Determinations

I’ve found that Costa Ricans, in general, are a very laid-back people. In my world, these people appear unorganized, but the closer you look you just realize their internal clock or preperational skills are just… different.

For instance, the school is not good about informing you what types of clothes to bring. Or when is the best time to schedule your flight. Or that it literally rains EVERY DAY. But it’s just because they are a go-with-the-flow type of people.

Laundry day is determined by the weather. It’s not a certain day, or how little or much laundry you have… or rather how Allie is wearing her last clean shirt. It’s all dependent on whether it’s sunny outside, because otherwise the clothes will not dry on the line!

Another things are laws. The police don’t enforce any. I heard rumor that it’s LEGAL to drink and drive… just not to be DRUNK and drive. The saying here in Costa Rica is you can tell a drunk driver because he drives straight. The joke is because the roads here are bad; there are many potholes and speed-bumps that people swerve to avoid.

Even the sidewalks are dangerous as people steal the manhole covers (mostly the small one, where you actually wouldn’t fall in, but just sprain your ankle.).

On my walk home I pray it’s not raining because I have to walk up this steep sidewalk! I have no idea what there were thinking when they built it…

Another thing the government has control of is ‘car schedule.’ Each license plate has a specific number that it begins with, and it determines on which day of the week all cars with that particular license plate cannot drive that day. They are forced to use public transportation, ie. taxi or bus! At one point, the law was taken away, but an up-roar came from the taxi drivers and buses that they sales had dropped significantly.

Anyways it’s definitely an adjustment for me. I love to plan things out in advance, to have a schedule and follow it! Maybe I will come back a changed person :P