As you can imagine, with me being an expat journalist and all, I’ve spent a lot of time researching Costa Rica both in the field and on the web. In my studies I have learned many things about the amazing wildlife, the fabulous Costa Rican cuisine, Music, Culture, things with molecular structures and a hundred-and-fifty ways to prepare a bean. But today I must say was a real eye-opener for me.
The things I learned today cannot be unlearned and thanks to Scholastic’s Online Teacher’s Resource I’ve learned everything I need to know about Costa Rica. You can read the whole article HERE otherwise I’ve cut and pasted the most important parts for you below.
Annotations by Justin Wilson
#5 Iguana is one of Costa Rican’s favorite dishes (and you’ve been spelling Costa Rico wrong all this time)
That is at least according to Edsart Besier, the Dutch conservationist who founded the Iguanaverde Foundation in 2001. Where were you when we were compiling our list of the Top 5 Costa Rican dishes recently Edsart?
#4 Ticos will do just about anything to get them some Iguana Meat (even break the law)
Well it’s not like you actually paid for them lady, but it’s good that you care about the iguanas so much. Oh what I wouldn’t give to live in a world in which my biggest worry was Iguana Hustlers.
#3 During Easter little Ticos look for Iguanas instead of Easter Eggs (and they are rude)
Wow. I honestly did not know that. I must assume, based on everything else I have read here at Scholastic, that the Ticos also paint them and collect them in colorful little Iguana Baskets. I cant wait to turn my half-tico children on to this tradition next year.
#2 Living in a cage for two years is preferable to a life where you might die, maybe
I don’t know about you but I think I’m learning more about this dutch lady than I am about Costa Rica at this point. What she probably neglected to mention to the Scholastic reporter is that she hobbles them with a tiny hammer before she lets them go.
#1 Ancient Traditions are hard to break and they totally just said”Chicken of the Trees”!
Holy $%!t did they just say “Chicken of the Trees”? But aren’t real chickens chickens of the trees? Most chickens I know have no problem getting up in a tree and being a chicken.
Any way back to their “Ancient Traditions”. Is anyone else imagining their Tico husband or wife’s great-great-grandfather in a ceremonial robe giving thanks to the Volcano Gods for the abundant harvest of Tree Chickens right now?
When not munching on a bucket of extra crispy tree chickens the author enjoys any type of non-fiction not published by Scholastic
