want to conquer your fear of heights, see some of the most beautiful sights, or simply have one of the most amazing experiences of your life, you must check this out.
Costa Rica offers plenty of culture and amazing experiences. If you're thinking about checking it out for yourself, visit the Institute for International Studies office at 126 Akeley Hall.
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