Need information on Nicaragua

I will be visiting Nicaragua in Oct. of this year and I need information on the Major customs and traditions i.e dress styles etc I will be living among the locales probably in a small town > I want to familiarize myself with what typical houses are made of, how many rooms, water and electricity, wash rooms. How many people to a house etc. I would also like to know the typical diet and the availabilty of food. If you can also help me with the ways in which you live ie. shy, hardworking, bold, enterprising. optimistic, oppressed. The place of men, women and people of different ages in the society. I am looking forward to meeting the people of Nicaragua and living as you do. I will be there for two weeks. Thank you for the help. Also maybe you could suggest good web sites to visit. God bless and keep well.
Maddy

Originally posted by madeleine
I will be visiting Nicaragua in Oct. of this year and I need information on the Major customs and traditions i.e dress styles etc I will be living among the locales probably in a small town > I want to familiarize myself with what typical houses are made of, how many rooms, water and electricity, wash rooms. How many people to a house etc. I would also like to know the typical diet and the availabilty of food. If you can also help me with the ways in which you live ie. shy, hardworking, bold, enterprising. optimistic, oppressed. The place of men, women and people of different ages in the society. I am looking forward to meeting the people of Nicaragua and living as you do. I will be there for two weeks. Thank you for the help. Also maybe you could suggest good web sites to visit. God bless and keep well.
Maddy

First of all, congratulations on your trip to Nicaragua. To answer your questions, I would first say, relax! There's no set dress style in our country, even if you live in a small town. Even if you ended up in a 'village', you would not be expected to dress as they do (though I doubt that there are many, if any at all, left that dress as our ancestors did). Regarding how many live in a home, well that depends on the wealth or lack of, the family. That can also be said for the food. But typically in Nicaragua, rice, beans, tortillas, and some meat is the 'family' food (as compared to restaurant food). You will find, most people in Nicaragua, no matter how poor they are, will offer you something to eat when you come to their home. This of course only emphasizes how friendly and open Nicaraguans are. I would suggest you don't drink the water, you will most likely get sick. The best thing is to drink pop and/or bottled water. Do take advantage of all the tropical fruits there are!
You ask concerning the place of men, women,etc. in society. Well, to be honest, I have not been there for many years. But in my experience, and being Latin myself, women in Nicaragua are not as liberated as here, but that does not mean they are oppressed.
Not everyone in Nicaragua has the same standard of living. Like I've mentioned before, it all depends on your wealth or lack of. So when you say you are looking forward to living as we do...it'll largely depend on who you are living with!
For the most part, life in Nicaragua is very laid back compared to life here in North America. School and business hours are not as long as they are N.A., people like to chat with their neighbors at night...etc. Be warm and friendly, and the feeling will be reciprocated.
One word of caution, carry only small bills in your wallet/purse. It'll be a lot easier when paying, and also if you were to get mugged (which can happen in ANY country)then your loss wouldn't be as great. And also DON'T give in to the first price you're given at the 'mercado' (market) or street vendors...always, always, BARGAIN!
Hope your trip is a memorable experience, and that you enjoy it to the fullest!

Thank you so much for your reply. This information will help me. I will be staying with the poor people of Nigaragua and would not like to offend anyone. So anything that comes from someone who is a native is very helpful.

Originally posted by madeleine
Thank you so much for your reply. This information will help me. I will be staying with the poor people of Nigaragua and would not like to offend anyone. So anything that comes from someone who is a native is very helpful.

If you don't mind...is this a personal trip? or a missionary type? I just wonder.

Where are you from Madeleine???

I am from Canada and yes it's a missionary trip with Samaritans purse. There is 24 of us going and we are all looking forward to be of help and to meet new friends. It is the first time for all but one of us. That is why I want to learn all I can. I don't know the language but I do speak french. I've tried to learn some words, but without practice I soon forget them. We are not sure where we are going yet. The group has all types of people going. Our church is a recovery type church so alot of us have come with a history. The church has helped us grow spritually and the hope that a second chance gives us. We would like to pass that on to others. The United Church is not known for missionary work. I think we are maybe the first adult missinary trip for our demonination. How can you tell its late and I drank to much coffee. I'm from Calgary, from where I live we can see the rocky Montains. It's about an hour an half drive away.

[jgutierezz0911]

Nice to hear that you're going to visit Nicaragua too! I will be going there this summer for the first time too. Like you, I will be staying with a local family and will be doing volunteering work, the only difference is that it's not missionary work, it doesn't happen on any religious basis. We will be four volunteers, from Italy, Spain, Ireland and myself from Belgium...
Since I have never been to Nicaragua before, I can't give you any information about it yet, but I'm already leaving in july, so when I get back, you can ask me whatever you want to know, ok?
Oh, and about the spanish language, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you, especially since you speak french. The two languages have a lot in common, so I'm sure you will learn very quickly!
Well, I hope you'll have a great experience in Nicaragua! Suerte!!
Katrien

Can't wait to hear of your experience in Nicaragua. How did you meet people from so many places. Do you travel alot. What part of Nicaragua are you going to. I'm sure you will have some valuable information for me.
Thank you and God Bless
Maddy