Things have changed drastically in Costa Rica during the past year. Unfortunately, us ticos don´t feel proud about this so-called changes; some blame it on the Nicaraguans, Colombians and Dominicans that have immigrated bringing the sad reality of their countries to ours, others blame it on the world crisis, but the fact is that we are changing.
Prices have rose like bubbles, most are about 20% higher including bus fares, personal care products, rent, electricity, among others. I would dare to say food and groceries in general are at least 30% to 35% more expensive than they were 11 months ago.
Not only crime rates have augmented, but citizens feel very unsafe. Muggers wait patiently in the traffic lights in the hope to spot a purse in the front seat or a laptop misplaced within the car to break the windows and get whatever they can.
Citizen´s response to this new practice is tinted car glasses and impact resistant windows; putting purses, laptops and valuables underneath the seats; and always traveling accompanied with locked doors.
At home, most people are securing windows and doors, using three to four locks, and buying guns and other weapons for protection. Wealthy people are hiring private security guards to watch over their houses as well as bodyguards.
On a brighter note, the Caldera Highway is now being built after about 30 to 35 years of postponing the construction of a key road; smaller banks like Cuscatlan and Banco Uno have now merged with Citi; and gasoline prices are finally declining.
Most Costa Rican holidays are church related because most of the population is Catholic. Be sure not to wait until the last minute and take these dates into consideration as banks, most businesses and public transportation stop functioning completely during the major holidays.
January 1st “Año Nuevo”: New Year’s Day. This is a night to party with friends and family to celebrate the New Year. Some follow certain traditions to ensure a year full of prosperity and joy, such as eating grapes, carrying bags and keeping money on their pockets right at midnight.
March 19th “Día de San José”: St. Joseph’s Day. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the San José, a day celebrated by Catholics in the country.
Easter “Semana Santa: Easter. Although the official holidays are Thursday and Friday before Easter, most businesses take the full week off. Masses and religious processions take place during these days and the “Ley Seca” prohibits the sale of alcohol beverages.
April 11th “Día de Juan Santamaria”: Juan Santamaria Day. Commemorates the Battle of Rivas against William Walker (American invader), in which a young man defended his country until death.
May 1st “Día del Trabajo”: Labor Day. Parades and union worker reunions are held during this day.
July 25th “Anexion de Guanacaste”: Guanacaste Day. This day commemorates the annexation of Guanacaste from Nicaragua. Rodeos, Topes, dances, and multicolored festivities are all over.
August 2nd “Día de la virgen de los Angeles”: Lady of the Angels Day. Also called “La Negrita”, the Lady of the Angels is the patron saint of Costa Rica. Pilgrims walk from diverse areas of the country to visit the Basilica in Cartago to ask for miracles or forgiveness. A special mass is celebrated at Cartago.
August 15th “Día de la Madre”: Mother’s Day. Very significant in Costa Rica, most businesses, banks and labors stop during this day so that both grownups and children celebrate with their mothers with gifts and special attentions.
September 15th “Día de la Independencia”: Independence Day. Costa Rican flags are displayed in most houses during this month. This holiday commemorates the independence gained from Spain in 1821 with national parades, traditional dances and lanterns parades
October 12th “Día de la Raza”: Columbus Day. Carnivals on the Caribbean are common a week prior to this holiday.
November 2nd – “Día de los Muertos”: All soul’s Day. Pilgrims visit the death and embellish their graves with flowers. Catholic masses reunite and pray.
December 25th – “Navidad”: Christmas Day. This is usually a family-oriented celebration that involves supper around midnight and exchange of presents.
Surf lovers,the time has come! Playa Hermosa, Jacó is getting ready to host the Billabong World Surfing games 2009. You´ll have over a week to enjoy the sun, the sand and the great warm waves of Costa Rica, one of the top 10 surf destinations worldwide.
The surf games will take place in front of Hotel Terrazas del Pacífico, in Playa Hermosa, Jacó. Book your airline tickets and hotel reservations ahead of time. The Costa Rican Surf Federation is expecting an international contingent of 40 countries to attend this competition along with staff and surf fans from July 31st to August 9th 2009.
According to the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism (ICT) almost 200,000 surfers visited the country last year, accounting for a total of 20% of the annual income for tourism for the country. José Ureña, president of the Costa Rica Surf Federation anticipates a huge increment of surf tourism for the upcoming year due to the enormous promotion this tournament represents, about 80 million people around the world will enjoy the competition on the internet.
The Costa Rican Pro surfers that will represent the country are: Jimena Calvo, Nataly Bernold, Lisbeth Vindas, Gilberth Brown, Luis Vindas, Diego Naranjo, Richard Marin, Jairo Perez and Jaison Torres.
University for Peace is headquartered in Costa Rica, a small country in Central America widely known for the abolition of its army since 1948 and an extended tradition and promise of democracy. The President of the Republic, Oscar Arias Sánchez, was awarded with a Nobel Prize in 1987 for his hard work to find peace in Latin America.
The University for Peace was established in 1980 as a Treaty Organization by the United Nations General Assembly.It´s ultimate purpose is the “education, training and research in all their aspects to build the foundations of peace and progress and to reduce the prejudice and hatred on which violence, conflict and terrorism are based is increasingly recognized”.
The campus is located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica; about 30 km southwest of San José, with an area of 303 hectares formed of University installations and protected areas. This natural reserve shelters deer, monkeys, reptiles, birds and about 100 different varieties of trees.
UPEACE offers a variety of Master Programs such as: Environmental Security and Peace; Gender and Peace Building; International Law and the Settlement of Disputes; International Law and Human Rights; Media, Peace and Conflict Studies; Natural Resources and Sustainable Development and many others.
This Institution is highly committed with universal and individual Human Rights and the value of gender mainstreaming. All their programs address these topics exhaustively in course content, community outreach, objectives and projects. Another important aspect to point out is the wide diversity you will find in the campus; this will make an exciting and enriching opportunity to learn other cultures and interact with very different individuals.
This organization offers a “semester abroad program” for graduate students to enroll in their courses and participate in multicultural education during the first or the second semester, from mid-August to mid-December and from January to mid-July respectively.
Getting into this institution of higher education is not as easy as it may seem. There is a series of requirements students need to comply with in order enter. It´s been said that only 25 out of about 150 applicants make it through.
Students should speak fluent English, both spoken and written (TOEFL or IELTS are required for candidates with native languages other than English). Applicants must have an equivalent of a four year undergraduate degree such as social and natural sciences, humanities or legal field and an exceptional academic record. Other pluses are work experience in associated fields and background in cross-cultural experiences.
UPEACE estimates the cost of living expenses is about US$500 per month per student for housing, transportation and meals. However, it is recommend that you contemplate a higher monthly budget as living standards vary from student to student; and there are other expenses such as books, photocopies, tuition, medical insurances, etc.
Transportation is provided from Ciudad Colón to the university as well as several other facilities such cafeteria, mail services, photocopies and computer labs, university doctor and emergency services.
If you are interested in attending this prestigious University, you may write to their admissions department at: admissions@upeace.orgor to contact them for further information call +506 2205-9000.
