After a week of travel, down south I learned a few things. Some were profound and some were just things...
1. There are good people everywhere.
I was terrified to arrive in a foreign country, after dark. I made Tom and Danielle walk me through exactly what would happen after I deboarded the plane. "Ok, and then which way will I walk? What will they say? What do I say?" They were so patient with me and walked me through every step, reassuring me that I would be safe.
"And then you'll see a guy holding a sign with your name. Go to him." There was no guy holding a sign. LPIMH: AYFKM?! I'm going to have to live in this airport until I go home because I don't have a ride, my Wi-Fi doesn't work, and I can't get a hold of my family. Just as I was about to freak out, Vladamir came up and told me he was the person taking me to San Juan del Sur. LPIMH: Umm, how do I know that's true? Where's your damn sign?
He assured me he was the right person. I got in his car with him and Jenny, a Canadian who had been living in San Juan for 2 years. They were so friendly. Jenny immediately offered me a slice of the beloved Pizza Hut she was eating for the first time in years. Apparently that's what you do when you travel to Managua-eat Pizza Hut or T.G.I.Fridays. We chatted for 2 hours. I learned a ton about the country. They helped me with my Spanish.
I could go on and on about all of the people I met. Everyone was so friendly-
Vanessa from yoga who I loved as soon as I got to her class.
Karina, the housekeeper who couldn't say enough kind things about The Cartier Family.
Marissa, Abi and Owen's mom, who brews her own kombucha.
Missy who let us get massages on her front porch.
Ricardo, the mechanic who came to unlock the car.
The sweet bartender who handed me a napkin when I was crying at his bar. You cried at the bar? You're embarrassing and go home, Katie, you're drunk. Yes and I actually wasn't.
Karina, the housekeeper who couldn't say enough kind things about The Cartier Family.
Marissa, Abi and Owen's mom, who brews her own kombucha.
Missy who let us get massages on her front porch.
Ricardo, the mechanic who came to unlock the car.
The sweet bartender who handed me a napkin when I was crying at his bar. You cried at the bar? You're embarrassing and go home, Katie, you're drunk. Yes and I actually wasn't.
2. I have a need to connect with my sister
Danielle has been my sister-in-law for over 10 years, and was a big part of my life for years before that. We don't talk on the phone, almost ever. After a while I start to feel the distance with her, but when I see her we always find time to just be the two of us. It's necessary. I always feel better after our good talks, even if one of us is upset with the other one. It's good for my soul and a must in my life, for the rest of my life.
3. Life is about taking it all in stride.
We all have problems. Americans have problems. Nicaraguans have problems. We all have stuff that gets into our heads, things that shake us or frustrate us or make us sad. My day-to-day issues are completely different than anyone in my family. The things that stress me out are different, but they are real. It's through these good talks with my family or just watching the world, that I realize that we all put on these beautiful smiles but sometimes life gets tricky and it's nice to know there are people who, even if their problems are different, they still have them...and we are always rooting for each other.
4. Parenting is a lot of fucking work
I believe that good kids are not born, they are made. They are made by parents who have secret talks that I would assume go something like this, "Your aunt might bring you a surprise but you are not allowed to ask her for anything. If she gives you something you already have, don't tell her. You will be very grateful, hug her, kiss her and tell her what you like about what you got." Conversations like, "Turn off your kindle and talk to your aunt right now. "
Congratulations Philip and Lily's parents. You're making the best kids on the planet. A little biased Aunt Katie? Not even.
Congratulations Philip and Lily's parents. You're making the best kids on the planet. A little biased Aunt Katie? Not even.
5. My family is always my family
Several plane rides and hours in the car away, they are still the same. The people I love the most. The place where I get my tightest hugs, my hardest good-byes, and my biggest belly laughs. It's good to be loved that hard.
6. Good music is good for the soul.
They have a new family anthem and they let me listen. They play it loud and often, as we do. I've listened to it no less than 10 billion times (exaggerator) and that's no exaggeration. It gets deep in my veins and makes me think of The Cartiers.
7. We don't need that much stuff
They sold almost everything they own. They live in a small place. They kids ride their bikes around town. They don't have a lot of crap and they are as happy, maybe happier than I've ever seen them. We have too much shit...and we don't need it.
8. My Spanish is better than I thought
I got around pretty well and I got to be the designated translator. I found that I'm great at translating everyday things but have no idea how to speak mechanic. How do you say, There's a rock in my tire and it's leaking air? You don't. You point to the rock in the tire and say, "Puedes ayudar? Cuanto cuesta?" Ha!
Tom and Danielle have an ulterior motive and have told me, several hundred times, how much my Spanish will improve being in Nicaragua for a few months.
Nicaragua was beautiful. I swam in a dormant volcano. I went to a beach that had the jungle on one side and the beach on the other. We relaxed in our own beach hut for a day. I paddle boarded at sunset. All of the sights were wonderful but the best part was seeing my people.
Here's to Nicaragua...for being a country full of good.
Here's to me...being brave enough to go to a new country alone.
Here's to them...for planning the awesomeset Funtinerary.
Here's to us...for always being us.
Sent from my iPhone
