I am so thankful. My first Thanksgiving away from home was
absolutely incredible, thanks to the love and good company of people both far
and near. Here is what I am thankful for:
Language: It
never ceases to amaze me that here in Mexico City I have met and worked with so
many people from different countries who I would have never crossed paths with
nor even been able to talk to if we both had not learned a second language. Every
day at work I collaborate with a French co-worker who speaks almost no English and
with whom I would never have been able to communicate if we had both not
learned a second language. Sometimes it feels as if the world is converging
here in Mexico City, where I have met so many international visitors. When I
went on a hike a few weekends ago to see the monarch butterfly migration in Michoacán,
our guide abandoned us in the middle of the mountain, telling us to wait while
he checked to make sure we were going the right way. We were four people, each
from a different country, and we were essentially alone in a forest on the side
of a hill, completely out of breath. Yet, since we all spoke Spanish, we joked
around and laughed uncontrollably until the guide came back for us. Laughter is
the ultimate unifier.
Butterfly sanctuary and Valle de Bravo
Nature: I have
come to appreciate even the slightest remnants of nature while living in this
bustling, polluted, concrete-laden city. Every crack in the pavement is full of
green shoots. There is an entire flock of ducks and other water birds living in
the lake in Parque México. And even though it’s November, sunlight still dances
on the fronds of palms and the branches of birch trees in Parque España just a
block from my house. But even noticing the little pieces of nature scattered
amidst daily city life had not prepared me for the overwhelming joy and awe I
felt when I went to Valle de Bravo. Trees and moss made a mirage of green
across entire mountainsides. Billowing clouds, illuminated from behind by
heavenly rays of sun, rested like footprints on a canvass of clear blue sky.
Even when we were driving back to the city, my last glimpse of the lake in the
distance, just a split second snapshot through the van window, left me feeling
whole and at peace. I have been reminded recently how powerful nature can be
and I am incredibly thankful for its endless gifts of healing and peace despite
how we poorly we continue to treat it.
People: People
are just amazing. My co-workers are patient and kind, giving advice about
living in Mexico, while patiently helping me improve my Spanish. The
entrepreneurs I work with are inspiring, hopeful, determined, and dedicated. My Mexican family has shown me unconditional
love and support that has helped me greatly in my adjustment to Mexico. One of
my aunts, my uncle, and cousins took me out to Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday
night and it was amazing! My family at home Skyped me in to Thanksgiving dinner
and as I “sat” with them at the table, my computer screen showing me the
familiar table surrounded by family, I could feel the love radiating out of the
screen, dissolving the geographical distance between us and embracing me with
open arms. I miss my friends from home on a daily basis. Yet their capacity for
compassion and love even from miles away never ceases to amaze me. I can feel
their support like a gentle breeze behind me, always encouraging me forward. The
new friends I have met here have brought so much joy into my life. I have shared
deep discussions as well as fits of hysterical laughter with these incredible
people, locals and foreigners alike. It is mind-blowing to remember that I had
no idea these people even existed just a few months earlier. My apartment was
filled with over 20 people for Thanksgiving dinner, and it was one of the
happiest moments I have had here.
Good food: My
first Thanksgiving away from home included more people and more types of food
than I think I have ever had at a Thanksgiving dinner. We had people from 6 different
countries and so. much. food. I have so many leftovers that I don’t think I’ll
have to go food shopping for weeks!
Music: At some
point during the dinner, a group of us were crowded around my roommate and her
acoustic guitar, belting out the lyrics of pop, rock, and alternative songs
alike. The music brought us all together and it was one of the moments where I
have felt most at home here.
Health: While I
have been dealing with stomach and back issues for what at times has felt like
an eternity, I am grateful for my body and mind that have carried me up
mountains, walked countless city blocks, done hours of yoga, swam laps in the
pool, ate delicious Mexican food, held captivating conversations in two
languages, translated documents, and continues to think critically about the
big picture of my life and how it affects those around me.
Change: This
Thanksgiving there were ominous clouds hovering over the festivities: protests continued
for 43 students missing in Ayotzinapa, Mexico and the ruling of Michael Brown’s
court case in Ferguson, Missouri sparked protests across the US. These events have
jolted the world awake to the social problems we face today across the globe.
At first this news depressed me; I thought we had made more progress than this.
Yet as young people all over the world continue to demand change, I am hopeful
that we will make a positive difference in this world in our future. And I am
thankful to be a part of this generation of changemakers.
Opportunity: Every
day I marvel at the fact that I was blessed with the opportunity to take this
adventure. I learn something new every day, seeing beautiful sights and meeting
extraordinary people along the way. I am even more excited for the rest of my
fellowship here at Endeavor Mexico than I was when I started, eager to find out
what more I have yet to learn and where it will lead me.
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