Leaving (and Missing) Nicaragua

May 2002:Leaving Nicaragua after so many years it has long since felt like home
to me. After such a long and lovely stay, and wondering when it is I'll return
to this place I love so much, I'm intensely aware of how much I'll miss.

Here's just a taste of it:

* Sense of humanity, connection, personality, 'confianza'

* That pervasive, brute sexuality: a flowered skirt, a blouse tight against the
* hip, a touch of lace, long hair flowing down over smooth, muscular skin, that
* strong femininity

* soft, flowery fabrics

* affection, touching, cariño

* People still dress up, the concept of your 'Sunday best' still exists, and
* for a reason

* A nation, a people, a culture that still makes the best use possible of the
* little it has: cobblers, tailors, guys who fix electronics, not to mention
* the intense recycling that goes on in the countryside

* A people that still pays attention to its children, 'padres orgullosos'
* carrying their little ones around on their shoulders or the handles of their
* bicycles

* The lack makes things easier to appreciate; scarcity leads to value

* The tropical colors, Latin architecture of open houses set around courtyards,
* patios full of palms, the ironwork, the openness of everything


And the list goes on and on ...