Hola Fellow CountryMen and Women,
Lets talk Culture. One does not realize how deeply rooted culture is involved in every aspect of one's life. The culture one grows up with impacts how one views the world, how one sees what is "normal or strange" and how one interacts in another culture. Growing up in California I have been fortunate to see many different cultures and within my own personal culture development have a blend of German, Peruvian and US traditions. I thought I had seen many differnet cultures and would not be to suprised by the Nicaragaun Culture but... as I find myself living in this new country I call home I find that there is a lot to be said about culture and it's shock value.
TIME: In the states time is very strict. If the meeting starts at 10am you show up at 9:50 to make sure you are on time and not late. Camp Titan the summer camp I worked with at CSUF for the past 3 years had a saying "Early is on time, On time is late and Late is unacceptable". In Nicaragua the saying has changed to "Late is on time, On time is early and Early is unlikely". At school I have found that the school bell rings anywhere between 7:30 and 8am. Meetings start times are flexable along with Promociones (graduation ceremony) start times. I attended a Cabildo meeting this week which is a meeting with a NGO, the local mayor office and groups of youth from the surrounding area. I was excited to attend and meet the Alcalde and find out what possible projects are going on. Mareling ( a fellow teacher and part of the Cabildo commitee) said she come by my house at 8am to go to the meeting it starts at 8am. She shows up at 9am. Ok we're on Nica time. We get there and only half the groups are there. 10:30 the alcalde says hes not coming and the chairs have still not arrived. 11:00 The meeting consites of angry group leaders and An NGO trying to calm them down. I simply observe. 12:00pm Refresments are served and everyone is gone, oh and around 11:30 the chairs finally show up.
So I am learning how time works in Nicaragua and on Saturday i had a Promocion (graduation) of high school to go to. It started at 1pm I am told. I end up showing up at 2:30 I was late due to a Peace Corps Volunteer meeting in Chinandega. Turns out most of the graduates are not there either. 3:00pm the ceremony starts with a couple of Graduates still not there. From me with my US culture this is rediculas but for Nicaraguans its a normal part of life.
HYGINE: We are a culture fond of good health habits and health code. Nicaragua is very different. What has shocked me the most is nose picking. It is expected of small children to pick their noses but not of adults back home but here in Nicaragua it happens all the time by everyone. At first it shocked me but now I just look away when I see some one going in for the kill. Spiting and blowing ones know with out a tissue is a norm and if you have a dirt floor it happen inside too.
I have picked up on some Nicaragua habits like shrunching my nose when I done understand something or pointing with a lip pout in the direction of something, but spiting or picking my nose is not something I plan to adapt into my life.
RELIGION: I belive that I am a very tolerent person when it come to realigion and people having a different faith then mine. I like to learn about other religious and even will attend religious event. The moment I got to Israel I was asked are you Catholic or Evangelical. Then when I said Catholic I was told who went to Catholic church and that I could go with them to church. My host family is Evangelical and they did invite me to go to church with them. I figured it was good to go and be seen and to try soemthing new. Well it has been an interesting expreience goting to Evangelical church. There is a lot of loud singing and we play games that are to teach us a moral. I also have attended Catholic service for the conception of the virgan mary which is a big holiday here in Nicaragua.
Again there was a lot of singing and at the end candy was passed out to everyone. Then on the 7th everyone when around town for the Purisima to sing to the virgan marys set up at peoples homes. I went to a few homes and after a sad attepmt at singing a song I had no idea how to sing I was given candy, cookies, oranges, a cup and some fireworks. To me it felt like Halloween just without the costumes. I enjoyed the cultural exchange and then went home with my good. My host mom was not to all excited about my attending the Purisima something to do with praying to idols. But she didnt say much to me which told me she was not happy with me for the moment but thats life in Nicaragua. And now everything is fine so it all works out.
Everyday I find that there are things that to me are not Ok but I must remember that I am not in my own culture and I must adapt. For the most part I have. Sure the first few weeks were hard in my new town but I find now that I am enjoying my new Life in Israel. I take things slowly and try not to jugde with my american culture and be open minded to life here.
Other intereting happenings in my new Home of Israel:
I went to visit a Finca (farm) we had to walk 4 km to get there but lucky Don Monico came riding up on his horse so We only walked 1 km of the way there and 1km of the way back. It was fun to see the finca and ride some horses.
I decorated a chistmas tree with my host family and even though only half the lights works it very much bring the christmas season into the house.
I went on a hike up one of the lomos (hills) near my community and got a veiw of the pueblo. With Janet, Mareling, and Nancy who I would say are my new friends in town.
I am sending a bunch of pictures. Some are form Masaya and some are from my new Home. Enjoy.
Hope all is well. Happy Holidays
All the best,
Olenka Langen
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