In one of our first weeks in Nicaragua, in 2015, we called a Mennonite pastor that we had a connection to on a Saturday evening to ask for directions to his church. On Sunday morning he asked us if we'd like to come by their house (conocer la casa). Our kids were a bit worn out at the moment, so I attempted to politely decline and say maybe another time. He looked disappointed and only later did I have some conversations with others who said it was very likely a meal invitation, and that I had misread the moment. This would be our first encounter with misreading Nicaraguan hospitality.
Months and months would pass, and we would become busy in our work and school routines. I started to realize that there was something we didn't understand about Nicaraguan social life and hospitality. Where and how did this happen? And then, once we had that information, how could we participate? I started to ask around, asking what seem like silly questions. Do you organize visits? Do you plan meals? Do you go to other destinations? etc. For me, family-to-family hospitality means a meal invitation or a shared activity, generally planned in advance, in part because family schedules are full and in part because I like predictability and a degree of control. What I seemed to be finding was generally the opposite. That this kind of social sharing is spontaneous, and not necessarily around a meal, not everything happens in a concerted, everyone at one table kind of way. This doesn't go with my personality, culture, etc. However, especially as we've been recently getting back to Nicaragua after home leave, we have a bit of a fresh start.
Lia and Silas's Sunday School teacher, Isabel, had been talking to Rebekah for a while to find a time that would work to get our families together for a meal. The other Sunday after church, things finally came together, although even then there were moments when the train could have derailed. We thought we'd take a taxi to their house, but they insisted it's not far and we should just pile in the car together. Ten of us in a hatchback (some small bodies in there).
Harold grilled up some delicious meat and we enjoyed a great meal together. The kids played Uno and Skipbo together on the outside table until the rain brought them inside to the living room that doubles as a pulperÃa (a little corner store). Really nice time together. Here's Harold with his grill he welded together with scrap metal.
A Harrisonburg/Nicaraguan friend of ours, Evelin, was back to Nicaragua from the US to be with her parents over the last several weeks. She and her husband Jaime have a coffee farm out Carreterra Sur, and when she came by the office, we made plans to go out and visit that weekend. She and her family gave us a tour of the farm and shared a delicious meal, including something of a dragon fruit (pitahaya) cheese cake for dessert.
Another family that we have really appreciated is Francisco and Cristel and their two girls (4 yrs and 5 months). We got to know them through our kids' school, and we've gotten into a routine where our kids ride down to school with Francisco in the morning. It's been a blessing.
Last Saturday we had made a plan to head over to the pool together with the kids. When we arrived (at the predetermined hour of 2:30 pm), we found that there were some other guests that were there, and they hadn't had their lunch yet. They offered me a fresh fish soup that they had prepared. I had already eaten lunch, so initially I was reluctant. A small taste, a small bowl, I suggested. When the food was on the table, everyone was served the same delicious soup in sizable bowls.
The children continued to play together out on a patio, the mother-in-law who made the soup continued to organize in the kitchen, and five adults enjoyed the soup and lemonade at the table. We still got to the pool, and had a great time, and once again I had a lesson in being flexible and appreciating hospitality, Nicaraguan style.
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