December 31st, 2018

Its been a few weeks now since we sent our application for Canadian residency, now we just have to wait. Meanwhile we are moving again. This time a little higher up in the mountains. It is getting a bit tiring moving all the time but circumstances are just that way. The place were moving to will make things a bit easier for us while we wait for an answer from the government, as well be able to save a bit of money and also be able to avoid a bit of the problems in the place were currently living, nothing too big just minor inconveniences.

Were looking forward to getting out of the city. We will be helping to look after a place that belongs to some brothers as they will be out of the country for a bit. it is just on the outskirts of another city, and part way up a mountain. I'm not sure of the exact elevation but its somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 meters. We've definitely adapted to the altitude by now in these 3 months here so the change should be barely noticeable. It will be a bit colder but the house has a wood burning stove for heat. We're looking forward to enjoying the more natural environment as its surrounded by pine forests.

We really are hoping to become more permanent somewhere as soon as our circumstances allow for it. One thing we've found challenging is that each place we go we are forced to leave for one reason or another, and we leave before we ever start to feel at home. The last place we really felt at home (as a couple) was Corn Island, we had a lot of friends there and felt like we could be ourselves as we were in our own culture so to speak. I even had other foreigners around so I didn't feel isolated.

I never really thought that living outside of my culture would be such a challenge. I'm always surprised by how many things are different that I didn't expect to be different. Its really hard to explain what I mean by that exactly... But if you've spent a good amount of time in a foreign country, and more importantly among people that don't speak your language you may understand what I mean. Our mother tongue affects the way we think, the way we process information and how we react to situations and behavior on a very deep level. People do things here that to me are so incredibly rude, or completely wrong, and I'm more than certain they think the same thing about us. When I started traveling I thought "I won't let that bother me, I'll just adapt and try to be as much like them as possible". Well that doesn't work. It takes years to really become comfortable with things that deep inside you feel are wrong.

My family no longer lives in Alberta, they've all moved over to the maritimes and are in Nova Scotia now, so when we go to Canada thats where we will be going as well. It will be a completely new environment for both of us. I've never been to the maritime provinces and until recently I couldn't even name them all or place them on the map. We will have to learn a new culture again, but this time our hope will be to stay for a long time in the town where my parents live until we really feel home there. At least there no one can make us leave. We won't need any more visas or to ask permission to stay longer every three months, not knowing what we would do if they say no. I'll be able to look for a job that lets me work in the day so I can finally get a good night's sleep.

October 2, 2018

We spent a whole three months in Pearl Lagoon, our plan was to stay there much longer. At least a year was our idea. We kept ourselves busy while there, and I hardly had time to write anything for this blog. We've kept on with our struggle to stabilize our situation, only to be continually let down by the system. At least we are in good health and still together.

We've kept on in our attempts to get into Canada. Its been more than 4 years now since I left and I haven't been back even once. I am not willing to go without Jean. The political situation in Nicaragua still has not affected the brothers in the Atlantic coast significantly so this wasn't a concern for us. We decided to keep on pursuing the possibility of me getting residency in Nicaragua so that we could both be legal permanent residents of the same country. After going through lawyers, spending money we didn't have to spend, lots of visa runs, and fixing papers that the judge had filled out incorrectly we finally had everything in order.

Unfortunately, now there is no way for me to get residency in Nicaragua even though I am married to a Nicaraguan citizen. The reasons are unclear, but I know I'm not the only one in this situation. I met a man with his lawyer in Managua who had just been told to start over again because all the requirements have changed. Furthermore, immigration told me that I have to leave. I am no longer allowed to cross the border into Costa Rica and return (even if longer than 3 days) because I have been in Nicaragua too long. They wanted me to return to my country. In effect we are being forced to leave Nicaragua. Obviously, we leave together.

Since Canada is also making it impossible for us to go to my country, we've decided to consult the internet for a list of countries where both of us can go without a visa. The number of options was actually quite surprising and encouraging. There are a lot of exciting, interesting, and beautiful countries (affordable too!) that will allow us to live there at least for a time without having to worry about immigration papers. This should give us enough time to finally get the papers for Jean to come with me to Canada.

Because the country we are currently in doesn't enjoy the same level of safety as Nicaragua, I'll be deliberately vague on our exact location. But its cheap, the food is amazing, and I'm wearing a winter jacket while typing this. And the town we live in does have a reputation for relative safety.

I'll admit i'm surprised how difficult its been for me, a 4th generation Canadian citizen to bring his own wife into the country, even after being married for three years. It isn't impossible, in theory we can go eventually. The problem is the first two times we tried to go, our intention was not to stay in Canada. We wanted to return to Nicaragua after a quick visit with my family. So naturally we applied for a visitor visa. It was denied both times, for reasons that I couldn't understand at the time. Interestingly though, there is a provision where Canadian citizens can demand information pertaining to them from the government. Its similar to the United State's "freedom of information" act.

Imagine my surprise on reading the immigration officer's personal comments to his supervisors that were written on my wife's application. He didn't read it. He saw "Nicaragua" "Canadian husband" and denied it. He saw a clever Nicaraguan trying to cheat her way into Canada to steal jobs, with a fake marriage to a Canadian that doesn't exist. Its very disappointing to be called a liar by your own country, to be denied the right to go home by someone that might not even be a Canadian themselves. I did some digging, the application was processed in Mexico, and in Mexico just like Nicaragua most of the embassy workers are locals. The only person working at the Canadian embassy in Nicaragua for example can barely speak English at all.

Our only option now is to go for the complete Canadian residency. Jean can apply for this from outside the country and hopefully they actually read this one. For this one we only have to prove to them that we are really married. Maybe the fact that I haven't come home for four years will convince them? Or maybe they will even read this blog. It would be a nice change of pace if they started reading things they're supposed to.

In any case were having a great time where we are. We are high in the mountains at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. Thats right, meters. The first week or so we felt short of breath but now we're feeling normal again. Actually, with the cool weather we feel like we have even more energy to get things done. The city we live in has a reputation of enacting "street justice" on thieves and as a result the crime rate is surprisingly low. Its common to see people walking in the street at night, unafraid to use their smartphones in public. The cost of some things is higher than in Nicaragua, as its a more developed country by far. However the cost of food is much lower, probably due to the amount farming in the area, especially of green veggies and fruit. In the end we spend less overall, and we have the opportunity to go places like McDonalds once in a while. There is even a Walmart here.