Hace Bastante/Its Been Awhile

Hey friends. Sorry I haven’t been very good about keeping you up on my musings and experiences about Nicaragua. I was looking at some old posts and I was surprised at how many times I posted during my training. At first I thought maybe I was just more diligent blogger.  But then I realized that during training, everything was new. I was still getting used to life here. And now, the differences from American life are just so ingrained in my life now, that I don’t feel like they are noteworthy. This “big adventure” everyone thinks I’m experiencing is really just a normal life transported to another place.

When I was in California, I was complimented by how many of you kept telling me how proud of me you are. I really appreciate it, but the challenges that I face here aren’t the ones you think I’m facing. Ok, I may need to bucket flush the toilet, deal with occasional parasites, wash my clothes by hand, and speak in a different language. But those aren’t the things that make my time here difficult. Being the only American in my town carries with it certain burdens… I react to situations differently than other people. An example: During a planning meeting I attended with some teachers, students, and professionals from an NGO, a loco came in, yelling and screaming inappropriate things at everyone. I was so annoyed by him, I wanted to stand up and ask him to leave. However, if I had done that, I would’ve been considered the rude one. Everyone waited till he left, and then called the police. Because everyone here has known each other forever and will be around each other for the rest of their lives, there is an interesting dynamic where a lot of what inspires people’s actions is the mentality of Saving Face. So my asking a man, who was offending everyone, to leave would’ve embarrassed everyone else.).

I also receive a lot of unwanted attention being a young white women. I can easily say that by American standards, I a sexually harassed almost everyday. Now, I don’t often receive catcalls while walking through the center of Yalagüina(gracias a Dios) because most people in town know me by face by now. However, I do run along the highway on which my town is situated. And there, I receive un montón. Barbie, Mami, Chelita, Hermosa, Guapa, Preciosa, etc. Not only are the catcalls annoying, but the way they are thrown at me are too. One, the tone of voice is creepy. And two, I will walk by a group of men and think I’m good because they didn’t say anything. But then they will say it to my back. It goes along a similar line as Saving Face. Many men wouldn’t dare say something like that to my face, but as soon as my back is turned, anything goes. It seems like a couple comments here and there shouldn’t bother me. But they do. Because then I also start thinking about the unsaid things, the fact that these men have wives and children, and being objectified in general. Not the most settling thoughts.

Anyways, I figured I should give this whole blogging thing a try again. Vamos a ver…