Jennýs Mexican Adventures Vol. III - Gracias

07-08 Mexico - Jenn, tapete
Originally uploaded by YAGM

Hi All,

I can´t believe another month has flown by! I had started to write this in the spirit of Thanksgiving (which I was fortunate enough to celebrate with the other Global Mission gals, my host fam, and 13 exchange students here in Cuernavaca), but, like all aspects of my life here in Mexico, things didn´t go exactly according to plan. So, a few days after the turkey and stuffing, please accept my ever-incomplete list of things I am grateful for this year.

I am grateful for the love of children. The love of children is generous, warm, and at times even overwhelming. From early morning running-start hugs from my littlest ones to requests from the elementary kids to spin them around in circles ("andale") to the older girls helping when it´s my day to do the dishes, my days are filled with the love of children. I seem to always have at least one little one in my lap, on my hip, or hanging from my shoulders. The kids at Caminando Unidos have quickly become the heart of my time here.

I am grateful for the chickens in my front yard. As much as I joke about it, those 15-75 pollos (depending on the day) are how my host family puts food on the table, both literally and in terms of their business. The chickens are an occasionally noisy reminder for me that one is never so far removed from the fundamental aspects of life.

I am grateful for vulnerablity. Jumping into a context in which almost nothing is familiar, I found myself unable to hide behind my normal defenses and routines. In the beginning of my time here, I was knocked flat by the variety and intensity of feelings that I was experiencing. Although it´s not always pleasant, I have had to surrender to letting myself feel things on this deeper level, which has made these past few months, although short, emotionally powerful. Similarly, when I am so vulnerable and at times feel that I have nothing to give, I am reminded of just how beautiful (though difficult!) it can be to just receive - be it comfort, hospitality, or just the voice of experience. Celebrating Dia de Muertos at Caminando Unidos was one example of this: we all made an ofrenda outside and then began to name loved ones who had passed on. When Sonia, a seven-year-old, offered the story of how her single mom died in a car crash three years ago, I couldn´t help but start to cry. At the time I had two little ones in my lap, and thus couldnt get up for tissues, nor go where I could be a bit more discreet, so I had no choice but to sit there and let others see me cry. Before I knew it, I was flanked by two of the elementary-age girls, Brenda and Adriana, wiping my tears and stroking my arms. I can´t put into words how beautiful and powerful that moment was, but it was one that will not quickly be forgotten.

I am grateful for the ability to laugh at myself. My life here would be unbearable if I took myself too seriously. Living in a different cultural context, it is impossible not to make mistakes. Coupled with my natural dorkiness, and the fact that I live and work with children who are pretty honest about my occasional ineptitudes, laughing at myself is one of the easiest and most helpful ways to relieve stress and keep myself grounded.

I am grateful for the patience of others. As I continue to learn to better articulate my thoughts and feelings in Spanish and get my bearings straight with the various aspects of my life here (navigating buses, cooking without a microwave, etc.), I am ever grateful for the patience and outright kindness shown to me by friends and even strangers. Be it the fact that my host family doesn´t rush me when I mentally search for the right word at times, or that a woman at the market showed me know which ruta to take, I am ever grateful for small mercies.

I am grateful for ¨saludos¨ and ¨Mexican time.¨ From the first time that I learned that the phrase for ¨just a moment¨ can sometimes mean three hours, I realized I needed to adjust my time mentality in order to stay sane. In my experience here, the emphasis in our daily lives is centered more around relationships and staying connected to one another than it is about accomplishing a list of tasks. ¨Saludos¨ refers to the way that Mexicans take the time to greet each other with a ¨hello¨ and a kiss on the cheek, even if that person is walking into a meeting half an hour late. (For that matter, the meetings usually start about half an hour late, after the majority of the people have taken the time to greet each other and catch up, and at times even then make a coffee run.) For those of you who know me well, it shouldn´t be hard to imagine me fitting into this sort of routine.

I am grateful for sharing. I am grateful for the knowledge, ideas, and experiences that others share with me. I am grateful that any sort of food at Caminando Unidos is communal, be it the served breakfast or a just-purchased candy bar. (As a result, I have grown to love popcorn with chile, and I am constantly running out of my packs of gum.) I am grateful for companions here in Mexican to live and learn and explore with. I am grateful for all of you, and the opportunity to share a bit of my life here with you. Please continue to share with me how you are doing and what is going on north of the border. It keeps me fueled, and I look forward to once again sharing my life with you all in a more tangible way a few months from now.

With that, my dearest ones, please take care, and know that you are in my heart.

Lots of love,

Jenny