Ten Meters West of the Two Yippy Dogs

There's no doubt that Costa Rica is changing. Even in the five years we have been here, traffic in our little town has doubled. Roads are bigger, and smoother. There are not as many street vendors and fewer stray dogs. The park is a little more manicured, and the streets are, believe it or not, a little less smelly. Costa Rica is evolving, and with the transition to a more polished society, we must sacrifice some of the quirky charm that has made Costa Rica so unique. Next on the list of big improvements is an official postal address system. Yes, this most basic element of city planning has been excluded until now.

With only a handful of actual numbered streets in major cities, Costa Ricans rely on landmarks to find their destinations. For example, our address begins: 50 meters South West of the public telephone, last house... When taking directions, it is not uncommon to be guided by a tree, a blue fence, or even a couple of cows. This system is used throughout the country, and while the majority of landmarks are places like churches and gas stations, there are also references to where things used to be, such as the old Coca-Cola plant. While the system can be frustrating, it represents the life that countries like Costa Rica are "developing" away from; the simple life that had the time and space to find the house just past the fig tree.

With the small isthmus bulging with more developments and fewer people who know their neighbors, the old system has simply passed its time. The reality is that to keep pace, Costa Rica has to modern up. Just imagine a 911 response team trying to speed to the rescue of someone who lives south of the chicken place. Put yourself in the shoes of a postman starting his first day on the job. Already, official zip codes have been assigned and there is a push to name and number all streets, homes and businesses. The undertaking will be costly, and will demand a change in the mindset of Costa Ricans. I will miss this amusing detail of life here. However like everything else here, I hold confidence that it will take a very long time.