Leaving Mexico

Crossing the border out of Mexico was uneventful. The only problem was the two hour long wait to get through. The only question we were asked was “How can you take so much time off work”? We think she wanted to do the same.

On the Mexican side of the border, the highway was full of people selling chips and other junk food, blind people begging in the traffic line, and window washers (one only had one arm). We saw people begging who had diseases that are completely curable and therefore eradicated in Canada and the States. On the American side in California, however, houses were huge, cars were large (and there were more than one per family), there were giant multinational stores, and many people were overweight. In Mexico, we saw very few overweight people.

In the next few days I was struck by the differences in the two cultures. For instance, at the La Brea Tar Pits in Southern California, we saw a school group where almost everyone was rude. All the students were wearing i-pods and talking among themselves, even while their guide was talking. Mexican kids love to laugh and fool around, but I don’t think they would ever ignore someone whois taking the time to teach them. In general, it seemed like the US side of the border is filled with opulence and waste, when there are starving people just a couple kilometers to the South.

When we first arrived home, I wandered around my room touching all my bits of pieces of stuff. My room looked like it would burst because of all the things I have crammed into it. I resolved that first the next morning I would sort through all my clothes and non-sentimental items to give away or recycle. In fact everyone did this the next day, but Georgie did so more reluctantly. Hopefully someone will be able to use the stuff in the pile we generated.

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We all miss Mexico. Here are some Mexican mannerisms, sayings, traditions and truths that we discovered during our travels.

1. All Mexicans love Mexico. They are really proud of the richness in culture that Mexico can offer. People would get upset if we just stayed somewhere for a night, because then we wouldn’t be able to experience the area. Also, all Mexicans are upset and frustrated with the corruption in there government. It is changing the Mexico they know and love into something else.

2. Mexicans put chili powder on everything -- coconut, mango, sugarcane, and the rim of glasses with mezcal or tequila. People would get quite confused when we wouldn’t put anything on our coconut or sugarcane.

3. There is always someone kissing in the public squares in Oaxaca. It makes every walk around town an education.

4. Cathedrals are always peaceful. In all the cathedrals we gawked at, there were always a couple people sitting in the pews looking peaceful. Also, because of the thick stone walls, very little of the outside noise filtered in. Entering a cathedral is like stepping back into the 16th century.

5. Georgie always has room for flan (caramel custard). No mater how big a dinner he ate, the conclusion was a flan.

6. Direction always involve “al derecho” (straight ahead). We have gotten lost many times in Mexican cities and have always asked directions. Though the directions never help, they re always the same thing. Go three blocks, turn left and go straight.

7. Time slows down the closer one gets to their destination. It’s true! We might be driving for six hours, and then the last half hour will drag on for what seems like for eeeeevvver.

8. “Pasale! Pasale!” was the most common expression we heard in Mexico. This was what the people cried from their stalls when they saw us looking at their wares, or even just walking past. “Pasale! Pasale!” is equivalent to “Come in! Come in!”

9. “Andale” was what we were told to do after receiving instruction on how to get out of town. “Andale, Andale!” (go on, try out my directions! Go!)

10. “Mucho frio en Canada, eh?” was the standard response to learning we lived in Canada. Saying that was accompanied by them rubbing their arms as if a cold draft had blown through. Then we explained that, while some areas in Canada were that cold, where we lived was quit mild.

11. Mexicans have many ways of saying your welcome and sending you off after a conversation: “por nada, de nada, que le vaya bien” are the most common.

It is a shock coming back home to snow. I am in weather shock (latitude denial), and often go outside unprepared for this northern climate. Normally I like snow, but the snow here is old and dirty. I wish there would be a snowfall! Post script: I got my wish today.