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Costa Ricay la selva
More than 11 percent of Costa Rica's territory is reserved as national parks. Costa Ricans call themselves ticos/ticas and are known by that name throughout Central America.
A typical breakfast is gallo pinto, a mixture of rice and black beans.
Costa Rica is one of the largest banana producers in the world.
During an earthquake in 1991, the Costa Rican city of Puerto Limón rose 3 feet and never returned to its original elevation.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, cacao beans were the official currency of Costa Rica. Cacao is native to Central America, and Costa Ricans say this is where the saying “Money grows on trees” comes from.
Costa Ricans have two last names, but they are usually referred to by their “first” last name. Costa Rica was the first country in the Americas to declare war on Germany in World War II.
Hitler never attacked Costa Rica, and people joked that it was because he couldn’t find the country because a squashed fly was covering it on his map.
In parts of Costa Rica, people have found ancient stone spheres, some of which are as tall as 6 feet, weighing as much as 16 tons. The stones are perfectly round, and no one knows who made them or why. Some think they may have been used to predict the best planting seasons.
The zip line tours (hacer tirolesa) originated in Costa Rica.
In 2008, three new species of salamander were discovered in Costa Rica’s rain forests, including the dwarf salamander, which is small enough to fit on a person’s fingernail. There are now over 40 known species of salamander in Costa Rica.
History
A variety of native peoples lived in present-day Costa Rica before Columbus arrived in 1502. In the north, the indigenous cultures were influenced by Mayan civilization. Southern groups were more closely related to the indigenous peoples of South America. Spain eventually colonized the Costa Rican area along with most of Central America. Because minerals were scarce, the area was ignored by the Spanish crown and remained isolated. In 1821, Costa Rica joined other Central American nations in declaring independence from Spain. In 1824, it became a state of the Federal Republic of Central America. Shortly before the republic collapsed, Costa Rica became a sovereign nation (1838). Costa Rica has one of the most stable democratic governments in Central America. Figueres (who was elected president in 1953 and again in 1970) abolished the army in 1948, and a new constitution was introduced in 1949. Costa Rica has enjoyed peace and democracy ever since. The nation practices a philosophy of nonintervention in the affairs of foreign governments.
Interesting Information
Costa Ricans refer to themselves as ticos (the female form is tica) and are known by that name throughout Central America. The nickname comes from the Costa Rican custom of ending words with the suffix -tico (instead of the more common Spanish diminutive -tito). So instead of saying chico (small) or chiquitito (very small), Costa Ricans say chiquitico.
Costa Rica is a land of courtesy, domestic enterprise, hospitality, and gentleness. People value privacy and quiet behavior but will vigorously defend personal honor. A strong work ethic is prevalent among most segments of society, and rural people especially accept hard labor as a necessary part of life. Individuals are recognized as such, and all people are given respect, regardless of their social class.
One quarter of the population lives in the urbanized central valley region of the country, including San José and its surrounding cities and neighborhoods. In these and other cities, houses are usually made of cement and have tin roofs. They are often painted in bright colors. Black security bars protect windows and doors. Inside, floors tend to be made from tile or smooth, red cement, which women sweep, mop, wax, and shine daily. It is common for women who work outside the home to employ maids to clean, cook meals, and do the laundry.
Exports include coffee, bananas, beef, sugar, cocoa, and fertilizer. Costa Rica is one of the largest banana producers in the world. Ornamental flowers are becoming an increasingly important export.
Although cars are available, the most common form of transportation within and between cities is the bus. Fares are inexpensive and the system is efficient. Almost every town and tourist destination can be reached by paved roads. Taxis are commonly available; legal taxis are red.
Greetings
Polite and respectful greetings are a social norm. Female friends or relatives greet each other with a light kiss on the cheek. If women are not yet acquainted, they may pat each other on the arm. Men shake hands and may kiss the cheeks of female friends and relatives. It is an insult not to shake every man's hand in a small group. Common greetings include Buenos días (Good day), Buenas tardes (Good afternoon), and Buenas noches (Good evening). Ticos often respond to the greeting ¿Cómo está? (How are you?) with the expression Pura vida (Pure life), which is understood to mean that the person is doing well. Also a way to say “Okay” or “No worries,” Pura vida has many uses. Hola (Hi) is a casual greeting popular among the youth; older people consider it disrespectful if used to greet them. Eye contact is important, especially when one is discussing a serious issue or talking to a superior. It traditionally is understood that the lack of eye contact means one cannot be trusted. Chewing gum while speaking is impolite.
Diet
Costa Ricans eat rice and beans in various combinations for nearly every meal. Typical at breakfast is gallo pinto (mixture of rice and black beans). A common lunchtime meal is casado (beans, salad, meat, plantains, and sometimes eggs). Olla de carne (a beef stew with potatoes, onions, and many vegetables) is a national favorite. Tamales (meat, vegetables, and cornmeal wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled) are served for Easter and Christmas. Also common are lengua en salsa (beef tongue served in a sauce), mondongo (intestine soup), empanadas (turnovers), arroz con pollo (rice with chicken), and gallos (tortillas with meat and vegetable fillings). Bread, tortillas, and fruits are also staple items. Ticos of all ages enjoy coffee. Adults may take two or three coffee breaks each day. Native Costa Ricans use corn, their most common crop, to make tortillas, tamales (cornmeal dough stuffed with a filling), and even horchata (a milky drink flavored with sugar and cinnamon). Coffee is a popular drink too, since coffee beans are one of Costa Rica’s biggest exports.
gallo pinto - tamales - empanadas -
casado - lengua en salsa - arroz con pollo -
olla de carne - mondongo - gallos -
Recreation
Fútbol (soccer) is the most popular spectator and participant sport. Basketball, baseball, volleyball, surfing, auto racing, swimming, cycling, running, and tennis are also popular. Fishing is good in many parts of the country. The wealthy enjoy golf and polo. Beaches are crowded between January and April. Local carnivals, festivals, and bullfights are popular attractions at various times throughout the year. Media broadcasts from the United States are common and have a significant impact on urban trends.
The Arts
Dancing is a favorite activity among ticos of all ages. Typical Latin dances such as salsa, merengue, and cumbia, as well as the Costa Rican swing, are popular. Folk dances include the national dance, the Punto Guanacaste, the cambute, and maypole dances. Typical musical instruments include the chirimía (oboe), guitar, xylophone, accordion, and the quijongo (a stringed instrument). People enjoy soca (a mixture of soul music from the United States and calypso music), calypso, reggae, and other music popular throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Brightly painted carretas (oxcarts) are well known throughout the country.
Most Costa Ricans would say that the country’s unofficial motto is Pura Vida. Literally, it means “pure life,” but it's often used to answer the question “How are you?” It can also sum up many Costa Ricans’ attitude toward life. This phrase is heard throughout Costa Rica, and there are many restaurants, shops, and hotels named after it.
Life as a Kid Life is very different for kids who live in the city and kids who live in the countryside. Usually kids from the countryside have less money and spend more time helping their families earn a living. They may have to travel farther to get to school and get there by walking or biking. In the cities, kids usually walk to school, take a public bus, or get a ride with their parents. After school, kids like to watch TV or play video games if they have them. Most kids share a bedroom with their brothers or sisters, and houses are usually quite small. Older siblings are responsible for helping with the younger ones, and often three or four generations of a family live in the same home or on the same property.
Payasos At many Costa Rican celebrations, people like to watch cimarronas (small bands that play lively music) and payasos (people wearing masks and colorful clothes, similar to clowns). They might be made to look like something scary (such as the devil or a witch), a gigante or giganta (giant), or even a famous celebrity. The cimarronas play music down the street, the payasos follow along, dancing and making people laugh. Costa Ricans hire cimarronas and payasos for parties and celebrations.
Land and Climate
Costa Rica covers 19,730 square miles (51,100 square kilometers) and is just smaller than West Virginia. About 50 percent of Costa Rica is covered by different types of forests. About 30 percent of the total territory is reserved as protected areas. This small nation has a diverse landscape of tropical rain forests, mountain cloud forests, volcanoes, coastal lowlands, beaches, and beautiful rivers. Although Costa Rica lies entirely in the tropical climate zone, elevation changes allow for cooler temperatures in the central highlands. The coastal lowlands are hot and humid; temperatures there average 81°F (27°C) year-round. Most people live at elevations where the climate is generally mild. In San José and other parts of the central valley highlands, temperatures average 67°F (19°C) year-round. Rainfall varies between the wet season (May–November) and the dry season (December–April). The land is subject to frequent earthquakes and occasional volcanic eruptions.
"Costa Rica." CultureGrams Online Edition. ProQuest, 2012. Web. 19 Apr 2012.
La Selvael árbol -la palmera -la flor -la copa -la cascada -el océano -la playa -la ola -la costa -el río -el volcán -tropical -la puesta del sol -
Los animalesel guacamayo -
el jaguar -
la mariposa -
el mono -
el murciélago -
el perezoso -
la rana -
la culebra -
el tapir -
el tucán -
la tortuga -
Los verbosalimentar -
caminar -
cantar -
columpiar -
comer -
llover -
mirar -
nadar -
observer -
oler -
sacar fotos -
subir -
tocar -
visitar -
volar -
a + el = SQUISH!!!
en -
Expressing Likes and Dislikes using “GUSTA”
To express activities that we like or don’t like to do, we use the word “gusta.” “Gusta” literally means “pleases” or “is pleasing to,” but since we don’t really say that in
English, it translates to “likes.”
A mí me gusta ________. = Ex: A mí me gusta caminar. = Notice: I did not use the word “yo” anywhere!
A tí te gusta ________. = Ex: A tí te gusta nadar. = Notice: I did not use the word “tú” anywhere!
A (name*) le gusta ________. =
Ex: A ella le gusta observar. = A él le gusta observar. = A mi madre le gusta observar. = A Alejandro le gusta observar. = A usted le gusta observar.
If you haven’t noticed, there is somewhat of a formula we can use here:
A mí me gusta caminar. = I like to walk. **LITERALLY - To walk is pleasing to me. (Translate backwards!)
Practice:
1. You (inf) like to observe. ______________________________________________________2. He likes to swim. ______________________________________________________3. I like to take pictures. ______________________________________________________
Note: The “A” and the “mí, tí” are optional on the first person and the second person. For our purposes, we will continue to use them throughout this unit. You may see them, however, without the “A” and the “mí” or “tí.” It is NOT optional in the third person: It clarifies who you are talking about!
4. She likes to feed the animals. ______________________________________________________
But what if we want to say we DON’T like something? We just simply add a “no” before the “me,” “te” or “le.” You HAVE to put it in that spot!
Practice: Practice:
A mí no me gusta nadar.= I don’t like to climb. =
A tí no te gusta caminar= You don’t like to take photos. =
A Roberto no le gusta observar. = Rosa doesn’t like to touch the frog. =
Ok, now what if we want to ask a question? Such as, “Do you like to study?” It’s so simple! You just have to add the question marks!
¿A tí te gusta observar las mariposas? =
¿A usted le gusta subir? =
¿Al peresozo le gusta columpiar? =
How do I ANSWER a question using “gusta”?
1. If you are answering POSITIVELY, simply add a “Sí,” at the beginning of the “gusta” sentence.
Practice:Do you like to take photos? = Do you like to visit the rainforest? =
Yes, I like to take photos. = Yes, I like to visit the rainforest. =
Does Roberto like to swim in the ocean? = Does the toucan like to sing? =
Yes, Roberto likes to swim in the ocean. = Yes, the toucan likes to sing. =
2. If you are answering NEGATIVELY, you must add “no” TWICE!a. Think about it in English... if someone asks you, “Do you like to study?” and your answer is “no,”
you would answer, “No, I don’t like to study.” We essentially used “no” twice.b. We must add one “no” at the VERY BEGINNING, and then the other “no” goes in its normal
spot. (Refer to previous page.)
Practice:
Does the turtle like to swim in the waterfall? =No, the turtle doesn’t like to swim in the waterfall. =
Does the snake like to eat the bat? =No, the snake doesn’t like to eat the bat. =
Practice, Practice, Practice! Translate to Spanish.
1. The macaw likes to sing. ___________________________________________________________________
2. You (inf) like to climb trees. ________________________________________________________________
3. She likes to take photos of the flowers. _______________________________________________________
4. The monkey likes to swing. ________________________________________________________________
5. He likes to look at the palm trees. ___________________________________________________________
6. The bat likes to watch the sunset. ___________________________________________________________
7. You (form) don’t like to touch the volcano. ____________________________________________________
8. He doesn’t like to feed the tapirs. ___________________________________________________________
9. Does the jaguar like to swim? ______________________________________________________________
10. Does the snake like to eat the frogs? _________________________________________________________
11. I like to smell the palm trees and the beach. __________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
12. Does she like to swim in the ocean? _________________________________________________________
13. Do you (inf) like to watch the waterfall? ______________________________________________________
14. The frog doesn’t like to walk on the volcano. __________________________________________________
15. No, the butterfly doesn’t like to fly in the canopy. ______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
16. Yes, the macaw likes to eat the flowers. ______________________________________________________
17. Yes, the rainforest likes to rain. _____________________________________________________________
18. No, he doesn’t like to take pictures of the sunset. ______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
19. No, the sloth doesn’t like to swim in the waves.________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
20. Yes, I like to walk on the coast of the ocean. ___________________________________________________
