lessons from the 3rd world

Many things are not always readily available at our fingertips living in the 3rd world. Reflecting on this statement we realize things we likely took for granted having them readily available in the 1st world, and that in turn leads us to a more humbling outlook on situations, needs, wants and what we already have.

Here is a basic list of pertinent items needed on a daily basis, not always available, and how we feel about them now:

1. Water - they cut the water here a couple times a week normally... which means if you are thirsty, hot, sweaty, dirty or want to cook or boil anything..... well you just have to wait. 1 hour or all day. HOWEVER we lucked out in casa Santa Lucia as we have an outdoor emergency water supply that we can use in such dire times. Others are not so fortunate. And adjusting to the cold showers hasn't been that bad during the middle of the day, but we do miss a hot one some mornings.

2. Electricity - this we don't lose as often, but when it does happen it usually means the fans go off (which while you are sleeping instantly wakes you up as the cool breeze is crucial), and the refrigerator decides to thaw and leak water all over the floor. This also means our vegetables may have frozen and thawed and then end up in the trash!

3. Gas - There is nothing quite like the feeling of getting up to make some coffee or a tasty meal and going to the stove with the necessary preparations, only to realize there is no gas, and therefore you will not be cooking anything. What to do - walk down to the tropigas (aka gaseria) delivery house and ask them to please bring you a refilled tank of gas for the kitchen. Matt says it's too bad my spare storehouse can't light the stove in times of need.

4. Change - You know things are inexpensive when busting out a 200 (10 dollars) or 500 (25 dollars) cordoba bill is likely to get rejected because whoever you are buying something from or paying the amount to doesn't have change for such a large sum. The beauty in this is that if they don't have change perhaps the taxi driver accepts 27 instead of 30 cordobas, or the lady who runs the pulperia (corner store) says "bring me what you owe me later". Or they will go and ask anybody down the street, in the neighborhood, or nearby to help them get change for you.

5. Laundry - we definitely are not roughing it enough to have to wash all our clothes by hand. We do have a laundry machine, which only works when there is water. And works all the better when the water pressure is actually present. Somedays you have to fill it with a bucket to have it full within the hour. And when you put your clothes on the line to dry, be sure they are not cooking next door or all your new clothes will be covered in smoke.

6. Produce - Remember how in the states you can get an avocado year round? You can pretty much buy whatever you desire whenever you desire. It doesn't mean it won't cost you an arm and a leg or that it will be ripe, but here we are actually learning the patience and value in enjoying things when they are in season. We miss having access to Pitaya (a delicious cactus fruit that was around when we first got here) but we were thrilled the day we found an avocado in the market. And now ripe mangos are also a prized commodity.

7. Bathrooms, toilets, and hygiene - I think both Matt and I will be thoroughly delighted the day we are back to having a bathroom door and toilets that flush well and don't get backed up with septic tank problems. As far as public restrooms, we will enjoy having access to soap and water at every pitstop. Let's just say we're sure to have our antibacterial hand gel handy.

8. Transportation - In the states, when you wanted to go somewhere odds are you took your car. Here driving a car is perhaps one of the scarier options. And hands down, the public transportation system here beats Albuquerque by far! It's cheap, it's accessible, and it's what all the cool people are doing. You can get a taxi on any corner for 50 cents a ride. Buses are only 25 cents. However, matt suggests that shocks might be illegal here or that they fill their tires with cement because it is always a rough ride. And don't count your chickens before they hatch on getting to your destination on time. Perhaps the buses are late, or not running today, but then again nothing is on time here in Nicaragua, so what's the worry for.

9. Internet speed - It's like turtle. It's so slow we can't do any mandatory updates and matt's computer is going on revolt! There is no 3G or 4G speed, everything is at the speed of pong or astroids (only computer nerds from the 80s will get this reference).

10. Attire - What's that you're wearing Matt? Another white t-shirt and kackis. Isn't that like the 5th day in the row? He says he's like batman, 15 pairs of the same outfit. When it doubt, turn it inside out.

11. Trash - it is definitely humbling to see neighbors or other people rummaging through our trash the moment we set it out on garbage day. They go through it and pick out whatever they see fits their need. Including a bag of old ramen noodles complete with its own pair of mice and their droppings.

12. Homes, or the lack their of - never before have we seen so many kids on a daily basis asking for money or food. And perhaps they are not all homeless (and Granada does have some good shelters) but some have made a bad habit out of asking for things from tourists. However there is truth to problem when we pass 3 adolescent boys crashed out on the sidewalk covered in a thin sheet at 8 o'clock in the morning.

All of these things make us reflect back on silly complaints we had in the states and just how irrelevant they are now. It makes us realize we don't need to have everything handed to us or readily available at every moment. We take pleasure in being innovative, arising to the challenge, or just going with the flow like everyone else. We are happy whether we arrive early or late and we know that no matter what, in the end it's going to turn out ok. Such is the Nica attitude and the lesson we want to hold onto when we leave here.