MONROE - Monroe High School's Spanish class has helped try to teach people there are more similarities than differences between themselves and other cultures.
Students from Costa Rica visit Monroe on a regular basis, and Monroe students frequently travel to Costa Rica.
The goal is to bring two diverse cultures together.
On Jan. 2, a group of about 20 teachers from Costa Rica came to Monroe. They return home Jan. 17.
Costa Rican English teacher Ramirez Carlos Tobias said he and his fellow teachers looked forward to the trip. He's been to Monroe five times since 2002. Some of his fellow teachers had never been to Monroe before.
What they discovered, and what he already knew, is that people from different cultures have a lot in common.
"We all have the same needs and the same worries," he said.
The teachers spent time with host families, learning about the United States and experiencing life in Green County.
For adults, who tend to be more traditional and less open to change, visiting another country can make it easier to understand a different culture.
Students more readily adapt to other cultures, Tobias said. They have the same interests in music, clothing and technology. They are more open to experience other things.
"For adults it's a little more difficult," he said.
Eddi Castillo visited Monroe last year as a student. This year he returned as a graduate. He was able to visit more places this year and said he learned a lot.
"This year I had a little more freedom to go to different places," he said.
Students from Costa Rica visit Monroe on a regular basis, and Monroe students frequently travel to Costa Rica.
The goal is to bring two diverse cultures together.
On Jan. 2, a group of about 20 teachers from Costa Rica came to Monroe. They return home Jan. 17.
Costa Rican English teacher Ramirez Carlos Tobias said he and his fellow teachers looked forward to the trip. He's been to Monroe five times since 2002. Some of his fellow teachers had never been to Monroe before.
What they discovered, and what he already knew, is that people from different cultures have a lot in common.
"We all have the same needs and the same worries," he said.
The teachers spent time with host families, learning about the United States and experiencing life in Green County.
For adults, who tend to be more traditional and less open to change, visiting another country can make it easier to understand a different culture.
Students more readily adapt to other cultures, Tobias said. They have the same interests in music, clothing and technology. They are more open to experience other things.
"For adults it's a little more difficult," he said.
Eddi Castillo visited Monroe last year as a student. This year he returned as a graduate. He was able to visit more places this year and said he learned a lot.
"This year I had a little more freedom to go to different places," he said.