Rum is not your friend but merengue has potential: A Nicaraguan NYE Survival Guide

*New Years can be stressful time to be away from home. Don't make it harder on yourself. Have some fun.

*If you see children under the age of 10 in the street, keep a wide berth. Be alert for visible sparks. Be able to hear does make life more fulfilling and firecracker explosions right next to your ears don't generally help in that regard.

*Rum is shockingly inexpensive in Nicaragua, which seems like a positive thing at first glance. Don't be fooled; rum is like that bitchy turncoat you were friends with in middle school who's badmouthing you the second you're out of earshot. Just say no. Especially because there is a high possibility that someone will offer you some sort of corn/sugar/rum based dessert on New Year's Day such as atolillo or sopa de borracha (drunkard's soup) which you will be obliged to eat out of politeness and will not sit well if you estas de goma, are hungover.

*Do attend the dance party in town. What else are you going to do, sit at home? Burn an effigy of the old year? Fire is scary. Go to the party. Everyone will be there, including a smattering of small children and the older crowd. Not to mention the majority of your co-workers. Don't let the erasure of any space between your personal and professional life grind you down- try to dance! As a general rule, don't turn down dance partners, unless they are like 30+ and visibly drunk.You'll know. Do what you feel.

*Merengue isn't hard. You, yes you, can do it! Just hold onto whoever you are dancing with, keep marching at all times and waggle your hips the sexy way. Yes, this is possible. Bachata is easy too. You can count to 2: this means you can dance bachata. And don't be scared if everyone essentially starts a mosh pit to ska or rock while beer is thrown on everyone in time to the music. These things happen. Just stay cool and try to keep your feet from being stomped on.

*Visit with people afterwards. Because there's nothing that shows you're embracing the serendipity of the new year like chatting with strangers at 2 am.