180 attitude

I cant believe that I am leaving Bluefields so soon!!! I can honestly say that my attitude about this place has changed 100% from the first 2 weeks I was here… I really have had the best time in the past week, and it will be really hard to leave (I never imagined I would be saying that!). I have learned so much being here too….although the people don’t have much, they know how to be happy and the atmosphere of the place just starts to suck you in. It really was something that took some getting used to though, to look beyond the poverty was really hard to do, especially coming from a place that has so much. But even though these people don’t have much money, they are the most generous people I have ever known. Everywhere I have gone I have been given food or drink, and it is customary for whoever invites you to go to eat or drink that they pay. It has made me think about many people in the US, and how selfish many people are. I have just been amazed by how many people with enormous hearts that I have been lucky enough to get to know.
I love the atmosphere of the place when walking down the street. Even though it is a fairly large town, everyone knows each other (in the neighborhoods that I stick to). Everyone says hello and stops to chat…kids play in the street all of the time ( there aren’t many cars here besides taxis)…anywhere you are you can always hear somebody’s music playing (which is always happy music…socco, reggae, reggaetone)…everyone has their door open and people are always sitting on the porch… over all, it is just a happy place, with great, happy people….it is definitely the kind of place I would like to live someday….and the kind of place you don’t find in the US very often.
The people….they love to dance….love to “run jokes”….have a laugh…..”molest” each other (that’s what they call kidding around)…are eternally optimistic about life…love children (and start early!)…love old people and always show respect with Mr. and Miss….and the people here LOVE Bluefields (everyone I have asked tells me that they absolutely love to life here!)