By Jo Stuart

Although I had no intention of becoming so, I am now familiar with all of the hospitals, except the children’s, in the metropolitan area. My experience includes three hospitals with the Caja and three private. If there are more, I don’t want to know about them. My doctor at Hospital Mexico referred me to a doctor at San Juan de Dios, the last to complete my repertoire. Actually, the referral was some papers giving me permission to seek an appointment.

Each hospital seems more confusing than the last upon first entering.
San Juan de Dios is right at the foot of Paseo Colon and is a mammoth structure, although upon first entering, the reception area and hallways are not large. There was, fortunately, a window indicating that it gave information to patients. That was my first stop. The man behind the window sent me on my way to another office, and told me to return after I had my papers properly stamped.

The man in the designated office told me I had to go out of the building to another office. When I returned to the first window, Carlos (as I was to learn was his name), looked slightly annoyed and told me he would take me to the correct place. For the next hour Carlos led me to the various offices, sat with me and chatted while we waited. In one waiting room, a pretty teenaged girl asked me where I was from. I told her and she said she had lived in Kansas. “Like Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore,” I joked. She was Tico American. Then I asked her how she liked living in Costa Rica after Kansas. She said she preferred it here because the people were “so happy.”

Finally, we made it to the window that would give me my appointment (by now I had a folder with my name on it – I was in the system!) A woman was just closing the window and there was a sign that said that there would be no more appointments given out until April 18.

I was not all that upset because Carlos had made my passage quite pleasant. A long time ago I wrote about “Tico Moments” in a column, referring to the kindness extended beyond the ordinary by a Tico.
Carlos’ help qualified.

Then, on Sunday I decided to stay downtown after the concert.
The city is obviously emptying and closing down. The National Theatre was almost empty, but those of us who were there thoroughly enjoyed the violin and piano recital.

By the time I was on my way home, the rain had begun. The first rain of the season and it entered boldly – and I was without an umbrella. I got on the Cementerio bus just before the downpour, but when I got off at the new bus stop on Avenida 2 east of Soda Tapia, it was raining hard. Fortunately, there was a bus stop for the Estadio bus at the same stop.
I sought dryness under a small awning about fifteen feet from the bus stop. Shortly a man came out of the building attached to the awning and asked if I would like to seek better refuge on the porch. I explained that I would not see the bus coming if I did, so he came out and stood with me and when the bus came down the street hailed it, stopping it before the bus stop. The bus driver was most gracious when I scrambled on. There weren’t many people on the bus and they were all discussing the recent bus accident that landed the bus among the trees of the Sabana Park or being entertained by a little boy of about six.

When I stood up right after the driver stopped at the parada in front of ICE building, he slowed down and asked if I had missed my stop. I said no, I wanted the next stop – well, I really wanted to get off at the corner (a good 75 feet before the next stop). With encouragement from the other riders, the driver kindly dropped me off at the corner. I am sure the Pavas bus driver would not have done so. I hurried home in the lessening rain, not minding getting wet because I had had my share of Tico Moments to keep me warm and cheerful. Perhaps it is the coming of Easter, but everyone who is left in the city seems to be even more kind and helpful than normal. I’ve never lived in Kansas, but I do find it easy to be happy here.

Jo Stuart is the author of the popular book about life in Costa Rica entitled, “Butterfly in the City.” To order a copy of her wonderful book please contact her at: jostuart@amcostarica.com