Geert-Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions

While writing a paper for my International Business class, I came across an interesting website that discusses the Geert-Hofstede Cultural Dimensions for a given country.  Of course, one that I had to consider in my paper was the United State and I was surprised by some of the rankings.  Take a look for yourself:

http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_united_states.shtml 

I used this information mostly to write about how to start a business in a foreign country, and as a Spanish minor I usually find all things about country differences intriguing.  The dimensions include a Power Distance Index, Individualism, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance Index and Long-Term Orientation.  These dimensions provide powerful insight into the cultural aspects of each country.


I chose to compare the US to Costa Rica (wonder why, huh?) for my research.  Needless to say I enjoy the information gathering process and I actually feel like I learned a lot.  I say this because there have been many other times where I take required classes and feel like they are a mindless waste of my time.  It's nice to feel like I am doing some quality learning every once in a while. 


Feel free to click on Costa Rica on the side navigation bar in the earlier link to check them out as well.


always,
a

The last of Costa Rica - Week 3

The "sand" at Jaco

Wednesday class was class as usual.  Our main 4 page composition was the second half of class today, I am hoping I did well but I know I will get points off for some grammar.  After class we all went to a local health center to learn about the health system there.  Basically, its free and easy to use - the only downside is that sometimes it could be a little slower than you would like because EVERYONE uses the same system and the money allocated to it by the government doesn't allow for more people to be hired, which would make the process a little faster.

Thursday in class we had our big presentations due, on anything about Costa Rica that interested us.  Of course, mine was on Costa Rican immigration and the myths surrounding it.  They have a lot of stereotypes about their most frequent immigrants, Nicaraguans, just as we do about Mexicans. I stayed up late making sure it was perfect.  We also had local artisans come to school during our break and we could buy some souvenirs from them.  I also tried to plan a trip to "Isla Tortuga" today instead of going to another volcano this weekend like we are supposed to - we will see if that goes through.  It's supposed to be SO beautiful!

The brown beach

Friday we had a test as usual, our last one (finally).  I hope I did well because I am really hoping for an A in this class.  Then everyone at school had a big caribbean/tican lunch together, it was absolutely delicious.  After class myself and some friends went back into San Jose to finish our last minute shopping.  While we were there, I managed to find a tour company that would drive all 12 of us to Jaco (a local beach) for only $200, not bad. Weekend plans = set.

My potted gifts!

Saturday we left for Jaco at 8:30.  The drive was about 2.5 hours, but when we got there we were a little surprised.  It was a smaller beach, the sand was a darker brown color and the actual beach part was covered with lots of little rocks.  The sun was also MIA.  We still managed to have some fun, then we showered and came home.  My sister made me a delicious dinner that night! She is such a good cook.

Sunday.  What a sad day.  Did I cry? No, but I'm still not sure how I managed that one.  I got up a little early to shower and told my sisters I wanted to go to the store for some snacks.  I really was planning on going to the local florist to get some really nice thank you flowers for them, but of course they were closed.  I finally found a plant store and got two little potted flowers, one was purple to represent me (its my favorite color) and one was pink to represent their family.  They loved them! (thank goodness)  Turns out they also got me a small gift, a pair of earrings.  They noticed I like to wear them when I get dressed up to go out.  They happened to match the shirt I was wearing home so I put them on right away and wore them all the way home.

I will never forget my time in Costa Rica; the things I saw and did, the places I went, the things I learned, and most importantly, the people I met.

Mi Casa

All packed up, SO not ready to go...

Mi Familia Tica

If you ever have the chance to go - take it. The only thing you will regret, is having to leave.


always,
a

THIS is why I am ok with switching my major...

Yes, I know. I still have yet to post my last blog entry but thats because my journal of events is currently sitting on my mothers bedside table so she can read up on every little thing I did in Costa Rica (that way I don't have to make sure I remember every little thing and I can just write it down).  I promise once I get it back I will finish the updating.

But now that I am home, and back to this terribly cold and snowy weather, its time to figure out my life again - good news this time though...

Finally, this year in school my classes have begun to overlap and are beginning to form something like an education that might actually be applicable to a career.  Tonight I was reading an article that I was assigned for my eBusiness class and was happy to see some encouraging data:

"According to researcher Borrell Associates, which tracks advertising trends, local-online advertising will grow to $16.1 billion this year, up from $13.7 billion in 2010."

Online = eBusiness  -my first major

Advertising = Marketing  - my second major
_____________________________________
      the industry where I want to work just grew 3 billion dollars!!!

Yes, I know I just rounded up quite a bit, but I'm not the best at math - plus it makes me feel better to say 3 billion.  I am also currently learning in that class about how to make a webpage which is something I would really like to learn more about. I am looking forward to that a lot.

In a couple days there should be another post about the good news of my possible on-time graduation as well as my plans for work, interning and classes in the future so stay tuned!

always,
a

Week 2.5

Just a few days have passed since the last post, but I have only a few days left here in Costa Rica so I want to make sure that I don’t forget to write anything.

Manuel Antonio Refuge - $10 entrance fee

Saturday we left at 6 for the beach.  We had a couple setbacks but luckily nothing too major.  We made it onto the sand by 12.  There wasn’t great sun, however the view was spectacular.  I don’t really think that pictures can do it justice; it was so pretty.  We were on the pacific side for everyone that just asked my blog, the beach is called Manuel Antonio – its also a protected park.  It was a very nice day, and we all had a nice dinner at a local restaurant after.

The food stealing monkeys!

Sunday the weather was much hotter, it was extremely humid both days though. After yesterdays lack of tannable weather I decided to make sure something good came out of today so myself and a couple friends decided to rent some surfboards, so I spent the rest of the day surfing.  And no, I can’t actually surf but I sure will float around on my board and try when I find a good wave.  We also enjoyed watching the monkeys try to steal everyone's food!  I also enjoyed the hotel pool right before we had to leave.  Going back home to Curridabat was a shame, but I guess we had to for class Monday.

With the Pacific Ocean

Monday actually was a fun day of class because we had our festival of fruits.  They brought in all of the tropical fruits that were in season for us to try.  It was interesting, but I must admit that I didn’t find anything new that I really liked.  Tasted some really different fruits though.  After class we had a lecture about the education system, that I found very interesting.

 

Hotel Pool (my room is on the right)

Tuesday we had another regular day of classes. After class we went to the local campus of the Universidad de Costa Rica Public universities only cost $40 a semester, if you can believe that.  We had a presentation on the community service the students do there.  Each student is required to complete 300 hours of community service to graduate.  They do the work with other students of their same concentration as well as others to learn how to work cooperatively within the community and interdisciplinary.  Most of the time they work in areas of extreme need; the idea is that when they join the workforce they will understand they are working for the greater good of the country and not just "plata" (money).  I think this is a concept that could and should be applied to every college across the world, some people just don't realize what they have or how much help their community might need.

always,
a

Week 2!

Sorry I wasn’t able to update on Friday – my sister was on the computer all night and Saturday morning I left for the weekend so today is the day for last week’s update.

Sunday was my favorite day in Costa Rica thus far by leaps and bounds.  It was a rather long day so please allow two paragraphs for me to semi-adequately describe it to you.  It was our only free day this whole trip so we planned our own activity.

Jungle Cats!

We left at 6 am by private tour bus for La Paz waterfall.  After about a 1 hour drive we arrive to the place where we ate breakfast. Typical Costa Rica: Gallo Pinto, eggs, fried plantain, cheese and bread with strawberry spread.  Another hour drive followed and after many twisty, curvy roads we arrived at La Paz.  Little did I know there was basically a zoo included in the waterfall, check this out: open air bird house (got to hold a toucan), jungle cat house, orchid garden, hummingbird feeding area (yes I got to hold a hummingbird on a flower in my hand), open air butterfly conservatory (had to be careful not to step/run into them), monkey house (they held our hands through the bars), snake house, frog garden and last but not least – La Paz waterfall.  Here is the website if you are interested: http://www.waterfallgardens.com. We then took a shuttle back to the top and had lunch at a gorgeous open air restaurant where the exotic rainforest butterflies flew around our heads as we ate a delicious buffet. JUST WAIT. That is only the first paragraph.

Rainforest Frog

Day Amazing – part 2. After lunch we all got back on the bus, down some more curvy roads on the edge of the mountains/rainforests and drove about an hour to The Springs.  Here is a link but don’t look yet:http://www.thespringscostarica.com. The Springs is a five star resort with small hot pools everywhere ranging in temperature from lukewarm to 108 degrees.  Each was gorgeous; there was a swim up bar, Jacuzzi, waterslide, multiple waterfalls, and beautiful tropical plants everywhere.  Not to mention the whole place overlooked the Arenal Volcano.  After about 3 hours of swimming, relaxing, and tanning, we returned to the locker rooms to shower for our 3 course dinner.  I got a house salad, coconut battered mahi mahi, and black forest cake.  Way too soon, we found ourselves on the way back home to Curridabat. Over 12 hours on that tour wasn’t enough for some of us.

La Paz

Wanna guess how much that cost: 3 meals, all transportation and 2 incredible locations?  $129. In Spanish we say “vale la pena”.

Monday we had to go back to school – seems to happen to us everyday after there has been a weekend recently. Darn it.  Class we got a new teacher – Giovanni. After class today we had someone come speak with us about migration in Costa Rica.  Here that mostly means Nicaraguans immigrating to Costa Rica, aka: “Nicas”. Rather interesting/useful considering that I have to write my 25 page paper on that exact topic when I return to the U.S.

Buffet Lunch

Tuesday we had class as usual. After class we had a professor from UCR (Universidad de Costa Rica) come and speak to us about Costa Rican history and it’s place now.  I’m not a big history person so this lecture was probably the most boring to me so far, in addition that, the guy spoke SO fast and talked 40 minutes past when he was supposed to.

Wednesday was another day that should prove helpful to my research efforts for my paper.  We visited a local Nicaraguan village called Rio Azul (Blue Rive) and separated into pairs.  Each pair interviewed a mother or young adult who immigrated here from Nicaragua.  It was such an eye opener for so many students.  I interviewed a single mother who left her alcoholic, drug-addicted husband to bring her children to Costa Rica so they could get an education and so she could get a job to buy them food.  Really makes you appreciate what you have.

The Springs

Thursday after class we went back to the other Nicaraguan village to play with the children.  This time we made cards with them and then went outside to jump rope and play some futbol (soccer) for a bit.  There were a lot less kids this time and they weren’t nearly as crazy.

Friday we had our big weekly test.  I studied for about 6 hours on Thursday but I still didn’t feel prepared ( I don’t know that I ever would have).  We were given our oral topic yesterday so I just decided to write my response and memorize it to decrease the chance of making a mistake.  More time consuming, but again I would say “vale la pena”.  It was a relief to have those over and after words we all enjoyed a sweat inducing workout of a Latino dance class which included Salsa, Meringue, Creole Swing, and a short choreographed piece.

Manuel Antonio is next so be sure to check in again soon!

always,

a

(ps. There are more photos but this is all I have at the moment – will update)