General Information:
Costa Rica is Spanish for Rich Coast, the country is located in Central America with Nicaragua to the North, the Pacific Ocean to the East, Panama to the South, and the the Caribbean Sea to the West. There are approximately 4,500,000 people that live in Costa Rica within a land area that is near the size of Vermont and New Hampshire, or an area that is slightly smaller than Lake Michigan. San Jose, the largest city, located in the center of the county, is the Capital of Costa Rica. Pura Vida is the nations motto, Spanish for Pure or Great Life.
Weather/Climate:
Costa Rica has two different seasons, a wet/rainy season from May-November and a dry season from December-April. Because of the country's proximity to the equator, the average temperature ranges from 70-81 degrees F. My student teaching experience will take place during the dry season, thankfully getting me away from the harsh winter.
Currency:
Below is a diagram that illustrates the currency rate from Colones to US Dollars.
Education:
Education in Costa Rica is separated into three parts, pre-education (before age 7), primary education (ages 7-12), and secondary education (ages 12-18). After primary education each child has the decision to make, whether to attend an academic school for five years or to attend a technical school for six years. With either decision, the end result is a high school diploma equivalency. Costa Rica is known for the high literacy rate of 96%.