Some Thoughts and Observations about
Life in Mexico
The Weekly Word #22 ~ February, 2008
I have been living here in Chacala, this little village 90 minutes
north of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico's west coast, for four months so
far. My sabbatical here is coming to an end in a couple of weeks,
and I am looking back at what I have seen, learned, and appreciated
during this visit to Mexico, her people, and the ways of this world.
I thought it would be fun to share some of my observations with you
here.
The people of Mexico are the main reason I come here. Especially
in a small village like this (500 people ±), the people are
warm, friendly, welcoming, and generous. I overheard an American
man talking to a local woman about coming here with his family to
live next year. My projection of her attitude was "Not more gringos!"
Then she said, "Oh, wonderful, more children!" Hmmmmm. .
.what was I missing there?
The generosity always surprises me. I gave a large gift of extra
cleaning supplies to a woman that I know struggles to help take care
of her family. Her delighted response was, "I will use some,
and give some to the school!"
In another instance someone was given a large supply of meat. I thought
they could freeze it and have it to carry them into the future. Instead,
I watched them send their kids out to relatives and friends, carrying
little buckets of the meat. It was gone in one day. They had a great
meal that night. Tomorrow will come.
It was another good lesson for me about sharing in the moment, and
trusting the abundance to come. They were not afraid, even though
most of the people here live pretty much one day at a time. There
are only a few vehicles, phones, and the other possessions that we
consider essential in the U.S. And no Trader Joe's!!! And you know
what? They are happier here than most of the people in the U.S.
Recycling here has been a difficult thing for me, or NOT recycling.
I am fastidious about it at home, and was pleased once when someone
complimented me on it. Here, an individual apparently pays someone
to drive around in an old truck and pick up people's garbage-- the
garbage that doesn't just get dumped in the back yard and lit on fire
once in a while.
Everything goes in the garbage. I asked where the dump was, and was
told, "Oh, he just has a place he dumps it off the side of the
road." It is the same with the fellow who pumps out people's
septic tanks (no sewers or treatment plants here yet). He dumps the
tank in the jungle. My informant said, "It's just water,"
when she saw the rather horrified look on my face. What can they do,
with no other resources.. .?
I feel quite decadent, and actually enjoy (confession) putting glass
and plastic and food in the same garbage, without having to rinse
things or sort them. Finish with it and dump it! Please forgive me.
The Commerce is simple here. I just heard the tamal truck announcing
their presence, and went out and bought some chicken and sweet tamales
(60¢ each). Dinner. This morning the vegetable truck came by,
and many afternoons the shrimp and fish man calls out his presence.
If that kitchen wares pickup truck bouncing down the street yesterday
had been a wagon pulled by a horse, I could have been in the US circa
1865.
PS: The weather is fabulous, the seafood is simple, fresh, and great,
the sun and sand and sea are paradise. Check the events page at Joydancer.com
and find out how you can join me in Chacala next winter ~ for a vacation,
intensive personal work, or a Valentine's Week Workshop.
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