Costa Rica is a beautiful country. They have people from all walks of life and countries. It is inexpensive to live there and depending on your circumstances you have everything you could ever want. We always think of Mexico being poor, however in money exchange 1000 pesos = 49.25 dollars and colones (Costa Rican money) 1000 colones = 1.5 dollars. Compare colones to pesos 1000 colones =30.39 pesos. But despite it all, even the poor seem happy. They are friendly and kind. At least that has been my experience.
In the barrios where we go is a step back in time. Out houses, no direct running water and only some have electricity, but their clothes are clean and so are they. You don’t hear them complaining, they might, but you don’t hear it.
The climate is warm and humid. Not unbearably so humid that you just can’t stand it, but humid. Kids play in the road and dogs and cats are running lose, but people care. They don’t swerve to run over the dogs in the roads, they stop. I think something that is very insignificant to most is people walk on the shoulders of the roadways, they walk out in front of cars in town and NO ONE, not one person blows their horn. I witnessed people stopping mid turn at at a red light to let us cross the road. As Texans at least, we wait for the all clear and if someone stops to let us cross we give a little wave in thanks. They aren’t in such a hurry that they can’t be courteous.
Texans say hello to everyone they meet. Evidently in Costa Rica it isn’t common to just say hello on the street, so I was given some funny looks, but I still said “Buenos Dias”
I’m not saying it is a perfect country it is not. They still have crime and bad people. As with anywhere you go including Abilene, you just need to be aware of your surroundings and what you are doing.
I love my trips to Costa Rica and wish more would step out of their comfort zones and go on the mission trip.