Kate’s Central American (CA) fun facts: This list of facts are only facts based on month long personal observations and experiences from Quiche, Guatemala –> Tegucigalpa, Honduras –> Chinandega, Nicaragua.
Guatemala is the most conservative of the 3 CA countries. Both knees and shoulders always have to be covered, and most natives stay dressed in very traditional mid calf length skirts and frilly blouses. Honduras and Nicaragua are both pretty casual. Woman wear North American type fashions…skinny jeans, flip flops, tank tops…and guys rock jeans and a t-shirt usually. The “kool kids” look a little like guidos if I’m honest. Trendy jeans with a nice fitted top, hair gelled into perfect spikes, and a chain around their neck. A lot of the boys have a small “rat tail” hair fashion..you know the one that stopped being awesome and started being ugly the second it began? Yea, that one. But they make it even better, because they dye it! Why did we never think of that? Bring it back boys.
As you move from Guatemala to Nicaragua, the people get taller! They’re so short in Guatemala. Like, shorter than me short. By the time you get to Nicaragua they’re mostly average height with some random tall people.
In case you were wondering, there’s albino’s and triplets..and albino triplets..in Guatemala. I know because I met some on the bus one day.
Some people in Nicaragua look caucasian, but they’re not.
Corn tortillas taste better in each country going from Guatemala, to Honduras, to Nicaragua. They’re still not as good as flour tortillas.
There’s fried chicken EVERYWHERE. It’s like the south, but replace the cornbread with corn tortillas, and the greens with extra french fries.
Horses, cattle, dogs, chickens, and sometimes even donkey’s just roam the streets.
Coke comes in a plastic bag with a straw and tacos are deep fried.
Rice and beans go with every meal and can be every meal, including breakfast and snacking.
The rules of the road are there are no rules. Vehicles defy odds and the laws of physics every day. Buses with luggage on top take U-turns through the mountains at top speeds without tipping over or loosing a person or belonging, it’s seriously incredible (and terrifying). Cars pass each other around curves at any time they feel like it–just honk 20 times to let the other side of the road know you’re coming. Passing cars becomes a game of who can get to the front of the line the quickest with the car behind you trying to pass you as you try to pass the car in front of you. There’s no seat belts, and sometimes not even seats. And there’s no limit to how many people you can fit in the bed of a truck.
Honking, whistling, and hissing are a man’s favorite way to get a women’s attention. I still can’t figure out if this is actually culturally endearing, or if it’s annoying to all women.
They have Tony’s seasoning in Nicaragua!!!!! A country after my own heart.
My love for plantains grows every month..and I loved them a lot even during month 1.
Some Central Americans look Asian.
Hospitality is top notch in CA. No matter where you go they give you their best. They always pull out chairs for everyone to sit in (usually like plastic picnic chairs we have in the states..not the kind that fold up, the kind that stack), even if it means they’ll be standing. If they don’t already have coke and bread in the house, they’ll often times have someone run out without us even noticing to go get some to serve us. They’re sneaky in their hospitality like that! It’s crazy to me that you can go somewhere to bless someone and they end up blessing you times 10 in return.
They put salt and/or pepper and/or chili powder on their fruit. It’s weird. (Minus the salt, who doesn’t love salt on watermelon??)
Let’s just say that breast feeding is not a private event here. Central America is very breast friendly.
