This issue is centered around themes of resilience, cultural preservation, and responsible tourism — concepts that resonate deeply with me and the stories we’re sharing. Our cover story, Generations of Strength, explores the province of Limón and the legacy of the Jamaican Migrant Workers whose strength and determination helped build this region into the black oasis that it’s seen as today. As more expats enter Costa Rica it’s imperative to honor and recognize this history to avoid erasing generations of work and triumphs. 

One of these stories is Josefina’s Kitchen, where you’ll meet a cooking instructor who invites tourists into her home to learn a recipe and her family’s story. It’s an impactful reminder of how culture and history can be preserved in the most everyday things, like a meal shared across generations. Food is a main character in this issue, Oxtails for Breakfast and By Nathy’s With Love both underscore how restaurants can uplift their customers and communities by highlighting local ingredients and honoring their culture through their menus.

Of course, we can’t talk about Costa Rica without talking about its incredible biodiversity. In The Land of the Turtles, Nina Scott, a marine biologist discusses how Tortuguero has become a beacon of hope for ecotourism. With so much of the World’s biodiversity located in such a small country, it’s essential to discuss how conservation and tourism overlap.  

For me, travel has always been a source of education. Every experience, conversation, and meal has taught me something new about the world and myself. Through this magazine, I hope to pass that education on to you. The way we choose to travel and plan our experiences directly impacts not only our worldviews but also the communities that we interact with while there. As Costa Rica experiences a tourism boom we all must acknowledge our responsibility to ethically reap the benefits of all the work done by the beautiful people there and the generations before them.

I encourage you to reflect on the stories you’ll read in this issue and consider the oral histories and untold stories in your own life. As you travel through these articles I hope you find inspiration, education, and maybe even a new outlook on the places you’ve traveled and the people you’ve met. There’s so much more to come in future issues of Joyy Meets World, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you.

Until next time,