Return to Mexico

The last time I went to pick up my laundry, the women ushered me over to see a dead scorpion they found with my clothes.  I think they enjoyed seeing my reaction, which was not as cool, calm and collected as I would have liked, and they gave me a lecture on how to be careful not to get stung.  While I am now shaking out all my bedding and reaching for clothes with caution, I’ve also decided that my best mental course of action is to assume that the scorpion was in someone else’s clothes, not mine.  I think denial + extra vigilance is a healthy recipe for things like this.

 My bedroom, home to my dirty laundry and - supposedly - a scorpion. 

 Nativity in the church plaza that welcomed me back to Mexico. 

I recently went home to the US for a week over Christmas, where there was zero threat of scorpions, but my brother did try to make me touch the family's pet bunny, which was a definite no-go.  I was super excited to see my family and my cat, and to eat a wide array of unhealthy foods that I (thankfully) don’t have access to here in Mexico.  I emailed my family with a long list of what can only be described as super crappy snack food and they made all my Funyun, Twizzler, Rice Crispy Treat and chocolate-dipped pretzel dreams come true.  I also got to eat sushi twice and enjoy fresh, smoked salmon, both of which made me oh so happy.  Granted, I probably regained in one week all of the weight I lost in 10 months here in Mexico, but when your sister has goldfish crackers stashed for you in the front seat car console, you are obliged to eat them.

 Three thin slices of melon in plastic? Come on America - we're better than this. 

In what world do kiwis need to be packaged in this much plastic? 

I thought it might be really weird both to return to the US, and then again to Mexico, but I had a buffer day on each end of the trip in a very touristy town in Mexico, so I got to slowly readjust to first being around a bunch of English speakers and then to being back in Mexico before I headed back to my small town.  I was acutely aware of some changes in the US during my absence (like the election results) but there were some much lighter changes that I was not prepared for.

• Planes don’t have screens anymore. I took 5 flights on 2 different airlines and not one plane had a screen.  Apparently, you now have to bring your own electronic device – and download different apps ahead of time – in order to watch free movies.  That would have been useful to know ahead of time since I only had my phone and no apps installed to enable all that free entertainment. I know – my life is hard; I had to read good books instead.
• Everyone is using the debit card chips now.  I received my new debit card just before leaving and used the chip feature one time, so I got to be the person that makes you think “how on earth does she not know how to do this after all this time?!” Well, I live in Mexico and operate in a cash-only system.
• Hatchimals are taking over the world.  Apparently you shake/play with your egg long enough and then a weird stuffed animal-like creature hatches.  They seem super creepy to me.

 Readjusting to life before/after my trip to the US in a touristy beach town in Mexico. 

I felt a strong sense of longing for my family upon my return, but that’s the same sense of longing I always have after a visit to see them, and not unique to Mexico.  It was really hard to say goodbye to my cat Luca again.  She ignored me for my first 3 hours in the house, but by night number 2 she was sleeping on my chest and licking my ears in that really bizarre way she used to do as a kitten.  I felt so guilty leaving her again, but at least I know she’s in a great home being well cared for by my stepmom and dad (and you know, she’s a cat, so I’d like to think she doesn’t harbor any resentment at my abandonment).   

 My beloved cat, Luca. 

I love this weird photo of Luca and Pepper: they look like cat prowlers caught on your night camera. 

I surprisingly didn’t get a lot of questions about Mexico, which I take as a sign that everyone is up to speed from reading my blog on a regular basis, but I did get a lot of questions about my nose ring and my plans at the end of my service.  Spoiler alert: I have no idea what my plans are for June 2018 and beyond. 

It was great to spend time with family and friends and do luxurious things like walking through a Target, drooling over things I don’t need, and getting my hair cut while looking at the ocean.  I doubled the size of my wardrobe using a suitcase of clothes I had stored at my sister’s house, and I literally squealed with delight when I saw all my new clothing options.  I saw snow-capped mountains and lots of rain, had to buy/wear socks and felt genuinely cold for the first time in months.  However, it was also nice to return to the warmth of Mexico and to discover that I could still speak Spanish (phew).  Here’s to a happy, healthy and successful 2017!

My teeny, tiny coffee table and rug that awaited me in Mexico.