Hello to everyone visiting my blog! My name is Josephine Tortorice, and I am a freshman at the University of Miami. I started this fall majoring in Latin American Studies and plan to take a study route in Global Business. My five WordPress blog posts are part of an assignment for my Latin American Studies class, and through them, I will share my experiences and observations from my time spent in Costa Rica. I have been traveling to the towns of Manuel Antonio and Quepos on the Pacific side of Costa Rica for as long as I can remember, so these places have become like a second home to me. Over the years, I have developed a deep appreciation for their culture, history, and natural beauty, and this project gives me the opportunity to reflect on how these towns and the people who live there have shaped who I am today.

The main theme of my project will focus on the culture of Manuel Antonio and Quepos, as well as my personal experiences growing up visiting these towns. I want to explore how culture is expressed through traditions, local practices, and the everyday lives of the people who call this area home. This theme connects closely to topics we’ve been discussing in class, such as globalization, tourism, and cultural identity in Latin America and the Caribbean. My central questions are: How do tourism and local traditions interact in Manuel Antonio and Quepos? In what ways has spending so much time in these towns shaped my own identity and worldview? While these questions may not have clear, straightforward answers, my goal is to reflect on them through storytelling, research, and analysis.

The structure of my project will be organized through this WordPress site. My homepage will provide an overview of who I am, my personal connection to Costa Rica, and the main ideas that tie my posts together. The five blog posts will each explore a different aspect of my travels and experiences. Some posts will focus on the cultural traditions and day-to-day life of the towns, while others will reflect more on how my time there has influenced me personally. By the end, the project will create a layered picture of both my individual journey and the unique culture of this part of Costa Rica. 

The direction of my project reflects both literal and figurative travel. Literally, it comes from my real-life experiences and countless trips to Costa Rica, where I’ve spent years exploring the culture, people, and natural beauty of Manuel Antonio and Quepos. These towns have been a big part of my life, and my blog posts will share the memories, stories, and moments that stand out most to me. Figuratively, this project is also a reflection on how those experiences have shaped my understanding of Latin America and my personal connection to its culture. Through this project, I hope to bring my memories to life while also sharing the deeper meaning they hold for me.

Hello to everyone visiting my blog! My name is Josephine Tortorice, and I am a freshman at the University of Miami. I started this fall majoring in Latin American Studies and plan to take a study route in Global Business. My five WordPress blog posts are part of an assignment for my Latin American Studies class, and through them, I will share my experiences and observations from my time spent in Costa Rica. I have been traveling to the towns of Manuel Antonio and Quepos on the Pacific side of Costa Rica for as long as I can remember, so these places have become like a second home to me. Over the years, I have developed a deep appreciation for their culture, history, and natural beauty, and this project gives me the opportunity to reflect on how these towns and the people who live there have shaped who I am today.

The main theme of my project will focus on the culture of Manuel Antonio and Quepos, as well as my personal experiences growing up visiting these towns. I want to explore how culture is expressed through traditions, local practices, and the everyday lives of the people who call this area home. This theme connects closely to topics we’ve been discussing in class, such as globalization, tourism, and cultural identity in Latin America and the Caribbean. My central questions are: How do tourism and local traditions interact in Manuel Antonio and Quepos? In what ways has spending so much time in these towns shaped my own identity and worldview? While these questions may not have clear, straightforward answers, my goal is to reflect on them through storytelling, research, and analysis.

The structure of my project will be organized through this WordPress site. My homepage will provide an overview of who I am, my personal connection to Costa Rica, and the main ideas that tie my posts together. The five blog posts will each explore a different aspect of my travels and experiences. Some posts will focus on the cultural traditions and day-to-day life of the towns, while others will reflect more on how my time there has influenced me personally. By the end, the project will create a layered picture of both my individual journey and the unique culture of this part of Costa Rica. 

The direction of my project reflects both literal and figurative travel. Literally, it comes from my real-life experiences and countless trips to Costa Rica, where I’ve spent years exploring the culture, people, and natural beauty of Manuel Antonio and Quepos. These towns have been a big part of my life, and my blog posts will share the memories, stories, and moments that stand out most to me. Figuratively, this project is also a reflection on how those experiences have shaped my understanding of Latin America and my personal connection to its culture. Through this project, I hope to bring my memories to life while also sharing the deeper meaning they hold for me.