It was another easy day in Mexico. I made a trip to Home Depot today. It's the most expensive hardware store here, but they have so many things that it's very convenient. It did take 4 people to help me find the correct basic parts for a drain. It's funny to watch them all discuss what I need and interact to try to help. I've found that people here are overly helpful.
I was also able to get my laundry done. Ok, a bit of a confession. You can drop off your laundry in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon all clean and folded for $6. And that's exactly what I did!
Manuel is 17 and he's been my friend for several years. Here's a picture of the machete he used to get and open a coconut. You can see the coconut in my hand. Colima is the 2nd highest grower of coconuts in all of Mexico. When I tell Mexicans in the US that I'm going to Colima, they always say "oh mucho coconuts".
Now, a subject I'd rather not talk about, but I'm trying to be honest and upfront on this blog. Here are some things I don’t like about where I’m at...
I have a friend here that we do a lot of things together. He is always telling me to be careful and watch. I used to carry a money clip which necessitated whipping it out and fanning all my money while I tried to translate in my head how much the woman at the store said the total was. My friend would scold me and say "put it away, hide it" in a stern voice. He has told me this so many times I can't count them on both hands. I now carry my money differently. No more money clip, now I carry two wallets. One with a small amount of spending money and the other with my “just in case money of 10,000 pesos ($500) or more.
I was once told here that if you're in an car accident, it should be handled between the two of you right then and there and the police should not be called (because they have better things to do). It’s a good idea to carry extra cash just in case you're at fault.
The other day Gabriel and I passed a broke down car, on a hill, on a 2 lane road with 4 women and a man. They were all out of the car and the man was flagging people by. I suggested that we turn around and help. My friend said "no, never". He had the most serious face I've ever seen him have. He said, "you will die that way".
Later that day, we were driving on another 2 lane road and noticed that a motorcycle was on the side of the road. To me it looked like he was just pulling out of his farm where he had just closed the gate. My friend said "watch" and pointed to the moto. We passed as the man started his moto and pulled in behind us. I could see my friend constantly checking his mirror and the road in front of us. Soon the motorcycle turned and there were no issues.
Gabriel was trying to teach me: Don’t trust anyone and you must keep your valuables guarded.
That isn't how God made me to live! I hate worrying and not being able to help others.
Yesterday a young woman was crying outside the orphanage. And I mean wailing as she was crying, just really bawling! She had her face hidden in the corner of a building and wouldn't look up, she would randomly fall to her knees from the weight of her sorrow, then regained just a little bit and stand up and then again drop her height.
My immediate reaction was that it’s a ploy to get me out into the street and that I must fear the situation and not help.
I hate that feeling!!!
I watch for a minute, then decided to tell one of the kids to hurry and get an adult. I figured my basic spanish wouldn't work in this type of a situation. By the time the adult came, the young lady noticed that we were watching her and her pain and scooted down the road.
There never was any danger and I'm positive that it wasn't a ploy for anything bad to happen. I really hate that my first impression was one of fear for myself, when obviously she was the one in pain.
My takeaway is: Yes be cautious, but listen to the spirit and do appreciate things.
Now in defense of my friend, he does have a past (as one of my other mexican friends would say "it's a long history") that would make him feel this way of not trusting anyone. I hope I never have a reason to develop fear to that level.
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On a positive note, Covid cases are down here in the state of Colima.
However this playground at the kid's school is still a victim.
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