I have always been strongly opposed to many traits of the U.S. government, especially most of the ideologies shared by the conservative Republicans currently in control of the country.

I have always leaned much further to the left than the general American public, and I have always thought that I could run a country better than a lot of these politicians.

So, this summer, I decided to experience a different culture. For two months, I worked as a volunteer in Costa Rica-a country with a system of government close to my own set of beliefs.

In theory, the system looked nearly perfect to me: free health care and education; mandatory 50 percent overtime bonuses for workers; laws protecting small businesses from being rundown by large, foreign corporations; no standing army; et cetera.

To quote the great Costa Rican hero, Jose Figueres, the idea of their system is “to unite the advantages of capitalism and socialism, and reduce the inconveniences of each.”

This used to be one of my favorite quotes, but after living in Costa Rica, I’m not sure I still feel the same way. In fact, I spent the entire summer rewriting my old beliefs.

After a couple weeks, I began praying for privatized companies to flood into the country. The 55 percent of Costa Ricans that work for the government create an endless, inescapable web of bureaucracy.

The government’s transportation system was horrible. I would have given anything to see a privatized bus service.

One weekend it took me eight hours to travel to a popular beach less than 30 miles away. There was not a single bus that traveled down the direct road to the beach. And I’m sure a company would have made a lot of profit offering one direct bus a day. The eight-hour, overcrowded bus ride cost only $3, but a 30-minute taxi ride would have been $50. I definitely would have settled for a $5 or $10 direct bus ride, and the other travelers I met agreed.

Also, the free education did not look as appealing as I had originally believed. Without many private schools, there was no competition for providing better learning centers.

At a middle school where I worked for a couple weeks, I got to know the fifth grade class pretty well. I was shocked that not one of the students I spoke to could name the first president of Costa Rica, and only a couple knew who their current president was.

Suddenly, my whole world turned upside-down. The profit-hungry private businesses I once saw as the enemy look a lot friendlier now that I see them as companies simply surviving by meeting the demands made by the general public.

Now, I’ve changed many of my positions that were once rock-solid.

As Costa Rican president and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Oscar Arias tries pushing the Central American Free Trade Agreement through his congress, I can see a whole new world opening up for the country. He believes free trade will increase the country’s competitiveness and attract more investors, bringing Costa Rica out of its current economic slump.

I would have never agreed had I not seen the current system is for myself.

Well-intended theories can’t always achieve their goals in practice. I no longer believe I can do a better job than any politician, and I admit I still have lot to learn.

I’ve become a strong believer in not believing in things too strongly.

I can only wish the best for all political systems and hope that CAFTA solves more problems than it creates for Arias. Then, maybe he will make a name for himself to those fifth-grade students.

Jim Allocco is a senior journalism major. He can be reached at jimallocco@aol.com.