Adiós Mexico!

My last full week in Mexico I was sick as a dog, which is not the ideal way to spend your last week anywhere, especially when you’re ending your Peace Corps service and moving to another country.  Luckily, I’ve got lots of experience getting rid of everything I own and clearing out apartments, so everything got done in time.  I was forced to wear a mask for the first time in my life due to la gripa, but I did my best to say goodbye to all the people who made Mascota such a special place.

Views from my last walk in Mascota.

I started the goodbyes with my English class, followed by visits to the woman who sold me lots of beautiful Mexican shirts, the guy who sold me breakfast street tacos, the cashiers and manager at Pepe’s grocery store, the woman at the small tienda across the street from my apartment, my landlord/laundry service provider, and everyone else I could find on the streets and in the plaza. 

Last English class.

Earlier in the week my friend Sonia asked me if she could reserve time with me on Friday, and I said of course.  If you’ve been reading my blog, then you know Sonia is my peep.  She is a beautiful, intelligent and genuine person with a big personality, so I was touched that she wanted to do something with me before I left.  I met her in the plaza at 10:00 AM and we headed out for a delicious breakfast of chilaquiles, followed by a trip to the local lake and dam.  We sat in the shade and chatted while enjoying the view and talking about next life steps for both of us. 

Then she took me to her favorite spot in the countryside, a place she grew up spending time in with her family and where she now goes for time alone when she’s really happy or sad.  She brought along a picnic lunch of lots of fruits, cheese, meats, whiskey and tequila.  We laughed and shared stories, including how she never thought she would have an American friend before meeting me.  When it was time to go, we stood up, closed our eyes and held hands while passing positive energy to each other and listening to the wind and the birds.  And then we hugged and cried and said goodbye.  I know that might sound a little hippy-dippy but really, it was such a lovely moment, and such a testament to what a beautiful person Sonia is.  When people ask me about my Peace Corps service, I will always tell them about Sonia.

 With the oh so beautiful Sonia! 

One of the many stops on our morning adventure.

On the road to our picnic spot. 

I’ll also tell them about all my other friendships formed in my lovely pueblo mágico, because relationships are the core of your service.  My coworkers and English class students threw me a great surprise party on Friday night, which included a formal dinner with pozole.  My friend Marcel, who is originally from Belgium, brought along fancy cheeses and bread, along with several bottles of wine.  We got to destroy two piñatas, play a couple of rounds of the game lotería, eat two “birthday” cakes for me, and enjoy a purple sky sunset before I returned home with some really beautiful parting gifts and memories. 

One final office fiesta. 

My last day in town, I worked to engineer a solution to get all of my stuff into two suitcases and a backpack without exceeding airline baggage weight limits.  I also went to say goodbye to my host family and to take a final walk around town, where three things happened that led me to believe that I was a wee bit emotional and stressed and should thus return to the sanctity of my apartment. 

1. I ran into this guy who I talk to all the time on the street and when he heard I was leaving he was insistent that I give him my sunglasses because he can’t find them in Mexico and I’ll see them all the time in the US.  After about 10 minutes of him continually interjecting into the conversation “come on, give me your sunglasses” - not in a joking way so much as in a demanding way - I finally said ok, it was nice to know you, have a great life – I’m out. 
2. During that same conversation, I was introduced to a very eager teenage boy who wanted to become my new best friend.  Later that day I was sitting in the plaza, soaking in the sounds and tranquility one last time and thinking how lovely it was to be alone listening to the music from the gazebo, when he plopped down next to me and started asking me a ton of questions.  I thought, nope.  Autumn out.
3. I ran into another friend who was talking with an expat who started telling me about all the things I should come back to Mexico to work on and how I was crazy for leaving Mascota where life was perfect.  Perhaps all true, but not the conversation you want to have as you are saying your goodbyes.

I’m gonna say I was not my most patience and receiving self on my last day in town.  I could attribute that to being sick, emotionally exhausted, not wanting to make new friends the day I leave, etc.  I could also say that I just wanted to bask in one last day of normalcy before everything gets totally upended and I’m living out of suitcases for the next month.  

Sometimes you just really need those moments of tranquility. 

On Sunday, my boss drove me to the airport in Puerto Vallarta and I flew to Queretaro to start closing out my service with Peace Corps staff.  That night, the cab driver asked me if I was married and then why not, and I just sighed.  Then I went to a local restaurant for a small dinner and just as I was about to leave, the people at the next table started talking to me.  Turns out the woman was from Britain but lives in Puerto Vallarta and had visited Mascota in the past.  She was reeling from a recent breakup and was one of those people you meet who has the ability to accurately guess everyone’s astrological sign and gives you a hug and tons of words of encouragement and well-wishes after knowing you for 15 minutes, and it all feels totally normal.  Leaving Mexico felt a little more surreal.