Some additional questions about further interactions are: What significance does being a US American have to a person from your host country? Are we viewed as having a lot of money? And how might media stereotypes about US Americans affect how a potential person looks at us? These questions have significance to me because as I want to fully immerse myself in the Costa Rican culture I believe that these will hinder my ability to do so. But I will try my best to understand how the image of US Americans will affect me.
What significance does being a US American have to a person from your host country?
The significance of being a US American can have a negative or a positive effect on the person. There can be differences in cultural norms and values that may not be compatible in their host country. While the cultural norms and values are somewhat similar to those of Costa Rica there may be slight instances that they do not match up and you have to be able to adapt in the situation. There may also be instances that people from your host country have preconceived ideas about what it means to be a US American by other people they have met, media, or other examples of US Americans. In those instances that may affect you negatively or positively based on the people you meet in your host country. If they have experienced a US American that may work in your favor and connect with the person because you have something in common.
Are we viewed as having a lot of money?
Yes. And because the dollar is worth more than the colon, the Costa Rican currency people are going to automatically look at us differently. In addition, from personal experience the fashion in Costa Rica is upcoming and they are very much into brand named things such as Nike, Adidas and other popular brands. These brands for us in the US, while they are expensive they are easily purchased while in Costa Rica the brands are costly due to importation. A majority of us have these brands and unknowing to us, people in Costa Rica will notice these brands and see us for having money because they are so hard to purchase in Costa Rica. This may be a caution to us when in Costa Rica to be aware of.
How might media stereotypes about US Americans affect how a potential person looks at us?
This question in my own opinion is the most important. As long as Donald Trump is our president Costa Ricans will continue to make fun of us. The fact that Costa Rica is known as the Switzerland of Central America makes for the stereotype that all US Americans are loud, rude and laughable people. In addition, movies can be a huge contributor to stereotypes of US Americans. Movies such as Project X, and Spring Breakers show US Americans as party-animals and loud people which can mean that people think we just like the movies portray us to be.
Toes in the Water, Tica in the Sand 