Laurel Dispenza is a student at Olivet Nazarene University and an ISA Featured Blogger. Laurel just returned home from studying abroad with ISA in Heredia, Costa Rica.
A simple making of US prized chocolate chip cookies shed light on the slight but present differences in cultures.
When my host mom attempted to flip the freshly baked gems, I learned that in Costa Rica, they do, indeed, flip some cookies as they are baking.
When I asked if there was milk and received a response of a perplexed face, I learned that cookies and milk are not a thing here.
When I rescued the cookies from the scorching heat that would make them brown and was met with a persistent voice that they weren’t done, I learned that half raw cookies don’t exist here either. They eat them crunchy, or burnt from my point of view.
While in the process we may have disagreed, but a beauty manifested itself when we shared in the little things, like baking.
Also, seeing the reactions of dear friends when they tried American-style chocolate chip cookies was priceless.
While we have different traditions and norm, there is something wonderful about sharing those unique aspects with each other.