As I have mentioned in a previous post, October is the referendum on the DR-CAFTA Trade Agreement. Costa Rica is the only country that has not ratified it. The news and the protests are gearing up here for the Sí people vs. the No people. Even a taxi driver will try to pull you into […]
Read More… from TLC (Tratado Libre de Comercio)/Free Trade Agreement
My schedule does not give me much time for tourism; however, to not see some of the country while I’m here would be ridiculous. Right? (yes) San José: 9-22/23. Decided to check out some museums while here: The Gold Museum–an unbelievable collection of gold dating from the Pre-Columbian era; The Costa Rican Museum of Art, […]
Sept. 3-7, aside from teaching responsibilities, I accomplished 3 high level interviews with the following organizations: INCOP, FUNDES, and PROCOMER. INCOP is the Port Authority for the Pacific; FUNDES mission involves working to develop small to medium-sized businesses internally. PROCOMER continues where FUNDES leaves off to assist companies with their exporting activities. Several themes are […]
When I told people I was going to Costa Rica, the response was usually a perception of sandy beaches. However, I am in the city, so there are no sandy beaches here. San José is about 1160 meters above sea level. Therefore, weather is pretty temperate–about 75 degrees most days and some humidity. It is […]
~teaching. Hard to believe that September is around the corner and that I’ve been here almost a month. For my undergraduate students who still remember me, guess what? Yes, they have name cards–seniors with name cards. Of course, they have not had to deal with name cards for 4 years, as you may recall. Those […]
Research Projects: There is a great deal of formality regarding approval and support of research at the University. Therefore, I will be submitting my proposal this week. Below is an excerpt from a letter and proposal I plan to submit. For translation summary, see column at left, …Regarding Research. Reiterating, approximately 70% of my time […]
This was basically a settling-in period for me: e.g., unpacking, trying out the bus route to the University (about 10 minutes and 28 cents, or 145 colones), meeting colleagues, finding groceries, and more. As I’ve always valued Rotary Club contacts in business and other travels, I had already contacted several club presidents before I left. […]
San José is often quite congested with traffic, but this day was unbelievable for a Weds. I made the mistake of attempting to meet a Fulbright acquaintance downtown. What should have been a 10 minute ride turned out to be a 40 minute ride. The government decreed recently that Mondays will be the days when […]
Read More… from August 15: Mother´s Day (El Día de la Madre)