May 2008

You step inside your new cage. You paid the 2 pesos, so you have every right to be here. So do they. You find a spot, grab a pole and hope for the best. You begin to sweat, because you realize that you might not be able to make it out in one piece. Doubts arise: will I be able to get off when I need to? What if someone knifes me? What if...
Suddenly there's a rush; sounds around you, sounds inside your head and a rising temperature. You stand your ground in the swarm. Then you realize that the ground isn't yours; that it isn't your right to complain, to try to stand tall or to worry. You're the outsider. You're not the one who has to deal with this heat, the congestion, the germs, the insecurity and the general discomfort daily. You get room when you ride. You're the outsider.
And then a smile. And then a conversation. And then you share the same complaints. You understand. Even if you're ephemeral, so are they. Although this is their city, it's yours for now too. Respect it, complain about it and make use of it because for 3 months- it's home.
You get off the metro and you start wondering how you can avoid this experience again in the future. The pushing, the smells, the heat, the pain when a purse is jabbed into your ribs because one of the 4 surrounding women has been shoved by someone desperately trying to exit; it's all too much.
You arrive at the destination, go up the lift, look out the window and you again realize- this is going to be my home for now. When push comes to shove, a little crowding probably vale la pena. You are stuck staring out the window, trying to absorb every bit of this beauty, before you head back underground.

So I'm in Mexico City, I have arrived. From the very beginning- the arrival at the airport, I realized how different things are going to be. My luggage didn't arrive, which worried me, but didn't seem to bother anyone else at all (which makes sense actually). Anyway, finally one of the employees realized that in Atlanta it had been pulled aside from some extra security scans (x-rays too!) and they neglected to put it back on my plane It arrived a few hours later on a different plane. The house I'm staying at is interesting, to say the least. It's incredibly different to my house in Canada. First of all, they have maids, who (with the family) live in the house too. This wasn't such a shock as it's a fairly common thing in South Africa as well. However, in Canada we don't have this (at my house at least).
Anyway, that's something to get accustomed to again.
Luckily, health wise it hasn't been as bad as I predicted... yet. haha.
So I've just been checking out parts of the city at this point. I live in a fairly safe neighbourhood, so I've been doing everything alone. Today I ventured off into the depths of a forest- really, a park nearby.
It's the biggest park within a city in North America I think. Something like that?
I saw a castle, some lakes and very few tourists.
That's one thing that has surprised me thus far- the lack of tourists. I'm used to going to places where there is always an abundance of them- not here. Just interesting really, making these little observations.
I actually am feeling pretty stable emotionally, which is a bit surprising too. I thought I'd be more upset, but I'm ok. I miss people, but I have a really strong desire to explore.
The food has been good, I've discovered my new favourite dessert- las roscitas.
I'd say that's all for now; I just thought a little update may be a good idea.
Oh, and I'm sweating like never before! Yet everyone around me is wearing long pants and sweaters.