Monday, May 2, 2016

Sobre Costa Rica

Location
Costa Rica is a country in Central America, south of Nicaragua and north of Panama. It has 7 provinces (states) and a population around 4.5 million. I was surprised to learn that most places including our home stay, do not have addresses; instead, they have directions. The directions include the state, district, neighborhood, and a point of reference to a popular destination. 

Climate
The climate is tropical year-round. The country has two seasons, the dry season (December-April) and the rainy season (May-November). The country has a wide variety of plants and animals, and is home to 5% of the world's biodiversity. There are many beautiful national parks that people can visit. 

History
Christopher Colombus discovered Costa Rica in 1502. After gaining it's independence in 1821, there were many problems deciding the best future for the country, especially where the capital should be located, and a civil war began. The republicans won the war, and the capital was moved from Cartago to San José.

Government
Costa Rica has a democratic system with two main parties, similar to the United States. The president and 57 members of Congress are elected for 4-year terms. The current president, Luis Guillermo Solís, who was elected in 2014, is the first president elected from an independent party. He was supported because of his promises of change to the people; however, little changes have been made, frustrating the locals. The country has very little military and instead, uses that money for education. 


Economy
The main industries in Costa Rica are tourism, agriculture, and electronics. The country's main product of export used to be coffee, and the locals swear that the best cup of coffee is in Costa Rica. The currency used is the Costa Rican colón, and currently, 1 USD= 530 CRC.

Culture 

The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish; however, English and many local indigenous languages are used around the country. The official religion is Catholicism. Education is a high priority in the culture, and about 95% of the people can read and write. Art is popular among many people here and can be seen when walking down the street. The typical dish is gallo pinto (rice and beans), and is eaten almost every day. Other typical dishes are arroz con polloolla de carnetamales, and casado.

Costa Rican people refer to themselves as ticos. "Pura vida" is a saying used often in the country that means pure life/ full of life. Locals use this saying to promote their way of life. Nicknames are given by the ticos, and are often given based on physical appearance. It is common and not offensive to call someone by the color of their skin or hair, something we do not do in the United States. 





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