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Published: December 15th 2007
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It does not feel like Christmas time. Here, Christmas is celebrated with fireworks, and it´s 80 degrees out. I am in Esteli a town that has still lives its revolutionary past. There are murals, bars dedicated to Sandinistas, and many Che shirts. But unlike in the US, people who wear the shirts know who he is. He was a great inpiration for the Sandinistas. Since my last post I have been to the colonial towns of Granada and Leon, and now Esteli. I have noticed some similarities and differences of the Nicaraguan culture and US culture.
Similarities:
* Commercialism during Christmas is the same. In Leon I was walking down a street when I encountered a parade. There was loud music, dancing in trucks, and a long procession. I soon realized the parade was for advertising Christmas presents. The people in the parade danced around and handed out advertisements to the large stores in town. Needless to say it had potential but it turned out to be the lamest parade of all times.
* Many of the clothes and movies here come from the US but the clothes are usually used and the movies and music are pirated. I
purchased all the Mad Max movies on one disc for less than one dollar.
* The busses here are old US school-busses. They play many 80’s soft rock and some great underground disco. I had a horrifying experience on my way to Esteli. I bought a seat in the bus from Leon. The seats are for two people or three children but I sat next to two fat guys. One of my butt cheeks was on the seat and the other was hanging off the aisle side. When I thought it couldn’t get worse we picked up more people. The fattest guy in Central America decided to stand in the aisle next to me. One of his butt cheeks were resting on the seat in front of me while the other was saying hello to my face. His man titty was resting on the bill of my hat. If I took off my hat I could have nursed on his supple bosom. The only thing I could think is how to say “can you get your ass out of my face” in Spanish.
Differences
* Muchismo. This culture breeds men who like to stare at girls no matter
what age and then whistle at them as they walk buy. Well, I guess that is kind of a similarity.
* They start young. Any girl my age in Esteli is married and has two or three children. I went to a street celebration one night and watched a beauty pageant. It consisted of girls in Santa hats and short skirts. They had a dance off where they dropped their asses and spanked each other a few times. I was having a great time, then they introduced themselves, “Hi, my name is maria, I am 14 years old and live in Northern Esteli.” Hmmm. After that I decided to go get some dinner and take a cold shower.
* The people here are much more sensual and love to dance. Nicas use their lips for communication. When they are talking about somebody they point their lips at the person they are talking about. They also use their faces to express for example “he is a liar.” They laugh at me when I dance. It might be because my favorite move is the Charlston. I’m not sure.
*The streets are lined with trash here. I asked someone where the trash was
and they told me everywhere. People throw garbage out of buses and cars.
* You can drink beer anywhere. It is normal.
* Olivia Newton John is popular.
* A bottle of good rum is 2 dollars.
* Taxis are like clown cars. They have 5 seats and seat 15.
I am heading to El Salvador next. I will report the similarities and differences there.
In the last month or so, I have met many different kinds of people (some are great, some are people I hope to never hear from again), but all the travelers I have met are battling one question. What is life about? I was at a going away dinner for one of the Spanish Students last night. He was a 78 year old man from Norway. All of the other students were 30 years old or younger and the conversation consisted of personal theories and philosophies of what life is about. Books were quoted, experiences were sited, elaborate reasoning, discounting the usefulness of religion and politics, were given. I observed and noticed the 78 year old Norwegian was not contributing to the discussion. When us younglings asked “What do you
think, Stein? In all your years and experiences, what have you figured out? Do you have any regrets?” He raised his beer and said “If you have figured out life, then you are probably wrong.” He thought it was funny that all of these serious young people were discussing the purpose of life when he just wanted to have some beers and enjoy the moment. He said he doesn’t have any more expectations of life and if his plane went down the next day he would say “oh, well.” I have been thinking about that question a lot since I have been here, and it is great to think about, but I liked Stein’s message. Life cannot be figured out so don’t take it too seriously.
Merry Christmas to you all. If you bought me a present please take it to a homeless shelter and try to exchange it for something better, then give it to me when I get back.
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