What's Happenin' in Nicaragua!
Welcome to Nica Land, an inside view of what's going on in Nicaragua...
the property, the people, and the reality of living the dream.

Why not? April 20, 2010 • Kassidy Mefford

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it! Boldness has genius, power, and imagination in it.   Begin it now." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

On a recent trip to California, I was asked, "When are you moving back to the States?" With the normal response of “possibly never” I was greeted with puzzled looks and the seemingly odd question of “Why are you living there? What is it about Nicaragua that makes you want to stay?”

I guess I always thought the answer to this was obvious, but apparently people needed to here some good solid points as to why I am perfectly content in a third world country.
So here goes....

    • climate of an endless summer and never a need for shoes

    • consistent surf, world class surf, beginner surf, and a warm, warm ocean

    • new, fresh faces of all different types, but mostly the adventurous, interesting type

    • beers for a buck, meals for five, and dresses for ten

    • you can always wear shorts or a bikini -ALWAYS

    • Dancing is not something you have to be highly intoxicated to do

    • Enjoying the hilarious aspects of learning a new culture and sharing mine

    • Simplicity, clarity and the ability to focus on exactly what's important in life.

 


Little Kevin and I on our first sailing trip.

 


Surfers on their way back from a sunset session

Occasionally we get a hateful e-mail from an irate ex-pat who feel as though we should be ashamed of ourselves for telling other people about our little corner of paradise.
I feel as though most people who receive our newsletter or finds our humble little website is someone who shares a common positive thought and is a possible opportunity to make this a better place. Okay, maybe I might be a little too positive in my faith in the human population.

The thing is, our little village of Gigante, is already popular. It already has the full infrastructure of a town with new tourists coming everyday. It already has a gringo influence with businesses run by North-Americans. It already has websites and real estate signs and surfers rolling in daily. All it lacks are more housing options and a few more crucial businesses that would make life here run a little more smoothly... like a locksmith or a gas station, for example.

And no one seems to be complaining, gringo or Nica... everyone seems to be enjoying the improvement of the town and the growing opportunities.


Emperatrice Mena, local store owner who is presently learning English for her clients

 


A backpacker heading to surf

 


Two cultures collide harmoniously, learning from one another.

 


The main road of Gigante

 

Why wouldn’t we invite people to come help make this place better for all parties involved?

The majority of the locals in town want to work for us because of the opportunities we’ve created through tourism. Our staff gets paid well and gets to experience a culture different then their own, learning and growing and possibly moving on to bigger and better things, besides the poor cycle they grew up with. The average kid in Gigante is born into a family of at least six with only the clothes on their back, dependent on their fisherman fathers to put food on the table, too many responsibilities within the family to go to school, no discipline whatsoever regarding education because mom and dad didn’t go either, then the tender age of fifteen comes.... they have a baby, and the cycle continues.

Showing the townspeople that there is more to life, and they are worth more than they think is a rewarding struggle of daily life for us. If new people enter the village and create jobs and opportunities, our little community will prosper and slowly become the inspiration of it’s potential. As of now, there are only a few of us trying to improve the quality of life in this town, and we can do only so much.

This, I feel, is not exploiting anything, but creating something.

 


A local fisherman celebrating sundown after a good day at sea

 


Fourteen year old Jenny helps raise her five nieces and nephews who live with her.

 


Scott and Matt walk the kids to school encouraging them to go everyday

 

Bottom line is this, to bluntly and easily answer the opening question of why I’ve chosen this life...I FEEL GOOD HERE.

My body thrives here. My hair, my nails, my skin, and my lungs saturated in the humidity take away my previous ailments... no more allergies, asthma or dry cracked skin.

There is an exuberant simplicity about Nicaragua which leaves me focused on the things that really matter.


Kassidy, Chanelle and India and a famous Nica sunset

 

In America, I am overwhelmed by the things I can’t have.

In Nicaragua, I am not influenced by what is the “standard” or the “luxury” of society.

 



If I miss America, I just go back. That simple. I get my fix every four months or so. I go home, get Starbucks, buy some cute high heels, and I eat at taco bell for a little taste of the old world. Then, after two days and a stomach ache, I can’t wait to get back to where I know it’s good for me.


I get older and I feel younger. Everything I do is worth something. It’s not mindless, it’s not convenient. It feels good to earn my day.... every day.


The boys helping push the surf panga "Masayita" out of the water to be repaired

 


Helping repair little Kevin's family's roof for the rainy season


I am as busy as I choose.

If my neighbors in their shanty can survive here with smiles on their faces, then I surely can too.

You can be as occupied as you want to be.

You can share your knowledge with the town, create projects, build a community, start a business OR you can just surf three times a day and beach bum it like many of the other’s do.

The choice is yours.

Begin it now.

 




 

kassidy@nicaland.com