Self Esteem Boosts, Surfing, and Solidarity in Nicaragua

Do you ever feel ugly or unattractive?  Or unnoticed by those around you? If you happen to be white, and (even better), blonde, then fear not!  The remedy comes in a trip to Nicaragua, where you will not only get attention from every local male you pass, regardless of age, but the women too will stare openly!  If you’re lucky, and own a pair of booty shorts, you may even be followed more than once in a day.  

I’ve been in Nicaragua for over a month now, and have gone through a wide range of emotions regarding this constant and incessant attention.  At first, I was put off and slightly disgusted.  Then, for a short time, I felt empowered and incredibly attractive.  I mean, I could look like absolute shit and still get hit on by everyone around me.  This quickly faded and changed to contempt for these people not having the ability to realize when I hadn’t showered for 2 days.  Now it has become a background noise, albeit an annoying one, that only registers when physical contact is attempted.  Then I whip around with all the fury a local woman and scream “ABSOLUTELY NOT!”  In the heat of a moment, it’s hard to remember to speak Spanish.

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