How to Prepare

How to Prepare

It is completely normal to experience culture shock upon entering a different country.  Our goal in creating this section is to minimize the amount of surprises that you may encounter while in Costa Rica.  We will provide you with resources for further reading, tips on how to handle certain interactions, and any possible surprises to be aware of (I'm looking at you, my gecko shower buddy...).  

Cultural Norms

In Costa Rica, there were a few cultural norms that surprised me.  I will share them here so that maybe you won't be as caught off guard as I was.  

• The personal space bubbles here are much smaller.  You may feel like someone is invading your bubble, but in reality, as Americans, we tend to have very large personal space bubbles.  
• Catcalling is normal here. Don't be offended by it.  The men genuinely think they are being flattering.  I know it can be creepy to have someone who is 40 years your senior catcall you, but it is probably more about making themselves look good in front of their friends than it is about you.  Just keep walking and ignore it.  
• It is possible that upon meeting a woman, she will kiss your right cheek.  This is a customary greeting here.  (Although with such a large group of strangers, it will be less likely to occur to us).  
• There are many homeless people.  It is sad, but it is best if you do not give them money.  They will most likely spend it on alcohol.  
• Tico Time!  The clocks here are almost as relaxed as the people.  Buses may run late. People might not show up when they originally said.  Schedules change. Just relax, embrace the Pura Vida lifestyle, and go with the flow.  
• Costa Rica can be slightly behind the times when it comes to gender norms.  Women are still the primary caretakers of the household, men are expected to be tough and provide for the family, LGBTQ is controversial, etc.  That is just how life is here.   The people are not openly judgmental about these topics and will be polite to you regardless, but just be aware of sensitivities in this realm.
• The people of Costa Rica do not see themselves as a poor country.  In reality, they are one of the wealthiest countries in Central America.  My best advice for this category is to enter the country without expectations.  Do not enter the country with the mindset of being better than the people who live there.  I mean this in the best way possible, but Americans aren't as important as we think we are.  Nobody likes the classmate who thinks they are "all that", and it's the same way when traveling to another country.  They are proud of their own country, and while they will show interest in life in the States, they will not adore you because you are from the States.

Surprises

• As mentioned above, geckos are common visitors in rooms and showers.  They are lightning fast, make small chirping noises, but are harmless. They will bolt away as soon as you move towards them.  
• I will say this now, but I don't want it to become a huge concern.  Scorpions, snakes, cockroaches, and spiders can enter living spaces. PLEASE do not stress about this.  I lived in CR for 9 months and only ever saw 2 scorpions, and they were both outside where they belonged.  
• Cold showers are a possibility in the warmer climate zones.  But when the nighttime low is 80 degrees, a cool shower feels great.  We will likely have AC and hot water in our hotels, but I can't make any promises.  
• Monkeys! They're SO cute and you just want to cuddle them.  And gosh, they just look so hungry. It couldn't hurt to give them a little food, right???? WRONG! Manuel Antonio National Park is home to hundreds of Capuchin monkeys.  They are super cute, especially when they beg for your food.  But please do not interact with them! They are still wild animals that have a nasty bite.  Keep all food (and hands) safely away from them.  Even then, they may steal it from you.  
  
  
  
  
  
• Another big surprise for me was the fact that the people are legally allowed to sell and consume turtle eggs.  With such an emphasis on ecotourism, this was truly shocking.  My marine biology professor explained that each year, a certain amount of eggs are allowed to be collected from a specific beach.  This beach is home to literally thousands of turtles, and the reality is that many of these eggs would not survive because the beach is SO crowded with turtles.  

P.S. If you guys want another great website that has lots of information, feel free to check out MyTanFeet.  It was extremely helpful in preparing me to go to Costa Rica the first time!