www.CostaRicaTicas.com

It is difficult to argue with your premise that “The culture in most of CR is in the Pueblo.... the church... the soccer park... ... the town square... the town drunk.” The Costa Ricans work really hard at making the country appear as unsophisticated as possible. But 100 years ago, it was not that way. But 100 years ago, the nation was so tiny it barely rated a blip on the international map. When you go beyond the boundaries of the popular sites and mingle with the educated and professional class – the sophistication is very evident. They are a well traveled people.

The definitions of culture vary widely depending on the discipline. One of the more common uses, and they way it appears to be used here, is determining and defining the social culture of a people. I have defined it as an interface of the basic assumptions of the collective meaning an interaction of the beliefs and values of the populace; the outcome creates a pattern of common attitudes or a common outlook which leads to patterns of common and shared behaviors, in other words behavioral norms. While the constructs are often cognitive, there are almost always subtle indicators that affect the learning and comprehension of the socialization process.

Cultural artifacts are subdivisions of the culture. They are the man-made indicators of how the people lived. If we consider those indicators to be the history, music, art, dance, and performing arts, etcetera, then Costa Rica has a fairly decent representation.

The universities, primarily the public universities, have board representation in music, art, and drama. While the universities do not date back very far, as do the university centers in other Latin American nations, they still do well in attracting second tier artists.

The Melico Salazar Theatre is nearly as internationally prestigious as the Teatro Nacional. But there are other performing arts centers throughout the nation.

The Colegio de las Señoritas enjoys the rich history of Costa Rica when the British influence was primary.

So much of the culture is hidden or ignored and allowed to crumble. It is like that old song by some famous singer whose name I cannot remember: "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT 'TIL IT'S GONE. THEY TORE DOWN PARADISE AND PUT UP A PARKING LOT.

The problem is, at this point the places are being torn down and they are putting in parking lots but no one yet realizes what they had. "÷

Now I am just rambling. It is late and the wine is . . . yummmmm.

To each his own. One reason I like to go to CR and other places is the differences good or bad. I've lived in the 1st world & its not so grand.

Often when some acquaintence asks "you going there?, why what is there?....the answer is: its not what's there, its what's not there, people like YOU.

Amen, Brother Johnarizona, Amen!

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED