Wednesday, May 25, 2016

A birthday, a crossroads and a Mexican doctor

23/5 - Yesterday was Rita's 68th birthday. Diego's mother is a very fun, friendly, open and kind woman, and she definitely does not look her age. In fact, she looked 30 years younger when she danced to orchestra music Diego set up for the older guests. Tampico is her hometown, but she hasn't been home for her birthday for 48 years so it called for a large celebration.

Diego has a massive family, and I was a bit overwhelmed at one point after being introduced to countless cousins. Apparently Rita is the only one in the family who can get everyone to show up in one place because everyone loves her so much. But after drinking a Tecate, I had to excuse myself to lie down and nap because it gave me a headache. Other than that I know my body is fighting something off, because I'm pretty sure I had a fever and chills yesterday. Food cleanliness and safety doesn't appear to be a high priority here, but I digress.

There was plenty of singing at this party and dancing to salsa, orchestra, reggaeton and other Latin music, and of course plenty of alcohol. I chose to stick to water after returning to the party. Diego's family was concerned after learning I wasn't feeling well, and they did everything they could to help me feel better, which I appreciated.

We ate rice and chicken topped with a mole sauce, which was a recipe from Diego's grandmother. It was a tad sweet while also a tad spicy. It was excellent, and I would have had more if I felt better. And when almost everyone had left, Diego took out his Cuban cigars and shared one with me and Miguel, another cousin of his. It was another first for me, and special because Cubans are top-quality cigars.



The best part about yesterday was how everyone seemed to welcome me, the only gringo in the city of Tampico and at that party. I've already been invited to a cousin's quinceanera (a girl's 15th birthday party, the time when she becomes a woman) and have been told countless times I'm welcome back. It looks like I need to plan to return to Mexico in December of 2017. It's these forged connections all over the world which makes travel fun to me. Mexico seemed close before, but now it's even closer. My Latino cousins expect me to return.

24/5 - My stomach felt worse yesterday which is why we had a late start. We went looking for applesauce but settled for electrolyte-replenishing drinks. From there we made it to the beach, where we sat on chairs in the sand under some shade and snacked on more Mexican treats such as Troles (a cup of corn topped with butter, salt, mayonnaise, milk, cheese, lemon and chile) and coco (sliced coconut with lemon and chile powder). 

It was during this time I realized I'm at a crossroads in my life. There are certain aspects that seriously need to be corrected in order to achieve balance, and I need to make a decision. It was an enlightening day, including being charged five pesos to use the most disgusting bathroom I've encountered during my travels.


We then sat down as a family in the evening and ate Tacos de Trompes, another excellent, but spicy, food here. I'm learning a lot about our southern neighbors and enjoying it.But this meal only made my situation worse. 

This morning my stomach felt the worst it has during the week; There was a pressure there I've never felt before, and I was bloated and unable to burp or anything else. Diego and I visited a local museum, but all I could do was lie down on a bench so as to calm my stomach. This was the point I actually had to visit a doctor. 


The conclusion? I've eaten way too much spicy food during the week, and it's simply the diet of a different country that has caused so much chaos within my body. This has never happened to me, but I have learned my lesson. Next time I go to Mexico, I will pack less underwear and more medicine. 

The doctor (who was only 27 years old) and the pills he prescribed cost about 120 pesos, about six USD. Going to a doctor in Mexico is actually pretty quick and pain free. When you see a pharmacy, there is usually an adjacent room where a doctor can be found. Here the doctor will listen to what's wrong with you, ask questions and examine you. If I had stayed in Mexico for a few more days, Diego said the doctors would have given me shots that would have cleared my little ailment straight away. No medical insurance needed and little paperwork. But even by taking a break with spicy/acidic food, I'm feeling a bit better already and can now say I've visited a Mexican doctor. If nothing else, I can't say the week in Mexico was uneventful!

While I have new cousins in Mexico, probably the most important thing I (or anyone, really) can take away from this trek is to not be afraid to travel anywhere. There were several people who asked me before the trip why I'm going to Mexico. Hadn't I seen the news or heard about the cartels? The media present a very narrow viewpoint about faraway places so we should take what we hear about with a grain of salt. If you want to judge a place, visit it first.

What I found in Tampico was a kind and generous family who was always looking to help me. They didn't have much, but they are as happy as can be. And I previously said Diego's family lives in two adjacent houses, but it's more like three houses in a row, a couple houses behind them and several more scattered within 100 yards. Everyone in that neighborhood knows each other. But the lesson here is that the media doesn't show the good people of a particular place, only the bad because that's what attracts the most ratings.

25/5 - As I write this from Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, the trek back to Porterville has begun. That means two more flights and a 150-mile road trip. It's all part of the fun of traveling. And while this chapter is closing, it marks the beginning of a new one. My return to England to work with Kaichi High School is just a few weeks away. I will close this blog with a colorful sentence enhancer that will hopefully encourage you to improve your view of the world.

Fuck fear. It only serves to limit you.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Mexico, cheap food and happy people

18/5 - Buenos dias desde Ciudad de Mexico! Good day from Mexico City, Mexico!

With the exception of being harassed by a CHP officer in Los Angeles while stuck in stop-and-go traffic on Highway 405 because I was both looking at my phone and driving without a bumper, my trek so far into Mexico City has gone by relatively smoothly. I'm just very tired, having started my journey at 5 a.m. I started writing this blog at 11 p.m. local time.

I flew from LAX after driving to Los Angeles and parking my car in an airport parking lot. I first stopped in Guadalajara, and from there to Mexico City. I have about eight hours to kill in the Mexico City airport before my flight to Tampico in the morning. It's one of those long travel days and my eyes are heavy while writing this.

I used a Mexican airline called Interjet, which is about 10 years old. After two flights and several hours on their planes, it's safe to say Interjet is my favorite airline. Every seat has the kind of legroom that comes with the emergency exit seats on other airlines, neither plane was filled to capacity and alcohol is free, even on flights that last less than an hour! Those Latinos really know how to fly! This all added up to a very relaxing and stress-free flight experience.

But after taking off from Guadalajara and gazing out the window at the criss-crossing grid of lights, it hit me how going on an adventure and traveling relaxes me and makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something. This is me in my element. It's such a welcome relief from the recent stress and anger to hop on an airplane headed for a new place; it does wonders for the soul.


When I step onto an airplane, my real-world responsibilities, issues and and stress never gets past the gate, and I am sincerely grateful for that. I appreciate the fact I can escape everything, if only for a little bit of time.

20/5 - Tampico has a tropical climate. It's warm and humid as hell, like a greenhouse full of tropical plants. It's sticky! When my friend Diego picked me up from the airport and we stepped outside, it was a little jarring to go from air conditioned, 72-degree comfort to hot and humid air that is thick to breathe. This is the kind of place where it's best to move slowly, or else you'll drip with sweat even more.

There are iguanas that make their homes next to the lake where crocodiles lurk, sometimes sunning themselves with their mouths open. Perhaps that's why a steel fence separates the walking path from the water!


Tampico is known as Mexico's first sea port, and when flying one can see how swampy the surrounding land is. It's not an environment I'm used to, and I've been drenched in sweat consistently since coming to Tampico. 

The city has also had issues with drug cartels in the past, around 2012. Diego said the local police were disbanded and replaced by the Mexican government. Sometimes you can see a truck patrolling the area with a 50-caliber machine gun bolted to the roof. But now it seems like a safe place judging from how lively downtown is. 

It's a bit of a throwback to drive down the street and see four or five people riding in the bed of a truck; I haven't seen that in many years. While crossing the street on foot, there are no signals; you just need to keep an eye on the traffic to make sure you won't get hit. And when taxis are free, they randomly honk their horns to attract attention. There are also taxis that have specific routes, like a city bus. They just pick you up on the route and you can get off whenever. 

I'm staying with Diego and his family. They live next to each other in two houses along a canal, close to the lake and within walking distance to downtown. The houses, like the rest of the neighborhood, are a bit run-down and overgrown. It feels a bit sketchy at first, but it's a relatively safe neighborhood in which everyone knows each other because they've lived there for so long. And simplicity is the best practice, right down to the pipe that simply sticks out of the shower wall; it's just like standing under a garden hose while taking a shower!


We spent the day today eating Tortas de la Barda and relaxing at the beach with beers and shrimp cocktail. Another great thing about Mexico is that it's cheap. A beer costs $1.50. But on the other side, I understand why so many people want to work in the USA and then send money back to Mexico.


22/5 - At a small food cart yesterday, I saw the guy was offering three hamburgers for five pesos. At the bar with Diego's brother in law, we had four beers apiece, peanuts and several small plates of food. About $10 total for everything. The low cost of everything is blowing my mind but after Diego said it's the cost of living here, I sobered up a little bit. It's a struggle to live here and make a living, when one peso is almost worthless. I need to be thankful I live in the states where the dollar is so strong. I may live like a king here, but it would be much different if I lived and worked in Mexico.

But, because everything is so cheap, that means I can live it up. I'm really enjoying that! I'm used to overpriced food and drink in the USA and Europe, but it's dirt cheap in Latin America.

Anyway, today is the birthday of Diego's mother, Rita. The whole family will be here and there will be lots of food of course. I'm seeing how simply this family lives and how happy it is. Everyone loves to laugh. I've already been invited to a quinceaƱera in a few years, and I think people are expecting me to return. 

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Changing attitude about Porterville

4/5 - I snapped last Friday; it was a culmination of things.

After watching a softball player drop a simple pop up that went maybe 10 feet into the air (it was her second of the game), I threw my hands up in frustration. Watching bad softball or baseball has that effect on me.

This put me into a foul mood the rest of the day and well into Sunday. It made me realize I need to stop lying to myself. I can try to find all of the positives about living in Porterville all I want, but it doesn't change the fact I strongly dislike living here. Time to stop fronting. I've spent close to two years total living in Porterville, and I think I've had quite enough.

It's everything associated with this town, right down to the bartender who didn't know what a stout is, and still gave me the wrong bottle even after I pointed to it to help her. It's this mediocrity that has finally gotten to me. But, this is Porterville; what should I expect? This is a phrase that has become common thinking for me, and I severely dislike it. I'm settling for much less than the best here.

On Monday I hiked up Rocky Hill and, still fuming with no one around me, I let out an F-bomb at the top of my voice. I know I've been trying to justify moving back to Porterville after finishing my year in Europe, but I just can't do it anymore. It's been great to connect with old friends again and learn new things, but I cannot deny the truth any longer: Moving away from Europe to be here was a moronic decision on my part.

Now I need to do something to change this situation. I've begun the job search, applying all over the country for different kinds of jobs, not just in journalism. I now have an interest in moving to Australia.

In other news, I've been disqualified from the Coast Guard for medical reasons. When I heard the recruiter say that, I wasn't truly disappointed. I guess deep down I knew that would be the case, hence why it took so long to get the medical record to them and why I barely opened the ASVAB practice test book. My heart wasn't really into it.

This just means it's an opportunity to explore other avenues. I still desire to do something huge with my life, and that has to be away from Porterville. So, here's to the job hunt; I expect six months before I get a yes.

10/5 - The trip to San Francisco for Mother's Day evolved into a day of me ranting about my situation in Porterville. It also reminded me about how much I'd love to live in San Francisco, why I should have studied something more useful than journalism and how much I need to get out of the Central Valley. But by the end of the day, I was reminded why a lot of people can't afford to live there: it's so expensive!

But, it was still enjoyable to hang out with my parents, Nick and Eddy for the day in one of the best cities in the world. I'm thankful I got to do that.

12/5 - I figured out yesterday I'm developing anger issues, and they stem from the hostile environment in which I work everyday. Yesterday was another episode of elevated stress and anger at one person, and I finally had enough; I told someone about it who could actually do something to correct the situation, though I'm not sure if anything will happen.

I can't do this much longer. The person I've become since coming to back to Porterville is angry and resentful. Something needs to be done to fix that; I guess the first step to that is recognizing I have an issue.

Anyway...the trip to Mexico is next week and coming at the perfect time! A bit of adventure and travel will do wonders for me. Since it's so close, I'm getting that sense of nervous anticipation. It's a big trip, one where the use of Spanish is vital.

The plane tickets to London are also finalized, so that was a feeling of relief as well. I'm really looking forward to that trip in June.

As for the job search, it's still early. GoPro told me thanks but no thanks and I've had calls from a few places to reach out. Nothing is for sure right now, but as you all can tell I really would like to find something soon.