Feb. 5th

As I was eating my comfort food of choice last night-a grilled cheese sandwich, I was thinking that I flew out here exactly a month ago today. For the most part, it feels like much longer. I have settled into my routine as a teacher and have definitely made some lifelong friendships with my roommates. I am thoroughly enjoying living in Los Reyes and down here it feels like another world. I was feeling a little homesick this morning however when I woke up and on my way back from classes this morning I was pondering the fantastic aspects of Mexico, Los Reyes in particular.
The obvious ones aside; the weather is fantastic (around 80-85 every day, 55-60ish at night)and the pace of life is so much more relaxed. Los Reyes is a bustling little city, about the size of Oshkosh people-wise. There is plenty to see and do, just yesterday Angela and I walked to the fresh market and picked up fresh fruits and vegetables for mere pennies. I bought about a pint of strawberries for 8 pesos (about .60cents) and a head of lettuce for 6 pesos. Cheeses and meats cost a bit more, but still well under what we pay in the US. The best part is, none of it has been trucked in from hundreds of miles away, most of it is from little farms surrounding the city. The farmers get up early, pick their fruits and vegetables and bring them to the market to sell. Anything and everything you need or could even think of is found there. I love it!
Some of the other quirks or cultural differences that keep me enchanted with this country are that the people are unfailingly polite...always. Rudeness is not accepted here and is offered by very few. Even children are brought up to smile, say "Buenos Dias" or "Buenos Tardes" (good morning/good afternoon) to everyone as you walk by. People get into the combis (the small 70s style volkswagon "buses") and immediately say, "Buenos Dias" without exception. Everyone responds. Businesses are very people oriented, I have yet to find one here that is only after making money. They are at your service the moment you walk in the door or stop in front of their store and will endlessly answer question after question and give you honest answers! Smiles are always found and many people love to just sit and chat with you about where you are from, what you are doing, whether you like the city etc. The entire feel of this culture is so relaxed and enjoyable, it's hard to walk around and not smile. They are solely and completely invested in their families and relationships, nothing else.
Family and friends will always be placed above and before businesses or money and the way the families take care of each other is actually quite heartwarming. Older children helping their mothers or grandmothers walk down the street to the store, whether they need physical assistance or not. Many of my students spend all day on Sundays visiting with their grandparents. I've said it before, people in the US could learn a lot from Mexico.
Other quirks that simply make me smile is the obsession with cleanliness here. There is a common misconception in the US about the fact that all of Mexico lives in rural, dusty, country pueblos with small little huts and dirty kids running around. In the extreme country you can find this, however in small towns like this they have very nice houses with Spanish style architecture, enormous cathedrals in every town, big and small, and many of them drive nicer cars than I do. They sweep and mop the area in front of their houses or businesses daily and there is almost no litter on the sides of the roads. It was quite odd to see little old women out sweeping the street and mopping the sidewalk when I arrived, but everyday it is done.
The vehicle of choice here in Los Reyes? 4-wheelers or scooters. Hilarious to see a Mexican mother in high heels driving a 4-wheeler down the middle of the road with two of her children riding on the back. Little motorized scooters as well are everywhere and you can often find 10 year olds giving their siblings rides to school on them.
There is a water truck that comes by and rings the doorbell every day, obviously nobody drinks the water in Mexico, you would be hard pressed to even find a Mexican who does. The water man brings by 20 liter jugs of water (much like the culligan water dispensers in offices). We exchange the empty jugs for them to reuse and they deliver a new one right into our kitchen for 18 pesos (a little over a dollar). Gas is the main source here for stoves and water heaters and there are many gas trucks driving around. Most are pickup trucks with big green gas containers on the back- they play the tune of Jingle bells very loudly so you know they are coming(why jingle bells year round- I'll never understand). The other type is a big tanker and they play a tune that makes me want to do an Irish jig and when the tune is over the speaker says, "El Gaaaaaaasssssssss". Very entertaining at first, not so much when you sing Jingle Bells in your head all day.
There are taco stands and torta stands on every corner and sometimes in the middle of the blocks. They are usually on wheels with gas powered grills to cook up the meat. Some of them are quite good, although I've only tried the ones with cheese! They love their meat down here and vegetarianism is not the way to go in Mexico. Corner stores are also literally on every corner, usually about 4-6 corner stores on every square block. Chips, soda, candy, water, snack foods, a lot of them sell fruits and vegetables as well, basics such as bread and milk etc.You don't have to walk far in this town to find everything you need.
The plaza is definitely the center of the town. Almost every Mexican town or city I have been to has a center square that they call the plaza. The one in Los Reyes is beautiful- fountains in the middle, lots of trees and and flowers surrounding it, many park benches usually occupied by old men just observing. All of the stores surround the square and the cathedral is also usually located in the plaza.
Ok so enough of my descriptive ravings about Mexico, after a month I'm starting to get past the honeymoon phase of cultural shock and starting to settle in. I still really think I was a Mexican in a past life!