About the Expats « An Expat Life in Nicaragua

About the Expats

How did I end up in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua? Where to begin? Well, my husband and I came down to visit some friends in March, 2007. If he had his way, we never would have left San Juan. I, too, loved the place, but we had one small detail to attend to first – our wedding – back in Boston. So, we returned to the States for a year, got hitched in August, 2007, wrapped up our jobs, had a farewell party with family and friends and hopped a Continental flight back to Nicaragua, with our dog in cargo, in January of 2008.

Prior to leaving Boston, Justin was working for a major tech research company and I was a school counselor for a prominent private school. We both have a ton of family back home and were living a pretty sweet life. So, why leave it all? Well, for one, it’s pretty nice to go to work in flip flops and shorts. Even better, at the end of the day, there’s nothing better than hitting the beach to watch the sunset. However, one of the greatest things about this move has been all of the wonderful people we’ve met, Nicas and Ex-Pats, alike.

If you’re thinking about making a similar move, don’t hesitate to post with questions or comments. I’d be more than happy to share my experience.

17 Comments »

17 Responses

on September 5, 2008 at 5:19 pm | Reply Kerry

Sarah,

I have read your blog with great interest. My husband has an opportunity to work in Granada and we are looking at moving within the next few months. I laughed at your capri vs. shorts comment, so I decided you would be the perfect person to reach out to. I am curious as to how you handled the visa situation. are you just going on the tourist visa or did you get Nica residency? Is there any pro / con to either solution? It looks like we can come in on tourist visas – and renew. However, we will be there for at least 2 years, so perhaps this is not a good solution? I have seen many posts on this topic that are outdated now. Since you moved recently, I was curious as to your thoughts. Please feel free to email directly at kerryreisner@mac.com.

Thanks!
Kerry
on October 28, 2008 at 5:04 pm | Reply pedrochristopher

Getting residency is sufficiently frustrating, and getting extensions either in Managua or the border sufficiently cheap and straightforward, that there is little reason to get residency. Unless you want to legally carry a firearm, in which case it is a requirement.
Peter Christopher
central-america-forum.com
on January 21, 2009 at 2:21 pm | Reply Luis Contreras

Great blog. I’m and expat living in San Juan also and you have done a good job of documenting the beautiful wackiness that goes on here.
on February 14, 2009 at 7:53 pm | Reply Misha

Hello,

How’s is the nightlife where you are?
and…
would you recommend investing in opening a lounge/restaurant in San Juan?

thanks!
- on February 21, 2009 at 9:12 pm | Reply sefahey
  
  Hi Misha,
  There are a number of great restaurants here in San Juan, as well as a few good night spots. I would recommend coming for a visit before making any concrete decisions about opening a business. It’s a wonderful town and most people who visit, come back!
on February 20, 2009 at 10:18 pm | Reply Debbie

I’ve been following your blog for sometime, now. My husband and I lived on Ometepe and we are considering moving back there soon. Since you are involved in real estate, maybe you can answer this question for me. Rumor has it that Ortega is in the process of making a deal with the Russians. He is planning on nationalizing the ferries that go to Ometepe. He plans on letting the Russians run the ferries (The old 1980’s ferries). Also, the Russians will be given land for a Russian military base…somewhere in Nicaragua. (Hopefully not Ometepe). Apparently, Ortega has decided that the ferries that are presently running are not doing it legally…thus the reason to nationalize and give the ferry operations to Russia. Have you heard this rumor?
- on February 21, 2009 at 9:05 pm | Reply sefahey
  
  Hi Debbie,
  
  I haven’t heard that…yet. My husband thinks Russia is one of the only options Ortega has left for money. EU and USA are pissed at him, but Russia loves him for recognizing Abkhazia, S.Ossetia. As a thank you, Russia promised to modernize the Nica military so I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a long-term presence here. I don’t think they’d be able to get away with having an actual military base here–US would really kick up a storm over that one and would never let that happen without a fight…
on February 21, 2009 at 9:57 pm | Reply Luis Contreras

There are plenty of good places to eat and drink. this place needs a good mini golf with totaly goofy holes and duende statues. If you come by and look around this will become apparent.
on February 23, 2009 at 7:02 pm | Reply Lessun

Would love to communicate with you and ask questions regarding living in Nicaragua. My husband and I are currently ex-pats living in Belize and have found that living somewhere is definitely not the same as visiting.
on April 17, 2009 at 7:05 pm | Reply Geoff LeGrand

Hi!

I’m a student at the University of Puget Sound, up in Tacoma Washington. I’m actually going to be traveling down to Nicaragua for two months this summer on a politics research grant. I was really hoping to hook up with some kind of volunteer organization while I’m down there (not one of the formal pay-to-volunteer groups) and I was wondering if you had any suggestions?

Thanks so much!
–Geoff–
- on May 19, 2009 at 6:02 pm | Reply sefahey
  
  Hi Geoff,
  Glad to hear that you are interested in helping out the community! There are a number of non-profit organizations here in town that are always looking for additional help. I only have first hand knowledge of the orgs. here in San Juan del Sur, but I know there are plenty more out there – in Granada, Leon, Managua, etc. As for San Juan, you might want to check out:
  
  http://www.comunidadconnect.org (sustainable development, tourism, education, etc.)
  http://www.sjdsbiblioteca.com (mobile library)
  http://www.casadelamujer.wordpress.com (Women’s center – I can give you more info on this if you would like)
  http://www.fundacionajbrugger.org (vet clinic, art gallery, work with the elderly, etc)
  
  Best of luck!
on May 6, 2009 at 8:05 pm | Reply Kimberly

Hello,

I found your blog after searching for info on San Juan Del Sur, which I will be moving to at the end of the summer for the next year working on health projects in the area for my master’s degree. I was wondering if I could get some inside info from an expat living there currently?

What is the average price for a one or two bedroom apartment in the city? What about an average food budget? The organization that I am going down with said to plan on $20 USD p/day for housing/food but apprx. $600 USD seems a bit steep, just looking at the hotel prices.

Do you know of somewhere online that has places listed of where to live? Is it easy to find a place once down there? Or do you know of people who rent out rooms in their homes?

Any info/insight on the area you could give me would be great!!

Thanks,

Kimberly Calkins
- on May 19, 2009 at 5:39 pm | Reply sefahey
  
  HI Kimberly – Glad to hear you are coming down this way! It is a wonderful little town and the people are incredibly friendly. A number of people have emailed me with questions about cost, budget, etc., so I will create a new post to address this questions. Look for it in the next day or two and feel free to email with any additional questions.
  
  Sarah
on May 6, 2009 at 8:15 pm | Reply Kimberly

Hey,

One more thing! …

I am wondering about the vaccination issue, did you get any that the CDC or other orgs recommend? I am specifically wondering about malaria meds and the typhoid vaccination, I dont feel like they are necessary but according to WHO and a nurse I spoke with they are imperative, but I am leaning away from them. I have hep b/polio/mmr and all those basics and prob will get hep a which I don’t have.

Any thoughts?

Muchas Gracias!!

Kimberly
on June 8, 2009 at 6:03 am | Reply Mahlon

Sarah,

I’m seriously considering relocating to San Juan and I’m intrigued by the eco-friendly homes in the Balcones de Majagual. Any input about that area?

I’m a general dentist /land-locked former CA surfer nearing retirement. I’d be interested in setting up a little dental clinic there in SJDS because there seems to be a great need. I’d have a sign on the door “Surf’s Up, so Doc’s gone. Be back tomorrow.”Of course it would be in Espanol, por supuesto.

Is there currently any dental care facility in the town? I found out that there’s an NGO from Newton, MASS. that sends dentists down every February, but I’m talking about providing year-round care except when there are decent sets coming in. “Man’s gotta have his enthusiasims”, Al Capone.

Thanks,
Mahlon
on September 19, 2009 at 1:36 am | Reply Sarah

Sarah,

I too am a Boston person and was searching to see if there is an ex-pat Red Sox bar in Nicaragua and stumbled across your blog. I am down here for the next two months with two friends building a school in the village of Santa Maria, which is North of Esteli. We are looking to spend the last couple of weeks we are here surfing. It seems that San Jaun is the place to be in terms of surf, can you recommend any surf resorts that you think are better than the rest (not necessarily ammenities but overall experiences)?

Thanks,

Evan
- on September 22, 2009 at 9:27 pm | Reply sefahey
  
  Hi Evan,
  It’s always nice to hear from a fellow Bostonian. Glad to hear that you are enjoying your visit to Nicaragua! There are no Red Sox bars in San Juan, but there are certainly plenty of fans, so it’s usually pretty easy to convince a bar or restaurant to put the game on. Try El Pozo, Bambu, or Republika. There is also a new Irish bar in town, which actually serves Guinness!
  
  As far as surfing, there are plenty of local hotels that offer surf trips, including Piedras y Olas, Buena Vista Surf Club, Surf Zone. Nicaragua Surf Resort also offer custom packages that include hotel stays. You can also stay in a local hostel, like Casa Oro, and get rides out to the local beaches from any one of a number of surf tour operators. Have fun!