My First Half-Year

The New Year heralds the start of my seventh month in Nicaragua. Fitting that I should end 2015 scurrying around Managua sorting my visa renewal. After six months here as a tourist, I can only renew for an additional month at a time. Most folks prefer to exit the country and return as a brand-new tourist, with an automatic 90 days visa. Some simply drive south and cross over into Costa Rica for a couple of days, and then re-enter Nicaragua at the border. It make economic sense in one way: to renew the tourist visa for 90 days costs about $60; to enter the country costs $10, for three months. I paid $20 for an additional 30 days.

Happily, I was able to accomplish a critical element of the residence visa Thursday at the Oficina de Inmigracion. Instead of waiting for a representative of the office to visit me in La Boquita for an interview, a young woman did the interview on the spot after I got my passport stamped. My blood-sucking lawyer Noel (just kidding about the blood-sucking part) was with me to translate anything I could not understand.

The big question, I thought, was about why I wanted to reside in Nicaragua. I launched into my story of having visited the country in 1988 with Athletes United for Peace, and being inspired to try and provide sport equipment for the youth of San Isidro. The woman was taking notes, and abruptly looked up and asked, "So, you really like our country?" "Yes, of course, " I answered, and that was that. No history required. I would think that something more substantial would be in order. It's like when Donald Trump dismisses his questionable treatment of women by saying, "Hey, I love women. They're great." Or, why do you want to attend this university? Oh, because I really like it. Huh? When did insultingly simplistic answers become acceptable?

Well, I hope it moved me closer to my resident visa. I have a distinct feeling that I am nearing a better understanding of what the shape of my life here will be within the next six months or so. I am not much for new year's resolutions, but I do think it is time to begin looking for an opportunity to apply my limited talents or skills to something's or someone's benefit, even if it is only a day or two each week. I miss feeling useful.

Grasshoppers have arrived in La Boquita. In a country where the climate barely differentiates seasonal changes, I believe the various life cycles of flora and fauna may provide an alternative. If January/February are grasshopper season, perhaps August-October might be pelican season. My favorite birds have been absent since then. Perhaps they have moved elsewhere for better fishing?
And my luscious sandia - watermelon - is still plentiful, but I have been advised that one day, they will be hard to find, and then, gone utterly until they return for the next growing season.

New Year's Day brought a carload of young friends from Managua, with late lunch at the Casino Hotel in Casares. It was fun to see the restaurant busy for a change, and the sopa de mariscos (fish soup) was heavenly good!

Feliz año nuevo, friends! Let's hope for good things to come for all of us!