Blog #8

The differences, similarities and interactions of Costa Rica and Nicaragua are very obvious.

In San Jose, Costa Rica we do not see much poverty. There are a lot of cars and businesses and hundreds of houses lining the streets. Although we have heard about the poverty and the poor economy in Costa Rica, it is well hidden. At the markets we have encountered beggars but, on a daily basis San Jose depicts itself as an upstanding community and city. There is a strong public transportation system, many taxis available, and although the streets are not always safe, the craziest thing in the streets is the driving and the catcalls.

In Nicaragua, the poverty is overwhelmingly obvious. There are not just street vendors on every corner, these street vendors bombard people selling hammocks and tshirts and cashews and anything they can get their hands on. The men on the street also catcall to girls and the driving is still a bit crazy. But even though it is a city, Granada, Nicaragua is much more beautiful than San Jose. The architecture has a European flair and it is preserved with many historic references to indigenous people and displays of art.

In all, San Jose, Costa Rica is perceived as more advanced and economically stable than Grenada, Nicaragua which is more historically and architecturally conscious.

The issue of Nicaraguan immigration in Costa Rica is a baffling one. Many Ticos have a prejudice against Nicaraguans that is built upon racism and the perception of the job market. In reality, it seems that the presence of Nicaraguans in Costa Rica is okay because they take the jobs that Ticans do not want. But at the same time, there is also the perception that Nicaraguans are stealing the jobs from native Ticans. In general, Nicaraguans also have darker skin and, therefore the perceptions of Nicaraguans has also been linked with racism in the eyes of many Ticans.

Initially, from what I was exposed to in Costa Rica, I believed that Nicaragua was going to be an ugly place. There was such a negative connotation of the people that I assumed they had left Nicaragua for a reason. But, in the end, I was really struck by the beauty of Grenada. The poverty was hard to recognize because it was always bluntly in your face but, in general, I believe the city was much more beautiful than San Jose, Costa Rica. This misconception of mine is proof of how prejudices become justified: even though I had no racism against Nicaraguans or a true loyalty to the Tican perception of them, in my head, I assumed Nicaragua was an ugly place because I was exposed to the idea (even though I did not believe it) that they were an imposing people.

I like having this unknown idea challenged and broken.