Observations about a new culture

Here are some things that will take some getting used to:
*Honking. Here's what it doesn't mean: "What are you thinking, you just cut me off," or any other unkind thing you may or may not have used your car horn for.
Here's what it does mean: "Hey, friend!!", or "Hey, you look nice today!" or "Thanks for letting me in!" or "Go ahead" or anything else generally nice. So, when I hear a billion honks a day, my instinct is to tense up...but usually it's people being friendly. What I don't get about this is that Ticos are such terrible, agressive drivers. So it would make sense for a honk to be meant as a bad thing. But it doesn't.

*I have 5 keys to get into-and out of-my house. This is very annoying. I guess it comes from paranoia that someone is going to break into their house, which rarely happens. I don't always use all 5. Sometimes it's 2, sometimes it's 3. But it's still time consuming. Occasionally I cheat and only re-lock one if I know I'm going to be leaving soon. But that's a secret I'm choosing to keep from my Tico family.

*There are no real policemen, only the Fuerza Publica. They walk down the streets at night armed with a long stick and a whistle, which they blow every hour to let you know they're there.

*Some crosswalks are not at intersections and have their own light. So when a pedestrian pushes the button, all traffic stops for about 3 mintues until the light changes. This is very annoying when there is one pedestrian. Most cars just run the light after the person passes, or don't stop at all. Pedestrians have virtually no right of way no matter where they cross. So I wonder why anyone bothers to push the button and stop traffic in the first place.

*Car alarms: I have not gone one day without hearing at least 3 car alarms go off. I don't know why they go off here and not in the States, but it's very annoying when there's one going off outside of our classroom for a good 15 minutes. Monday a couple of us were walking around downtown, and we walked by a car going off. Two hours later, we had made a loop, and the car alarm was still going off. I don't know why they're so much more sensitive here, but it's kind of funny!

These are not meant to be complaining, they are observations I have made about this city. They will definitely take some getting used to, but I am enjoying learning about their culture and way of life!!! Tomorrow I will post good things about the city because there are so many awesome things I've learned!!!