Life is short, live bold! Be heard, be you, dream big, take risks, don't wait. – Misty Gibbs
Thursday, September 6, 2012 (DAYS 186 - 188)
As I continue to grow used to the heat and high humidity of Nicaragua, especially when I am noticing the temperature in Denver beginning to drop off, it is quite the difference from the Mile High City and a constant reminder of living life bold–taking risks and living for more than just myself. After all of the excitement from yesterday, we have decided to stay out of the heat, and fortunately for Alix and myself we have laid claim to the only two hammocks upstairs as we watch various cartoons from Stephen’s hard drive. I know what you’re thinking, and yes, we have our juice boxes and woobies tucked tightly around our child safety leashes before being put down for our naps. If only I could locate an adult. Even in the midst of our lazy afternoon, the heat continues to take a toll on our bodies and the lethargic fatigue from swinging in a hammock is too much, it’s time for an adventure to town. The streets appear to be even more sparse in the number of backpackers that are traveling through, but experiencing the slow season is a nice change of pace as faces give way to names in the number of people I now know in this small beach town. First, running in to Johnny on the main road that runs parallel to the beach, I stop and chat with him for a few minutes before he rides off on his dirt bike obviously reminding me of the infamous character that tormented Daniel Larusso, fortunately for myself I am not being harassed by the Cobra Kai’s thus being forced into seclusion of a homemade shower costume. Whew, another bullet dodged.
As I continue to grow used to the heat and high humidity of Nicaragua, especially when I am noticing the temperature in Denver beginning to drop off, it is quite the difference from the Mile High City and a constant reminder of living life bold–taking risks and living for more than just myself. After all of the excitement from yesterday, we have decided to stay out of the heat, and fortunately for Alix and myself we have laid claim to the only two hammocks upstairs as we watch various cartoons from Stephen’s hard drive. I know what you’re thinking, and yes, we have our juice boxes and woobies tucked tightly around our child safety leashes before being put down for our naps. If only I could locate an adult. Even in the midst of our lazy afternoon, the heat continues to take a toll on our bodies and the lethargic fatigue from swinging in a hammock is too much, it’s time for an adventure to town. The streets appear to be even more sparse in the number of backpackers that are traveling through, but experiencing the slow season is a nice change of pace as faces give way to names in the number of people I now know in this small beach town. First, running in to Johnny on the main road that runs parallel to the beach, I stop and chat with him for a few minutes before he rides off on his dirt bike obviously reminding me of the infamous character that tormented Daniel Larusso, fortunately for myself I am not being harassed by the Cobra Kai’s thus being forced into seclusion of a homemade shower costume. Whew, another bullet dodged.
Adapting to a slower pace of life, I continue walking around with no particular destination, but relish in the freedom of all that has been gained and the life lessons of what can be accomplished when fears and doubts are overcome by following your dream. You would be amazed at how easily adopting a new perspective towards the world around you changes, even upon taking that first step. Ducking in and out shaded areas I stop off at Iguanas and chat with Ramon, a local Nica that has spent his entire life in SJDS and is currently planning his escape from the routine with aspirations to visit South America in the near future. Giving him the routine slap of the hand followed up by a quick fist bump I am on my way down the street to visit zee German, Claas. The sun has disappeared over the Pacific as we discuss how quiet the town has become before wishing him goodbye and finally ending my walk at Cory and Mandy’s place where I meet another permanent fixture in San Juan, Kenny who is also owner of WrapNRoll. Yes, it might as well be Mayberry, but it is my Mayberry that I’m calling home and not a bad view either. The moment of the day that takes the entire cake arrives in the form of a hand-written note that is placed in the bathroom of their small sports bar restaurant. Unable to control myself upon reading it, it is absolutely priceless and something that Mandy and I laugh about because you would never see anything like this in a business back in the States. Oh Central America, how you never cease to amaze me in the various forms of humor that are brought on with the relative difficulties that lack the comforts that were so easily taken for granted back home. Salud, to modern day plumbing.
Awaking to hand-written note from Marcus, the hostel manager, he has asked me if I can cover his morning shift since he is feeling quiet ill with symptoms of Dengue Fever. Previously talking with Cory about how painful and excruciating this can be since he experienced firsthand several months ago, I was happy to help out. There is little activity between 7am – 3pm for a Friday, and this has allowed me to try and catch up on anything and everything that has to do with utilizing the Internet since it has disappeared each later afternoon for the majority of the week and failing to return until the next morning. Emails, online banking, facebook, words with friends–all of the important aspects of communication has been taken care of just in time of ending my shift. Rewarding myself with a chicken gyro after another stressful day, I receive a message that Krista is coming down on the 6pm shuttle for a convo date and apparently she has some big news. I can’t imagine what it could be since I’ve already rejected her marriage proposal numerous times, but I am in a good mood and at least willing to hear her out. Ready to unvail the massive cloth banner that has the word NEVER colorfully written across it in gold glitter, she arrives right on cue, but her big news is absent of public humiliation and the banner is stored away for the next time she attempts to seduce me with her Canadian tuxedo ways. Her announcement is some big news, since she has decided to forego her return flight to Winterpeg, that was to depart this month, but has accepted the manager position at her hostel with no return date in the future. Excited for her, we both laugh about how of course we would both get stuck, in a sense, in beautiful SJDS together even though we have to purposefully make plans to spend time together since days even weeks pass before seeing one another. The conversation always tends to swing back to the amount of months we have both been traveling, and continue to add together the months of having each other as the longest standing friendship during this time. Adding up the months as though they are days, we have reached the pinnacle of five months since our first meeting in Utila, Honduras and from the looks of things it could exceed double digits unless I make my way to South America in the next few months. The timing of how we both ended up in that glorious air-conditioned classroom in April together still causes us to appreciate the friendship that we’ve built, and the unique life we continue to share. Krista has become a bit of a kid sister to me, and I’m always looking out for her, which is quite often. The endless chore of assisting a rather enfeeble girl, the duties are endless whether it be; when she is having her lunch money stolen, refusing to wash her hands after pooping, running with scissors in hand, coloring walls with permanent markers, contemplating joining the mean girls clique, sniffing glue or eating paint chips, I suppose that with great power, baby-sitting a genuine top hat, comes great responsibility. Krista, you’re welcome. She’s gonna kill me when she reads this, but I know that it will be worth it because Johnny, Ryan, Kaya, Lindsay, and Maf will all bask in Krista’s misery even though she knows I occasionally turn on my heart light for her. Occassionally.
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