Follow the jump links to learn more about Costa Rica:
Lifestyle and Family Living
Teen Life
Dress and Appearance
Diet and Meals
Educational System
Geography and Climate
Population
Language
Government
Religion
Spending Money
Safety and Support
Fun FactsLifestyle and Family Living
The people of Costa Rica are known as Ticos. Most Costa Ricans have a European heritage with some indigenous mixture, and there is a small indigenous minority. Ticos have a strong self-image, they are very nationalistic and proud of their country, but not in an aggressive way. They expect people to act humble and value, as they do, democracy, peace and political freedom.
Families in Costa Rica are close. The responsibility of managing the house and supervising the children typically belongs to the wife, even if she has an outside job, while the husband is usually engaged in work outside the home. Costa Rican teenagers usually do not have any part-time work during the school year. They help around the house when their studies permit, but the chores are not considered their responsibility.
Parents are protective of their children, especially young women. For example, teenage young men have much more liberal curfews than their sisters do. Parents expect to know when their children are going out and where they are going, and parents usually know their children’s friends well, too. Costa Rican children gain maturity through their participation in family matters and discussions.
Sharing is a given within the family. The sense of strictly personal belongings is not as strong as in some other countries. Siblings often use each other’s clothes and personal effects without asking permission first. Private life is shared within the family, but generally not outside it. It is very common for girls to kiss each other or friends/relatives of the opposite sex on the cheek as hello and good-bye greetings, while boys shake hands, pat shoulders and sometimes embrace.
Many placements are in small rural towns. Most AFS host families are middle-class by Costa Rican standards. Participants should be prepared for a modest lifestyle and relatively small living space.
Costa Rican host families, like all AFS host families worldwide, are volunteers and are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives. They invite AFS students to participate actively in family and other social activities, too.Teen Life
Costa Rican teens go out together in groups; they enjoy movies, dancing, parties at friends’ homes and sports. Soccer is the most popular sport, although it is played almost exclusively by men. Many people enjoy basketball, volleyball, swimming, tennis or fitness training. Local carnivals and festivals are popular.
Schools are academically oriented and do not offer many extracurricular activities so you may wish to become involved in community sports and music clubs and other organizations.Dress and Appearance
Bring neat casual clothing appropriate to Costa Rica’s warm climate: jeans, T-shirts, knee-length shorts and a swimsuit. Students are encouraged to bring one or two nice outfits (dress shirts and ties for men, dresses or skirts and blouses for women) for special occasions. Also, bring a sweatshirt or sweater for cooler weather, as well as a raincoat and umbrella.
Most schools require uniforms (which cost about US$100). Most uniforms consist of dark blue pants and light blue shirts for boys; dark blue skirts or pants and light blue shirts for girls. All students wear black leather shoes and blue socks. High schools tend to be rather strict regarding uniform rules. It is not proper to wear excessive make-up, colorful jewelry, short skirts or eccentric hairstyles. Boys might not be allowed to wear long hair or an earring.Diet and Meals
The basic Costa Rican diet is rice, beans, corn, vegetables, meat, chicken or fish and is usually served with corn tortillas. The diet also includes fresh fruit, milk, fruit juices, dairy products and eggs. Therefore, vegetarians and vegans are difficult to place.
The most popular breakfast is gallo pinto, a mixture of black beans and rice cooked together, usually served with a fried egg and coffee. It can be accompanied by tropical fruit such as papaya, watermelon, pineapple, banana, mango or cantaloupe.
For lunch, Ticos enjoy casados – large plates of white rice, beans, fried plantain, salad, cheese, diced vegetables and a choice of meat, chicken, or fish.
Olla de carne is a popular traditional dish for dinner: a beef stew soup with potatoes and vegetables. Caribbean dessert is known for coconut, caramel, fresh fruit drinks and for the special heavy fruity bread panbon.
Especially during weekends, it is customary for the whole family to eat the same foods at meals together. On working days, this is often more difficult, especially for families where both parents work. At the table, Costa Ricans enjoy active conversation on a variety of subjects. It is a time to be enjoyed together and spent as a family.
It is considered inappropriate for individuals to request special foods, to prepare separate food for themselves or to raid the refrigerator. Educational System
The school year is divided into trimesters. It starts in mid-February and ends in late November/early December. Almost all AFS students attend public school.
Classes consist of lectures and discussions in which students are expected to participate. Students up to grade 10 or 11 are generally restricted to required courses. Older students may choose among such courses as intensive math, biology, chemistry, physics, physical education, informatics, musical education, social studies (including history and geography), civics, foreign language and Spanish.
Attending school is an integral part of this program and is the best way to make friends and experience everyday life as a Costa Rican teen. Doing well in school is also very important to host families. A school uniform is worn.
Students usually create study groups that often meet after school in students’ houses, especially before exams. In addition to studying, they also organize outings together.
You will be able to obtain a participation letter signed by the school principal. However, this document is not the same as a transcript of grades. Official diploma/transcript can be obtained only by students who pass all required courses and rigorous final exams. AFS cannot guarantee academic credit for courses. Please discuss your plans with your school before you go abroad.
Geography and Climate
Costa Rica is about the size of Slovakia or the Dominican Republic. It is located on the Central American isthmus, bordering Panama on the southeast and Nicaragua on the north. Its western coastline is on the Pacific Ocean; the Caribbean Sea is on the east. The country is lined on both coasts with beautiful beaches.
Costa Rica has a tropical climate, but temperatures may be lower in the higher altitudes. The average national temperature is 75°F/24°C. The rainy season runs from May through November.
Population
The population is 4.2 million. San José, the capital city, has a population of about one million.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica though English is widely understood. In the Caribbean province of Limόn, a Creole English is spoken, in addition to Spanish.
Government
Costa Rica has an elected president and two vice presidents in the executive branch. There is a unicameral legislature called the Legislative Assembly whose members are elected every four years. Costa Ricans place a high value on their democratic way of life; they have no army and strive to live in peace.
Religion
76 % of the population is Roman Catholic. Evangelical Protestantism is also represented.
Spending Money
The colon is the official currency in Costa Rica.
Your program and country information packet (provided in the months prior to your departure) will give you an idea of how much spending money is appropriate and whether you should arrive with any amount of the local currency in hand.
Host families pay only for ordinary family events in which you are expected to participate. When you do such things as shopping for yourself or going out with friends, the expenses are your responsibility. Depending on the cost of living in your host country, we recommend you budget about $100-$300 per month.
Remember: never travel with large amounts of cash. Instead, bring travelers checks or follow the advice in the country and program information packet. Another option for obtaining money while overseas is to use a debit card linked to a checking account back home (but try not to use a debit card for daily purchases since there are ATM and currency exchange fees). Or, you can transfer money using wiring services such as Western Union.
You and your parents should determine a budget and preferred money transfer plan before you depart so that you are not caught without spending money while abroad.
Be conscientious of your spending since conspicuous consumption may not be viewed favorably and spending more than your peers and family may create a distance between you and them.
Safety and Support
AFS has the utmost concern for the welfare, safety, and security of our participants. We’ve been exchanging participants throughout the world for 60 years—that’s six decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service.
AFS maintains a network of experienced staff and trained volunteers who provide support in each country. In the event of an emergency, 24-hour assistance is available to students, their parents, and the host families. Furthermore, your AFS tuition includes comprehensive medical insurance coverage to ensure that medical care is available to our participants anywhere in the world and at all times.
While we have the above support structures in place, we also encourage you to take responsibility for your own safety and we give you the guidance to do so. Many of the AFS orientation activities, both at home and abroad, are intended to give you the tools to stay safe. We also provide country-specific safety tips to each participant prior to departure.
Learn more about the AFS safety and support network.
Fun Facts
- Women retain their surnames when they marry. Children carry the surname of both their parents.
- In spite of the fact that Costa Rica has no army, it is one of the safest countries in Latin America, due to a large network of police officers and so-called rural guards.
- Public health and education is highly valued. Without an army, a high percentage of what was formerly (before 1948) spent on military infrastructure is now spent on health and education. Public hospitals provide free care and education is of high quality.
- Costa Rica has one of the largest biodiversities of flora and fauna in its geographical area.
- Costa Rica emphasizes conservation of its natural resources through the stimulation of eco-tourism and active protection of the environment (one-third of the country is protected).
