Charity - A Communal Effort

This is something I have been noticing throughout my time here.  Several times, I have been on a crowded bus when someone boards and begins telling his life's story to the passengers.  He shares about hard times and how his family is struggling to get by.  He also talks about God.  Then after a few stops, he walks down the aisle and sells candy or Rosaries or some other item.  I was shocked when, consistently, the majority of people on the bus gave him at least a few coins - even if they didn't want what he was selling.  They also were very kind.  Nobody looked annoyed to be a captive audience for this man, nor did the bus driver mind.  In fact, the bus driver let him on and off without paying - I believe. 

I started thinking about this and how it would have gone differently in the US.  I feel like there, he would have not been let on in the first place, but if he was... people would have scoffed and looked annoyed and less people would have contributed.  At least that's what I imagine... maybe in big cities like NY it would be different, but this is a small town... where the people on the bus are far from rich themselves. 

Also, it is not just on the bus that this works (with a captive audience).

Yesterday, I was at the park in Heredia when a woman walked up to the bench next to me.  She was pushing a baby stroller and selling lolly pops to make money for food.  I watched as every person she approached either gave her money or bought a lolly pop - even the teenage boys sitting on a bench near me.  There was something about the exchange that was so nice.  I could see the kindness in the people's eyes and smiles as they made the exchange -money for lolly pop... or money for nothing at all.