Hoy por mí, mañana por ti.

I just accidentally deleted this entire post. I will try to reproduce it, but it will never be as good. I hate technology sometimes.

Random things in San José today:

- I was startled when a man on the bus grabbed my elbow. All he wanted to do was give up his seat so I could take it. Hello, paranoia.

- Two Ticans speaking in sign language. Spanish sign language, that is. ASL (American Sign Language) is only one of many different sign languages spoken all over the world.

- The first man I've seen over 5'11". He was a gringo from the United States. I don't know if it's the starchy diet or all of the coffee here, but no one is tall. I have never seen any locals over six feet.

- A man without an arm sprinting across the street and almost getting hit by a bus. All I was thinking was, "You almost just lost your other arm."

- The first redhead I've seen in Costa Rica (a welcomed change from the usual shades of brown).

- A homeless man missing an eye, chanting, "Hoy por mí, mañana por ti" over and over. I'd say it's a pretty convincing slogan, if you're into the whole kharma philosophy.

- Graffiti: "Lenin VIVE." I got a kick out of that one.

- An ambulance blaring its sirens while the surrounding traffic did absolutely nothing to get out of the way.

In my short time here, I've realized that Costa Rica does not cater to people with physical disabilities. I can't even make it two blocks without tripping on the uneven, cobbled sidewalk; I can only imagine someone in a wheelchair trying to navigate the streets. There are no ramps, safety bars or braille anywhere in the city. The speaker I heard last week walks with two crutches, and he said that he sometimes must be carried into his business conferences for lack of disability-friendly entrances. I know that Costa Rica might not be as developed as other countries, but I think this is an issue worth looking into. Maybe Costa Rica can adapt some version of the American Disabilities Act. Health care here is relatively well established, and that means an older population. C'mon, Costa Rica, do the math.

Speaking of math...I'm going to dance class tonight! One, two, cha cha cha...

Pura Vida,
Lauren