As much as I hate to admit I am ever wrong, it happens more often than not. And in the case of travel, I have been very wrong. About a lot of it. Almost three weeks in, I've had to make some major adjustments already.
Ill-Prepared for This Trip
I planned this trip for nearly sixteen months. I thought I had covered all of my bases when it came to travel, and I would simply figure out the remaining aspects as I went. Turns out I am rather ill-prepared for this trip despite my studies.
For whatever reason I thought I would be able to manage and navigate through Central America with the most limited grasp of Spanish ever. I am not venturing off the main backpacking trail much and figured that my baby Spanish might cut it. I figured, naively, that being in tourist towns, some of the residents may have a better grasp on English than I have on Spanish. I figured wrong, and it's been quite the struggle as a result.
A Few Issues at the Beginning
The first few days in Guatemala saw me too nervous to order even basic necessities like food and water. I was stressed out, especially when my pointed gesturing at items of need were met with blank stares still. I live in a perpetual state of confusion when I order one thing and get a differently one completely, though apparently that can still be the case even when fluent in Spanish around these parts.
While planning this trip, I arranged my schedule to follow the sun. I hate being cold and wet. Thus, if it was summer, that's where I would be. I completely forgot about rainy seasons until I was caught in a complete downpour in Nicaragua last week. All of my companions had their rain coats ready to go while I stood there in utter confusion about this liquid falling freely from the skies.
Most of my clothes I've brought along are not appropriate for the weather. The fabrics are thicker and fine for the dry desert landscape of Arizona but don't breathe well in the hot humidity here. They are constantly slicked to my body with sweat.
I've slowly begun replacing my wardrobe with lighter, airier fabrics that are better suited to the climate and much easier to lug around in my still-heavy bag. I plan to soon trade my running shoes for hiking boots, my light sweater for a rain coat, and get some sweaters to keep warm as I head into the higher altitudes in South America next month.
There is hope though.Almost three weeks in and I am beginning to understand the vast majority of Spanish spoken around me, though I still stutter and flail when it is directed at me or I have to order something. Baby steps.
Things Are Looking Up Every Day
While I've done many things wrong and am quickly learning from them, I haven't always been a complete failure. The breakneck speed that I am racing through Central America seems to be favored by at least half the people I've met and we seem to have aligned well-enough to head South together, moving through cities and towns at roughly the same pace. My hostel reservations that I made months ago haven't had to be canceled as such, and are often helpful given I've researched the best locations for all of the activities we have planned. It takes some of the exhaustion from constant travel out of the equation, having a place to work our way toward rather than constantly figuring it out as we go.
Hopefully in another three weeks, I'll have all the secrets to long-term travel sussed out and become an overnight expert in the field. More likely I'll be still be a confused puddle on the floor, cursing this trip that took me well out of my comfort zone.
They tell me that's the beauty of travel, but I guess time will tell.
