Well I’m writing this on the airplane out of Mexico, which makes me feel like one of those fancy businessmen a couple rows ahead of me. I’m killing time and listening to my creatively-titled “Mexico” playlist, which reminded me I have a blog! I’d just like to sum up my last week in Mexico and share some reflections on what it’s meant for me. I’m very sleep-deprived, so bear with me.
While some of these things might not make sense to everyone, here is a list of things I’ll really miss about Mexico:
Music everywhere, amazing hot sauces to put on everything (pizza, chips, mangoes, vegetables, whatever), the sound of Mexican slang words, fruit in the street, musicians on the city buses, calls like “ay güerita!”, aguas frescas, the smell of flowers, the sun beating down, musicians in city buses, beans with everything, Mexican coca cola, speaking Spanish, food stands everywhere, the sounds of Banda, Wall Street, rides in Chavarin’s cars, wiggling my pointer finger to say “yes,” chilaquiles, not having bus schedules, drinking beers in cars, dogs in the street instead of taken to the pound, everyone, whether you know them or not, standing up to greet you with a cheek kiss, a relaxed attitude towards time.
Right now I’m in the Houston Airport and I’m currently feeling the effects of sadness of leaving Mexico. I think it’s more acute than when I left Germany because leaving Germany, my time there and experience with their culture was something private that I had in my memories and became an object across the Atlantic that I could visit. However, arriving here in Dallas, I’m affronted with a bunch of terrible looking “Mexican” restaurants and everyone in the food court is speaking Spanish. I would love to just speak Spanish to them and ignore the bro dudes in their khaki shorts and flip flops. I can’t leave Mexico behind so easily and think of it as a separate part of my life, which is good and bad. Its heavy integration with the U.S. and its culture means I have easier access to Mexican sauces, music and people. However, I’m frustrated by how so many of my fellow Americans think they know all about Mexico, when really most don’t at all!! I want to protect my memory of Mexico but I can’t do that here. For now, I’m contenting myself to lurk next to the Italian stand in the food court and listen to everyone using Mexican slang, imagining myself at my favorite taco stand instead, with blasting music as the only rprotest against the dry sun beating against the pavement.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
My Last Week in Mexico
In order to maintain my memory of my last Mexican week, as well as to give all my faithful readers a sample, here is how I spent my busy last week in Mexico.
I finished my last final on Wednesday, 8 days ago. Although I did terribly due to the crazy heat and having done minimal studying, I found out yesterday I passed! That Wednesday I recovered with a regular night of sleep, much needed due to much sleep deprivation during my Mexico City trip and all-night study attempt. Thursday morning I went to my friend Chavarin’s English class, which was completely hilarious because he is completely hilarious. It was interesting to see people in the process of learning English, and even thought it was only Intermediate 2, I felt a little good about my Spanish because I helped translate some words for them. It also convinced me I never want to teach English in a foreign country. The teacher was from Seattle as well, and she told me she worked 48 hours a week..basically constant English, and her Spanish had gotten worse. No thanks. After that, Chavarin and I ate lunch at his house, I hung out with his 6 chihuahuas and we then went to Parque Colomos, a huge park right by my house. We fed tortillas to a bunch of birds and squirrells, petted ponies, explored the Japanese and Mexican gardens, stumbled upon a “Portland Sister City Garden” (what the odds?), climbed a giant spider sculpture and snuck behind a fence to find the spring that Chavarin used to play hooky at in high school. It was cool, I love nature! Plus the first time I’ve seen water fountains in Mexico. The park costs 4 pesos to get in for regular admission, about 35 cents. While it helps maintain the park and makes sure young punks don’t wander in so easily every day, I suppose, it seems kind of discriminatory against truly poor people, who can’t enjoy this park, which is surely supported by the government as well.
With Chavarin's chihuahua-adorable!
In the Japanese Garden!
Thursday night I went to a Rotary meeting, in preparation for applying for a Rotary scholarship back home. While I freaked out about arriving 30 minutes late, I should have realized relaxed time attitudes apply to important businesspeople as well, because we still waited for many people. They were very kind and welcoming, and a mariachi band even came to serenade the mothers due to the closeness of mother’s day. How stereotypically Mexican can you get? The party finally died down at midnight, 3.5 hours later, at which time not so much work had been completed. I came home and went out with some friends..the night was not so cool because there were dbags on the loose, but I was at an interesting venue, a converted house-to-bar with pool.
Friday I went with my two favorite gringas, Molly and Kimzey, to a water park called Los Camachos that Kimzey and I have been scheming to visit for weeks and weeks. Well, our dreams came true and we took the 25 cent bus outside the city to a gorgeous setting with mountains, a river and a waterfall! While the water park was not quite up to U.S. “standards,” I had a blast! They only ran one slide at a time and the slide-controller was an old man in a flannel shirt..I love it! The entrance was a little less than $6 all day and even the beers were about $1 each!! Can you imagine this at a U.S. waterpark? We enjoyed the water, made some new friends and wound up getting a ride home in the back of a pick-up truck. One of my Mexican dreams! Winding through the mountains and river was beautiful, although I think I had heat exhaustion.
At the water park!
The ride home
I could barely rouse myself that night to head to (where else) my second home, Wall St. , with my friends Chavarin, Mauricio and Molly. We were met there by other friends, and then we got to go on the “Party Bus” for free: an old school bus with stripper poles, bumping reggaeton, flashing party lights and a guy wandering around blowing a whistle and pouring shots. We stopped at another Bar and danced around for a bit. I had a lot of fun!! And it was free, so even if I’d had a bad time, it was a $10 value.
The Party Bus
Note the stripper pole!
Saturday I wasted the whole day and that night went to Bali Bar with some of my best friends, and then was joined by some of my best friends from school, so it was great seeing all my favorite people in one place! My friend Juan rushed me to the bus station and I took a 3.30 am bus to Puerto Vallarta.
With friends at Bali Bar
Juan after rushing me to the bus station!
Once in Vallarta, I reunited with my family and Molly and Kimzey followed later that day. We basically spent two days being absolutely lethargic and lazy at the pool, with short forays into the ocean. Sampled a bit of Vallarta night life (free dranks!) and then back to Guadalajara with my parents on Tuesday. I felt really sick, but showed them around a bit and made it to Wall St. that night to say good-bye to Molly and some friends. A bunch of great friends from school and non-school came, so it was a lot of fun, even though I was so tired. I wound up getting home at 4 am after a three hour trek for burritos with my friend Gari..weird, but it was delicious. I said my good-byes to almost all of my crew that night..the good thing about studying abroad in Mexico is that the people aren’t too far away and it’s possible to dream about visiting them fairly soon!
Vallarta with My mom
Amigos!
My best friends
Another final group shot!
Hugest burrito ever!
On my final day in Mexico, I met my family downtown and we visited an old cemetery, an Orozco (muralist) museum and had lunch at my friend Mauricio’s family’s quesadilla place. In the evening, I said good-bye to them for a couple days and then went home to pack. I wasn’t really finished when my friend Chavarin and Mauricio showed up unexpectedly, so I just threw everything I could find in my suitcase and ran out the door. We went to Wall St. (sensing a theme?) and had micheladas, as well as another free ride on the party bus! We headed home and me and Chavarin took a two-hour nap to get up at 5 am, at which time he took me to the airport. Blasting techno and speeding down the highway for my final Mexican car ride, I felt very lucky to have such great friends like Chavarin here in Mexico! We said our good-byes and I went on my way .
Old cemetery-note the cat sleeping!
On the party bus!
Another Party Bus shot
Juan came to say good-bye!
Last time at Wall St.
Driving home...last time in the car together!
Chavarin and I at the airport at 5 am!
I finished my last final on Wednesday, 8 days ago. Although I did terribly due to the crazy heat and having done minimal studying, I found out yesterday I passed! That Wednesday I recovered with a regular night of sleep, much needed due to much sleep deprivation during my Mexico City trip and all-night study attempt. Thursday morning I went to my friend Chavarin’s English class, which was completely hilarious because he is completely hilarious. It was interesting to see people in the process of learning English, and even thought it was only Intermediate 2, I felt a little good about my Spanish because I helped translate some words for them. It also convinced me I never want to teach English in a foreign country. The teacher was from Seattle as well, and she told me she worked 48 hours a week..basically constant English, and her Spanish had gotten worse. No thanks. After that, Chavarin and I ate lunch at his house, I hung out with his 6 chihuahuas and we then went to Parque Colomos, a huge park right by my house. We fed tortillas to a bunch of birds and squirrells, petted ponies, explored the Japanese and Mexican gardens, stumbled upon a “Portland Sister City Garden” (what the odds?), climbed a giant spider sculpture and snuck behind a fence to find the spring that Chavarin used to play hooky at in high school. It was cool, I love nature! Plus the first time I’ve seen water fountains in Mexico. The park costs 4 pesos to get in for regular admission, about 35 cents. While it helps maintain the park and makes sure young punks don’t wander in so easily every day, I suppose, it seems kind of discriminatory against truly poor people, who can’t enjoy this park, which is surely supported by the government as well.
With Chavarin's chihuahua-adorable!
In the Japanese Garden!
Thursday night I went to a Rotary meeting, in preparation for applying for a Rotary scholarship back home. While I freaked out about arriving 30 minutes late, I should have realized relaxed time attitudes apply to important businesspeople as well, because we still waited for many people. They were very kind and welcoming, and a mariachi band even came to serenade the mothers due to the closeness of mother’s day. How stereotypically Mexican can you get? The party finally died down at midnight, 3.5 hours later, at which time not so much work had been completed. I came home and went out with some friends..the night was not so cool because there were dbags on the loose, but I was at an interesting venue, a converted house-to-bar with pool.
Friday I went with my two favorite gringas, Molly and Kimzey, to a water park called Los Camachos that Kimzey and I have been scheming to visit for weeks and weeks. Well, our dreams came true and we took the 25 cent bus outside the city to a gorgeous setting with mountains, a river and a waterfall! While the water park was not quite up to U.S. “standards,” I had a blast! They only ran one slide at a time and the slide-controller was an old man in a flannel shirt..I love it! The entrance was a little less than $6 all day and even the beers were about $1 each!! Can you imagine this at a U.S. waterpark? We enjoyed the water, made some new friends and wound up getting a ride home in the back of a pick-up truck. One of my Mexican dreams! Winding through the mountains and river was beautiful, although I think I had heat exhaustion.
At the water park!
The ride home
I could barely rouse myself that night to head to (where else) my second home, Wall St. , with my friends Chavarin, Mauricio and Molly. We were met there by other friends, and then we got to go on the “Party Bus” for free: an old school bus with stripper poles, bumping reggaeton, flashing party lights and a guy wandering around blowing a whistle and pouring shots. We stopped at another Bar and danced around for a bit. I had a lot of fun!! And it was free, so even if I’d had a bad time, it was a $10 value.
The Party Bus
Note the stripper pole!
Saturday I wasted the whole day and that night went to Bali Bar with some of my best friends, and then was joined by some of my best friends from school, so it was great seeing all my favorite people in one place! My friend Juan rushed me to the bus station and I took a 3.30 am bus to Puerto Vallarta.
With friends at Bali Bar
Juan after rushing me to the bus station!
Once in Vallarta, I reunited with my family and Molly and Kimzey followed later that day. We basically spent two days being absolutely lethargic and lazy at the pool, with short forays into the ocean. Sampled a bit of Vallarta night life (free dranks!) and then back to Guadalajara with my parents on Tuesday. I felt really sick, but showed them around a bit and made it to Wall St. that night to say good-bye to Molly and some friends. A bunch of great friends from school and non-school came, so it was a lot of fun, even though I was so tired. I wound up getting home at 4 am after a three hour trek for burritos with my friend Gari..weird, but it was delicious. I said my good-byes to almost all of my crew that night..the good thing about studying abroad in Mexico is that the people aren’t too far away and it’s possible to dream about visiting them fairly soon!
Vallarta with My mom
Amigos!
My best friends
Another final group shot!
Hugest burrito ever!
On my final day in Mexico, I met my family downtown and we visited an old cemetery, an Orozco (muralist) museum and had lunch at my friend Mauricio’s family’s quesadilla place. In the evening, I said good-bye to them for a couple days and then went home to pack. I wasn’t really finished when my friend Chavarin and Mauricio showed up unexpectedly, so I just threw everything I could find in my suitcase and ran out the door. We went to Wall St. (sensing a theme?) and had micheladas, as well as another free ride on the party bus! We headed home and me and Chavarin took a two-hour nap to get up at 5 am, at which time he took me to the airport. Blasting techno and speeding down the highway for my final Mexican car ride, I felt very lucky to have such great friends like Chavarin here in Mexico! We said our good-byes and I went on my way .
Old cemetery-note the cat sleeping!
On the party bus!
Another Party Bus shot
Juan came to say good-bye!
Last time at Wall St.
Driving home...last time in the car together!
Chavarin and I at the airport at 5 am!
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