Hola from beautiful Nicaragua!

I wanted to check in with you all as I navigate the first few days of my trip. I had a completely uneventful trip here - easy flights, no delays, no trouble at immigration and customs, and breezy ride to my home for the next month in Granada.

This is not to say that it wasn’t an experience of learning, adapting and making do to be sure! Here are a couple of the highlights:

I was SUPER nervous about the “onward travel” requirement when arriving in Nicaragua (I had heard horror stories about how people who couldn’t sufficiently convince a grumpy customs agent that they did indeed plan to leave the country by the end of their visa - that they were forced to buy and expensive airline ticket on the spot to be compliant!)

So what did I do? I had every reservation, bus ticket, airline ticket etc I had made thus far for this trip - even the ones that were leaving from other countries. I also carefully translated an entire diatribe description of exactly where I was staying, for how long, how I would leave the country and where I was going next into Spanish and saved it on my phone. I was so ready!

And guess what happened? I get up to the agent and hand over my passport and the visa form that was given to me on the plane (plus $10 cash for the fee) and the woman took my photo, typed some stuff into the computer and waved me on my way - she barely even looked at me! LOL. The takeaway?

Once I exited the airport, I got a masters class in re-calibrating expectations to be sure! I had pre-arranged a ride with someone trusted by my Air BnB host because I didn’t want to end up as some statistic, being snatched in a developing country and never to be seen again. 🙂 

So I find Luis (the guy holding a sign with my name on it!) - and we head off to load into his car. I’m picturing a van or an Uber or something like that, but that was not what was in store for me. Luis’s car was an ancient version of a teenagers sports car with heavily tinted windows, stickers and decor all over the garish purple paint, and upholstery that looked like a legion of several toddlers and a pack of rambunctious dogs had abused it for years. Oh and did I mention the seatbelts didn’t work? HAHA!

It was at this moment I had to remind myself that I was in a world completely different than the one I was used to - not worse, not better - but just different from what I knew and was comfortable with. Luis was so kind, he spoke no English but was going out of his way to communicate with me and be friendly - I took a deep breath, put a smile on my face and hopped in. And guess what? I survived! ;)

Last little experience under the banner of re-calibrating expectations was my accommodations for the month. I knew the room was going to be pretty basic, I was prepared for that. What I wasn’t really prepared for was just how basic it is. The lighting is pretty terrible, I have a desk, a bed, a bathroom, a rod for several hangers, a chair, and a safe. That’s it.

My shower head is an ancient looking pipe jutting out of the wall with a shower head that spits unheated water down upon me and only one of the two faucets on my sink works (and you have to twist it in a very certain way to get water out of it.). The lighting is terrible by my standard and experience and the pillows are flat as pancakes.

But you know what is so great about where I am staying? I have a stunning tropical courtyard right outside my door with chairs and hammocks. I get free access to all of the yoga and fitness classes offered here, there is a lovely cafe that serves traditional and super healthy spa food for cheap, and there is a HUGE tortoise that lives in the middle of the courtyard who is super fun to watch! Plus,I hear cold plunge showers are really healthy for you - BONUS! ;)

Anyway friends, I wrote way more than I meant to, lol! I have been recording a little thought each day as I experience or learn something new and will begin posting those audios on Facebook (and Instagram if I can figure out that three-ring glitter circus LOL!)

Until next time, stay curious and committed to your own journey to B.R.A.V.E. You don’t need to do crazy things or travel the world to transform your life. It looks different for each of us. The key is finding the thing that stretches and challenges you - knocks you out of the comfortable auto pilot - to rethink your belief and identity stories to get reacquainted with your authentic self.

—Sharon