Day 6

"Lecture Day"

Today we had an eventful day with five guest speakers. The lectures were so invaluable and enriching. Our first guest speaker was Senor Manuel, a Costa Rican entrpreneur, he told us how to look beyond our natural scope of business and venture out. He said that the United States is Costa Rica’s most important commercial and agricultural partner. In 2001, Costa Rica was expected to import an estimated $3.4 billion worth of U.S. goods and services amounting to 53.5% of its total imports. U.S. technology, products and services are welcomed due to the close geographical proximity of the U.S. to Costa Rica, and the high quality and wide selection of competitively priced products. U.S. style marketing techniques and malls are the norm. Franchise outlets and hypermarkets are proliferating. E-commerce is a small, growing sales channel, but is constrained by Costa Rica’s telecommunications infrastructure, lack of legislation and inefficient local delivery service options. Which was very imperative. He also mentioned that he has an e-business that he runs with his sons and it has been successful since 2003.

The next speaker was Senora Castille and she talked about history and the economy of Costa Rica. She mentioned that the Costa Rican economy is being transformed from it’s long-time dependence on coffee and bananas to microprocessor production and high-tech telecommunications. Costa Rica is becoming the Silicon Valley of Latin America. Throughout history the economy of Costa Rica came primarily from the export of agricultural products, most importantly coffee and bananas. In the 1990’s tourism also became a key economic driver. During the last two decades the industrial sector has grown rapidly and exports began to include pharmaceutical products, textiles and manufactured goods. The costa Rica currency is becoming stronger than it has ever been. So the U.S. Dollar isnt worth as much at this time.  Senora Castille had a great lecture and it was the best one I had experienced throughout the entire day.

The third lecturer talked to us about the slums of Costa Rica. Mrs. Sandy is a U.S. native from Texas and since 1977 she has lived in Costa Rica. She is a member of the peace corp and has fallen in love with the people of Costa Rica. The principle of her lecture was to explain how she runs her company "The Homage Palace" on merely donations and volunteer hours. She told us that it isnt easy to sustain such a business like this one in the U.S. because of the cost but in Costa Rica it is fairly easy.

The fourth lecturer was Dr. Hernandez. Dr. Hernandez is the Director of the University of Costa Rica and has wrote many books. He gave us a lecture on how all cultures are intertwined and that we should be very mindful of that fact. This was a very interesting perspective he shared with us.

The last lecturer was Mr. Hibbooboo, an afro-descendant philospher. His main topic was on afro-descendant history that is in Costa Rica and throughout the world. He showed us pictures of homes built on the carribbean side of Costa Rica and they are very similar to homes in Louisiana. The reason being is because of the humidity. Costa Ricans experience the same temperatures as we do in Louisiana. That is why when they travel to the states they always prefer Louisiana. I found it extremely interesting to find the connections we share with this country.

Well that pretty much sums up my last day in San Jose, Costa Rica. I had a wonderful expierence in San Jose and cant wait to.go back and visit. Now I have journeyed to Guancaste, Costa Rica where I am at a resort in Tamarindo (Langosta Beach). I have 1 blog left that will sum up my experience in the country and home sweet home it is. Until then, ADIOS MIS AMIGOS!!