Solentiname today, moving towards tomorrow

Globalization. Tiger bedspread Made in China? Expensive wardrobe, certainly not made in Solentiname. Drywall instead of local wood for walls.

Ask any of Solentiname's older generations about what Solentiname was like in the past and they'll all tell you that nobody had a motor for their boat and how trips to San Carlos were made in small, wooden row boats. They'll tell you how poor everyone was and how disconnected they were from mainland Nicaragua and the rest of the world. More importantly, they'll explain how everyone was much more united. That's all changed, or rather, that's all changing very drastically. Most families today have significantly more money than they used to several years ago. As a result, Solentinameños in general have become greater consumers and more capitalistic. 

But what are the consequences? I've asked this question to several locals and most of them immediately say that the consequences are positive. They tell me that Solentiname is much more developed and that people today enjoy better standards of living. That's when I ask them if they believe that this "development" has also brought more conflict and inequality into their society. Yes, is the resounding answer. While some people have been able to buy very high horsepower motors for their boats, expensive solar panels, televisions, sound systems, as well as imported clothes and jewelry, many people have not. Thus, people become more envious, more selfish, and less united.  

But is this just a temporary stage as people adapt to capitalism and consumerism or will it last? Do the pros outweigh the cons? Will all of these changes completely transform Solentiname's culture?

Cell phones are everywhere. Pay attention to the jewelry and modern clothing.

Gasoline fueled pumps. Hundreds of feet of tubing. Better irrigation. More crops. More income.

New boat to the left. Old boat to the right.

Television every night. Increased exposure to news, globalization, marketing, etc. Families used to sit in the dark and speak to one another. Now they eat and watch television. Huge cultural impact.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you liked this post you might also like this one: The Veneration of Material Things.