A few recent Nicaragua cultural highlights.

On having friends everywhere.
One of the only advantages to looking different from everyone else is that people tend to remember you. Rachelle and I headed back to a local beach on Sunday for some delicious fish and a day in the sun. The transgender restaurant owner we met one time, six weeks ago, exclaims excitedly over our arrival, kisses us on the cheeks and proceeds to treat us with VIP service the entire time we are there. This has happened to me several other times and I LOVE the feeling of having friends in different parts of the city and region. I have to say the lady who works at the ice cream place around the corner from my house probably knows me the best though...

On the negative of being a tourist.
People like to overcharge you for things. A lot. On the bus to the beach, Rachelle and I were joined by a group of Peace Corps volunteers who are living in nearby areas. We enjoyed chatting with them about our very different experiences, one of these being that they are barely allowed to leave the areas where they are in training. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember how much the bus was and the driver took that opportune moment to overcharge all of us. GRRR. Rachelle and I were somewhat frustrated and later blamed the Peace Corps volunteers for being six people and talking so loudly in English on the bus! Not a big deal though in the scheme of things.

On food that is common.
Helado in Spanish literally translates to ice cream, but in its most common use refers to a snack that we enjoy almost every afternoon at the orphanage and that I have come to love. Helado is milk mixed with a little sugar and cinnamon and some other ingredient, like chunks of coconut, frozen in a small plastic sandwich bag. You bite off the corner of the bag and suck out the slushy deliciousness as it melts, then chew up the coconut and eat it. YUM.

On food that is not common.
Peanut butter is a main staple of my diet at home and the only food I have really been missing. After seven weeks of dreaming about peanut butter, and not having any, this week it miraculously appeared in the local supermarket. Let's just say that I am currently in peanut butter heaven and will refrain from sharing the rate at which I am consuming it....

On danger in the showers.
I thought that the water completely stopping in the middle of your shower was the worst thing that could happen in that area, until I accidentally touched one of the wires that heats the water in the showers with electricity. While the water was running.

On the danger of walking.
It is utterly and completely imperative in Nicaragua to watch where you are walking, at all times. Not only is there horse poop in the streets and giant cockroaches on the kitchen floor, but there are giant holes in the middle of the sidewalk. This morning, I was trying to walk through the market to go to work and a man shoved a squirming pig right in my face, trying to get me to buy it, so enthusiastically that to avoid getting kicked by a pig I stepped in a pile of garbage, almost slipped and fell, and got slimy stuff all over my shoe.

On rice.
I am really enjoying the food here. Really, I am.
But I am probably not going to eat one bite of rice for at least 8 months after I get home.

On things that I am currently excited about.
I have to cook my own breakfast since I eat before everyone else, but I still get to use whatever food is around the house and I am really enjoying making delicious, elaborate breakfasts for myself and planning them the night before.
This weekend, almost everyone will be gone, and Friday night Leo and I are going out for pizza and then Saturday night he is leaving and I will be AAALLLOOOONNNEE. Words cannot really express how excited I am to be by myself for like 24 hours.
The weekend after, Rachelle and I are planning an epic trip to a city in the north called Matagalpa and surrounding areas to experience the roots of the fair trade coffee industry firsthand. I'm hoping that it will be an amazing and educational experience.

There are many more but for my faithful blog readers, especially my wonderful parents and grandparents, I thought I'd add some interesting stuff for you to read today!

Love to all, remember to always be grateful.