Favorite Moments in Mexico
As the beginning of March has rolled around, I find myself astounded at how fast this year in Mexico has flown by. It has been awhile since I wrote a blog post simply reflecting on my time here. Today, I share some favorite experiences from my time living in Mexico City.
Celebrating a friend’s birthday with our church community. (Yes, Sam is being a dork!)
Our church: Sam and I knew we would look for a church to attend while here, but we never expected to feel so welcomed into community. We have made lifelong friends with whom we share meals, go on weekend trips, and celebrate birthdays. On a few occasions, we have led the discussion in the couples’ group. I enjoyed whipping out some John Gottman research and figuring out how to say “bids for connection” in Spanish.
Artistic activities: Did you know that Mexico City is one of the best cultural destinations in the world? It has more museums than any other city in the world - 173, to be exact! Some of our favorites are Museo de Historia (in the picturesque Chapultepec Castle), Museo de Antropología, and Casa Azul - the home and now museum of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Another incredible aspect of Mexico City culture are the iconic holiday festivities. We live blocks from Paseo de la Reforma, one of the city’s major thoroughfares. The avenue is shut down for parades on Mexican holidays like Día de Independencia (September 15) and Día de los Muertos (November 1-2). We have also enjoyed attending concerts. I especially enjoyed seeing virtuoso pianist Jorge Federico Osorio live for the first time!
Riding Tío Lalo’s horse with Sam.
Christmas in Michoacán: It was really special to meet Sam’s relatives for the first time over the holidays and experience rural life in the western state of Michoacán. I rode a horse, hugged goats, made tortillas, and milked a cow! (Well, I attempted to milk the cow… I got about two drops! :-)
Meeting Mexican musicians: I have connected with numerous musicians, from professors to music students and piano teachers. It is interesting to learn about what the music performance and pedagogy scene is like in Mexico.
Improving language skills: Some days, I feel like I can communicate pretty well in Spanish. Other days, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m learning to see the tough days as a good sign: it means I am being immersed in the language deeper than ever.
One of my favorite feelings is when I get a joke, make a pun, or use an idiom correctly in Spanish. The other day, I made a joke about cilantro and onions that I was very proud of. (It probably won’t land in English, so I won’t attempt to translate.) I like to make people laugh, and I feel especially accomplished when I pull it off in my second language.
Thank you for keeping up with my time abroad! I love to hear from friends back home, so feel free to leave a comment below if you enjoyed reading this update. Include any questions you would like me to address in the next few months before my Fulbright year ends!