People
The most outstanding characteristic about the Nicaraguan people is their kindness, which you will notice almost immediately because they are always helpful and will offer you their friendship without hesitation.
On arriving in Nicaragua, you will notice that people here ask a lot of questions, which is one of the ways we get to know one another. Unless you have experienced this kind of direct questioning before, you may perceive it as a lack of respect, unsuitable conduct, or sheer boldness. But you must understand that for a Nicaraguan, it is quite common and is the natural way of making social contact.
Questions like the following will be asked of you many times: What is your name? Where are you from? How old are you? Are you married? How many kids do you have? What are you doing in Nicaragua? How long will you be in Nicaragua?, etc.
If you speak Spanish, you will immediately note that in Nicaragua we use “vos” instead of “tu.” “Vos” is used more between people who already know each other, between young people, and between those who have established intimacy. Some people use “usted” to be more formal or to show respect.
Nicaraguan men and women are generally very open during social interaction. However, you will observe a big difference in those people living in rural areas, who are generally more closed, less expressive, and more introverted.
There are typical Nicaraguan behaviors and characteristics that can cause culture shock upon your return, especially if you are here for a prolonged period of time. Of course, this depends on the kinds of social interactions that you have.
Throwing garbage in the streets or any other place. You will notice right away that the streets are generally dirty and that it is very common that passers-by and bus passengers throw garbage out their vehicle windows.
Nicaragua’s culture is also very patriarchal, even though there has been a struggle for women’s rights for many years. You will quickly notice the “machismo” conduct of Nicaraguan men towards women in the streets. Rude gestures and abusive verbal and physical contact are acceptable behavior in our culture.
If you have an appointment with a Nicaraguan, do not worry if he or she is late. Punctuality is not a Nicaraguan trait.
Nicaraguans call all foreigners or Nicaraguans with light skin or European traits “cheles.” This word does not have a completely negative connotation. An important thing to remember is that for many Nicaraguans every person who seems foreign is from the United States. To say “chele” is simply a culturally learned habit.
It is also common that Nicaraguans call all foreigners “gringos,” even though the term has negative origins. It does not have the same connotation today; it is simply a name that refers to foreigners.
Pablo Antonio Cuadra, who has studied Nicaraguan language and culture, defined with some humor twelve characteristics that typify Nicaraguans, including: expressive, informal, irresponsible, always late, gossipy, exaggerators, mythical, and family-oriented.