I have been living here in Chacala, this
little village 90 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico's
west coast, for four months so far. My sabbatical here is
coming to an end in a couple of weeks, and I am looking
back at what I have seen, learned, and appreciated during
this visit to Mexico, her people, and the ways of this world.
I thought it would be fun to share some of my observations
with you here.
The people of Mexico are the main reason
I come here. Especially in a small village like this (500
people ±), the people are warm, friendly, welcoming,
and generous. I over-heard an American man talking to a
local woman about coming here with his family to live next
year. My projection of her attitude was "Not more gringos!"
Then she said, "Oh, wonderful, more children!"
Hmmmmm. . .what was I missing there?
The generosity always surprises me. I
gave a large gift of extra cleaning supplies to a woman
that I know struggles to help take care of her family. Her
delighted response was, "I will use some, and give
some to the school!"
In another instance someone was given
a large supply of meat. I thought they could freeze it and
have it to carry them into the future. Instead, I watched
them send their kids out to relatives and friends, carrying
little buckets of the meat. It was gone in one day. They
had a great meal that night. Tomorrow will come.
It was another good lesson for me about
sharing in the moment, and trusting the abundance to come.
They were not afraid, even though most of the people here
live pretty much one day at a time. There are only a few
vehicles, phones, and the other possessions that we consider
essential in the U.S. And no Trader Joe's!!! And you know
what? they are happier here than most of the people in the
U.S.
Recycling here has been a difficult thing
for me, or NOT recycling. I am fastidious about it at home,
and was pleased once when someone complimented me on it.
Here, an individual apparently pays someone to drive around
in an old truck and pick up people's garbage-- the garbage
that doesn't just dumped it in the back yarde and lit on
fire once in a while.
Everything goes in the garbage. I asked
where the dump was, and was told, "Oh, he just has
a place he dumps it off the side of the road." It is
the same with the fellow who pumps out people's septic tanks
(no sewers or treatment plants here yet). He dumps the tank
in the jungle. My informant said, "It's just water,"
when she saw the rather horrified look on my face. What
can they do, with no other resources.. .?
I feel quite decadent, and actually enjoy
(confession) putting glass and plastic and food in the same
garbage, without having to rinse things or sort them. Finish
with it and dump it! Please forgive me.
The Commerce is simple here. I just heard
the tamal truck announcing their presence, and went out
and bought some chicken and sweet tamales (60¢ each).
Dinner. This morning the vegetable truck came by, and many
afternoons the shrimp and fish man calls out his presence.
If that kitchen wares pickup truck bouncing down the street
yesterday had been a wagon pulled by a horse, I could have
been in the US circa 1865.
PS: The weather is fabulous, the seafood
is simple, fresh, and great, the sun and sand and sea are
paradise. Check the events page at Joydancer.com and find
out how you can join me in Chacala next winter ~ for a vacation,
intensive personal work, or a Valentine's Week Workshop.
To receive Allan’s free e-newsletter, The Weekly
Word and News, subscribe on most pages of Joydancer.com.
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