The Covid-19 pandemic caused unprecedented and seismic shifts in society, most notably in the way we work, interact, and live with each other. Whether you’re a realtor specializing in Texas land for sale , a teacher, or any number of other professional careers, the way you perform the duties of your job is very likely different than it was before the pandemic turned the world upside-down. One way that workers are adapting to this new way to live and work is through co-working spaces, a more flexible shared workspace that can be utilized by different companies and workers.  

What is Coworking?

Co-working is a progressive and flexible form of renting out professional real estate, wherein numerous companies can share the same building or location. This provides many benefits, such as lower rent costs, greater flexibility on leases, and increased social cohesion and collaboration. Co-working has seen a rise in modern times due to the ability of companies to use technology to get more work done in smaller spaces, and an increase in operating costs necessitating a downsizing of the traditional corporate landscape.  

There are several different types of co-working environments, ranging from less structured “open workspace” to “private workspaces”, which can feature more dividers or private rooms. Additionally, there are “Industry-specific” co-working spaces, in which workers or companies from a particular kind of workplace can collaborate. Co-working has been shown to increase employee morale by providing a stronger sense of community, greater availability of tools needed to work and other perks, higher levels of socialization and special events, a higher degree of flexibility, and often a more convenient location.  

Social Distancing and Other Changes

Like most other areas of our lives, co-working spaces have experienced some major changes in the way they function since the pandemic happened, although they were perhaps better suited for them than a traditional office setup. Many employers found co-working to be a nice middle ground or balance between the full office setup and complete remote work, as a space where workers could still meet up and collaborate.

Some of the changes that were made in co-working spaces are increased social distancing and other forms of partitioning, such as plastic barriers or other forms of dividing rooms. In addition, like most stores, many co-working spaces implemented a mask mandate. Some of the other changes that may have occurred are:

• Covid-19 vaccination or testing requirements to ensure either protection or a negative test result before working.

• Increased access to sanitation services, such as hand-washing stations or hand sanitizer is available. 

• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting routines to ensure high-touch surfaces remain clean.

• Increased ventilation in the space to make sure that air is recycled and moved efficiently.

• Contact tracing and other alerts to inform those who may have had contact with an individual who tested positive for Covid-19

Although many workplaces are returning to a sense of normality, co-working spaces will continue to rise in popularity as the world continues to grow and change, as they offer many tangible benefits for employers, such as decreased overhead and greater flexibility to respond to threats such as the pandemic. In this way, co-working spaces will lead to a happier, safer, and more productive world for us all.  

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Costa Rica’s doors are more open than ever since the beginning of the pandemic era and here are some of the entry requirements you need to look out for before traveling to the “pura vida” paradise. For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 virus spread, Costa Rica is now allowing travelers from all countries around the world, this according to the new April requirements that repelled all previous national health measures. Foreign travelers still have to comply with the standard migration processes established by the General Law of Migration and Immigration, so keep in mind some of the requirements that must be met:

• A returning flight ticket (the officer will ask for it upon arrival).

• Even with 90-day touring visa the immigration officer determines how much you can stay in the country according to your passport.

• Obligation de declare: if you’re traveling with a sum of money larger than 10,000 USD dollars you would have to request and complete the corresponding form at the migration post and present it for verification.

Upon arrival, note that all establishments, activities, and events are functioning at 100% capacity; however, the use of masks is still obligatory as well as the usual hand wash, temperature checks, and ordinary sanitary protocols established by the corresponding touristic activities. It’s been a while but finally vacationing in Costa Rica is easier than ever, so start planning your summer 2022 and look out for the excellent vacationing plans this beautiful country has to offer.

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Costa Rica is well known for its sustainability-oriented vision and initiatives towards the conservation of its most precious zones. This is not the exemption for the new underwater project that the Rocky Reef Conservation and the Punta Leona Hotel have been working on, combining art with the conservation of marine life. We’re talking about an underwater museum located 50 meters off the Central Pacific Coast and at a depth of 2 meters in low tides, making it perfect place to experience snorkeling or amazing diving sessions.

The backbone of this project is the fact that it constitutes in a type of regenerative art where Costa Rican sculptor Fabio Brenes along with some help from James Madison University students created three stone and wood pieces that portray three of the most representative figures of the zone: the “Cacique Garabito”, a manta ray , and a sea turtle. With a renowned record of over 20 years working in wood sculptures, it is safe to say that Mr. Brenes knows his work and during his years of creation, most of his artwork has been inspired by the awe of nature and figurative elements that belong to it. Not only do these sculptures enhance the diving experience for the people, but this type of art also considers the habitants of the sea as they have been created to offer them another type of home. Keep in mind, this is only the beginning stage of the project, meaning that their efforts and actions towards creating even more habitats and places for marine flora & fauna to thrive is just starting. For those who love the sea, this is a great step in the direction towards a healthier relationship with our surroundings and the animals that live in it. Stay close for more updates on the wonderful underwater museum in Garabito, Puntarenas.

Source:

• Fernandez, Ileana. (March 12, 2022) Costa Rica’s First. Underwater Museum. Recovered March 20, 2022, from: https://ticotimes.net/2022/03/12/costa-ricas-first-underwater-museum

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Afro-culture in Costa Rica has had a gigantic impact in “ticos” everyday life and its influence is appreciated in the multi-diverse heritage that it has given the entire Costa Rican population. Ever since the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Caribbean coast back in 1502, Afro-culture has been installed in this beautiful sector of Costa Rica alongside its delicious food , rhythmic dances, striking art, and of course, an ever existent vibrant African culture.

On November 2021 , the new national holiday celebration decreed by law 10,050 declared August 31 the official national holiday and commemoration of the “Black Person and Afro-Costa Rican Culture”. This new holiday has been classified as a non-mandatory payment holiday, meaning that employees who work in non-commercial activities and opt to skip work for that day are not entitled to their ordinary daily salary.

With the intention of rescuing the Afro-Costa Rican traditions, the 31 st of august was already considered a day of celebration when the Union of Costa Rican Educators ( Sindicato de Educadores Costarricenses in Spanish) declared in the eighties that these traditions should be celebrated on a yearly basis to help preserve and showcase the overall role of the culture in the development of Costa Rica. The celebration activities nowadays revolve around a Grand Parade de Gala, in which Afro Costa Rican Families and people from all over the Caribbean coast join up and enjoy a delightful time soaking in the region’s music, dances, cuisine, clothing, concerts, just to name a few. Ultimately, the national holiday is a great step in the way to understand the values that were ingrained in Costa Rica’s traditions and have been forgotten because we haven’t seen them first hand, therefore meaning that our job should be to protect them and conserve them.

Sources:

• Costa Rica Tourism Board (Ed.). (2019, August 23). Why do we celebrate afro-costa rican history month? Visit Costa Rica. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/blog/why-do-we-celebrate-afro-costa-rican-history-month

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