Rosy Outlook

A tree hugger who likes thrift stores, drinking glasses, religions, Korean dramas and flowers at any given time.

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Most of my friends and family were shocked that I didn’t party, or drink more than I actually did on this trip. This was the second to last night in Mexico, and honestly, that was the most I drank the whole time there. The trip was important to me. It was more than just a good time. It was a time to soul search, find answers, and healing. I’ve been hurt enough and experienced enough to know the answers I needed were not going to be found in a bottle. Yet, your girl does love her some Mexican beer. What better place to have some of my all time favorite beers?

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After we got home from class, Trini would set up the macas for us. Irene and I would lay in the hammocks and drink Jamaica (hibiscus) water. It was a nice, relaxing way to end the day. As you can see, Felix is not far from me. I liked that Trini just had hammocks all around her house. It made me realize how much just spending time with others and relaxing is valued in her culture. Hopefully, this is something that I will be able to bring home to mine.

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A mood. By the end of the trip, all of us were mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. Mayra and Irene are featured in this picture during one of the short breaks we had between activities. I chose to include this picture because it shows how exhausting being vulnerable all the time is. It’s hard to be brave, try new(ish) things, and put yourself out there not knowing what may happen. I believe all of us on this trip did that to the best of our ability at the time.

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The Chiquitos. This class at Caminando Unidos had roughly 10 students ranging from ages 1-5. They were a handful. I spend two of my four days with these kiddos. They were the bunch I connected to the most. The little girl in this photo, Lucilla, was my buddy. The little boy next to Lucilla, Luis, started calling me mama on the last day. In this class they worked on not only art skills, but brushing their teeth, learning letters, and singing songs.  

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Caminando Unidos. This is a school for students 1 to 18 years in age. The school supports the community of neighborhoods where there is extreme poverty. The school’s curriculum centers around the Toltec philosophy of The Four Agreements. Students are not only taught regular subjects in school, but emotional intelligence, hygiene, and community. This hallway is where students walk down to eat together and play football with each other.    

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This memorial can be found in the center of the zocalo in Cuernavaca. The many photographs are placed here by loved ones of people who have been murdered or disappeared. Unfortunately, this is common enough to warrant having a mass memorial. Right in front of this memorial is a plaque to Samir. Samir is viewed like Zapata, a warrior for the people. He was a community leader against the federal government’s dam building project on Indigenous land. Samir was murdered in February this year, two days before a large meeting he was supposed to be at. There is a still a resistance alive in Mexico.

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In the afternoons at Cilac Freire, we would participate in charlas or little chats. The charlas centered around aspects of Mexico’s history, culture, and education policy. One of my favorite charlas was when we learned and sang ballads about Emiliano Zapata. Zapata was and still is a larger than life influence over the people of Southern Mexico. He fought for the people and wanted them to have a better life, just like the fight many carry on today in Mexico.

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I knew the day of the temazcal, or sweat lodge, was going to be difficult. I woke up that day not feeling well, having been hit with Montezuma’s revenge. I was determined to go through the ritual. In this image you can see the temazcal in the background (the brown hut) with our group in the foreground. Marco, the guy in yellow, was our guide through the ritual. There were four stages to the experience that were broken into 60 minute and 40-minute sessions. Temazcals have been used for centuries as areas of healing. I walked into the temazcal one person and out of it another.  

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A road in Tepoztlan. This road is similar to other ones with its unmarked lanes, small sidewalks, and level of being maintained. I selected this picture because it shows the tourist walking around. Tepoztlan is known for the remains of a pyramid called El Tepozteco. The pyramid can be seen at the top of the mountain to left of the picture. Along with other members of the group, I climbed the mountain to the pyramid. The climb was a spiritual journey that energized me. Reflecting back on the trip, this day was the fullest of joy I had been in a long time. It was magical.  

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The ruta. Irene quickly learned how to ride the bus by ourselves to and from school. Trini’s trusty delivery truck often had trouble starting, especially in the morning. My theory was it wasn’t a morning truck. Anyways, the buses were one of my favorite ways to get around. They were loud, fast, and the drivers often raced each other. It was from the buses that I was able to see the resourcefulness others had. Drivers would flick some pesos out the door fairly often at bus stops. Trini explained there were men letting drivers know the time of the bus in front of them on their route. It’s not an official system, but it works.

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One of the last excursions Trini took us on was to an international film festival hosted in Cuernavaca. The theater was packed, and we waited in line for at least 45 minutes before being let in. The movie was a French film called 16 Sunrises. It followed a French astronaut throughout his time on the International Space Station. It was a classic French film with beautiful cinematography and questioning mankind. A storm came in while we were there. Something happened, maybe the power went out, and we were not able to see the end of the film. When many Americans think about Mexico, I know they do not think about International film festivals or French films. What bias we have.    

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Another Trini excursion. After spending the day in Tepoztlan with the group, Trini met us and took us to a concert. It was a benefit for an environmentally friendly library. The one-woman act played the piano, drums, and according while singing. She was a great entertainer and had the crowd in the palm of her hand. At one point she brought all the children up to the stage and started a conga line. Even though this picture doesn’t show it, the concert was standing room only. I couldn’t understand most of her lyrics, but I found myself tearing up at one song and laughing at another. I love how music can transcend boundaries like language.

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I’m not sure the other host moms took their kids around on their errands, but Trini did. Earlier in the week, Trini had taken us to the market downtown. It was busy, crowded, and had all kinds of smells. I had been to farmer’s markets in the States, but nothing compared to this. At the end of the week, Trini took us to a grocery store. It was weird. It reminded me of home. She showed us how a lot of food in the grocery store was from the States and not Mexico. Thanks, NAFTA.

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Trini brought our lunch one afternoon. She took us on a picnic complete with juice boxes, chilies, and suckers. On our way back to Cilac Freire she stopped at this church. It was old, built sometime in the last two centuries. In this picture, you can see a pack of dogs relaxing in the shade of the tree. These are street dogs. They were common in Cuernavaca for reasons that are unknown to me. In the states, if there is a dog without an owner they are picked up either by a person or animal control. Isn’t it interesting how something that is so common to one person is strange to another?

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One of the first days we were with Trini, she took us to a fiesta her church was having. She explained that you could know where a fiesta is happening because of the flags hanging on the road. The celebration was for a saint. At 6 am the morning of the fiesta, fireworks were shot off and continued until 9 pm that night. The church building had a foundation and a few columns, but the people of the church were many. We ate lunch with them and listened to a band. An older man who knew some English started talking to me trying to find commonalities between us. This reiterated that just because we come from different cultures and places, we’re not so different as others want us to believe.

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Trini. Feminista. Activist. Role Model. These are just a few words that encapsulate her. This photo was taken at her house where she was surrounded by her treasures. Trini made sure Irene and I had the best experience possible. She took us all over Cuernavaca and Tepoztlan. We went to fiestas, movies, bars, concerts, all kinds of things. Trini could talk to anyone and had no fear at advocating what she believed to be right. While we were there she ended up on national news for speaking out at a healthcare rally. She received her newly published book about corruption in elections in Mexico. She represents the people who have said, “Enough is enough; let’s do something about it.” #goals    

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Felix, mi amor. Trini has two cats and a dog. Felix was my shadow while I was home. He would jump in my lap whenever I sat down somewhere. I have two cats at home, one of which is a long-hair like Felix. I believe animals are empathic and can sense kindred spirits. Felix took care of me while I was on this trip. He comforted me when I was grieving, homesick, or just sad. He sat quietly with me while I practiced my Spanish on him. Trini told me he doesn’t like other people. He showed me love in a way that made me think about the type of love we should show each other simply because we are a living being.