When I first moved to Nicaragua I realized that these rules do not apply here. They have a somewhat Aloha/Aloha thing going on in Nicaragua with the word Adios.
When to say Adios:
1. When you walk by anyone on the street you can say Adios and they’ll typically respond Adios. It’s an informal greeting for strangers. Everyone does it here! I’ve learned to be the initiator as people are usually staring at me anyway. Once I say Adios they smile and say Adios back.
2. When you walk by or bump into someone on the street you already know, but you don’t have time to stay and talk. You just say Adios and keep walking.
3. When you are done with a social exchange as a way of saying goodbye.
So when do you say Hola?:
1. When you see someone you know and you want to have a social exchange.
2. When you are introduced to someone for the first time.
When I first moved to Nicaragua this was an adjustment for me. I would see people I knew around town and I would wave and say Hola and then they would stop and want to talk. I was just trying to say hello. I was clueless! Now I just walk around saying Adios to everyone and it’s totally comfortable, but at first I felt like I was being rude. When is it ok to just say Goodbye to someone you know as you walk by? It felt kind of cold and distant, but I’ve learned that it’s the nicest way of interacting with people I have yet to meet in my community.
Adios- Caressa