I’ve noticed a handful of random acts of kindness lately.  Either they’re happening more frequently or I’m just more observant lately.

A number of them occur on buses.  I never see anyone hesitate to get up for a woman with a child or for a senior citizen.   People instantly jump up the second they get on the buses to offer their seat, without a second of hesitation.

Yesterday, I saw a middle-aged woman with long gray hair carrying a canvas bag filled with fruits and vegetables getting off the bus, and the man that was waiting to get on just nonchalantly put out his hand to help her step down off the bus.  It all appeared so natural and smooth as if they were old friends.  But they weren’t – they were most likely strangers, and they both merrily went on their ways.

A couple weeks ago one happened to me.  I was traveling in the capital city and realized, after I had tucked into my hotel that I forgot toothpaste.  It was past 10 o’clock at night and I went to reception to ask the attendant where the closest place I could get toothpaste was.  He told me where it was (far) and offered instead, some of his personal toothpaste he had with him for the night.

Additionally, lately I’ve been getting lost a lot.  Or maybe just venturing into new areas that are unknown.  And whenever I ask anyone for directions, they drop whatever they are doing to help me, walk me to the corner or the place, or offer up any other sort of advice/help to get me where I am going.

Though I’ve been living in this culture for over a year now, lately, I feel as though I have become an observer, a wallflower.  I’ve made somewhat of a conscious effort to step back and really see this culture, as I know it, not as a newcomer, but as someone who has lived and worked in it.  When I stepped back and observed, I saw something great – the kindness of strangers, and it was lovely.

Rebecca Stumpf is currently a Peace Corps volunteer in Copey de Dota, Costa Rica. To read more about her experiences and see more of her photography, check out her website and photography blog. For some delicious recipes, check out her food blog.