Wary of Strangers

Artist Statement: As a volunteer in Costa Rica, I had the opportunity to visit and explore a tiny town on the coast, Parismina. We walked around the town and were able to get a feel for the culture and the lives of those who live there.This picture was taken in the doctor’s office, where a woman and her daughter were talking to the receptionist. The daughter probably had little to no experience with foreigners, and she stared wide-eyed at us the entire time we were there. She wasn’t shy, even when I took her picture, just full of friendly curiosity and fascination. Despite varied circumstances and the stories that are told about poor towns in countries like Costa Rica, we are more similar than different.