20 fun facts.

1. The plumbing in San Jose (not sure about the rest of CR) cannot handle toilet paper. Instead you have to throw away the toilet paper in the garbage.

2. When it's recycling and trash day, there are announcements from a loud speaker projecting through the streets, reminding everyone to put their trash out.

3. There isn't hot water. In my house there is an electrical device with wires connected to the shower facet, to make the water warm. It's a very common thing for houses to have no hot water.

4. Beans and rice are a big deal here.

5. In Costa Rica you say Pura Vida to everyone. It's a greeting and means pure life if it's directly translated.

6. The ice cream and dairy products are amazing. I have fell in love with dulce de leche. It's the most amazing ice cream I probably will ever have. If you ever get the chance to try some DO IT!

7. Prostitution is legal! It's crazy but it's true. On my way from the airport I saw two hookers walking down the street. Supposedly it's a big problem in Costa Rica, I haven't learned too much about it but I'm sure I will in my Human Rights in Latin America class.

8. Seat belts are not mandatory to wear in Costa Rica. There are crazy drivers here though, so it's always a good idea to wear them.

9. I'm not 100 percent about this, but through observations this is what I've uncovered, barbed wire and gates in front of the house is a sign of wealth. It's very common in the neighborhood I live in for the houses to have such things. Theft and pickpocketing is common, especially in San Jose.

10. Foreigners are called gringos and locals are called ticos.

11. Ticos have their own time system. The culture here is laid back and nobody should be surprised if a tico is 15-60 minutes late for something. In school it's not like that as much but for informal meetings it is.

12. Ticos don't say no to things. They are really passive-aggressive about everything. Ticos find a way around saying no, but they still get their point across.

13. Honking the horn in cars is very common. People honk the horn to say hello, express interest in you and to let you know the street light will turn green, among other things. It's not considered a sign of disrespect like it is in America.

14. San Jose is in the central region of Costa Rica.

15. Costa Rica has a woman president. Her name is Laura Chinchilla Miranda. She was elected in February 2010.

16. Costa Rica doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, but they do observe Black Friday.

17. For Easter or la Semana Santa stores are closed for three days in San Jose. Nothing operates not even taxi cabs. Easter is a huge deal in Costa Rica, much bigger than in the US. The majority of Costa Ricans are Catholic.

18. On the Happy Planet Index, Costa Rica ranks number 1.

19. According to The World Factbook, 4,516,220 people live in Costa Rica. In San Jose the population is 159,535 people.

20. My tico mom doesn't believe in leftovers. According to her everything has to be fresh.