Bringing positive efforts to light that improve and strengthen the local community and its Mexican culture by educating those who are immigrants how to happily fit in and contribute to the future of Lake Chapala.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
When in Rome
It Takes a Saint!
Doing research on my "integrating" theme has been taking me on an interesting journey! I'm being introduced to some interesting people and times.
For some karmic reason my mind is being bombarded by sayings, quotes that have been floating around my social world since I was very small. Like this one: "When In Rome!" You know that one. Everyone knows that one. It's always been my go to quote when my travel clients would start asking "can I do this or say that? My overly quick response would be, "When in Rome, do as the Romans!" Then I'd politely explain what seemed to be to be the most common sense way to approach a different culture... if you don't want to be stared at or anger people, you will want to be observant to get a sense for what others are doing and saying.
St. Ambrose came to this conclusion at an early age when his only known way of life included a day of fasting. When he went to Rome from Milan to further his studies, he realized that large groups of people - even his own countrymen and women, did not all do things the same. Romans chose to fast on a different day. He thought there was only one response to that. Fast on their fasting day. (They didn't use the word "duh" back in 380 AD.)
Rummaging around in Wikipedia, etc. I learned this guy was very adaptive and smart. He pretty much became the creator of the way encyclopedias are written and organized. Not only is he 'the' Patron Saint of Learning but of Beekeeping! (That will have to be a whole different post.)
So, today, I'm shining a light on this mindset. If you are considering the plunge into a different culture, you have to go wide-eyed and with sensitivity - to do it successfully. It will bring you respect in Mexico when you realize how babies wave with their little hands backwards to our NOB babies, young people get up to let old people sit down on the bus (still), People are quiet and patient in the line up and don't stand their loudly complaining about it to a stranger, a driver will stop where there is no crosswalk for people to cross a busy street. Starting to get the idea? It's quite subtle and it takes your brain to be quiet and focused to catch these nuances of your new neighbors in action. If you like to observe and soak it in, you will be forever happy here, learning every day how to be a part of the new life you have chosen.
For some Expats, despite the fact they are card-carrying residents of a different country, they are not interested in this aspect of their new life.
To those who want to exist with eyes wide shut, I'm sorry. You will probably not find happiness here.
If the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it? Maybe there is a comfort zone somewhere else in this vast world.
Doing research on my "integrating" theme has been taking me on an interesting journey! I'm being introduced to some interesting people and times.
For some karmic reason my mind is being bombarded by sayings, quotes that have been floating around my social world since I was very small. Like this one: "When In Rome!" You know that one. Everyone knows that one. It's always been my go to quote when my travel clients would start asking "can I do this or say that? My overly quick response would be, "When in Rome, do as the Romans!" Then I'd politely explain what seemed to be to be the most common sense way to approach a different culture... if you don't want to be stared at or anger people, you will want to be observant to get a sense for what others are doing and saying.
St. Ambrose came to this conclusion at an early age when his only known way of life included a day of fasting. When he went to Rome from Milan to further his studies, he realized that large groups of people - even his own countrymen and women, did not all do things the same. Romans chose to fast on a different day. He thought there was only one response to that. Fast on their fasting day. (They didn't use the word "duh" back in 380 AD.)
Rummaging around in Wikipedia, etc. I learned this guy was very adaptive and smart. He pretty much became the creator of the way encyclopedias are written and organized. Not only is he 'the' Patron Saint of Learning but of Beekeeping! (That will have to be a whole different post.)
So, today, I'm shining a light on this mindset. If you are considering the plunge into a different culture, you have to go wide-eyed and with sensitivity - to do it successfully. It will bring you respect in Mexico when you realize how babies wave with their little hands backwards to our NOB babies, young people get up to let old people sit down on the bus (still), People are quiet and patient in the line up and don't stand their loudly complaining about it to a stranger, a driver will stop where there is no crosswalk for people to cross a busy street. Starting to get the idea? It's quite subtle and it takes your brain to be quiet and focused to catch these nuances of your new neighbors in action. If you like to observe and soak it in, you will be forever happy here, learning every day how to be a part of the new life you have chosen.
For some Expats, despite the fact they are card-carrying residents of a different country, they are not interested in this aspect of their new life.
To those who want to exist with eyes wide shut, I'm sorry. You will probably not find happiness here.
If the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it? Maybe there is a comfort zone somewhere else in this vast world.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Fingerprints From the Heart
Sometimes the light bulb comes on long after the lesson has been taught. For many of us who are seniors now, we finally have some downtime. The quiet brain is allowing for reflection!
We are aged students despite going back to a real classroom. The classrooms for me are remembering many moments I had while living in Mexico from age 27 to 39. It was a rich life, full of experiences and interactions with incredibly special people. I see now, in those recollections, there are so many lessons. So, I would like to share some of them, somehow.
Here I am at 62 and the world is a different place. I left Mexico as a Canadian expat, settling in the US only to have a terrible case of culture shock and seasonal affective disorder (no sun like all those past years). It took some adjusting. I didn't seem to have much time for reflecting then. I, so happily, have come full circle in my mind and body, and am delightedly back home in Mexico. Bravo!
Now, somewhat bittersweet for me, it is a different Mexico all these years later. Of course! I have new adjustments I hadn't really expected, but days are tranquil and I am doing a lot of comparison to the OLD Mexico and the NEW Mexico. I find myself seeing some aspects of culture that didn't go away and realizing some have. All a mix of good and bad if I judge them.
A lot of Americans and Canadians are making their homes around me. I am seeing and hearing many of them voice their emotions when I'm out gloriously soaking up my permanent surroundings. I'm very concerned by what I see and hear. It's become disconcerting for me. I witness too many situations of verbal abuse of the locals by the expat community. I see bullying and rudeness toward the people that have opened their doors to us. Something is wrong! For people who are making application to become full time residents of this unique and socialist country, the behavior is something I never saw when I lived here before. I'm seriously exploring the reasons for this.
This blog will be my effort to try and help concerned and perplexed expats find their way around, but not by using a map or 360 degree photos on Facebook. I will hopefully paint a picture of the past and enlighten all those interested in the "why" or "why not" of life south of their old home.
By taking in my blog, I'm trying to create that "aha" moment for my readers- at least from time to time. I hope folks will learn about little nuances of the culture and community we live in and how it affects their daily lives. Perhaps in time their experiences out there in the community will trend toward a different light cast onto them - with shades of green, white and red! Come journey with me and my reflections as I sew the past to the present for those new to life in Mexico. My personal goal is to weave the foreigners into the fabric of Mexican life. My wish is to create new volunteers with a zealousness to keep the community "Mexican" and embrace it!
By taking in my blog, I'm trying to create that "aha" moment for my readers- at least from time to time. I hope folks will learn about little nuances of the culture and community we live in and how it affects their daily lives. Perhaps in time their experiences out there in the community will trend toward a different light cast onto them - with shades of green, white and red! Come journey with me and my reflections as I sew the past to the present for those new to life in Mexico. My personal goal is to weave the foreigners into the fabric of Mexican life. My wish is to create new volunteers with a zealousness to keep the community "Mexican" and embrace it!
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