As a group of Peace Corps Trainees, it was interesting to receive our first week's living expenses. While our meals and housing were already covered, totaling a little over twelve dollars, I was a little weary to see if the money would indeed cover our transportation expenses for several 45 minute bus trips, a meal out, and various other accommodations. However, after that week I found myself with 2/3 of that money left. Notedly, I did not go out and splurge on the Nicaraguan life, I did still have a nice meal out, take several round trips to towns a ways away, and have a chocolate popsicle. Now that I have been here a couple weeks, I've been able to observe that I could live very easily with a few saved dollars. However, as a part of being in the Peace Corps, we receive an income similar to that of many of the middle income locals, which changes the perspective. It's no longer about the dollar exchange rate.
While sitting at a nice local restaurant, decked out in nicely cut bamboo shoots in the urban town of Jinotepe, I was reminded by one of my fellow trainees when looking at their menu with four to six dollar entrees, when she said, "Whoa, it's time to start thinking in Cordobas." Almost instinctively we all were translating the money into dollars and admiring how affordable the prices were. However, the reality sank in fast. For someone who does live on a twelve dollar a week budget, eating even a four dollar steak becomes a significant expense.
This, one of the many different elements of culture shock when going into the Peace Corps, I'm sure is just some of the first lessons that I will learn. But I already am wondering that if I were to return to the States today, if I would budget more conservatively.
-Tim