![]() But it is not an earlier time by North American or even European standards it is somewhere more idealized and far more precious. To fly to Costa Rica, leaving behind the numbing babble of Los Angeles or the crowded bustle of Western European cities, and to head for a small town here is like leaping backwards to an earlier time. Costa Ricans revel in the difference and are unabashedly proud of it. These countries are only short distances away, but the Costa Rican is as different from these other Latin people as, say, the Swiss is to the Italian, or the German to the Dane. Just go to Guatemala, Panamá, or El Salvador, and observe the differences. He should be looking to the South." But even if he did, the Tico would insist that he is just as different from his southern neighbours as from the northern. Demonstrations protests, strikes, and rallies are common events, yet people behave respectfully, and election day has a distinctive party atmosphere.Ī Latin American writer once observed: "The problem is that the Costa Rican looks too much to the North. For instance, they will use the gentle verb "regalar" (give me, as in a present) rather than the direct "dar" (give me) when ordering in a restaurant. There is a sweetness to the way Costa Ricans speak Spanish. You’ll also hear a lot of "cito", as in "cafecito", (a nice little coffee). And all these different races are Costarricenses.Ī Cahuita resident on the verandah of his wooden house in the traditional architectural style.Ĭosta Ricans call themselves Ticos in a reference to their use of the diminutive ending "ico": "Un momentico, por favor" (Just a little minute, please) or "chiquitica" (nice little girl). Descendants of indentured laborers, they own many of the bars, restaurants, and stores, especially in small towns. The blacks of the Atlantic Coast are the country’s largest immigrant minority they speak Caribbean-accented English and talk with pride of their Jamaican heritage. ![]() Though they increasingly speak Spanish, they still debate whether it is more important to retain their indigenous cultural identity or to assimilate more into mainstream Costa Rican culture. In the southern, mountainous regions of the country, the Amerindians of Costa Rica, who were here long before the Spanish, belong to six discrete linguistic groups. The people of Guanacaste have dark skin, and resemble their Nicaraguan neighbors in manner and accent. Culturally speaking, our destination of the week, Costa Rica, is not a simple place, but "we are all Ticos" is the proud claim.Īlong with the overwhelming majority of Spanish-heritage Ticos, there are four other distinct ethnic groups.
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