It is commonly known that trying to get anything done in CR is not easy or fast and never gets done on time. Your patience will be tested here and mine were in the following story:
Preface ~ Since I am on maternity leave, half of my paycheck each month is paid by the government and I have to go to Santa Cruz to pick it up. It usually takes about 30 minutes to get to SC, but since the road is REALLY bad (full of potholes), I have to add 15 minutes. And since they are doing construction, I have to add another 15 minutes. Therefore, it takes me about an hour each way (keep this in mind). Oh, also, I have to communicate everything in Spanish, which should be easy for me by now, but I'm still learning, so this makes the following story even more interesting.
Day 1 ~ I headed out to SC last Friday at 9:00am to pick up my paycheck. I prepared myself for a semi-long trip because I know things are slower here. I located the correct building fairly easy and headed inside with a positive attitude. There wasn't a very long line at all...surprising for a public facility. The lady was very nice and started on my paperwork right away...so far looking good. She got all the paperwork ready, but she realized that someone put in the computer that I was on sick leave and not maternity leave. So, this should be an easy fix, right?....oh no, not here. She sends me next door to another office to see Marvin, so he can fix it in the computer. There was one person before me and it took Marvin 30 minutes to help him...I'm still calm. Finally, when Marvin got to me, he realized he needed to have a doctor approve the maternity leave, but since it was already 11am, the doctor was on lunch break and then Marvin would go on his at 12pm, so I had to come back at 1pm...really?!, ugh. *Side note: Everyone gets an hour lunch here and some offices/stores close down during this time, crazy I know. So, JB and I grab some lunch and shop a bit. We return at 1pm and I check in to see if they can fix my paperwork now. Well, of course not, the doctor is in a meeting and the office closes at 2pm, so I will have to come back on Monday. I headed back to the car to tell JB and I started crying because of my frustration and wasted time away from Levi...it's the hormones. He was very sweet and said it'll be okay, these things happen...he made me feel better. So, we headed back home. (5 hour trip, no money)
Day 2 ~ I headed out to SC on Monday at 8am, but this time without JB. He stayed home with Levi since my mom already went back home. I went back to Marvin's office and he remembered me and got the paperwork done in 15 minutes...yay, progress! Then I headed back next door to get my money. The same lady waited on me, and again, was very nice. However, she said they couldn't pay me until 1pm (mas o
menos: more or less, you get this a lot) because either they didn't have
enough money then or they didn't have any at all...it was in Spanish, so I couldn't decipher between the two, either way, no money yet. So, I went shopping again and grabbed some lunch, again. This time, the lady had my phone number and said she would call when the money arrived. I was just finishing up my lunch when she called and I got all excited since it was only 11:30pm. But, of course it was more bad news. She said the money wouldn't be there until tomorrow...of course it won't be. So, I headed back home. (5 hour trip, no money)
Day 3 ~ I headed out to SC on Tuesday afternoon at 12:30pm because the lady called and said the money was there. As I walked out the door, JB said to remember to be patient and not expect my money to be there...in my head I was thinking it better be or I'm going to lose it, I'm so sick of driving to and from SC on the crappy road!!! I got there and the lady that was waiting on me before was not there, so I got a bad feeling in my stomach. I was directed to another lady and had to wait 30 minutes. She checked my information and then directed me to another lady. This lady FINALLY was able to pay me...YAY! Oh, but it's not over. She paid me $2100, half in $10 bills and the other half in $2 bills (well, colones equivalent to those bills). I walked out of there looking like I robbed a bank. At least she gave me more than one months pay, so I don't have to return until January...thank goodness. (3 hour trip, got my money)
Well, that's my story. I definitely have become a patient person since moving to CR, but this time, I think it was a bit ridiculous. So, next time you think you have slow service in the States, think again ;)
*Sorry, there's no OiCR for September, I was a little preoccupied getting ready for Levi ;)
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