Dollars and Drugs
Yes, it's true, the Almighty Dollar is also king down here in Nicaragua. It's partly due to necessity--the local córdoba is in a slow exchange-rate free-fall and is now equal to six U.S. cents--and partly out of habit, as U.S. intervention in Nicaragua has been a regular occurrence in the nation's history. Many businesses accept dollars, although since prices are so low here, anything cheaper than a night at a hotel will earn you a hefty wad of change from a $10 bill.* Unfortunately, the local beggars are all too aware of this too, and while many ask for the relatively meager sum of one cord, others will stare you down and demand a whole dollar. I have a strict policy against giving money to people on the street (food, sure, but not money), since a dollar can go a long way and the sad truth is that one just can't always trust others to spend responsibly.
That--again unfortunately--is where the second half of the title comes in. Perhaps "drugs" is a misnomer here, but possibly not. Pot is enjoyed surreptitiously--it's illegal here, too--by backpackers and locals alike, but the bigger problem (so far as I can see) is glue. Street children sniff it because it's legal and affordable**, and much like any other chemical escape, it really fucks you up.
I will freely admit that I am not the most observant person out there, so when I was informed that the program I work with has a policy of kicking out any student who shows signs of being high, I got a little apprehensive. How would I know? Most of these kids are malnourished and mistreated, and are understandably unpredictable; I wasn't sure I'd be able to tell the difference.
My fears were proven unfounded the day and older kid exhaled ashesive fumes directly into my face*** and I hustled him right out the door. It was kind of like playing bouncer, with all the ego inflation of getting to push troublemakers around and none of the fear of getting my nose broken. But I'm still down-to-earth. You can trust me.
* I once had the misfortune to be in a supermarket check-out line behind some guy who tried to pay for a small basket of food with a $100 bill. They practically had to empty the vault. Never underestimate the cluelessness of travelers.
** A small jar, costing C$5 (31 cents), lasts for a few hours. A C$20 ($1.25) pot gives off fumes for a week.
*** Secondhand huff is indeed just as noxious as the pure form.
That--again unfortunately--is where the second half of the title comes in. Perhaps "drugs" is a misnomer here, but possibly not. Pot is enjoyed surreptitiously--it's illegal here, too--by backpackers and locals alike, but the bigger problem (so far as I can see) is glue. Street children sniff it because it's legal and affordable**, and much like any other chemical escape, it really fucks you up.
I will freely admit that I am not the most observant person out there, so when I was informed that the program I work with has a policy of kicking out any student who shows signs of being high, I got a little apprehensive. How would I know? Most of these kids are malnourished and mistreated, and are understandably unpredictable; I wasn't sure I'd be able to tell the difference.
My fears were proven unfounded the day and older kid exhaled ashesive fumes directly into my face*** and I hustled him right out the door. It was kind of like playing bouncer, with all the ego inflation of getting to push troublemakers around and none of the fear of getting my nose broken. But I'm still down-to-earth. You can trust me.
* I once had the misfortune to be in a supermarket check-out line behind some guy who tried to pay for a small basket of food with a $100 bill. They practically had to empty the vault. Never underestimate the cluelessness of travelers.
** A small jar, costing C$5 (31 cents), lasts for a few hours. A C$20 ($1.25) pot gives off fumes for a week.
*** Secondhand huff is indeed just as noxious as the pure form.
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