Of Mexico

When conceiving of my travel plans, trying to determine where it was in the world that I wanted to go, Mexico never made it to the list. In fact, it was never even a consideration for me. In my mind, Mexico was the place where American kids who were not quite 21 went to get drunk and high until the night ran into day. It was a area where living conditions are so poor the natives would risk everything they have to come across the northern boarder illegally in an attempt to make a better life for themselves and/or their family; in some cases even leaving behind their wife/husband and children in the process. The country never appealed to me and I did not feel that there was much to be gained here. Of course, there is always something to learn anywhere you are. There is some lesson to be taught. I just have to keep an open enough mind to see the opportunities arise to be able to take advantage of them. What then has my time in Mexico taught me?

There are certain things about America that I took for granted; things that I now have an appreciation for...super markets, for instance. In the areas of Mexico that I have visited it has been very difficult finding one store to meet all your needs. In America, stores that have everything are everywhere; we thrive off of them. I felt like a little kid in a candy store when I finally found a super market here in Puerto Vallarta. I walked in and just looked around at all the things that I could buy if I wanted to. I did not buy anything that first time inside, I just walked around for probably a good half an hour with a big smile on my face smirking here or there when I saw something that I never really knew I missed. Last night I went to the super market and bought cookies, pringles, edamame (soy beans), imitation crab, rice and martinellies sparkling apple cider for a nice hefty bill of 270 Mexican pesos (roughly 27 USD). I did not care for the outrageous cost though, because it made me happy. That night I ate both the cookies and the pringles in one sitting. I suppose it could be said that I took American comfort food for granted.

Now onto water. Never before have I ever had a need to be worried about what little bugs could be living in the water that I am consuming. Being in Mexico, this is something that I find myself constantly thinking of anytime I eat or drink anything. I look forward to Monday when I will be back in the states and I can go and stick my face in a sink and drink if I want to; I highly doubt I will though.

Smooth pavement comes to mind. I never considered pavement in California to be all that wonderful, but compared to Mexico we have it good. When walking here in Puerto Vallarta I find I am looking more at the ground then at the scenery passing me by because I am worried about twisting or breaking my ankle due to the rocky roads and the sidewalks that can be completely non-existent or 5 feet high off the ground with many variations in between.

I certainly took for granted the ability to be able to communicate with people. I have mostly been in larger resort type towns which made it easier to get by; but even still, most of the people do not speak English and I speak no Spanish at all except for "No!", which I have been using quite a bit with the children at the shelter where I am volunteering. The kids, of course, pay no attention to this command as I cannot communicate anything past no. I look forward to being able to properly scold a child for their misbehaviour.

I have learned that as a whole, the Mexican people are very hospitable and will go out of their way to help you. I have heard many stories in my short time here from other travelers about their troubles and how the native Mexican people went out of their way to help them often times going much more out of their way then would be considered normal hospitality in America. I have heard two tales of people who had all of their things stolen and how they were given money, offered places to stay and how the people went out of their way to make sure they were taken care of. Other tales include families going out of their way to give accommodation to travelers, not because they were in dire straights but only because it was in their nature to help people out. I had a run in with a very nice native Mexican on a bus while on my way here to Puerto Vallarta. He spoke English fairly well and we talked a lot. He wanted to take me to his ranch where he and his 17 year old wife lived which was 2 hours east of Puerto Vallarta out in the country side. I declined because I did not like the idea of being out in the countryside by myself with two people I do not know from Mary. Also, being the person I am, I was very suspicious of his intentions. I am quite sure he wanted nothing more than to help me though, and help me he did. I really did not have any clue how to get to the hostel I am currently staying at. After describing where I was intending on staying he communicated with another bus driver and then told me to get on the bus. After an hour the bus driver told me to get off and I was right outside of the hostel. I am quite grateful to Jose for his help...but I would still not go to his house by myself. I cannot decide if I am being overly cautious or if my instincts are steering me in the right direction.

With the exception of literature, I have learned that art is international and universal. Art has a way of communicating things that anyone and everyone can understand regardless of race, nationality, language, background and culture. I may not get the same reaction, feeling or thoughts from a particular piece of art as someone else even of my own country, but I will have some kind of reaction. When an artist takes the time to create something that they have poured their soul into it shows through to the observer no matter who they are. I have always had a particular fondness for art in all its countless forms. I now have a respect for it beyond what was there when I first left the states. One of my goals in my travels is to find an art form that I can communicate through.

I have always been somewhat of a loner. I tend to live my life inside my head rather than where I happen to be at any given time; for this reason I think people tend to not really understand me and perhaps even shy away from being acquainted with me. I now know that this is no different even among travelers. Before I left the states, I had the thought that social groups among travelers may be different from those that I have experienced in the states and perhaps I would more easily fit in. So far, things seem to be about the same in this respect. Traveling people (for the most part) are great though. I have had the pleasure of meeting people from all over the world such as: Canada, Australia, England, Sweden, Spain, Germany. In general, travelers are very kind and are typically quite eager to share their travels with you. The typical meet and greet starts off with, "Where are you from, and how did you get here?". This greeting almost seems like an international standard for traveling people. You are initially defined not by your personality, but by your path and travels. Already I have some traveling cred, as it were, because I have been on a sailboat. One of the things I think is really great about Puerto Vallarta is that there is such a huge contrast of travelers that come this way. I have met people that have been traveling for years and have been all over the world. I have met people that are here for 3 days just to get away from their routine. I met an alcoholic who lost all his possessions because he passed out drunk on the beach and when the cops awoke him to kick him off the beach he saw the wheel tracks from where they drug off his luggage. I met a young guy on vacation that works for ILM (Industrial Light and Magic), the special effects house that George Lucas created when he was filming Star Wars, that develops tools for graphic designers at Lucas Arts. Very cool, I thought. The most intriguing people I have met so far, though, was this young couple, Leah and Jack, that biked from Idaho down here to Puerto Vallarta. When I say biked, I do not mean motorcycles, I mean bicycles. Talk about traveler cred. They have seen and done some very cool things in the short time they have been away. I can think of no better way to really get a feel for a country then to ride through it. They took off this morning from the hostel and are headed "south". Check out their blog here. Awesome people, and they are both alums of the University of Oregon, to which I hold a particular fondness.

I have learned to bring Imodium AD with me from now on.

And if you cannot tell, I have learned that I enjoy writing these blogs.