Amigos

When the police force of Nicaragua make an equivalent of $5/day you come here expecting that people will be asking for money. In Mexico, Dominican Republic and Belize we were constantly sought out by the locals that were selling goods on the beach, on the streets, or kids coming to sing to us in exchange for a dollar or two. Here, it has been surprising, but I've been asked for a handout only once, in a market by a man who looked like he severely needed it. There are no women walking the beach, only the fisherman heading out every morning at 5:30, some in paddled boats, to sell fish at their markets for 30C ($7.50).

Yesterday afternoon the little girl who lives here came to play in the pool with the kids and I and my dad took the opportunity to go for a long walk. When he came back we looked down the beach and he had two small shadows in the shape of some local children. We laughed as he tends to be a magnet for the small folk, but were a bit more surprised when they followed him up the 56 steps to our house. They were asking for money which I think my dad agreed to, but then they saw the fun in the pool. Eyes got big, and you could see the excitement and disappointment in them as they were in their clothes and covered in sand. I showed them the outdoor shower and that was all it took, they were sopping wet and diving in by the time I got back to the pool, a surprising play date took place! Snacks of cookies and apples, goggles for all, a rousing game of bumper tube and diving for matchbox cars occupied us for the next hour all while communicating in broken languages and laughter. Adrianna was then called home, our two wanted to head to the beach and I was water logged so we called it a day. My dad took the four boys down to the beach where Carlos (9) and Mario (11) caught crabs for our two and at the end of it sent them on their way with 100C ($4). They were THRILLED. They jumped, they ran, they passed the bill back and forth. 20 yards away they turned with huge smiles and yelled MANANA!!

The day seemed fun, spontaneous, and yet, so normal. And how can that be? I'm quite sure I would be pretty put off if in a couple years Austin came home telling me he met a man who doesn't speak English (or any man for that matter), but he went to his house, had snacks, played in his pool and then received money for the day.

Strange of not, I do hope we see the boys again as Austin is already asking for them and $4 seems like a cheap hourly rate for childcare!