Nicas in Miami

Another week, another outfit, and this time we’re going full Miami.

I’ve lived in New Orleans and Jacksonville, visited every coast of Florida and traveled to Tucson, Milwaukee, LA and NYC, but if you’re a resident of, or a tourist to Miami FL, you can attest to the fact that it’s distinctly different from other American cities. First and foremost, the language of the city is Spanish. We are a collection of immigrants from the Caribbean, Central, and South America. The ubiquity of Spanish is detested by some, but it’s a reality. If you’re here for pleasure, a little Spanish goes a long way. If you’re here for business, fluency can be the difference between success and failure.

As a local I can see why the city, and its people get a bad rap. Miami is definitely not tourist friendly in transport or affordability, but then again its median income versus cost of living is the worst in the country, so we’re not just picking on tourists, shit is just heinously expensive. The wage gap between the top 1% and the rest of us is 45 times greater. This is a city where there’s a clear demarcation between the haves and have nots. You’re either upgrading your Benz quarterly for the newest model, or budgeting down to your last dime to see if you can treat yourself to a movie. The glitz and glamour of South Beach, its nightlife, its restaurants, the models, the Tesla’s and Rolls Royce’s is a fantasy that frankly, (and hyperbole aside) if you visit Miami, you won’t get to experience unless you’re a millionaire. Traffic is awful, the people are jerks, and it wears the crown of worst city in America.

Yesenia, what the fuck? Seriously, you’re not painting a pretty Miami picture. Why would anyone ever want to live here?

Alright, okay, I’m getting to it.

See, Miami is all of these things, and its important to acknowledge our short-comings before basking in our accolades. Miami, in my opinion, is one of the most American cities in the country. How? Well that may depend on your definition of America, we’re going with the cock-eyed optimist “cultural melting pot” “land of opportunity” model. Miami has often been called America’s gateway to Latin America, it’s a city where immigrants can make an easy transition into the United States from their native countries.

Speak to anyone in this city about their families or backgrounds, and you’ll see we have much more in common than not. I for example, grew up in Miami, FL with Nicaraguan parents. After the fall of the Somoza regime in 1979, and the rise of the Sandinistas in the early eighties, Nicaraguans immigrated to South Florida due to the amount of regional instability which was only exacerbated by the Contra War. My mom’s family was part of this wave, and my smitten father followed her here (but that’s another story for another post). Nicaraguans now make up 24% of the population of Sweetwater (the highest of any Floridian city), and our mark is apparent if you know where to look.

The Nicaraguan wave of immigration means that many of us are first generation American citizens, and are in relatively uncharted territory when it comes to navigating American school-systems, finding careers, and making lives as adults in America. For this reason, it’s vital to share our experiences and realize success is within our reach, especially when we work together. Miami is a metropolitan city by definition, but in reality it’s tiny. It’s a town where you’ll be hard-pressed to find work if you don’t network, 200 career-builder submissions aren’t as valuable as word of mouth and a well-placed phone call.

There are cultural enclaves all around the city, which make America a not so scary place for Hispanics. Miami and its people can help you get on your feet during the difficult transition of immigration. For Nicaraguans it happened in the 80’s, but many of our Latin American brother’s and sisters are living this process right now. The huge personal sacrifices it takes to come to this country, are a reality for many of us, and many of our parents. This common bond unites the working class people of the city in a way that is utterly beautiful, inspiring, and American as fuck.

So all of the complaints people have about Miami are valid, but that’s because it’s like living with an extended family of 400,000 or so relatives, and even in the best families, you can’t love everyone all the time, right? The more you treat strangers like your beloved grandparents the better it becomes. Living in this city it’s common to strike up a conversation with someone, and then become instant best friends when you realize they’re from your native country. Seriously, next time you’re buying fried chicken at Publix see how friendly the cashier gets the moment he catches wind of someone from the motherland.

The good thing about Miami being so small, is that there’s an unmistakable identity to living in this city. There are shared experiences that are impossible to escape. Everyone’s stories have the same backdrops, “He got trashed outside those downtown apartments, yeah yeah, now it’s Wynwood…”, “We met at some guy’s house party in Hialeah and I almost lost it when…”, “We were at the beach trying to find the drum circle and this naked lady was…”. Calle Ocho, Alton Rd, Coral Gables, Miami Heat rallies and South Miami bar hopping. Even if you’re not in the thick of it, the pulse of the city reverberates from South Beach to Kendall Lakes, and it only gets better once your Miami family has been established.

So what makes Miami great? We’ve got our own accent, are the best looking in the country, and have the best winters by far. Whether you’re new to this city or not, there is a huge network of hardworking decent people who will help you find your way. Once you find your Miami family, the city has a whole other feel. Doors will open without needing to be busted down, and opportunities will spring up where you least expect them to. Whether built around the core of our families, co-workers, or childhood friends, there is always a special collection of weirdos like you. Once you find them, step out of your comfort zone, do the unexpected, and let the Magic City live up to its name. See you next week, keep it #MyXXFLY.