For any of the readers out there who
don't know, I have been an exchange student here at UAM-CUSE since August 2011. I can still look back to the days about a year ago when I spent much
of my time prepping myself for a year in Nicaragua. I wasn't sure what to
expect other than I knew it was going to be hot, really hot, and I was going to
have to speak a lot of spanish. Although studying abroad was a little daunting
at first, I was extremely excited for the adventure. I had learned bits and
pieces of Nicaragua's history and culture through numerous Spanish, History,
and Latin American Studies classes. I even spent time reading several books on
Nicaragua, all in the hopes that it would better prepare me for my time here. In
a sense, it did. I knew quite a bit about the history, and I wasn't completely
clueless how to speak in Spanish; however, there were also many things that I
was not prepared for.
In
coming to a new place, a new country, and a new culture, things were a bit
different than my life back home. Yes, there were differences that I was
expecting, but there were also many other unexpected encounters. For example,
when I first started meeting people it took me a while to get used to kissing on the
cheek. I can also still recall the first time I saw someone drinking a Coke out
of a bag with a straw, the first time I saw someone eating some weird creamy
tortilla stuff, also known as quesillo, or going to the grocery store and not
being sure where to put my cart. There were many firsts here in Nicaragua and
many interesting encounters; though over time I've come to love many of them. A
kiss as a greeting is no longer strange, but rather something that I'm going to
miss when I leave. Drinks in bags are still a little out of the ordinary, but I
enjoy the experience. And quesillo is no longer some weird creamy tortilla
substance--but rather one of my favorite lunch or dinner treats.
A
lot of firsts occurred during my first semester. That's not to say that there
weren't also many new adventures this semester; but rather, I've spent much of
this semester diving deeper into the culture, learning more about the country,
and enriching relationships with the people. I've been very lucky to have an
extended time, about a year, in this country. It's allowed me to learn a lot
more. Nicaragua has a lot of history and I've learned parts of it in all
different facets of my life here--whether it be a professor, fellow student,
taxi driver, or a random man at the grocery store. They have all offered many different
perspectives on the history and culture of Nicaragua and I've very much enjoyed
each person sharing their two cents. Each time a new topic or idea is shared I
have learned a new way of looking at things. In a lot of ways, it's changed me
and how I perceive the world. It's something that I have been very blessed to
encounter while here in Nicaragua.
One
of the biggest reasons that I am happy to have stayed another semester was for
the relationships I've made with people. Sure I had made friends the first
semester, but adding more time made those friendships more real. It offered an
authenticity to the friendships because I wasn't just here for a couple months.
I've also been privileged enough to see the beautiful places Nicaragua has to
offer. From the Atlantic Coast, tourist filled San Juan Del Sur, Canyon Somoto,
Granada and Leon , this country honestly has some of the most beautiful places
I've ever seen.
If I have learned anything from the
traveling I have done, and especially from my time here in Nicaragua, it's that
each culture has beautiful things to offer. Yes, cultures may be very
different, but that doesn't mean they are bad. If I could offer one piece of
advice, it would be to travel. It expands your ideas about life and the world which
I doubt can be learned in any manner other than experience. Cultures and people will surprise you and
teach you many lessons. So go out there, don't wait.
There are so many things that I have
come to love about this country. I'm realizing how strange returning to my home
country will be, but I'm happy to know that Nicaragua will always have a spot
in my heart. So instead of saying goodbye, I'm saying hasta
luego Nicaragua, hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo.
- Jordan Crownover
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