UNIVERSAL AND PERSONAL BEHAVIORS

Universal behavior:

Running for a dangerous animal

Always when I see a movie and the main character is pursued by some dangerous animal so he runs to save himself.

Also I remembered when I was a child, frequently I used to play with my cousin Ubaldo and one day we were playing soccer but, in a moment we saw a big angry dog and both decided to ran as much as possible because we were so scared.

For that reason I thinking about it and I guess to running for a dangerous animal is a universal behavior, anyone person can act in the same way.

Have an e-mail

Maybe some time ago have an e-mail could be a personal behavior but, right now is an obligation because the internet is in whole world and if you want to communicated with another person, a member of your family or just to send a important information you must have an e-mail.

I decided to talk about that because for me is a personal experience, 18 months ago I didn’t like having an e-mail because in that moment I thought wasn’t important for me but many time passed and each time was more important for my university studies, at the end I must had had to created my e-mail.

Personal behaviors:

Workout

Many people don’t like workout, another people don’t like it but they have to do it for health, and other people like do exercises. I think this behavior could be personal because it depends of likes and dislikes of the people.

Sleeping with a bedroom window open

I like this example because I remembered, 2 weeks ago I talked about it with Sharon and she said to me that she didn’t like it, but in my case I like it because the wind is in my bedroom and I feel more comfortable.

Cultural Values

Few days ago, I was in the bus station and I was waiting my bus, then I saw a person so angry and the reason was he had to wait the bus too jaja :-) in that moment I just ignored him but more time passed and he was more angry and the end he decided to go and then 2 min late the bus left the bus station, then when I was in the bus I couldn't stop to laugh about him jajaja. In that example I think the cultural value is "patient" because him never be patient, maybe he had to do a lot of activities.

Other example:

It was like five months ago, I went to Jaco beach and when I came back the bus didn't work. All people had to wait many time and nobody helped the driver to fixed the bus. For that reason we had to wait three hours!! If someone would have helped the driver maybe we had had to wait less. Also a lot of cars passed so fast near us and anyone decided to stop and asked to the driver if needed some help. In that situation I think the value was "cooperation" because nobody helped! People was thinking about themselves.

And the last example:

Today I had to go to the bank, when I was into the bank I saw three old people but, they hadn't to stand in the line, and they passed first than the youth people.

I think the cultural value in the example is "Respect of age" because always the youth people have to be polite and helpful with old people and try to help them in whatever aspect that they need.

What advice would you give to a friend suffering from culture shock?

The first one would be to try to don't be shy with people that you meet every day because they can give some advice to you. For example: how can you use your vocabulary as well as they know.
Also, always be accompanied by someone. If you're alone maybe could be more difficult to learn things.

What personality traits do you think could help prevent culture shock?
Definitely, be friendly!!!. If you're friendly and kind with everyone you'll have more friends and they can help you in whatever moment that you need them.

What variables might make culture shock more or less severe?
Maybe if you feel homesick, or if you miss your friends a lot, it can be a good reason to want to go home again.
Another thing could be the environment, the place you live, people, food, etc. those kind of things can do more difficult the stayed in a place.

1- Why is culture important in studying language?

When you are interested to learn a new language is not all, you have to understand also the culture, because many costums are diferent and isn't easy to use it in a real way.

2- What aspects of your culture are most interesting for foreigners?

I think the food, because in Costa Rica at whatever hour you want you can eat "Gallo Pinto". As in any other country Costa Rica have a typical food and if you are foreigner you have to tasted our typical food is excellent...

Also our natural environment is another reason for the foreigners visit Costa Rica. We are so lucky for our ubication, that is the reason that Costa Rica is so beautiful and have many kinds of flora and fauna.

3- What aspects of your culture are most challenging (difficult) for foreigners?

Maybe our ways to do the things, always we had many arrears and you have to be patient.

4- What do you like best/least about American culture?

The best thing would be efficiency to make things, In the American culture always trying to do any thing fast in the best way also the economy is very important in whole world.

5- What would you change about Costa Rican culture if you had the chance?

Our Puntuality!! When you have an appointment, meeting or activity always people be late! that's impolite but, all do it. For me if I have a chance to change something will being this bad habbit.