Tronadora has two primary demographics (a fancy word used to describe a group of people): there are a lot of young people and a lot of older folks. After graduating from high school, most people leave the town to study or find work elsewhere in the country, generally in the capital city, San Jose. Tronadora has two schools, an elementary school and a "technical" high school, which offers classes in specific fields that prepare students for careers after graduating. Every kid here in Tronadora has a different experience growing up, and the following field note is just one perspective, from my neighbor's son, Dario, who's currently in fifth grade.
For just about everyone else here in Tronadora, gallo pinto is the go-to breakfast food. Lunch and dinner vary, but common meals include rice and chicken, spaghetti, and chi frijo, which is a mix of beans, rice, avocado, fried pork, tomatoes and onions. Kids here also partake in cafecitos, sharing a little coffee, bread and occasionally a pastry with friends and family in the evenings after school.
