Before you come:
·
DO research
Nicaragua before you come. Although much of what you find will be fear
mongering safety warnings or naive blogs praising the country’s beaches,
it is good to come in with a basic knowledge of what to expect. Fun Facts
like 24 Cordobas = $1 US dollar are useful to know.
·
DO look at your options for the
malaria vaccine. Many see that anti-malarial
drugs are recommended and get the vaccine no questions asked, but do talk to
your doctor. I did not get the vaccine and have had no problems. And actually,
some students have more problems with the vaccine than they have with actual
malaria.
·
DON’T buy an expensive
international phone. Universidad Americana (UAM)
will provide a basic pay-as-you-go phone. (Prepare
to re-acquaint yourself with ABC and T-9 texting; it was one of the more
difficult adjustments). The phone only works in Nicaragua so plan on using
Skype, Facebook, and email to communicate back home.
·
DON’T bring anything you are
particularly attached to. Sweat, dirt, and grime will
accumulate in your clothing, street wear will destroy your shoes, and traveling
will result in lost, damaged, and stolen items. My graveyard includes 3 pairs
of sunglasses, 1 watch, 6 T-shirts, 2 pants, and 2 pairs of shoes- I wish
I were kidding.
Upon arrival:
·
DON’T be frightened. Many
people, including your host family and Nica friends, will tell you things are
unsafe- The bus is dangerous, taxis are dangerous, walking is
dangerous, everything is dangerous. However, in reality, Nicaragua is
the safest country in Central America and its quite safe if you are
smart.
·
DO be smart. It’s
necessary to use common sense everywhere in the world. Be logical, don’t
walk alone at night, know your surrounding, don’t flash valuable objects in
crowded areas. Be smart and you’ll be okay.
·
DO relish in things from
home. Yes, cultural immersion is important but every once in awhile,
watch a movie in English or eat Oreos. It’s good for your sanity and will help
you put into perspective the things you appreciate from home.
·
DON’T compare yourself or your
experience to anyone else’s. It’s easy to look at another
international student’s spanish and feel inadequate but don’t. Your experience
is entirely your own, not better nor worse than anyone else’s.
·
DO ask the locals. In
a country where street names and bus schedules don’t exist, the locals will be
your best bet if you are lost or unsure. Do trust them, but always with a grain
of salt.
·
DO laugh. Adjusting
to life in a new country is difficult- you will fumble your spanish, you will
stand out like a sore thumb, and you will get frustrated with cultural things.
In these instances, laugh or you will cry. For example, Nica Time dictates
that everyone is 30- 60 minutes late for everything. So when you’re
sitting outside in your dress, waiting for your ride to go to the club, laugh
when they call saying it will be another 30 minutes.
·
DO take a deep breath and know
that everything will be okay. In the beginning, everything
is difficult- Nica Spanish will seem impossible to learn, the heat will be
suffocating, and even texting on your T-9 phone will be a challenge. Take a
deep breath and know that things will get better. You will make friends. Your
host family will adopt you as their own. Your spanish will improve. I don’t
know if you’ll ever really adjust to the heat, but you’ll learn ways to escape
it (like the movie theater). You will adjust and just breathe deep until you
do.
- Anna Kroos
