|
ETHNIC CULTURE
Costa Rica (Rich Coast) as it was named by the European explorer
Fernandez de Cordova back in the fifteen hundreds, was considered “unique”
in comparison to the rest of the Latin countries in Central America. A
student who takes an ethnic studies course about Costa Rican culture
might learn about our social customs (holidays), education, and the
reasons why Costa Rica is so different from the rest of the Central
American countries.
Costa Ricans welcome any holiday, but from my
personal experience, New Year’s Eve is one of the largest and most
lively celebrations that take place. From dusk till dawn people
celebrate nonstop, and bombetos (firecrackers) are likely to be heard
all night, as popping sounds come from all over. Family and friends
gather in homes for celebrations and to enjoy comida tipica (traditional
Costa Rican foods); for example, tamales…an exotic and delicious
combination of corn based dough filled with either chicken or pork,
rice, olives, raisins, and special seasonings, wrapped in banana leaves,
then boiled. Holidays are an important part of Costa Rican culture, and
they are also used to teach kids about the traditions that are held
dearly by all “TICOS”.
Secondly, education has always been a strong
part of our culture. For 50 years, the government has devoted nearly 30
percent of its budget to education. Teachers and professors in Costa
Rica enjoy great social status, and they are praised and loved by all.
It’s good to know that the government acknowledges the role that
teachers and professors play in our culture; without them teaching and
guiding our children, the country’s future is uncertain.
Costa Rica in many ways is very different to
its surrounding neighbors. One example is that in 1948 Costa Rica
abolished its army. All in all, doing away with the army was a brilliant
and simple solution to redirect its funds into other social programs.
The literacy rate and life expectancy became the highest in the region.
Costa Rica has also been a leader for decades in health care, offering
substantial services that surpass those of many communities in the
United States, and that of Latin America.
Costa Rica’s history and culture, like many
different countries, is unique. Its people and culture are a fine
example of this country’s natural beauty. It’s hard to believe how
small things like social customs and education can set a country so far
apart from others, but these are the things that make the country so
diverse, and its people so proud to be Costa Ricans. |
|
OVERCOMING THE ODDS
Life is full of obstacles, and regardless of where you go and where you
are, they tend to follow you like your own shadow. I would have to say
my biggest obstacle would be to get my college degree. I would be the
first in my family to ever achieve this goal, and that’s a great
honor. I realized that the only way to achieve my goal would have to be
by overcoming several odds: financially being able to pay for school,
being able to juggle a full time job and school at the same time, and
the fear of failure (letting my family down).
A person can have a tremendous amount of desire
to go to school, but without money to pay for an education, this desire
will simply become a dream, or even yet, a fantasy. If you live on your
own, like most people tend to do while going to school, then you know
that there’s more than just one bill that needs attention; for
example, rent, car insurance, and overdue credit card bills. A way to
overcome this financial headache is by having a strict budget, but at
the end it all comes down to self control. Next time you go to the mall
and see a $100 shirt you want, just take a moment to think…which is
more important; an over priced shirt, or a roof over your head?
Next, you have to take on the role of a circus
clown, and by that I mean, you have to be very focused while juggling a
full time job and school at the same time. This is not an easy thing to
accomplish, yet there are thousands of people today that have to do just
that to survive. Sure, you can miss a day from work, but you will suffer
at the end when next week’s paycheck is a little short. The same goes
for school, whatever was taught that day you took off might well be on
next week’s test. Think of these priorities as a child, the more time
and effort you place into them, the better the outcome will be at the
end.
Believe it or not, just the mere thought of
failure to some people is motivation enough to conquer their goals. No
one wants to admit defeat, and especially not to their friends and
family. It’s just not something people look forward to. At the end
your family will always love you, regardless whether you’re a college
student, or a garbage man. Just stay true to yourself, and do it because
you want to, and not because of what everyone else might think of you if
you fail.
All throughout history, ordinary people have
overcome great odds to become great role models for the next generation.
Every day people fail, but there is always a small number that succeed.
There are many ways to overcome overwhelming odds, just stay true to
yourself, and follow your heart. At the end…survival will be the
greatest reward of all. |
