Academic Culture

In Washington, DC, we like our fancy kicks. 

On a warm day in DC, GW students arrive to class in their lightweight shorts, skirts, sundresses, and t-shirts. After months of snow and cold weather, we usually can t wait for the moment when its just warm enough to shake off those jeans and sweaters, boot and sneakers and replace them with our summers best. Here in Costa Rica, despite the constant heat and rainy muggy days, students at the Universidad Latina will always be seen in nice jeans, a decent top, and the girls somehow manage to walk these uneven streets in high heels and wedges! Choice of clothing is one thing I found that greatly differed between the university life I am used to, and the one I am experiencing here. However, for the most part, academic culture here in Costa Rica, or at least San Jose is very similar to the ours in the USA. Costa Ricans of my parents generation didn t attend college or university in nearly the amounts my generation is, however younger Costa Ricans definitely realize the importance of continuing education through the University level. Like in the USA, students have options to attend pubic or private universities, as well as very specialized universities. The University of Costa Rica is comparable to Florida State University; public school, many scholarship opportunities, large campus, with a sizeable student population. The Universidad Latina is similar to GWU; smaller private institution, more costly, but with a more professional/graduate atmosphere. Also similar to the US are the amount of amount of graduate students and professionals continuing their studies. Interestingly enough, most of the people I have spoken with studied something in the field of medicine. Walking the halls of the ULatina, you ll realize half the students are dressed in aqua blue or navy blue scrubs. Seeing as Costa Rica has a universal healthcare system, and is able to allocate a large amount of the budget to health, (because of high taxes and the fact that there is no military,) it makes sense that many of the job opportunities lie within hospitals and doctors offices. However, I have realized the range of majors is more limited here, especially at the ULatina. This makes sense, as students are studying topics with large job markets, but it is bit unusual not to hear students say they are studying philosophy, sociology, fine arts, dance, etc. In addition, most of the university graduates I have spoken to have gone overseas for their masters or PHDs. This is the reverse of what I am used to, from a school where mostly juniors are going abroad and professional graduate students are staying near home to study. This could be because the continuing studies institutions are not yet developed enough to provide competitive programs for professionals, or that fields outside of medicine and health studies aren t popular enough to have masters programs. On the topic of studying abroad, not a single undergraduate student I have spoken to has or even wants to go abroad. As different as things maybe academically, student life remains very much the same. I m even going tonight to the ULatina campus for some of the welcome week events! Only difference is these events include great Costa Rican music and folk dances, no free food, giveaways, block parties, Quests, student organization fairs, or prize drawings&. I really would ve liked the free IPad! (week of 9/12/10)

One of the ULatina campus' here in Costa Rica. 

The Way You See the World

Since being here, many of my previous assumptions and preconceived notions have been changed drastically. Primarily, I always felt as if Costa Ricans were very on par and supportive of US policies. This week however, I have seen a very different set of opinions come out. A few months ago, Costa Rica granted the US full access to the country in order to combat Central American drug trafficking. Also, for the last few weeks a warship has been docked in the Costa Rican province of Limon, there to perform hundreds of surgeries for the poor and fix up local schools. As a humanitarian mission most Americans and some Costa Ricans think this has been a wonderful and very needed few weeks of help for one of the poorer areas of the country. However, I was shocked to see the amount of Anti-American sentiment this brought out among Costa Ricans. Graffiti on walls around the city, you will encounter many phrases such as Fuera Gringos! meaning go home gringos, as well as other obscenities aimed at the US. One of the other students even walked by an anti-American protest going on at the campus of the University of Costa Rica. As an American here it can be pretty unsettling seeing these things. After a couple of nervous days, our brilliant Spanish teachers Ronulfo came to the rescue! Having worked with many foreigners, he did wonderfully at explaining to us common sentiments towards the US. He explained that the biggest problem stemmed from the fact that many Costa Ricans are against military ships on Costa Rican territory because of the fact that there is no military here. It can tend to be seen as an intimidation, and even a threatening act, seeing as they truly have no way of defending them selves. As far as the rallies and graffiti, Ronulfo explained to us that these things were aimed entirely at certain policies that can be seen as manipulative and exploitive in Latin America, and in no way did everyone here hate us. Like in all societies, I m sure there are a few people that may actually dislike Americans here, but for the most part, I have been treated with nothing less than utmost kindness! Besides being cat called on the streets and warned of muggings, I really have not felt threatened purely based on the fact that I am American. I mean, with dark curly hair, medium height and tanned skin, I don t exactly stick out here like some of my fellow students do. Actually, most people never notice until I start speaking Spanish and my American accent comes out when I try to say a word that may still be a bit to fancy for me. This is to my advantage when it comes to walking around the streets! It has been shocking and interesting hearing others opinions of the USA. Having never been out of the country, my eyes now have been opened to an entirely new perspective. I have met Ticos, Austrians, Germans, Colombians, Australians and many other people from varying nationalities thus far in my travels, and their opinions have varied greatly. I have heard things from, why can t you Americans mind your own damn business? to You Americans are always the nicest people I meet while traveling. While I hate hearing the negative, it drives me to work harder here, and be kind to every person I meet. Within the hands of my generation lies the possibility to change these at times negatives opinions, and what better time to start then now while I m abroad? (Week of 09/05/10)

First glimpse at La Pura Vida!

From my street, overlooking the Irazú Volcano. 

I am finally in Costa Rica! I was on an early flight, so when I awoke after 2 hours the first part of Costa Rica I saw was the beautiful, green covered Irazu Volcano. The time I spent in the airplane overlooking the mountains and in the airport was like a dream. I had finally left the USA, and was overjoyed when for the first time in my life I had my passport stamped! And then I walked out of the airport. Like a wave of heat the shock hit me, as what seems liked a hundred men stood outside trying to herd people into taxis. I speak Spanish, but in the midst of the chaos I was unable to speak and could barely fend off all the people trying to take my two (rather large) suitcases from me and stuff them into cars unsafe looking cars. Thankfully an airport employee helped pull me away and sat me down with other Americans waiting for their rides. After my very talkative guide, Adrian, picked me up, another wave of shock set in. Whenever I mentioned I was going to Costa Rica, everyone told me how beautiful and developed it was. I must have gotten on the wrong plane because the place I saw was filled with cracked, rundown, nearly impassable roads, rust filled roof tops and store fronts, and homes crowded together surrounded by gates and barbed wire. To top it all off ominous black clouds stood by waiting to pour on me. As we drove I kept praying soon we would be in a luscious green rain forest, or that I would at least see a small grouping of trees. No such luck. My cozy little homes sits in front of a gravel parking lot used for the Universidad Latina staff and students. Although the school itself is freshly painted, rather large, and includes a bank and food court, the street we are on is a bit run down. The sidewalks are all cracked, and deep ditches line the roads. Train tracks run right behind my house, which aside from being noisy is littered with garbage and graffiti. Now I m starting to realize although it may look different from DC and Miami, its not necessarily unsafe. With two other students we walked around San Pedro (the name of the area) and got some school supplies, then sat down at a cute little Soda (small restaurants that serve soda and food) and drank Frescas and ate empanadas filled with chicken. I also went to church with my wonderful host parents (Hilda and Carlos.) All this walking around made me realize I was safe here. I was just used to the impeccably clean streets of DC and the palm tree lined, perfectly manicured streets of Miami. Although I love my host family and speak Spanish, this has not been an easy adjustment. Back home and at school, most of the time is spent in the living room, talking, watching TV, cooking together and studying. Here we don t have a living room, so everyone sits in their own rooms watching TV whenever they are home. Of course my room has no TV, so I have spent many hours on Facebook and Skype harassing whichever one of my friends is unlucky enough to be online at the moment. It gets a little lonely, and I have gone to bed really early the last few nights mostly because I m not sure what else to do. I know once I am more comfortable with my host family things will feel better. Also now that classes have started I hope I will be a little busier with work, which will entertain me. I can t wait to start volunteering, so I can meet some more Ticos, and learn to find my way around San Jose better. Everyday the shock subsides a bit more, and hopefully by this weekend I ll be feeling way more comfortable here. (Week of 08/29/10)

A New Chapter in My Life

     My name is Michelle Suarez, and as of today I am a rising Junior a little over a month away from what I am sure will be one of the most exciting experiences of my life. I am a student at the Elliott School majoring in International Affairs, planning on double concentrating in Conflict and Security and Latin America. I am also pursuing a minor in Spanish. I have decided to attend the GW Latin America program in San Jose, Costa Rica with the International Center for Development Studies. The focus of this program is Human Rights, Society, and development in Latin America. Since I can remember I have always longed to experience foreign cultures and be immersed in communities very different from my own. This program attracted me primarily because of its intriguing topics and my desire to better the world community by community, starting with those that do not enjoy a full set of human rights we here in the United States do. Secondly, although I am a Cuban-American from Miami, Florida, my spanish is in need of much work, and this program allows me to live with a local family and volunteer with a local organization which I am sure will aid me in my mission to become completely fluent. Next semester will be filled with a full load of classes ranging in topics from human rights and development to Central American Literature. I will also be placed with an organization were I can volunteer and complete research in the field. Plus, I am certain I will be taking advantage of the amazing environment, such as the beautiful rain forests, volcanoes, and beaches. This will be my first time leaving the United States and I am absolutely thrilled and terrified at the same time! My time abroad is sure to be filled with memorable and growing experiences and I can not wait to open to open the book to a new chepter in my life.