Postcards from Mexico: Friends

Little Miss Canada

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:41:19 GMT

As you can see from my lack of posting, I've been busy. Completely exhausted is a better description. I'm a workaholic who has been on a marathon.

So what was my solution to avoiding burnout? Working even more on the weekend, so that I would feel justified to go to a party on Saturday night.

Alex called me last Wednesday to invite me to a costume party downtown Mexico City. I said sure, almost backed out two times, and then reminded myself that I had to get my fill of cultural experiences before I leave. I couldn't decide what to go as and refused to spend money on a costume, so I left it until the last minute, letting my creativity take over fifteen minutes before being picked up. I threw on my black dress, tuned my Olympic scarf into a sash, cut out a yellow foam crown, dug out my only tube of lipstick, and poof, I transformed myself into Miss Canada.

The fiesta was a blast, because it was a closed off street, where every house was participating. As you can see in a few of the pics, everybody took their duty to dress pretty seriously, with most renting elaborate getups.

I got an invitation to dance, and before accepting, gave my usual advance apology of having the grace of a buffalo. As we started though, it clicked, and I felt like I was floating.

My partner looked at my quizzically and said, "you dance just fine".

No saying this through a grimace, no howling in pain, no suddenly having to run off and find his cousin. We finished and I got an invitation to dance with somebody else, in a different style. Again the advance apologies, and again, I nailed it. Then another dance... salsa, cumbia, banda... was it the glamourous scarf draped over my arm? The majestic foam tiara? Whoops, don't question the new found powers. I danced all night, ojnly realizing that it was time to go home when the sun was shining in my face.

Goodbye, Easter Bunny

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 04:16:02 GMT

Even though I have just under two months left, I´m already forced to say goodbye to a very special friend, Xempita. Apparently rabbits don´t enjoy plane rides (they can easily have heart attacks) and I am giving her away this week, so that she can adjust to her new home before I leave.

Considering her general lack of personality at the beginning of our relationship, I´m surprised how depressed I´ve gotten over the idea of giving her up, and how much I´m going to miss her. I wrote out a giant guide for her next owner, and realized how much spirit she has- little flips when she´s happy, sleeping with her eyes open, nibbling on my favourite shoes when she´s playful... sigh. I´ve doted a lot of attention on that ball of fur, and can only hope that she will continue to be this spoiled.

Te amo mi gatonejo

Parenting 101

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 01:51:18 GMT

My friends Mike and Liliana are expecting their first baby (a boy they will name Emilio) in three weeks. To help the young couple get started, my department at work decided to throw them a baby shower.

At the fiesta, it was revealed that Mike has never changed a diaper before. To prepare him for his upcoming duties, our secretary brought out her daughter´s doll- one that talks, blinks, eats, and well... you know. Mike learned to feed the tot some watered down salsa, and then recieved step-by-step instructions on how to change it.

Now that professor M has completed his lessons, baby Emilio can feel free to arrive any time!

Colin, you're a kickin' Canadian!

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 04:16:57 GMT

During my family and I's regular chat on Tuesday, my dad said,

"I bet you're going to find things are very different when you get home", and of course that's stuck with me, because I know it's true. The reverse culture shock idea excites me and troubles me.

Today I was working hard in my office, and barely noticed a rapping on the door. I finally glanced up and saw a woman holding a package for me, saying it had arrived from home. I felt like I had won a prize! It was a package from Colin, with a Lonely Planet guide to Canada and 4 CDs with Canadian music, so that I would remember what I have to look forward to when I return.

Of course I thanked him, but I'll do it again a few more times. It's always nice to have a kickin' patriot to keep one grounded. Besides, who has a Lonely Planet guide to their own country?

Corazon, I'm twenty-seven

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 21:29:54 GMT

Last week, the guys of the IHOM told me that the Peruvian was going to celebrate his birthday on Friday, and that I should invite my friends and join the first official party of the house. They're young, but I really like the guys, so I said sure, and invited about ten of my friends.

The party started early, which was a little weird, but I chilled and waited for my friends before joining the group. It was light, the air was delicious, and our front yard was full of South Americans dancing in in ways that would make me look like an elephant. Two guys came to talk to me in particular, and after about half an hour of talking to a Peruvian, he asked me to marry him. Smiling sweetly, I asked him how old he was.

"Nineteen!" he proclaimed.

"Corazon, I'm twenty-seven".

Not to be disuaded, he said that I could get European citizenship with the deal, as he's also Italian. That sweetened the offer a bit, but alas, I decided to stay single.

It didn't take long until these beautiful dancing foreigners were swaying around, then falling down, and then drooling on the couches and the floor. My friends and I looked at each other and shrugged, kids. I don't think any of us realized how much we've grown up until the moment that we saw a party end at two in the morning due to over-drinking.

I have to give the guys credit though, the next day the house and yard were spotless.

Today I realized that it would be inevitable to do some work. I was bothered by this because I work so hard during the week, and then I had an idea. I got into my bikini, made a pina coloda, got out a beach blanket, and set up my paradise on the concrete roof/patio. This conservative neighbourhood is not Acapulco, and had someone seen me they probably would have been mortified. However, I feel like I got a mini-vacation while completing some boring paper work. I haven't missed the snow once.

Living in the IHOM

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:46:24 GMT

The question on people's minds lately, besides my soul searching, is, "so how is the International House of Men?" You know that I was weary at first, but I have to say, the boys have quickly replaced the family!

Yes, they happen to be very good-looking, but that's besides the point, because I'm too old for them. They're fun, gregarious, and... foreign. Their unfamiliar southern accents rise and fall from below, using words that I've never heard before. The first night that we sat down for a beer together, they cried,

"Guys, we've lost her, she's Mexican!", groaning each time I used chilango slang.

I may have the foreign "look", but I often find myself explaining the way things are done here. South Americans can be very chivalrous, but it was me hauling out the bags of garbage this week, because they didn't know to listen for the bell, warning that pick-up was coming. Their pleas of innocence didn't get them off completely off the hook though, I made them leave the tip for the garbage man.

Yesterday afternoon there were people on my second level patio, taking measurements and discussing something that I couldn't eavesdrop on. I have a feeling that the family wants to increase the size of the house, or put another apartment here. How many foreigners can one house hold? Stay tuned for more adventures from the IHMO.

Wedding Magic

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:50:27 GMT

I think I should consider becoming a wedding crasher, just to see how they´re all done here. Distant cousin Sam would be believable, no?

I don´t think there has ever been a wedding that I didn´t like, but Mike and Liliana´s wedding wins hands down under the ritzy/classy catetory.

The scene was Lake Tequesquitengo, about 170km´s south of Mexico City. It was a small, quiet town where the weather was hot and dry. We were asked to come to the event at sunset, and what we found was a garden paradise overlooking the sparkling lake below. Women were dressed in colourful gowns and men in chic tropical casual gear. As you can see from the photos, every detail was planned perfectly, down to a rose petal carpet.

I´m not quite sure how they managed to have a Catholic service at night in a garden, but they did. One of the really interesting Mexican traditions that they followed after the giving of the rings was the exchange of thirteen coins- the groom gives his new wife the money, promising to work hard to take care of her, while the wife in return promises to guard the money and put it to good use for the family.

After a dinner of exquisite food and unlimited martinis, the couple stood on a small bridge over the pool and called for the guests to make toasts with them. As everybody gave their cheers, fireworks went off in the background, making the moment seem like a movie scene or a fairy tale that had materialized into real life.

The most fascinating part of the boda was the sheer variety of entertainment. The ceremony had a string quartet, followed by a caribbean type band at dinner, a jazz band, a romantic soloist, a full Latin Pop/Salsa band, and then a Norteña band. We danced all night while they passed out the typical props- balloons, hats, masks, glow sticks...

The most magical part came when the band broke into Brazilian Samba simultaneously with the entrance of two Mardi Gras clowns on stilts. The clowns swayed with the beat of the crowd, making us delightfully dizzy. Pure magic.

Mike, not only am I increadibly happy for you and the new phase that you´re embarking on in life, but you have saved me a lot of wedding planning.

Leila and Alex´s Wedding

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:44:45 GMT

Well, the day finally came, Leila and Alex got married!

As I mentioned before, I was really curious about this wedding, as I had recieved a super mod invitation and Leila´s hints that it would be ¨different¨.

I went with Antonio, which was great because we´re good friends with each other and with the bride and groom.

The service was traditional and Catholic, the dress was classic and white, and Alex had a nice suit. The reception was on the 42nd floor of the World Trade Centre, the tallest building in Latin America, so being there alone was pretty classy. When we got to the reception room, however, it was like going into a hip lounge, with couches and low tables, or tall stools and high tables. I couldn´t decide if I liked it or not. I guess I didn´t mind it myself, but I wondered about forty year old family members on bar stools. Nobody seemed to mind though, especially since most people were dancing.

The music started out as ambient/funk/world lounge, which again was a little different, but changed into Mexican favourites like salsa, cumbia, reggaeton... Mexican wedding props were thrown into the crowd as well, such as balloons, straw hats, and glow sticks.

I got to see a lot of Leila´s family again, and they were so sweet, with lots of hugs and introductions to other members of the family. My friend´s told Alex´s parents that I had come all the way from Canada to attend, and refused to let me correct the exageration ;)

The wedding also let myself and ¨the group¨ connect for the first time since Antonio´s birthday. Two of them, Saulo and Janet, are going to get married in March and have already invited me to be a guest. We all laugh and dance a lot together, probably too much. At six thirty in the morning, when the wedding was finishing, most of them were ready to go out for breakfast, but Tonio and I decided to call it a night. After all, I have another marthon wedding to attend next weekend. Cheers!

Just Call me Lupita

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 19:53:07 GMT

As I was making my coffee two weeks ago, my co-workers called me over to the front of the office, where they were laughing and gossiping.

"Sami", they said, "you need a more Mexican name. We're going to give you one. What do you think about Guadalupe? We'll call you Lupita for short."

Guadalupe is the most common name in the country, in honour of the Virgin of Guadalupe who appeared to an aboriginal man in 1531.

Before I could nod in agreement to my new name, my friends took my security card and covered my old name with a floursecent piece of paper that read, "Lupita". They looked very pleased with themselves until they noticed that my last name remains as Anglo as ever. They decided that the next, slightly more onerous task is to find me a husband so that I can have a Mexicanized last name to match my first. I pointed out that I could just legally apply to change my last name myself, but they were more interested in man hunting on my behalf.

Word spread that I was to be called Lupita from now on, and people have actually started calling me that more than Sam. It's cute, except when I'm walking down the halls and someone shouts "LUPITA!", and I turn around... discovering that they're calling for someone else.

A Modern Bride

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:29:26 GMT

I have been invited to two weddings recently, one on October 28th and one the weekend after that.

The first wedding will be with my good friends Leila and Alex. I´m thrilled to see such wonderful people start their future together.

From the descriptions Leila has given me, it won´t exactly be a traditional ¨Mexican¨ wedding... and the invitation she sent me gives me a clue. It´s very modern, and it was sent by email! She wasn´t being impolite or impersonal by sending me an e-invite, it´s just the logistics of our schedules, the size of this city, and the terrible postal system. I´ll attach a copy below.

The second wedding will be in the city of Cuernavaca, a great vacation spot for Chilangos (people from Mexico City). It´s the wedding of friend and co-worker Mike. He is having a tropical sort of theme in a garden, at night, with plans to end at 7am! Very different from the formal way that weddings are usually done here.

So, two beautiful events to look forward to. Two wedding gifts to buy on a Mexican salary. Four beautiful people getting married.

Bittersweet Symphony

Wed, 31 May 2006 22:51:18 GMT

I wonder how many people we meet in life. We hurry past people on the street, make quick orders, and chat with someone that we may never talk to again. Out of all the people we encounter, what makes a person stand out, makes them special, somebody that we will never forget?

Caity, Lea Ellen and I all came to Mexico together. I lived with them, worked with them, and went out with them at night. We shared all of our funny stories, our likes and frustrations in this wild international journey. I know from the experiences that I with them and from our constant laughter that I will not forget either of these girls for the rest of my life. But... the world can sometimes lead us to new paths, and Lea's has led her back to Canada.

It was bittersweet when I got up at 5:30 this morning to go with Lea to the airport. I am selfish and want her to stay, but I also want the best for her in the motherland with her family.

Buena suerte Lea! You have a country that will miss you.

P.S. I´ll think of you as I pass your ¨store¨ everyday ;)

Tagged for Weirdness

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 17:43:02 GMT

My friend Jess has tagged me for a thing called a weirdness meme, where I have to list 5 weird things about myself. That takes no effort at all. In return, I have to tag 5 other people. I´m tagging Colin, Sheila, JL, Krista, and Erin. They in turn will tag 5 people that they know... I think that by doing this, I´m more of a geek than anything.

So here goes the rest, the Weirdness Meme:

I love cartoons and computer animation, but don’t like shows or movies with realistic looking animals that talk (i.e. Mr. Ed).
This may not be strange to some people, but others find it weird. I have really eclectic tastes in music- samba, cumbia, hip hop, alternative, punk, reggae, Mexican top 40, Scottish folk tunes, Australian indigenous music, Bollywood hits…
One of my favourite breakfasts is cottage cheese with warm banana.
Francis Bacon’s art really hits an aesthetic note with me (see photo)
I don’t like the name ¨Bay of Fundy¨. Never have. Probably won’t visit the place simply because of this.