Why I Love Mexico

Here are some things that I think make Mexico Mexico.

1. The fact that not only do they sweep and mop the floors inside of the house, but outside as well. The sidewalk, the benches, even the roads.

2. Strange refrigeration practices. For example I have seen refrigerated nutella and peanut butter on many accounts (aka cacaguata); however, things like eggs, milk, and meat, not so much.3. Evidently, showering after you eat is a major health risk.

4. Kisses on the cheek. This happens when you first meet someone, when you greet someone, or when you say goodbye. Regardless if you are talking to one person or twenty, a kiss is a social requirement.

5. Mexican Standard Time. It puts Mormon Standard Time to shame. If someone tells you to meet them at 5:00 pm what they really mean is 6:30 or 7:00 pm.

6. Michael Jackson and Bob Marley are everywhere. On the bus, in the market... there is no escape.

7. Small change, such as 5 or 10 peso coins are valued above all else. It is rare to find someone willing to give you change for anything above 50 pesos.

8. Public transportation. Don’t need to go too deep into this one but let me tell you there are some cray cray drivers out there.

9. Police in the back of trucks with huge machine guns and combat boots.

10. People pointing out physical imperfections. If you have a bad hair day, muffin top, or pimple, watch out.

11. No concept of standing in line.

12. Church dances... people actually dance. :)

13. You could have a Spanish-English dictionary in one hand, a map in the other, and an American flag sticking out of your bag and people would still ask you for directions.

14. If you ask someone for advice or directions they ALWAYS have an answer for every medical ailment, social problem, or directional question. Even if the answer makes no sense.

15. Public bathrooms. So there are almost as many crazy bathroom accounts as public transportation but this one kind of combines the two. So the other day I was in the bus station in Xalapa with my friends Brittany and Adriana and I went to use the bathroom... so you have to pay 3 pesos to get in and there is this huge spinny thing at the entrance that only turns to let you in after you pay. So when I was leaving I left out a different door and there was a turny thing that said "empuje" which means push so I pushed it but then it stopped halfway around and this lady on the other side tried to get in but she couldn’t. And then I realized that I was going out the in and that I had probably used this woman's 3 pesos and was stuck, not able to go backwards or forwards. She realized this too and continued to yell at me for cheating her out of 3 pesos and I didn’t have my wallet with me to pay her back so I had to stand there stuck in the turny thing feeling horrible. Luckily she had more money with her to get in and glared at me and she entered the money and turned the wheel allowing me to escape. I ran and got my wallet to try and pay her back but she was gone by the time I got there. Sad day. Oh another interesting fact about bathrooms in Mexico... flushing toilet paper is a no-no.

16. Apple soda. Mmm

17. PDA. It’s everywhere. In the street. In the store. In the school. In the park. In the church. yup.

18. What’s mine is yours. The people here are so giving and generous. They would literally give you the clothes off their back. I have been benefited so many times from the hospitality of strangers. The other day a lady bought Brittany and me a bag of nuts for playing with her daughter. We had never met or seen this woman before. My friends and their families have shown me so much love and kindness. They have given me food and hospitality, friendship and love. They have treated Brittany and me like we were members of their family. I can’t express how much this has meant to me being in a foreign country away from family and friends and to have people here in Mexico welcome me into their homes and lives.

basically in conclusion... amo Mexico.