A Tico Thanksgiving!!

  Thanksgiving, or Dia de Accion de Gracias as it is known here, is fast approaching! I have been daydreaming of creamy mashed potatoes, hot biscuits, turkey, and delicious pies for the past two weeks!! Unfortunately, turkey is not easy to come by here in Costa Rica. The good news is that after speaking with my host family, we will be having a makes shift Thanksgiving dinner!! While cooking is by far not my thing, I have volunteered to make mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, biscuits, and possibly a pie. When I say make, I mean look for a box or can with the easiest instructions. I asked my family if on this night we could all eat together, and I hope to incorporate some of my own family’s traditions. These are: going around and giving thanks for something before we all start to eat, and serving everything family style in the center of the table. As much as I long for a traditional Thanksgiving, I know this will be anything but that. We’ll probably eat chicken or fish, and I’m sure there will be some yucca, and rice and beans on the table as well. But hey, that’s what this is all about. I’m in a foreign country to learn about another culture, which unavoidably celebrates holidays different from the typical American ones. My hope is that just as my wonderful host family has taught me so much about the Costa Rican culture, I can teach them a little something about American culture. The Center of North American Culture in downtown San Jose will also be holding a typical Thanksgiving meal around lunch time on Thanksgiving day, and a few of us in the program are hoping to attend that as well. It should be a nice way to get our fix of Thanksgiving food, and being able to share our overseas Thanksgiving with other American here in Costa Rica. It should be an interesting experience! While I will definitely be missing my big Cuban family back in Miami, I am excited to share this special day with my new family! Plus, my family back home will be sure to include me in the festivities by calling me on Skype. I’ll be sure to add pictures of my Costa Rican Thanksgiving in next week’s blog!

The turkey dinner I have been daydreaming about!

   Since it is the week of thanks, I have to say Thank you to everyone that supported me in coming to Costa Rica this semester despite my fears and doubts. I also want to thank everyone that has been there for me this semester, listening to me when I was  homesick and laughing with me about all of my many adventures. This has been a Roller Coaster ride of a semester, and I could not have done it without you all!! Thank you God for all the amazing people in my life and for keeping me safe here in Central America.

All the Places You'll Go!

Muddy after zip lining in Monteverde.

Rocking J's hostel in Puerto Viejo.

 One of the greatest parts of my study abroad experience has been the times I have gotten to spend traveling. Not having classes on Fridays has made it easy to plan weekend get aways. To date, I have been to Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, Irazu Volcano, Puerto Viejo, Limon, Nicaragua (Isla Ometepe and San Juan del Sur) and Tamarindo. From my travels I have learned so many things! Like how you can still have a good time on a budget. Traveling has added to my study abroad experience because I have been able to push myself out of my comfort zone, meeting people, trying things I never though I would, and sleeping in places that would usually make me want to scream. I saw my first monkey, and the beauties of almost untouched land in Manuel Antonio. In Monteverde, I learned about dairy farming, how American Quakers settled the land, and took a leap of courage by zip lining through the cloud forest. I saw my first ever volcano, Irazú, and was able to stare down into its crater, when the clouds weren’t in the way! In Puerto Viejo I saw the Rasta side of Costa Rica, heavily influenced by Caribbean culture, and a city were racism and discrimination virtually did not exist. In Limón I learned the basics of sustainable farming and rural tourism, and had the chance to live with a family on a farm, fishing, learning about the plant life, and sleeping with a restless bat flying around the room.

Riding a bus with locals in Nicaragua. 

 In Nicaragua I got a look into a completely different world, where poverty is sadly still too common, but where the people still live on, getting by day by day with a smile on their faces and a welcoming attitude.
Finally, on my last trip to Tamarindo, I got to experience first hand the wonder of meeting amazing new people from all over the world, and just how great good company can really be. I had my first of several hostel experiences, each one better then the last. Maybe because of all the crazy hostel themed horror movies I’ve seen, this was not something I was looking forward to. But I actually have come to love the sense of friendship and community you get from cooking in a hostel’s kitchen, talking to everyone around you getting to know where they are from and why they are here. Physically I have had to push myself; I’ve gone on some intense hikes (by my standards), flown high above the trees, and trekked with a heavy backpack farther then I ever planned. Mentally, I started off always worrying, wanting to have every thing planned out and to be home early every sunday so I could get work done, and ended up going with the flow and even enjoying myself so much I stayed an extra day in Tamarindo. I even had to push myself when it came to a sense of safety, traveling always on public buses used by locals, and crossing a border into a once war torn country. One of the most enlightening parts of my recent travels has been the people I’ve met. They have ranged in age, gender, sexual orientation, and nationality; each with a unique story of how they ended up in the same place as me.

Hostel on Isla Ometepe, Nicaragua, situated between two volcanoes.

I have learned so much from these people, from their opinions of Americans and the USA, to the different trials and tribulations of life, to the importance of embracing your age and just living your life to the fullest. The Ticos I’ve met have taught me about the culture, the history, and most importantly the land so many of them are trying desperately to preserve. I’ve made two amazing friends that I’ve gotten so close to mainly because of the crazy and chaotic situations traveling has put us in together. Every now and then we think back and say, “ Wow, that was crazy! Are we really still alive?!” Studying in San Jose has taught me the academics behind development and human rights.  Traveling has taught me the realities of life in Central America. 

Attempting to surf in Tamarindo. 

As I begin the count down to my return to the United States I begin to realize just how amazing my time here has been, and how it would not have been nearly the same with out all of my many adventures. Looking forward, I know I will forever remember the lessons learned and wonderful moments, and I will always carry with me the memories and relationships I’ve made during my days on the road. The sunsets, the fits of laughter, the moments of terror, the exhaustion, the butterflies in your stomach, the nights spent sleeping in a hammock- those are the things that have made my experience. 

Tensions Rising

Nicaraguan Flags on the boat we were on to Isla Ometepe.

   Last week I wrote to you about the border dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, that rose from the fact that a Nicaraguan dredging project had been allegedly dumping sediment on Costa Rican land damaging property and protected land. While the countries have been seeking to create a diplomatic solution, this week the situation intensified when a Costa Rican police helicopter found Nicaraguan troops on Costa Rican land. The Organization of American States awarded the piece of land, called Calero Island, to Costa Rica last year, after the countries had been disputing the border. Nicaraguan troops took a Costa Rican flag down, put up a Nicaraguan flag, set up camp with weapons, and damaged property. Due to this, Costa Rica called an emergency meeting with the OAS in order to settle the dispute before any further intrusions occurred. Most of the anger is over the fact that Nicaragua would send troops into a country with no military. This is a huge violation of international norm. However, in my opinion this is just a show for attention; there is no real intention to attack. Why would Nicaragua do something that would set almost all of the Western Hemisphere against them?

On the beaches of Isla Ometepe.

What has really interested me is the reaction of the Costa Ricans. It seems as if this week, xenophobia towards Nicaraguans has increased three fold. Nicaraguan migration to Costa Rica is very similar to that of Mexicans moving into the USA. Many Costa Ricans become upset because they say that the Nicaraguans come and use their social services without paying, take up jobs, and overpopulate cities. Worst of all, I have heard Costa Ricans say that Nicaraguans are born violent people, and come to Costa Rica just so that they can kill their wives. The Costa Rican people have been nothing but amazingly nice to me since I arrived more then two months ago, so it’s very strange to be hearing this from so many people. It’s terrible how a border spat between two governments can cause such hatred and tensions between their people. While immigration is a huge issue, the answer is not to be xenophobic. I have seen these feelings in the  USA, just as I am sure my family experienced it when the first arrived in America. It is truly disheartening to realize that it happens in so many parts of the world, especially in “peace loving, “ Costa Rica where everything is Pura Vida, and a large percentage of the population is foreign. I hope the border dispute ends quickly and peacefully, and that the entire region can change its negative attitude towards its neighboring countries. Without a change in attitude it is hard to see any progress occurring at all. It has been an enlightening week as far as learning about Costa Rica-Nicaraguan relations,  and it has made me realize even great people with the best intentions can say hurtful, educated things, and the only solution is to learn about the true problem and understand one another.  

A mural in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica, saying "Save the Earth."
Just an example of Costa Rica's commitment to peace.