Costa Rica Essay

I am interested in going on this trip because it is a great opportunity to learn and experience a different culture. It will also be a great way to learn and practice my Spanish. During the time that I will be there, my Spanish will develop better, and I will be accustomed to the way of a local. Along this journey, I will also attain a life long friend as long with a second family. This trip will be a great way to experience the culture in Costa Rica. It will be interesting and fun to experience their way of life and customs.

Nicaragua is very unique in many different ways! It’s located near the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Honduras and Costa Rica border this country. “Nicaragua’s land of beaches is lapped by sparkling seawater, deep forests, long winding rivers, colonial cities, ancient sites thousands of years old, and a huge freshwater lake- the only lake in the world with sharks in it” (Shields 9). This country includes beautiful landscapes, mild climate, republic form of government, low finances, distinctive culture, and many interesting facts.

Colombia, republic in South America, situated in the northwestern part of the continent, and bounded on the north by Panama and the Caribbean Sea, on the east by Venezuela and Brazil, on the south by Peru and Ecuador, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Colombia is the only country of South America with coasts on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The total land area of the country is 1,141,748 sq km (440,831 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Bogotá.

Costa Rica is currently at the population of 4,500,000. The national territory is 31,682 square miles. If you compare that to size of the United States at 3.79 million square miles, its a very small piece of land. The capital is San Jose located in almost the middle of the country. Spanish is the official language, like many of the other surrounding countries. Their currency is called colon which was named after Christopher Columbus. Catholic is

We ate at a restaurant there in which the owner made ox carts. He did all of the woodwork using hydroelectricity with a waterwheel in the back. They were all also hand painted and hand carved pieces. It was very beautiful. We finally got to Turriabla that night. The next day we went to the college and botanical gardens of CATIE. In the botanical gardens we got to try all of the different fruits grown in Costa Rica. They are all very good and different tasting. Even the mangos and pineapples taste so much better there. Now that we are back I dislike the ones here. One example of something we tried there was called the miracle fruit. It made anything you ate afterwards that was sour taste sweet and it actually worked. We toured the coffee plantation there as well as the college campus and had more traditional Costa Rican food in the cafeteria there. Finally, in Turriabla we went to a fruit market and an ice cream shop and practiced our Spanish. We then prepared for our third stop.

Costa Rica, a country of Central America, covers an area of 19,730 square miles. The capital is San José. Extending from northwest to southeast, Costa Rica is bounded on the north by Nicaragua, along its 185-mile northeastern coastline by the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast by Panama, and along its 630-mile southwestern coastline by the Pacific Ocean.

Because of Spain's presence in the history of the country they still speak spanish there. The flag of Costa rica was created in 1848, and then the coat of arms was added in 1906. The flag has horizontal stripes of blue, white, red and then white and blue again. The blue stands for the sky, and opportunities. The White stands for peace, wisdom and happiness, and finally the red stands for the blood spilt by

According to the world History, Spanish and Portuguese were the first Europeans who arrived in Latin America, establishing colonial societies in the 16th century. Before these two empires seized power in Latin America, there were different types of civilizations namely Maya, Aztec and Inca civilizations. Many people are interested in how Conquistadors were able to defeat the million warriors of these civilizations? The first confrontation between European and Native American civilization happened when conquistadors consolidated their power in Caribbean. Spaniards were led by Hernan Cortes (who played crucial role in the collapse of Aztec Empire).

Another thing they enjoy to eat is Gallo Pinto, the typical breakfast dish that includes eggs, beef, bananas, and tortillas. Every country has their own traditional clothing, even Costa Rica.

“Estas flores aqui es Guaria Morada” he said pointing to a pink flower growing on the side of the path we were walking on. He was saying that it was the Guaria Morada, the national flower of Costa Rica. Alejandro also pointed the different trees out to us. The larger ones were Quanacaste, and most of the smaller ones were Costa Rican native trees that weren’t popular and almost extinct. While he was talking, a bright green frog jumped onto the tree he was talking about.

Colombia actually hasn't always been called Colombia and its first name was the Republic of Colombia.That name came from the viceroyalty lands that was made up of other Latin American countries, which split apart in 1818 and was when Colombia then adopted its new name. Now their capital is Bogota.The country itself actually sits in quite a scenic place with oceans and mountains all around them. Colombia is in the northern part of South America, between Panama and Venezuela and is also bordering the Caribbean sea(cia). Colombia usually has cool tropical weather with flat coastal lowlands, High lands, The andes and some great plains. Their total area is approximately twice the size of Texas, with 1,138,910 Km of total land. With a population

Until the 1960s, Costa Rica depended on coffee and bananas for most of its earnings. In the 1960s, beef and sugar became a greater importance, and the country began to industrialize. Following a debt crisis in the early 1980s, the state reduced its role in the economy and promoted export-oriented agriculture and industries. Since the late 1990s, tourism has been the second largest source of dollars, after bananas.

Three-fourths of Colombia is situated in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the same size as France, Spain, and Portugal combined. Colombia claims two islands San Andres and Providence. Colombia is located in the northern corner of South Canal. It is bordered by Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil. The Eastern half of Colombia is low jungle area. The Southern pacific is covered in marshy lowlands. Some of the Andes Mountains run into Colombia. The southern sector of Colombia runs through the Equator. Colombia’s Amazon Region is located in the Southern Hemisphere.

Costa Rica was home to by an estimated four hundred thousand Indians when Columbus found it in 1502. The Spanish began their conquering of the country in 1524. The region grew very slow and was governed as a Spanish province. Costa Rica took their independence in 1821 but was engrossed for two years by the Mexican empire. It became a republic in 1848. It was ruled by the dictator Tomás Guardia from 1870 to 1882 with the help of his massive army. (Costa Rica, 2014) Since then, Costa Rica has enjoyed one of the most democratic governments in Latin America. In the 1970s the price of oil went up, international prices skyrocketed above the normal tier, and inflation hurt the fragile economy. Efforts have since been made to reduce the countries reliance on coffee, banana, and beef exports. Tourism is now one of the most lucrative markets in Costa Rica.

In, Costa Rica globalization has moved from materials into manufacturing and the export of technology and services. Examples include Intel’s microchip plant in Heredia, the popularity of medical device manufacturing and companies. Most of these larger companies also setup service centers so that international management and support is done from Costa Rica. Costa Rica has its roots as an exporter of coffee, and bananas. However, as costs rise worldwide companies look elsewhere for cheap resources. Pollution is possibly the biggest externalized cost, and is an issue that resonates with expats and Costa Ricans. The Tarcoles River is now the most populated river in Central America. It drains the central valley and much of the manufacturing in the