above, nicaraguan public transportation
1. Gallo pinto. It’s a way of life.
2. Time is just a completely different dimension here. Things start late and end on time. A meeting scheduled for 9 starts after 10:30, a store that closes at 4 closes after lunch, and if you need to be somewhere on public transportation, make sure you are there a half hour before your bus leaves but be prepared to wait an hour after it is scheduled to leave.
3. Waiting in “line” is really a race to the front. Always be ready to cut! Nica strategy: watch the person who is at the register then no matter where you are in the line, bumrush to the front to get try your chance at being next.
4. Personal space means NOTHING. If you’re not the touchy feely type, don’t come to this country. Touching, hugging, bumping, grinding is not just restricted to discos. Get ready to get close everywhere.
5. Don’t get flattered when the cute waiter calls you “amor” or “amor de mi vida”. In this country, these terms can be equated to “dude”. How can you not love a country that addresses a stranger as a lover ?
6. Cuts, scrapes, aches, Everything. . . According to Everyone. . . can be cured with either lemon or bean soup.
7. 80 degrees is “frio!”
8. There are no street names, addresses are hard to understand , and they often reference where landmarks once were, but are no longer. 2 blocks north and one west from where the national bank used to be behind the house where the lady who sold chicken feet lives. Its very easy to get lost but don’t worry! Just ask someone in the street and no matter where you are, they’ll give you the same answer. The directions to anywhere are “aqui no mas” (just over there!)
9. Its not meat, its just pork! You’re a vegetarian, oh great, just eat this fried chicken!
10. Alarm clocks are sooo the developed world. Who needs an annoying ringtone with when you have the cries of vendors selling honey at dawn fruit at noon and the tortillas at dusk !
..... to be continued
