"Hi!" verses "Hola"

Everyday we go walking. We walk to the grocery store, we walk to the bank, we walk to the gym, we walk to church, and to any other place we need and would like to go. Steve and I realized this morning what a blessing it has been to just walk. We would be missing so much if we drove in a car everywhere. We would miss the opportunity to meet our neighbors. We would have missed the encounter with a dear woman this morning. We will be praying for her and her family. Each day we meet new people. We say "Hola!" as we pass by the neighbors that are usually outside their homes along the way into town. It's getting pretty regular that people must be saying..."There's those gringos again!" On our walk this morning to church, we happen upon a gentlemen who said "Hi!" I was taken aback. Not that the tico said "Hi" but that the word itself sounded strange! I guess that was a clue to me that I'm adjusting to the culture and the language is getting into me! LOVE it! DIOS ES BUENO!