Day 13...Observation is Key

As usual, I awoke around 8 am to eat breakfast and get ready for the day. However, today instead of having a discussion with a guest speaker or having class, Joaquin, who spoke to us a few days ago, had an activity planned for us. We were to go to the mall and simply observe. On our way, we took a detour and stopped at the University of Costa Rica. Some of us shopped while others observed the students around campus. After about twenty minutes of this, we headed for the mall.

Upon arrival, we fanned out and found a location where we could observe. Our directions were to spend thirty minutes observing the space, thirty more on the people and their wear, and the last thirty on nonverbal gestures. After an hour and a half of doing so, we all met up and discussed what we had seen. Discussion ranged from how girls tend to not wear shorts to how Costa Ricans tend to walk at a leisure stroll. Another major contrast between the two countries is that of space. At home kiosks are randomly strewn throughout the mall's length. In Costa Rica they are more permanent and placed strategically. There were many other differences observed between the United States and Costa Rica.

After this activity, some people stayed at the mall to shop while others headed back to the hotel to sleep or complete some work. The readings for today discussed Porte Viejo and the Bribri. Topics from these articles included games, culture, and traditions. As we has class, discussion ranged from these people living simpler and healthier lives than today to the interesting games they have invented. Finishing our talk, we moved into groups to create interview questions for a variety of people we will be meeting with over the course of the next few days.

Completing our questions, we prepared for dinner and made our way to Tin Jo. The dishes ranged from the simple fried rice with chicken to fish along with teriyaki sauce. No matter the food, It was a consensus that everyone enjoyed their meal. For dessert, we were given a slice of cake in honor of Sydney's "birthday." She was generous enough to let everyone have a bite and it was deliciouso:)! After dinner, we proceeded back to the hotel to turn in for the evening. However, just as we were to do so, we took a little detour. A few of us went out for the evening to a local club. It was an absolute blast as we danced the night away!

The lesson of the day is that respect is important. It is one thing to accept differences and try to move on from them. It is another to treat these differences respectfully. Reading the Bribri's story and simply observing the actions of others on this trip, this lesson has suddenly become blatantly obvious to me. I hope that after learning this lesson, I can apply it to life.