Nicaragua!

How do Costa Ricans view Nicaraguans?  Why? [keep asking about Nicaraguans in Costa Rica....how has their presence affected Costa Rica, etc.  This may be a touchy topic for your family so let them lead the conversation and you keep asking questions as long as it is interesting and comfortable.]

I had a very interesting conversation with my host mom about Nicaraguans and her responses surprised me. The conversation was brought up naturally and we talked about their influence in the lives of Costa Ricans. Her views seem conflicted because she addressed the fact that many immigrants come here and use the public health system and schools, but do not pay the same taxes. She said that it has caused overcrowding and issues with the people who work with them, decreasing the quality of education and that they are intruding. On the other hand she said that no one wants the jobs that the Nicaraguans are willing to do. They pick the coffee, pineapple, bananas, and that all domestic house workers are from Nicaragua. She said that the problem has no solution and that it is better for these people to come here than to die out of hunger. I think that she represents the struggle very well and expresses the multiple aspects that play a part in the immigration issue. One of the most interesting statements that she made was that it is similar to the immigration issues of America. That people are coming and using resources that are paid by taxes, but aren't paying. In addition, they are complicating schools and health care and law enforcement, but they are doing jobs that most people don't want to do. I thought that it was a really interesting conversation because agree on so many of the issues involving immigration. In addition, we both left feeling a little frustrated because we admitted that we have no solutions. We both drew the connection between the immigrants and the politics, but also to economic issues. Both countries are now dependent on immigrants to keep their way of life going, but neither country has a solution for the social and political issues that come with non-citizens. I found that the conversation related nicely to the idea that economics, politics and social stability are all related. My tica mom and I agree that while we are still economically relying on the cheap labor of immigrants, the social issues are going to be pushed aside. 

(for you to think about and respond to...)--When comparing Costa Rica and Nicaragua, what similarities and differences did you notice while on our trip?

The differences between Costa Rica and Nicaragua were evident from the minute that we crossed the border. The heat and climate change was the first thing that I noticed and although it is very similar to Guanacaste, the lack of vegetation still proved that it was very different. In addition, the city of Granada is different in appearances and people. The lack of barbed wire, fences and small house structures that can be found in San Jose was very noticeable. I thought that the open atmosphere of the people and the fact that restaurants, houses, stores, churches and other building were open with people outside was very different. It seemed like a less dangerous city, but it was also evident that the population is not as well off. The begging of the street kids and women was very different because in Costa Rica I have only seen old men and women begging. There were more people who targeted us as tourists and I noticed that Granada did not have very many options to make money.  The pueblos were very poor and you could tell that the quality of life is lower. People are shorter with darker skin and there were fewer nice cars, the majority of the people traveling by bicycling and bus. With the presence of fruit, it was dramatically lower in Nicaragua than in Costa Rica. This shows that not only do they not have that type of agricultural development but that fruits are a lesser part of the culture. A lack of fruit could represent a lower diet, less small farmers, poor land quality or growing conditions. The fact that I did not take pictures of fruit explains that it is not as prevalent as in Costa Rica. Fresh produce might be a luxury that most people can not afford. The countries were very similar in their focus on tourism and the influence of foreign presence. Each also has a basis in catholicism and the churches have played a large part in the development of the nation. It is obvious that a majority of the products are still being imported from both nations, but the level of poverty is the most startling difference. I wonder how the government is working to reduce the poverty and increase the gain of internal revenue. The experience made me interested in getting to know the people there and I wish that I could ask more about the daily lives of people. The comparisons made me realize that so much of international relations is not between individual poor people, not even the middle class but the between the wealthy few.