Costa Rican Houses (written by Amanda)

Here in Costa Rica the houses all look the same. All of them have security gates and these gates can be tricky getting into. On the inside the houses are smaller than what most Americans are used to. Most U.S. houses have 2-4 bedrooms, all of a good size. Most have 1-3 bathrooms with at least 1 being really big. In your kitchen you have 2 sinks, a large stove and a big fridge. Your living room can accommodate more people than your household or maybe you have lots of room to put things.

Now take all that and cut it in half. In my Tica house here we have 4 small bedrooms with 1 bathroom. The kitchen has 1 sink with a small stove and fridge. The living room can hold 5 people with no room to place things.

Here in Costa Rica most families sit down for dinner together and also watch TV together. In the U.S., most families do not sit down and eat together or may not watch TV. It seems like the motto in the U.S. is “the bigger the better.” Here in Costa Rica the families get by with each other and the small things of life.

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