I’ve been back to Costa Rica three times since my 2007 Fulbright experience, and plan to be there again before 2009 is over. In retrospect, what did the Fulbright experience mean to me? Frankly, it was awesome. I am trying to hold on to that “lovin feeling” through collaboratives and more so that none of the memories slip away. So stay tuned, and I will be posting again.
Flag of Costa Rica
"Ticos": It is a famous expression in the Latin American world for Costa Ricans.
"Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos. This name is said to stem from the colonial saying 'We are all hermaniticos (little brothers).' It also reflects their custom of referring to many things in the diminutive, ending in -ito., as in the other Spanish-speaking countries, and more characteristically in -ico. They even combine the two into a super-diminutive. Thus something small may not simply be chico or chiquito, but chiquitico."
Biezanz, Richard, Biezanz, Karen Zubris, & Mavis Hiltunen Biezanz (1982). The Costa Ricans. p. 1.
Blog Archive
- July 2012 (1)
- November 2011 (1)
- June 2009 (1)
- December 2007 (2)
- November 2007 (2)
- October 2007 (2)
- September 2007 (4)
- August 2007 (5)
My Fulbright Responsibilities
The College and My Award:
While in Costa Rica, I will be teaching at the University of Costa Rica in San José, which is right outside of the city in an area called San Pedro Montes de Oca. My Fulbright award is as a "Lecturer-Researcher." Therefore, 70% of my time will be research (investigaciones)and 30% in teaching (la docencia). Believe it or not, 30,000 students attend the University of Costa Rica, none of whom live in dormitories. (There are none)....Regarding research, my Fulbright proposal commits me to investigate the challenges that companies are facing in the region specific to implementation of DR-CAFTA guidelines. Related areas of interest involve issues regarding technology integration, port security, and human resource capacitation. This will be a qualitative research endeavor. I have identified the following companies as potential interviewees: P/O Nedlloyd, Seaboard Marine, Remarsa, Junta de Administración Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente (JAPDEVA), Instituto Costarricense de Puertos del Pacífico (INCOP), Fed Ex Corp. (Gerente Director Regional), empresas locales: Hewlett Packard, IBM, Teradyne, Sykes, Baxter, Procter & Gamble I hope to involve my students in this effort, to include discussion of qualitative methodology--often under-emphasized or an "afterthought" in higher education business courses. The subject of DR-CAFTA is a political "hot potato" here, as Costa Rica is the only country that has not ratified it. There will be a referendum in November to decide the question.
...Regarding teaching, I will teach in the Business Administration Department in the area of Strategic Management. The "Facultad de Administración de Negocios" counts on 130 professors, 50% of who are part-time. There will be 5 sections of this course for 4th year students. For other Programs and Colleges at the University of Costa Rica in San Pedro Montes de Oca, go to: https://www.ucr.ac.cr/
