Musings from Mexico

As promised, it’s time to wax poetic about what I’ve learned during my first six months as a Peace Corps volunteers in Mexico.  It is cah-razy that I’ve been here for six months and a reminder that the older you get, the faster time goes.  Please enjoy these little gems of pontification.  

• People can be brave at any point in their life.  You’re never too old or too young to take a bold step and create a new path for yourself (and Pinterest has every quote you need for inspiration).
• Some people are really brave. My friend Kyle – a recent college grad – flew on a plane for the very first time when he headed from Georgia to DC and then to Mexico for Peace Corps service. Think about that – what if the first time you ever rode on a plane was to head off to live in Mexico for 2 years doing something, somewhere, in a different language?  That’s brave. 

View from a favorite restaurant, where my office eats weekly. 

Rooftop view of the local church and mountains.

• These millennials aren’t so bad. Most of the youngsters in my Peace Corps group are extremely intelligent, well-spoken, crafty and passionate.  And they invited me to go out with them during training, so you know that means they’re nice too.
• The old people are really cool too.  They made the choice to spend 2 years in service, in less comfort than they'd find at home, while learning a new language.  And they invited me to go out with them during training, so they’re also super nice.
• Flexibility = happiness.  It takes a concentrated effort to try and let things go and live in ambiguity, but if you can do it, you’ll be happier. Also, I need to start doing yoga again cause that type of flexibility makes me feel better too.

 Visit to the weekend tianguis; this table had American candy, including those peach gummy "O's" coated in sugar.

 Coconut water for sale in a portable plastic bag.

Lots of spices and seeds; I bought sesame seeds to toast and put on all my veggies.

• I am meant to sleep 8 hours – minimum – every night. And to work 8 hour days with full 1 to 2 hour lunches with real food. I hope I never ever eat a frozen meal again in my life (except for frozen pizza – you’re still my boo).
• Meals are better at the table with food that you actually prepare.  I know, that’s an obvious one, but in the US I got prepared food from the fancy grocery store all the time and I ate sitting on the floor, in front of the TV.  Now I eat at an actual table - its a very refined affair.  
• This experience makes me live more in the present because everything is new and different (even buying eggs which come packaged in plastic bags).  It’s nice to be more in the present. Although I may not have responded quite so eloquently when my grandma asked me where I was going to live in the US when I returned in mid-2018...

As you might imagine, these eggs are prone to breaking.

• I can live without TV (provided that I have someone else in the house with me, internet access or books). I read 7 books in 2 weeks which was great, but I really wanted to veg with some TV after that. And I need music – in the same way I need oxygen. 
• It’s really important to have a lot of fiber in your diet, and to drink a lot of water.  So much water that you can write really detailed posts about all the public restrooms in Mexico.
• I would be happier living close to my family (but not in the same house with them – sorry Grandma Ruby).

  Walking through the market - there were so many undergarments for sale.

Walking through town and the garden at a local church.

• Fans are one of the best inventions in the history of mankind, followed by bug spray, sunscreen, and window screens. Why every door and window in Mexico doesn’t have a screen is a great mystery to me. We live with a lot of insects.
• You can learn Spanish.  I was FREAKED OUT the day I arrived in Mexico and realized that I actually didn't know or understand any Spanish.  Just saying “My name is Autumn” raised more questions than I ever could have imagined.  But I can communicate now. It’s definitely not perfect but my boss recently told me that my Spanish was much better than when I arrived, so if you want to learn another language, do it!  Sí, se puede!

A rare moment of solitude at my "desk" in the office.

This is what my desk usually looks like (not a lot of space, but very nice people).

• This is a hard one: I actually don’t know everything or what's best all the time. If my younger siblings are reading this, please keep in mind that I’m still right ALL the time (and I call “shotgun” forever).
• Coca cola has a world dominance that is frightening to behold.  I never knew that drinking coke was an option for breakfast (or for your bedtime snack) and would advise against it.
• Continually being pushed outside of your comfort zone makes you respond in weird and confusing ways at times, but it’s guaranteed growth. People here tell me it’s good that I have a lizard in my house.  I’m gonna go ahead and say that I’m not really comfortable living with a lizard but I’m trying to embrace my roommate. At least he’s quiet.      
• I know I’m going to return from Mexico a different person than when I arrived.  You’re always stronger and wiser when you open up your mind to different perspectives and have new experiences, so I hope I can come back better. And if the sun wants to give me a lovely bronze hue, minus any risk of skin-cancer, and golden locks, I’m on board with that too.