For my research I interviewed a person from Costa Rica. I found that Costa Rican culture is heavily influenced by Spanish culture. In addition to this, I also interviewed my grandmother who is an Indian Gujarati woman. Both the interviews helped me list t

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                                                                  Phase I

           A cultural group is defined as a group of people who share the same cultural experience. The people in the same cultural group identify with each other through a common language, traditions, food habits, nationality, religion, beliefs, and values. In today’s world there are so many people who have migrated to a different country and still they follow the same traditions and customs of their culture. There are as many cultures in the United States as there are in the world, as the United States is the place of some form of acceptance for all cultures. For my research I interviewed a person from Costa Rica. I found that Costa Rican culture is heavily influenced by Spanish culture. In addition to this, I also interviewed my grandmother who is an Indian Gujarati woman. Both the interviews helped me list the similarities and differences of the cultural background.

          The person whom I interviewed for my research was ethnically Costa Rican, Alejandro Saprisa. He was the first from his family to migrate to the United States whereas the rest of his family still lives in Costa Rica. He is not having any religious affiliations.                            

            Costa Rican cuisine is a combination of Spanish, South American, and American influences. The food items needed to make Costa Rican are beans, rice, potatoes, and coffee (which can be sometimes used to cook food as well). Costa Ricans generally have three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Traditionally lunch is the main meal of the day and they like to have a light snack in between lunch and dinner. Alejandro has his snack during his break which mostly consists of coffee, muffin, or a croissant. Usually the mother cooks the food. Costa Ricans enjoy their family time and the dining table is where everyone sits, eats, and enjoys each other’s company.

           Due to modernization, the lifestyle and the food habits slightly change. For instance, this was shown when Alejandro said that he has not touched a plate of rice and beans all day because he does not have enough time due to work and other responsibilities. His life is very fast paced now since he has moved to the United States and as a result he tends to eat a bit more pre-cooked meals, which he would never have eaten back in Costa Rica.

            There is no specific symbolic meaning for meaning of food to the Costa Ricans. When Alejandro he said, “I cannot really think of something that is seen as “symbolic” but there are certain foods that remind me of certain holidays such as homemade relleno (stuffing) that is made for Christmas.

          Costa Ricans do not specifically have any food taboos except for the ones that the Catholics follow which Alejandro stated. He said, “I can’t seem to think of any specific food taboos except being catholic we do not eat meat on some specific Fridays and in addition, we definitely do not eat things such as cockroaches.”

        Every country has its own festivals and holidays. In Costa Rica, some of the major holidays that are celebrated are Christmas, Semana Santa, Mother’s day, and time of Independence. These are all considered to be significant and major national holidays. Food served for the holidays include special homemade relleno (stuffing) for Christmas as well as ham. Alejandro’s mother also makes a special kind of rice made with some sort of thin noodle which is known to be very delicious during the holidays. Costa Ricans generally do not fast but there are some people who do sustain from eating meat and such foods for religious reasons.

        To improve strength, endurance, and vitality there are a few things to be consumed in every culture; health is of some importance to the people of Costa Rica. They tend to eat Caldo de vegetales (also known as vegetable soup) along with meat to get more energy. To prevent illness or diseases vegetables and vitamins are essential. To stay healthy and fit they eat fruits, vegetables, and water. They try to avoid too many carbs in their daily diet to stay fit and also by adding foods like fish to the diet helps them consume more protein.

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        When you feel sick, Costa Ricans mostly eat concentrated chicken soup. Alejandro confirms that, “It can cure anything!” and he desires to eat it when hes sick. They also believe that a certain kind of fish oil, Bacalao is helpful when sick. Therapy used for curing the illness is sought through vapor rub on particular body part to help relieve pain or even by rubbing it on the chest to help stop a cough.

       For Alejandro his cultural habits have changed as he is living in the US that has influenced his eating ...

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