So far Costa Rica has exceeded my expectations in every way possible. It has been exciting, infatuating, breathtaking and eye-opening. I began this trip with many goals in mind; to exceed in all of my classes, to make friends that will last a lifetime and most importantly to see as many of the gems of Costa Rica while I can. While those goals are still very important there is a new goal I have added to my list that triumphs all others; become a Tica.
Now let me explain to you the significance of the word "Tico" or "Tica." These are words that Costa Ricans use to refer to themselves, Tico is for males and Tica for females. It is relatable to the word "Americans" in the United States but it is much more common and friendly in Costa Rica. You can use it in greetings or salutations, as a term of endearment, or in reference to pointing a certain person out. There are many different uses of the words and personally, I have found it very fun to use. However, this is just the textbook definition of a Tico, and I am hoping to achieve a deeper context of the word.
To be a Tico one does not have to necessarily be native to Costa Rica, or know every possible fact about Costa Rica. One doesn't have to speak perfect Spanish or know the entire roster of the National Costa Rican soccer team.
What it does mean is knowing how to comprehend the directions in Costa Rica. It isn't your usual "52 S. Compton Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023" but rather "Zapote, Barrio Córdoba, 50 sur, 100 oeste, casa azul." Here in Costa Rica they do not use street names or house numbers, but instead they use a known landmark as the starting point and then how many kilometers in which direction in order to find a location. Imagine the difficulty I had the first time I tried to tell a taxi driver where I lived! Our program director explained to us that this is due to the farmers that originally inhabited this country. There weren't official street names or house numbers at this point so the farmers just used kilometers and north/south/east/west to describe where they lived. The Costa Ricans have adapted to this way of directions and have used it since.
To be a Tico means to know that they take their soccer more serious than anything and that if you plan to attend a game you better be prepared to hear the dirtiest curse words in the book. And if you don't want to feel left out it's important to know the most common chants, my favorite being "Olé olé olé olé Ticos, Ticos." Essentially substituting the last two "oles" with their favorite word to refer to themselves "Tico." Not only is this chant extremely catchy but it also depicts the amount of pride Ticos have for their country, and more importantly, their soccer.
To be a Tico means to have a huge amount of patience. Ticos run on what is called "Tico time." In Costa Rica everything is much more relaxed than fast-paced life I am used to living in America. In this country, no one is in a rush to get anywhere, except the occasional taxi driver. They take long lunch breaks, which means they actually get to enjoy their food and catch up with co-workers or friends. It is very common to show up an hour late to a meeting with someone and not need to offer an excuse for the tardiness (this seems like an exaggeration but I promise you it is not). The concept of Tico time is something I can very much appreciate coming from country where everything is go, go, go. It is nice to not constantly be under the pressure of the clock here in Costa Rica and this is something I hope to get used to even more and apply to my life when I return to America.
To be a Tico is to be a member of this Costa Rican community, to smile and say "Hola" when you pass someone on the street, to try your best to speak Spanish to people, to participate in an authentic tico fútbol game even though you know you are out-matched. I am still learning what it means to be a Tico and I hope to be able to call myself one by the time I leave this amazing country.
Now let me explain to you the significance of the word "Tico" or "Tica." These are words that Costa Ricans use to refer to themselves, Tico is for males and Tica for females. It is relatable to the word "Americans" in the United States but it is much more common and friendly in Costa Rica. You can use it in greetings or salutations, as a term of endearment, or in reference to pointing a certain person out. There are many different uses of the words and personally, I have found it very fun to use. However, this is just the textbook definition of a Tico, and I am hoping to achieve a deeper context of the word.
To be a Tico one does not have to necessarily be native to Costa Rica, or know every possible fact about Costa Rica. One doesn't have to speak perfect Spanish or know the entire roster of the National Costa Rican soccer team.
What it does mean is knowing how to comprehend the directions in Costa Rica. It isn't your usual "52 S. Compton Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023" but rather "Zapote, Barrio Córdoba, 50 sur, 100 oeste, casa azul." Here in Costa Rica they do not use street names or house numbers, but instead they use a known landmark as the starting point and then how many kilometers in which direction in order to find a location. Imagine the difficulty I had the first time I tried to tell a taxi driver where I lived! Our program director explained to us that this is due to the farmers that originally inhabited this country. There weren't official street names or house numbers at this point so the farmers just used kilometers and north/south/east/west to describe where they lived. The Costa Ricans have adapted to this way of directions and have used it since.
To be a Tico means to know that they take their soccer more serious than anything and that if you plan to attend a game you better be prepared to hear the dirtiest curse words in the book. And if you don't want to feel left out it's important to know the most common chants, my favorite being "Olé olé olé olé Ticos, Ticos." Essentially substituting the last two "oles" with their favorite word to refer to themselves "Tico." Not only is this chant extremely catchy but it also depicts the amount of pride Ticos have for their country, and more importantly, their soccer.
To be a Tico means to have a huge amount of patience. Ticos run on what is called "Tico time." In Costa Rica everything is much more relaxed than fast-paced life I am used to living in America. In this country, no one is in a rush to get anywhere, except the occasional taxi driver. They take long lunch breaks, which means they actually get to enjoy their food and catch up with co-workers or friends. It is very common to show up an hour late to a meeting with someone and not need to offer an excuse for the tardiness (this seems like an exaggeration but I promise you it is not). The concept of Tico time is something I can very much appreciate coming from country where everything is go, go, go. It is nice to not constantly be under the pressure of the clock here in Costa Rica and this is something I hope to get used to even more and apply to my life when I return to America.
To be a Tico is to be a member of this Costa Rican community, to smile and say "Hola" when you pass someone on the street, to try your best to speak Spanish to people, to participate in an authentic tico fútbol game even though you know you are out-matched. I am still learning what it means to be a Tico and I hope to be able to call myself one by the time I leave this amazing country.