Project Outside of Campus

On Thursday, I went on a field trip to the San Pedro Mall during my Intercultural Communications and Competence class to secretly observe Ticos during their lunchtime. We went to the mall food court and ordered food to try to mask the fact that we were actively observing and taking notes. I found this interesting (even though it was rather awkward...) because I did the same activity while in a mall in Alexandria, Egypt. I did not formally take notes in Egypt, but I noticed a number of similarities. Both cultures are more collectivistic, polychronic, and high context. In both cases, I also noticed that the malls were actually less culturally divers than those I have been to in the states...particularly in bigger cities. In Egypt, most of the people I saw were either Egyptian or perhaps a student from Jordan. Here is Costa Rica, except for my fellow observers, most people were from Costa Rica. This is one of the bigger malls in San José, the most culturally diverse place in the country. One of the biggest physical differences I noticed was the amount of touching that went on during a typical conversation. It was enough to make any American feel a little awkward, but it is completely normal in a Latin American culture. I have just now finally gotten used to being kissed and kissing strangers on the cheek whenever I meet them. Other than that, I did not notice a lot of outstanding differences. Many of the stores were similar, except that everything seems outrageously priced when you first look at it. I guess that's what happens when the exchange rate is 500 to 1. I am sure that there would have been even more cultural differences in a mall outside of the capital city. I hope to visit another one soon.