Percy

Just back from 16 days in Costa Rica and I thought I would pose this quiz that was given and asked to some new arrivals by a Tour Guide with Swiss Travel.

I did not use Swiss Travel,but I sat in on their arrival orientation as it was very near the pool bar.

The Tour Guide said:
"You should always do a little pre arrival research."
"If you bone up on the culture,history and ecology of Costa Rica, your trip will be more enjoyable"

Here are the questions he asked:

1.What are the colors of the Costa Rica Flag.?

2.Who is Juan Santamaria and why is the San Jose Airport named after him?

3.Who is Daniel Oduber and why is the Liberia airport named after him.?

4. How much of Costa Rica's land is protected by law.?

5. What is the common friendly greeting in Costa Rica.?

6. Who is William Walker and what part did he play in Costa Rican's history?

7.What are the three main exports.?

8. What was our lovely Province of Guancaste named after ?

9.Did Costa Rica ever have a Civil War.?

10.Did a Costa Rican ever win a Nobel Prize.?

Now no cheating ,you have to answer without trying to look up any of these answers.

( I just hate to brag,but I did very very well!!!..sorry about that)

Percy

Percy

ttt
having trouble posting this

percy

CaliNurse

Pecy, what a great idea to post this!!! Thank you. I do NOT know most of the answers, and have not yet been to CR. Your (and the tour guide's) poiint is excellent!! Before checking out any more places not to mmiss, hotels, etc, I'm going to do some research of a different sort!

miguelgcuadra

.What are the colors of the Costa Rica Flag.?red white blue

2.Who is Juan Santamaria and why is the San Jose Airport named after him? one of independence leaders

3.Who is Daniel Oduber and why is the Liberia airport named after him.?an ex president

4. How much of Costa Rica's land is protected by law.?100%

5. What is the common friendly greeting in Costa Rica.?pura vida

6. Who is William Walker and what part did he play in Costa Rican's history?an invader that almost became president of nicaragua...too bad he was evicted, nicaragua will be part of the usa

7.What are the three main exports.?cafe, tourism and meat

8. What was our lovely Province of Guancaste named after ?actually this was owned by nicaragua and lost in some type of goverment deals...

9.Did Costa Rica ever have a Civil War.?yes

10.Did a Costa Rican ever win a Nobel Prize.? yes not long a go a ex president was awarded the prize

jmvp

I got three out of ten ! (I think).

Do you know all the answers ,if so, could you please give the answers, okay , pretty please.

jmvp

Soniar

Hi:

I am a costarican who love my country and here are the answers:

Author: Percy
Date: 12/18/2004, 11:14 am

Here are the questions he asked:

1.What are the colors of the Costa Rica Flag.? blue-white-red-white-blue

2.Who is Juan Santamaria and why is the San Jose Airport named after him?

He was our national heroe who fought against William Walker in 1856 and burned the "meson" forcing them to leave the country and go to Nicaragua, then in 1857, Walker was defeated by other Central American countries and Costa Rica. Our international airport was named after him to honor him and because it is located in Alajuela province. (where he was borned )

3.Who is Daniel Oduber and why is the Liberia airport named after him.?
He was one of our ex-presidents and the Liberia airport was named after him because it was built on his presidential period
4. How much of Costa Rica's land is protected by law.?
25%
5. What is the common friendly greeting in Costa Rica.?
Pura Vida
6. Who is William Walker and what part did he play in Costa Rican's history?
He was an invador from USA who wanted to own the Central American Countries. He actually was president of Nicaragua and then invaded Costa Rica. Here comes our national heroe,Juan Santamaria and a whole country joined in a war of "independence" against them. Two events took place in 1856 (Hacienda Santa Rosa) and then 1857 (in Rivas, Nicaragua)

7.What are the three main exports.?
Coffe, being one of our main products for many years and an important element of our history, culture and economy, bananas, after the construction of the railroad and United Fruit company and more recently ornamental plants. Tourism is now one of our main income products.
8. What was our lovely Province of Guancaste named after ?
It was named after our typical tree, "arbol de Guanacaste" which can be found mainly in that province, and yes, this province joined to Costa Rica in 1823 with "Anexion del Partido de Nicoya" "de la patria por nuestra voluntad"
9.Did Costa Rica ever have a Civil War.?
We actually had 2 civil wars, being the first one in 1821, after Independence. The reason: "we didn´t know what to do with our independence declaration" some wanted to join the Mexican imperio, some wanted to have our own nation, some wanted to join Guatemala. The war was among the provinces of Cartago, Alajuela, Heredia and San Jose and we finally decided for our own nation. It only took 14 minutes. The second one was in 1948 and the result "abollition of army"
10.Did a Costa Rican ever win a Nobel Prize.?
Yes, our ex-president, Oscar Arias Sanchez won a Nobel Peace Price in 1987

miguelgcuadra

I did answer all the questions right but one...yeeepa...

Percy

Sonair:

You are 100% correct.

All your explanations are very good. You do know your Country and your history.


I am happy that you mentioned both Civil Wars, not many know about the one in 1821 .

Also you are very correct about the 1857 battle with Walker in Rivas Nicaragua....I was in Rivas 9 days ago.

Of course this is where Juan Santamaria was killed.
Your reason as to why the airport was named after him is exactly correct , he was from Alajuela and therefore the local hero.

I am sure many have seen his statue in Alajuela with a canon on each side.

You explained the flag colors correctly,
because although ,one person in the crowd said the colors were red ,white and blue, they could not pick out the flag out of twelve flags on twelve poles !!!

Also you are again correct in saying that 25 % of the land is protected by law ( answer was ( 24-26%) .

And yes it was Sanchez that won the Nobel peace Prize in 1987.
I believe he wants to run again in the next election in February 2006.
I also believe your government is in the process of changing a few rules.

A past President cannot run again unless he remains out for three terms, then he can run again.

It is a pleasure to read all of your answers Sonair!


As an added note...what happened to William Walker, well when he was pushed back by the Costa Ricans from Santa Rosa area to Rivas , he then turned his attention to Honduras........some people never learn.!

He was defeated in Honduras , captured and executed by firing squad in 1858.


How many did I get out of the 10 questions??

Why I got all ten !!! which prompted the Swiss Tour Guide to chuckle, " Why don't you do the tours"
We all laughed.

But Sonair, I will not even attempt to compare my knowledge of Costa Rica with yours.

Thank You for your very good answers,it was a delight to read them.
Percy

shillmac

Percy, it was Oscar Arias who won the Nobel Peace Prize--wasn't it in 1994? Who is Sanchez?

I knew all except who Daniel Oduber was (but could've guessed an ex-pres!).

Also, don't know if it answers the question as it is worded, but Costa Rica is now the primary exporter of pineapple to the world--I believe it has supplanted Hawaii in that role. Someone correct me if I am wrong!

shillmac

My bad!

Oscar Arias Sanchez! I truly had never heard his "second" name mentioned, but of course he would have one as is customary.

miguelgcuadra

Arias and Sanchez are last names, in latin america everybody uses father's and mother's last name.

shillmac

Thanks miguel. Yes, I only meant that you don't usually read about Oscar Arias Sanchez! When the name is shortened, it is the last name that is left off, so I wasn't familiar with the Sanchez part. Some people regularly use both names (like the Espinoza Aguilar family I stayed with), but others frequently drop the last one. Do you typically use both of yours or do you frequently drop the last one?

At any rate, I like the custom. The mother's name is first, right?

miguelgcuadra

I did all the time while i lived in nicaragua, in school every kid is called by both last names. in the usa, only creates confusion .
we hispanics use father's first, mother's second and yes even in latin america lots are dropping the two last name custom. women are droping the "de" before the husband's last name and after their maiden name...my grandmother always signed and was called by her loooooonnnnnnng name
Luisa Emilia Venerio de Cuadra, and she became a widow and added the name viuda , so became
Luisa Emilia Venerio vda de Cuadra

shillmac

You are a wealth of informacion! Gracias! I find all this fascinating--get so bored with my little world and the way everyone is so "alike"! And frustrated with those who dislike, disdain, or are frightened of (or feel threatened by) anything different! Also, I have several Hispanic students, and it is useful information for me to know and appreciate their customs. Thanks again! How's the weather in Florida, speaking of "always the same"?

miguelgcuadra

Hello Shillmac, any time you need info on hispanic-latin american culture and way of living, let me know. i was born and raised in nicaragua, and work directly with the latin american market, so knows lot about traditions.
weather has been chilly last few days, mid 40's at night and low 70's during the day, but sunny. it is nice for a change and we get to wear our winter clothes.
do you teach Espanol?

miguelgcuadra

Shillmac, did you read posts to following one:
How do you deal with aggressive vendors?
Lots of cultural variety....language issues

Percy

Hi shillmac and miguel

Nice to read your comments.

Someone better correct me but I believe that Oscar Arias won the Nobel Peace prize in 1987 and not 1994.

Percy

miguelgcuadra

I know he had a lot to do with the Iran-Contra delas, the sandinists in Nicaragua and he was a crucial character in all those issues. I do think that it was in the 90's

Percy

miguel

I thinkk you are right.

I think he won the Peace Prize for his attempt to bring peace with the fighting that going on with the Sandinistas and the Iran - Contras problems.

But this was during the Reagan Administration,so it would have to have been in his ( Reagan's) second term.

I still think,it was 1987 that he won the Nobel Peace Prize ...someone help !!!!

Percy

miguelgcuadra

Yes 1987, I just checked his bio on line.