While on your educational program in Costa Rica . . .

Do the Following . . .

• Listen carefully to all health and safety information during your in-country orientation.

• Keep your passport with you at all times, inside your clothing if possible (unless CGEE staff directs you otherwise).

• Stay close together as a group when you are out in public. Always travel in groups of two or more.

• Ask permission of a person before videotaping or photographing.

• Be cautious about what you say in public (including airplanes, airports, restaurants, and hotel lobbies). People around you most likely will understand English. Also, North Americans tend to speak in louder voices, so keep your voice at a low level—even when in your hotel room.

• Be respectful of resource people, even those whose views differ from yours. This doesn’t mean that you have to avoid asking the “hard” questions, just ask them in a nonconfrontational way.

• Be respectful of other group members. Before asking multiple questions of resource people, look around to see if other people have questions. People have varied learning styles and may need more time before asking questions. Remember that you are part of a learning community and not simply an independent traveler.

• Drink a lot of water to maintain good health. When the weather is hot, you will dehydrate much more quickly! Our staff will give you guidelines for finding sources of safe water.

Don't . . .

• Leave suitcases, bags, or purses unattended, even for a minute!

• Handle large amounts of money in public. Know how much you have and where it is.

• Flush toilet paper down the toilet. It will stop up the septic system. Throw it in the wastebasket next to the toilet.

• Give anybody any reason to rob you. Don’t wear flashy (or any) jewelry, watches, or expensive-looking sunglasses.

• Disclose the tentative schedule or names of resource persons and groups of which you may be aware. This information should not be given either to "friendly strangers," to other resource persons on the program, or to anyone outside of your group. If you want to ask someone about information provided by another resource person/organization, find a way to do this without mentioning the other person/organization (e.g. "I read before I came that . . .").

• Photograph military personnel or military installations. In many countries, airports and bridges are included in this prohibition. This is true for U.S. immigration and customs areas as well.

Your group will have an orientation session upon arrival in Costa Rica. You will receive additional information and have the opportunity to ask questions at that time. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the information above, contact the Customized Programs staff at CGEE.

Food for Thought from Seasoned Travelers:

• Travel in a spirit of humility and with a genuine desire to meet and talk with local people.

• Don’t expect to find things as they are at home … you have left your home to find things different.

• Try not to judge the people of a country by the one person with whom you have had trouble… that is unfair to the people as a whole.

• Remember that you are a guest in every land … for one who treats a host with respect will be treated as an honored guest.

• Cultivate the habit of listening and observing, rather than merely hearing and seeing.

• Be aware of the feelings of local people to prevent what might be offensive behavior.

• Photography must be respectful of persons.

• Spend time reflecting on your daily experiences in order to deepen your understanding of your experiences.