Valeria Martínez Guerrero Intercultural Communication ll

Academic Field Trip Report Jewish Museum

The Jewish migration to Costa Rica is a fascinating story of how a

community can thrive and contribute to society despite facing significant challenges
and discrimination in their countries of origin. They faced many obstacles in their
journey, including language barriers, cultural differences, and economic struggles.
Despite these challenges, the Jewish community in Costa Rica persevered and
established a vibrant sense of belonging. However, experimented significant
cultural shocks upon their arrival.

The first barrier was the language. Ninety-nine percent of the community
came from Poland, and only 1% came from Spain. This means that more than half
of the community had to learn a new language from zero. Many of the immigrants
did not speak Spanish, which is the dominant language in the Costa Rican region.
This made it difficult for them to integrate into society and find employment. It also
made it challenging for them to maintain their cultural and religious traditions, as
many of the institutions and resources they needed were not available in their
native language. Although, they were able to create their educational system, news
editorials, and books for and by their community.

Another challenge faced by Jewish immigrants in Costa Rica was

discrimination and prejudice. Anti-Semitism was present in many parts of the
region, and Jewish immigrants often faced discrimination in employment, housing,
and education. They were also sometimes subject to violence and persecution,
particularly during periods of political unrest. For instance, ex-president León
Cortés Castro was a sympathizer of European fascism. Cortés Castro was known
for his anti-Semitic views and policies during his time in office, particularly in the
1930s and 1940s.

On the other hand, the Jewish community in Costa Rica, like any other
community, may have individuals who engage in illegal work. This could be due to
a lack of opportunities in legal employment or the need to support themselves and
their families. Many of the immigrants had higher education status back in Poland.
Some of them were Doctors, Engineers, and Scientists.
Valeria Martínez Guerrero Intercultural Communication ll
Academic Field Trip Report Jewish Museum

However, they couldn’t practice their profession due to the language barrier
and educational differences between Costa Rica's educational system and
Poland's educational system. It means that their diplomas, bachelor's, etc. were
not accepted by the Costa Rican college system. Consequently, they started to sell
common artifacts such as clothes, paintings, and furniture to make the ends meet.
This led to the Costa Rican term called Polish's payments and Polish's sales.

Overall, the Jewish migration to Costa Rica is a powerful example of how a

community can overcome adversity and contribute to society. It is a reminder that
diversity and inclusion are strengths that can benefit everyone, and that it is
important to welcome and support those who are seeking a better life. It is
important to avoid stereotypes or generalizations about any community based on
the actions of a few individuals. We should strive to create a society that provides
equal opportunities for all individuals to succeed through legal and ethical means,
while also addressing the root causes that may lead some individuals to engage in
illegal activities.