Feliz Cumpleaños to me! And reflections from Mexico

Hola!

I've had some major reflections and observations since I arrived in mexico on December 9th. I stayed the first 6 days of my time in the massive Mexico City (regularly referred to the Distrito Historico, or the DF) and, like other big cities, it's got distinct neighbourhoods, and I chose only to explore a few of them, so as not to feel entirely overwhelmed! Next I journeyed to Valle de Bravo - a really beautiful white washed colonial town on a huge artificial lake, I stayed in the country with a woman I met on couchsurfing - she had a beautiful country home and worked at the Waldorf School just across the street! After my time with the orange trees and roosters I ventured to a bigger city - 1 Million - Queretaro, where I am finishing this blog off, and will journey next to the playa, to spend Navidad in the sand :) 
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Reflexión número uno: You cannot get an intimate understanding of a culture with out speaking the language that they speak. Until I can converse in Spanish, I don't think I can really understand the people and culture of Mexico. I do want to bring attention to the fact that there are many other forms of communication that can be deep, music, touch, art, body language, smells, etc, but none are quite like a language. Gosh - Languages. They are power in many ways. And I have a serious complex about speaking other languages. I've noticed this when trying to speak French in Quebec, and now, here in Mexico when trying to speak Spanish. I, a woman who is independent, confident, and brave, feels embarrassment, shyness, and loneliness when I even think about preparing my words in Spanish. It's amazing - I realize if I want to learn more of this language, I have to drop this shyness, this fear of not communicating, and just stumble through. Because I know, the more I practice, the more likely it is that I will actually get somewhere with this language. But jeeeez, it feels really challenging. And, challenges, as I have experienced them before, often open me wider to the beauty that is this world, the beauty that is within. If I can sit with the emotions and feelings that come up as I feel super challenged, uncomfortable because of language barriers, perhaps I can deal with even bigger challenges in the future with calmness, clarity and awareness. 

Reflexión número dos:  Mariposa Monarcha (i.e. Monarch Butterflies) are spectacular as individuals, and marvelous by the thousands. On my birthday, December 16th, I journeyed from the country home that I was couchsurfing at to Pierda Herrada Butterfly Sanctuary, where I climbed thousands of feet, into the brisk cold air, to witness the habitat of the Monarch butterflies during the winter months. The pine, holm oak  and oyamel fir trees were covered, with clusters of butterflies, the air full with these flitting creatures, so frail in appearance, but so strong they are. Some fly 7775 kilometers, largely originating from the Great Lakes Area of Canada to the forests of Michocan and Mexico States here to overwinter. They gather so closely together to stay warm with one another - like a cozy family - they need one another to survive the chill of the Mexican mountains. There is so many interesting facts about this journey that many monarchs do... To me, then symbolize much; about transformation, journey, seeking, resilience, community.  My own patterns and life symbolized by a butterfly....

Reflexión número tres: There are three very common Mexican celebrations around this time of year: Posadas, Pinatas and Pastorellas, and Mexican's go all out! Posadas is sort of a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, happens in a church, and involves songs and a small pilgrimage. It also often ends with the smacking of 7 pointed Pinatas - where candy, or more traditionally peanuts in the shell, burst out for children to scramble about and gather. The Pinata is a symbol of the devil! The 7 points representing the 7 deadly sins, and the stick used to break open the Pinata is a symbol of Christianity, that God can shatter the wrath of the evil devil. I've seen 3 or 4 Posadas in action already. And as for a Pastorella, I have yet to see one, but I understand it to be a comic venture into the story of Jesus's birth.

Reflexión número quatro: Pulque is my new favourite fermented beverage! For those of you who know me well, you know I love fermented things - whether its zippy kefir, sour kombucha, spicy kimchee, homeade hard apple cider, fermented pickles - I love the taste, and the probiotics in my belly! Pulque is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey (a type of agave cactus) plant. It has been produced for Millennia in the central Mexico area - Aztecs were known to revere this beverage! It has the colour of milk, and a sour yeast-like taste. I loved the flavour, and the warm feeling that alcohol often brings to my limbs. 

And, on the food theme - Gorditas - I've never had a reeeeal one before this week in the small town of Pena de Bernal and they impressed me! Of course, not all gorditas are as delicious as the beauties that I consumed. The ones that I tasted were well recommended by a Mexican friend that I met in Queretaro while I hopelessly attempted to understand some street clowns who were clownin' around. He helped translate a bit of the quick and comedic Spanish clown talk and let me know when one of the clowns pointed at me and called me Marg from the Simpsons (because of my big hair bun - you know the one!) ha! This new friend and I wandered the bustling streets of Queretaro for a couple hours, taking in the lively plazas, the huge Christmas trees, the intricately adorned churches. The streets of this town are clean, and feel far safer then what I generally felt in Mexico City. They are filled with intricate stone work and architecture, with narrow sidewalks or pedestrian only streets, plazas and gardens and churches galore...with bougainvillea populating many of the building walls. We wandered into the night on the cobblestone pedestrian walkways, passing by delicious smelly wafts of Ponche Navidad (a spiced and fruity warm punch - filled with hunks of guava, pear and apple, with a sugar cane stir stick) and savory smells of street vendors selling corn in all forms (corn on the cob, smoothered with lime, salt and chili; corn soup with smears of mayonnaise, cheese, chili and lime; piping hot steamed tamales stuffed with squeaky cheese, tacos, quesidillas, etc etc etc - street food and corn unite!) I arrived back at my (wonderful, awesome, generous) Canadian friends place happy with my wanderings in this new place!

Shoot - I've digressed from my original thread on Gorditas! So, the day after I met this friend, we took the bus to neighbouring Pena de Bernal, a very small town, super beautiful buildings, another Pasoda parade, and an amazing hike up the Pena - a beautiful monolithic earth structure that dominates the landscape in this small town. And this is where we had gordita con raja, gordita con huevos, gordita con nopales, gordita con champinion...these contents are simmered in delicious spicey sauces and stuffed in yellow or blue corn pockets. Then grilled on a flat grill to toasty perfection. yes yes yes! Yesterday, when I was back in Queretaro, I tried another gordita - it was no where near as tasty - so like I say, not all are created equal...hmmm. Ha, and fun fact, gordita means "little fat one" in english!

Reflexión número cinco: I've said it before on this blog, but I'll say it again, I love when life spills from the inside walled world to the outside world. Life in Mexico is lived neither indoors nor out, it is like neither exists, they are the same! As in many other places, I love how buildings are consistently open - they have a central room that is open to the sky, their doors aren't really that, just gates, they have outdoor kitchens, restaurants entirely outside all year. It is so different from Canada where for many months of the year, you absolutely need to have the walls and doors air tight, to keep from freezing your bum off. I love how homespaces of people change depending on the climate. 
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There's some little tidbits for you. 

Overall, I'm feeling good - but it's been quite a ride thus far, travelling solo in a Spanish speaking world...I'm so excited for a week of company from my dear friend Tricia on the beach of San Pancho - just north of Sayulita and Peurto Vallarta on the Pacific coast. 

I'm thinking so much of you, my loved ones, family and friends...people who have been so generous to me before, and continue to with offering your love from far and wide. Please know that your in my heart at this celebratory time of year.

Totally off topic, but I wanted to let you know you are still reading: I've gotten a job working with Operation Groundswell! I'll be guiding 2 big Conservation Volunteering trips for youth in Thailand and Cambodia this May-August! The journey's keep on rolling... 

Love,
Kayla