A Diluted Mind, My Eight Weeks in Mexico

There were so many things I learned this summer living in a new country, which should be the case actually. It would be a shame if I hadn't learned a thing or two. I was exhilerated about so much of the experience and tried not to let my anxiety derail all of the fun, and it did relax a bit with time, became more manageable with time, and hopefully next summer will disappear altogether into wherever it likes to dwell when not taking up space in my overactive mind. 

I know that all countries have their little quirks.  Things that if you have lived there the majority of your life is just something that you do, without questioning the why.  And sometimes I think when we do question the why in things, constantly comparing one country to another, it’s not because one way is more right, it’s just because that’s what we are used to and most people are inevitable creatures of habit.  Varying in small to large degrees to the right or to the left can send anyone anxiously searching for the familiar or maybe that’s just me; it probably is actually.  G moved around so much as a child and into much of his teenage years.  Navigating different countries, cultures, became, what I can only assume, second nature to him because it was his new normal.   Me, on the other hand, who only moved once as a kid and it was literally down the street, finds all of this to be rather daunting, exhausting, and at times a bit overwhelming, but I did it, handled it, and I do believe I succeeded and really isn't that all I can ask of myself at the end of the day, whether I really succeeded or not.  The belief that you accomplished what you wanted, even if you didn’t really do it, is half the battle anyway.  One might say that is delusional thinking to which I will happily respond, is it really delusion when that is what you believe and if it is delusion, why the fuck does it matter if you feel better about it all?

I need to preface the next bits by saying that most, if not all of what I learned, are very specific to Playa del Carmen.

First things first and perhaps the biggest thing that I learned living in Mexico is that patience really is a virtue and in this country it is better to embrace the slower pace of living, which was also made clearer living in a beach town.  When we got married, for example, we had to go to four or five different places to sign, pick up, pay for everything that we needed.  You would think that it would all be in one place, categorized, in a computer system that is shared with all the parties involved, like in my country. Damn it, there I go comparing one country with another.

Getting my nails done was a three hour experience rather than a single one.  Punctuality is not really a thing in Mexico, and is that really such a bad thing?  I don’t think my yoga studio started on time once.  I always say that in Mexico a set time is more like a suggestion.  I don’t mind this actually and am going to struggle making it on time to places after two months of living on suggested time, but if I’m honest with myself, I already do, so maybe I’m born to live in this country.

When you see police trucks with their lights on, don’t freak out, that’s actually a very good thing.  A police presence is what you want.  If you see police men and/or woman with huge guns, I don’t even know what they are called, but they look like machine guns to me, don’t freak out, it has nothing to do with you.  Odds are money is being transferred or something similar is going on.

Don’t shy away from speaking Spanish, use all the words that you think you know, even if they are the wrong ones. Most restaurant/hotel workers know a passable amount of English to communicate, but don’t be that rude American asshole that just expects everyone to cater to your language skills.  You are in another country after all, where English is not the first language.  I found attempting Spanish was always met with a smile and a nod of encouragement before English was immediately switched too and then I felt bad for maybe I was being perceived like that American asshole I was so trying not to be like, I really hope that wasn't the case.

You never should drink the tap water. Thus, you will become an ice breaking machine.

I'm obviously not that good at it. Notice the large chunk of ice, out of the bag, that I failed to break up, much to the chagrin of my husband.

And then of course water jugs are a thing. You purchase one of these large bad boys once and then just bring it back to be refilled for a lesser charge. G purchased this rechargable spout, which came in really handy. Also, you will most likely have to ask for water at most restaurants, for it is not readily given out.

And you will find your new favorite sparkling water addiction.  I swear they put straight salt in this thing.

You will fall in love with every stray dog and cat.  There aren’t a ton like I have seen in other Mexican cities, but there are some and they broke my heart and caused me running to the nearest store to have food at the ready.

I fell in love with this sweet girl. I named her Melody and she was absolutely precious.

Don't feel too terribly sorry for her though. I saw a ton of empty cat food packets right by her street corner, so I know I wasn't the only one that took pity on this precious girl. She would win the award for the most well fed street cat in Playa if there was an award for such a thing.

Many people have their dogs off leash, in the middle of traffic, but the dogs were so well behaved I was shocked.  I never once saw an off leashed dog misbehave.  I applauded the training and obedience of master and animal.

Trash cans are a rare commodity, but I helped.

Also, there are street sweepers every morning that pick up the trash that is left behind by those carelessly lazy party goers from the night before.

The roads are very uneven which prevents texting while walking unless you want to fall flat on your face. I should have taken a picture or two to show you what I mean, but that likely would have resulted in an embarrassing trip and fall moment and believe me I already had more than a few of those while just normally walking along the sidewalk.

Many people think that Mexico is so much cheaper and certain things are.  Produce for one and fruit, but alcohol and kitchen appliances are expensive for Mexico, comparable for Arkansas, cheaper than New York. Actually if I'm honest even kitchen appliances are more expensive than Arkansas.

You can fall for tourist traps like anywhere else, but if you take the time to look you will find the deals.  My nails were 25 dollars, as was my massage.  My facial was 50.

Always go to the restaurant with a ton of locals eating inside; they’re the best.

Try the street food. I can't emphasize that enough, try the damn street food.

Street art. There is art everywhere, on the many walls that you pass walking through the streets, with vendors trying to sell their paintings.

If I had to pick my two favorite finds in Mexico it was going to Yogaloft for my almost daily yoga class.  I fell in love with this Dutch yoga instructor.  She was funny, self deprecating at times (my favorite kind of humor) and later I found out that she has a black cat.  I will miss her classes so much. She really pushes her students into the best possible posture for each pose. I've never been so sore and strong at the same time.

And the lovely coffee shop Aroma a Amor.  They have the best espresso.  It tasted like a smooth dark chocolate and don't get me started on their coconut milk, which I have found always tastes more like water than a milk, but theirs was actually so fresh and flavorful.  I could actually taste real coconut.

I'm back now, in the United States. I've unpacked, put away almost everything like the trip never happened to begin with, but I feel different. I can't help but to wonder if life is more than working all day in one place. Mindlessly driving from point A to point B, conversing with people that never really quite get you, going to meetings where you are confused by all the happy, excited faces because you don't feel that way at all. You were meant to explore, to be something more than what you haphazardly chose for yourself 18 years ago, when you thought your only option should be a safe one. I wish then I would have let delusion take over the parts of my brain that was demanding that I play it safe.

But I didn't of course; I chose to go an alternate, more obvious route and I suppose I will make the best of it. I'm lucky that I do have eight weeks every year to do that exploring, to do that living, and to let my diluted mind pretend for a bit that this is my life in full.