Comunidades

I have really started to get to know the city and I think I have surprised some people by knowing streets and routes that they themselves do not know. I take taxis when necessary and have gotten quite good at bargaining and getting taxis to lower their prices. Sometimes the taxi rides can be very fun and engaging. I have started to refer to Phil as ‘husband’ for simplicity and safety. It has been a point of connection and similarity when I mention that my ‘husband’ is Nicaraguan. I feel like people open up a lot more and don’t see me as such an outsider, which I really like. Everyone is so open and there is a great sense of community. I see it a lot more in the poorer neighborhoods that I visit. Often times I do no know which child belongs to whom…let alone which house because people seem to be completely at home in many different environments. I mentioned this to Pedro, the man who I am working with yesterday and he agreed, telling me that when he was 9 years old his families house burned down one morning and by sundown that night they had a new house. All the members of the town had come together to donate supplies and time to build a new house. He told the story with such sincerity and love for his people that it brought tears to my eyes.
This closeness might have to do somewhat with the stationary aspect of life here, yesterday we were in one neighborhood and walked about 4 blocks from where we started and one of the women remarked that she had lived in the neighborhood for 15 years but never been down that street. I am living in a more affluent part of town and that same sort of sentiment just doesn’t exist. I rarely see people hanging out in the streets or playing soccer. However, there is a very relaxed aspect of the house and I feel very safe living here and will walk around at night and feel safe which would not be the case in some of these other barrios.