- My first carbonated beverage here was an 8 ounce Corona (seriously they are as cute as they sound). My last is the sparkling mineral water I am sipping.
-My first full day in Mexico was spent with like 30 of Gabe Vile-gas' family and me not knowing any Spanish. My last day here I am sitting on the top tier of the balcony in my hostel just me and my mineral water.
-On the first bus ride I took down to Puerto Escondido, it was an all night trip they said would take 12 hours- it took 16. It was so cold that I mustered the courage to make gestures to indicate to the bus driver (while repeating "muy frio"). On my last bus ride I rode during the day and was able to take in some spectacular scenery between here and Oaxaca (there are some huge mountains outside of Puebla and they were snowcapped). They said it would take 6 and a half hours- it took 6 hours.
-When I showed up here, I had zero clean clothes. Being the general space cadet I am, I zoned out on doing laundry before leaving for Mexico City. This, of course, had something to do with the fact that I had zoned my passport (a story you all know). But I waited a whole two more days (until I got to Puerto Escondido) to actually do anything about it. Plus, my backpack already smells like 1o years of sweat, abuse, and a whole year of wood smoke. Gross. Anyhow- on my last night, I can say that I have budgeted much better with clothes. I have at least two outfits left (I even have my travel outfit laid out on my bed).
-Upon arrival, I had like 500 pesos (two 200's, a 50, a 20, and some change) from my dad's last trip to Mexico that he didn't bother to exchange. Today, I assessed my general peso situation and made the decision to take out a few extra just to cover my bases for food and travel tomorrow. Actually funny enough, I showed up here yesterday with exactly 500 left. So anyhow, I went to punch the correct button today to pull out an extra 200. I got 2000. Awesome.
-I couldn't tell you the first song I heard when I first showed up here, but I can tell you that I'm listening to a cover of Steve Miller Bands "The Joker" (I think that's the title- all I remember is that Jens always thought the line was- really like your beaches, wanna shake your tree). Awesome.
-My first ride outside of the airport here was in a taxi with a very helpful Mexican man whom I met through another Mexican man on my flight. Carlos explained all of the things I had to try in terms of food (as well as a few other classically macho things I'll let you all imagine). He only made me pay like 20 pesos for a ride that was like 100 pesos. My last ride tomorrow in the morning will be on the amazing metro system that is here in Mexico City. I seriously cannot believe that people are willing to pay 130 pesos for a trip to the airport, when it's two pesos with the metro.
Things Realized:
-Learning a language is humbling...real humbling.
-Learning a language is also rewarding: that first order all by yourself, telling your host parents what you did with your day (in mostly correct past tense conjugations), and being able to understand a lot (when people speak slowly).
-It adds a layer to a travel experience to have an intention for the trip. I wanted to get a start on learning Spanish as well as taking a month to really just relax, reflect on this last year, and prepare for this next big year. Of course, I don't speak as well as I would like and I could've done a better job relaxing, but I mostly succeeded.
-Relaxing is difficult for me.
-You really do lose a language if you don't practice. I met a German dude here at the hostel and we talked today in Spanish, German, and English. I was struck by how much my sense of syntax and verb order has been shifted due to studying Spanish. I really struggled to speak German with him. But after awhile it started to come back.
-If you really want to learn a language you have to choose to keep learning, speaking, and being willing to make lots of mistakes. I hate making mistakes. But I love mastery. Like Churchill said- "I love to learn. I just hate being taught."
-Making the effort to speak the language of the country you are in (no matter how bad you think you are or how awkward it feels) is the best way to show cultural respect. That is, besides, making sure to keep your clothes on.
-Dancing is sooo much fun.
-Mezcal IS different than Tequila.
-Quesillo does start to get old after 4 weeks (you were right Gabe).
-I can appreciate cities for a real short period of time, from a distance, while taking lots of rest, meditating before going out into them, and ingesting mood stabilizing substances.
-I really just don't like cities.
-Living with a host family is an invaluable experience (especially while learning a language).
-The internet blows my mind.
-Wi-Fi scrapes my mind off the floor and makes it look all pretty again.
-I am weird.
-When I'm bored and lonely, my blogs start to get long-winded and really forced.
-Traveling is exhausting.
-Traveling is also a huge priveledge- one that is such a priveledge it's hard to fully realize. I don't think I spelled priveledged incorrectly.
-Traveling on your own is a completely different experience than traveling with a companion.
-I didn't fart as much as I thought I would down here.
-It's really important to travel to different places (doesn't have to be thousands of miles away)- to get physically away from where you live. There's something about being physically away that grants us perspective.
-It's important for me to be outside in nature- consistently.
-I love watching soccer.
-You meet some of the most interesting people when traveling.
-You meet some of the lamest people while traveling.
-International exchange programs should be subsidized by our government and a mandatory part of public high school.
-I am proud to be a U.S. Citizen. This is so different from travels past- thanks Barack.
-Watching Pirates of the Caribbean with Spanish subtitles is awesome.
-I heart Skype.
-Mosquitos suck.
-Mexican food really is wayyyy better down here.
-Everything tastes great with fresh guacamole (even grasshoppers).
-I am very thankful that I was able to come here and have this experience.
Things I'm Looking Forward To:
-Keeping progressing with my level of proficiency in Spanish. I know I'll have to seek out opportunities- but I know they are out there.
-Spending the next two months with Phil, Ali, and Gabriella (and speaking Spanish with them).
I know I've probably said it over and over, but I am so grateful for this opportunity to spend two months with the Atlanta Crew. I just know how rare it is to get this kind of time together.
-Seeing Caroline in New Orleans- sharing time and that magical place together. Caroline- for those of you who don't know her- is a wonderful woman I met in Moscow from the desert of Arizona who continues to bring sun to my life even when miles away.
-Looking for a place for my first year in Tennessee. I'm really hoping I can find someplace that isn't ridiculously priced, close enough to ride my bike, good natural light, that has some soul. It's out there.
-Playing disc on Phil's team- they are so crazy into it that I've already been getting tons of emails and I haven't met a single one of them (nor do I have turf shoes).
-Being able to pick up the phone and call whoever I want, whenever I want.
-Being back home.
Talk to you all soon.
awesome... ike thanks for sharing your mind, heart and soul,
ReplyDeleteI just talked on the phone to the state hospital north director. He has asouthern drawl and was so pumped about me and said hed do anything to get me back to orofino after he talked to his staff about me. Okay... I already feel better about myself.. this dept of state... did a good job of depleting some level of confidence. Even though I deep down know Im okay, it does suck one into a whole to be around brown nosers, and weirdo career climbers... oink.. Id like to talk to ali about her 'career ideas" young,, bright , new.. etc. continue your journey in the carpe diem kind of way you have since directing the children in the sandbox.... love mom