Sunday, December 11, 2011

Feeling at home

A few weeks ago my parents asked me specifically what they could do to help my transition back to the states go smoothly. Here are a few things that I thought of that would help me feel "at home" (a few apply only to Nicaragua, even though I haven't been in NI for a few weeks):

- Tell me that they are going to pick me up at the airport when I arrive...saying something like "Si, como no?" translated roughly to "of course, how could I not?" But when I call to confirm the night before, inform me that something came up last minute and they´ll no longer be able to pick me up.

- Arrange for groups of somewhat sketchy looking guys to be sitting around the airport, yelling "piropos" as I walk past. (Or anyone to stare at my white skin and blue eyes and address me as either "Gringa," "Chela," or "Macha")

- On the way home from the airport, take a side-trip without letting me know where exactly we're going.

- Arrange to be driving during the worst of rush hour (although rush hour in Mpls doesn't begin to hold a candle to the city driving here in Central America.) Also, make sure to use the car horn as much as possible and have other drivers do the same.

- Speak some random European language to each other. Apologize for not speaking English or Spanish but continue speaking the other language.

- Serve me Gallo Pinto at least twice a day.

- Say "Pura Vida" at the end of every other phrase.

- Then there's the bit about the weather....

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