Random Impressions

In mid-January, we finished one segment of our trip and began another. In addition to some of the stories we've shared, there are many things we've noticed about where we were and differences and similarities we are noticing about where we've come to.

Central America
* There are so many spaces and ways that people of all ages socialize - sitting on the sidewalk in front of their homes, walking or taking public transport, shopping in the markets everyday, in the many central parks. Front rooms of homes open to the street, visible to those passing by and any visiting neighbors
* So much of life is spent outside - houses/restaurants around courtyards; parks; outdoor markets; perpetually open doors and windows; restaurants that are simply an outdoor food stand and collection of plastic chairs and tables on the sidewalk
* Shopping on the bus - while people are waiting for the bus to fill and leave or whenever it's stopped briefly to pick up passengers, people walk down the aisle or yell from outside through open windows selling their wares - everything from beverages, stuffed tortillas, vegetables to cookies. Salespeople will also stand in the aisle during the bus ride presenting infomercials for cure-alls.
* People walking or taking public transport or riding bicycles. Not many private cars, bicycle riding with multiple people (e.g. one seated on the crossbar or back rack)
* Volume of everthing is extremely loud - people's voices, firecrackers (many in celebration of Xmas), t.v., loudspeakers outside stores or mounted on cruising cars announcing sales/events, propaganda. Music everywhere (in stores, on buses, in public places, restaurants), loud and often one of 20 popular songs that we hear repeated.
* So much gender separation - only boys set off firecrackers or play soccer. Girls can play basketball. Many more girls and women wear indigenous clothing. (In Nicaragua, we did notice that when men are walking around selling baked goods from baskets, they would wear the same frilly lacey aprons that women would.
* Many businesses selling the exact same things (i.e. 5 "corner stores" in one block each with the same candy, chips, rolls, juice)
* People often don't use street names but refer to a place by its location in relation to local landmarks (i.e. 2 blocks North of the cathedral)
* Very strong religous devotion - churches everywhere and many phrases begun or finished with "if God allows" or "thanks to God"
* Harsh florescent lighting everywhere (even in churches)
* Bargaining for everything
* So much litter - much of it plastic bags. Many beverages sold from street stalls or restaurants are poured from bottles into plastic sandwich bags. A straw is inserted inside and secured with a rubber band or a small corner of the bag is ripped off to drink from.
* Many homes have informal stores or restaurants in their front room indicated if at all with a simple handwritten sign (e.g. "Have beans")
* Small shops where people can take things to be ground (i.e. corn, cocoa beans)
* Many pool halls in Nicaragua (men only)

Travelling
* The effect of the heat- tired, lack of energy- hard to acclimate. We would often be drooping while the local women were spritely in tight stylish jeans and high heels.
* So much focus on the necessities of life - finding food, lodging, water, bathrooms.
* Dealing with our first-world "needs" and expectations re: cleanliness, privacy, bugs, desire to be protected from the elements
* Difficulty in being closeted - balance of respecting local culture vs. being ourselves vs. protecting our safety vs. educating people
* Desire to travel and see more places vs. desire to stay in one place, get to know it better, meet more people
* Feeling of being isolated from local culture - so easy to only be in places for travellers or meet only other travellers, harder to have real connections with local people.
* So many plants, trees, pods, seeds, vines, flowers, fruits, vegetables that we've never seen/tasted before