So much has been written about how wonderful Nicaraguans are, and with good reason. Where I used to live in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA, we had a saying: We came for the winter but stayed for the summers. (It is a lovely ski resort town, with perfect, albeit brief, summers.)
In San Juan del Sur, the saying could easily be: We came for the beauty, but stayed for the people.
My husband and I have never known a warmer, kinder, more quick to smile and help, group of people than Nicaraguans.
But today I found my gratefulness expanding to include all the locals, native or not.
It includes the mystery swimmer at Pelican Eyes, who found my beloved and constantly-used pink thermal water bottle. (Seriously, I had a hard time falling asleep last night without it. Yes, pathetic, but oh well.) It includes the staff at Pelican Eyes that had it waiting for me in the administration office after I climbed my way up this morning on a hunt for it, huffing and puffing and dripping in sweat.
It includes the water aerobics instructors, Renda, Shannon and Cesar, who volunteer their time every morning at 10:00/10:30 except for Thursday, which is where I was when I left my water bottle. (Note: the class is free but there’s a new pool-use fee of $20 for 10 sessions to help Pelican Eyes with their pool maintenance expenses.)
It includes Delaney Wray, who attends water aerobics but also teaches yoga at Zen Yoga and was willing to fulfill our request to create a new Gentle Yoga class on Thursday mornings at 10:00, which began this week. (Note: $40 for a 10-class pass.)
And lastly, it includes Vanessa Tittle Pattison, owner of Zen Yoga, who has kept her studio open since 2011.
Maybe the native Nicaraguan graciousness spills over and envelops all who live here, regardless of nationality.
Maybe our individual self-centeredness, so worshipped elsewhere in the world, is one of the toxins which is sweated out of us here.
Or maybe people that value the slower pace of life here which allows kindness and community to naturally blossom, are the people that stay.
Nicaragua, natives and expats alike, I love you.
