12.19.06 Day 1, Mexico Trip 1

Things I have learned since traveling to Mexico thus far:

1. I don’t want to live here
2. Every store looks like a gas station I would avoid back home.
3. You can get everything road side ranging from a full chicken dinner & beer to a Cantante (honestly, as we were driving on the “freeway” last night, I saw full families with little kids playing chicken trying to get across the freeway in the dark, 3 times Helio nearly hit someone, we also saw an old man walking alone in the dark with a guitar strapped to his back, totally from a movie. Helio said that they actually try to stop people and sing for money. There is also a decision you must make when purchasing your adult beverage of choice, do you want to pay the additional money for the deposit or do you have bottles at home that you can fill up.
4. The Mexicans post signs for limiting speed but bc nobody cares about what is posted they put up additional speed bumps every mile or so- thus it takes a very long time to get to where you are going. There are rules/laws posted but it seems more like a suggestion unless the rule is enforced with a great big riffle. The gas stations are guarded by armed men. Helio says that the people rob them all the time bc they are the places that have the money. It took us from 5 AM leaving our house in Minneapolis- car ride from Ann, two airplanes, a train- to get to Mexico City, a 2- hour bus ride to Cuernavaca , a 20 minute taxi ride and a couple stops, and an hour car ride in the Blazer to Jonacatepec. We finally arrived in the house we are staying at 8 pm. Poor Levi- he was shot.
5. The house that we are staying would actually host a better party than our own house. Perhaps it has more to do with the lack of things I guess. There is laundry hanging everywhere down here.
6. The courtyard to this house is so super duper cute here. If I lived here this house would be “just adorable.” It just needs a little love, nobody has been here for about 5 years Helio said. You do have to wear shoes all the time, for the bugs that might want to bite you- inside and out.
7. I can survive sleeping without a fan. I did it last night but won’t do it tonight. I slept for like 8 hours, that is the most I have slept in maybe a month, without medication, and without getting up and wandering around in the night.
8. All of the tons of things that I crammed into his car before he left will serve me now. I do look like a ridiculous American with all of my things but I feel better having them. It does make me aware of how I am a bit demanding and want things. People don’t have roofs and I want more diamonds. Maybe I will settle a little.
9. Everything smells like chickens (cooked chickens and/or chicken droppings) or marijuana. So, I don’t regret for a minute that I brought a travel candle and incense. I know- so American.
10. Levi is handling all of this like a champ. We had a few meltdowns in the morning- he didn’t like checking in and going through security. He also did not like the last hour or so of our first flight. Our second flight was so much easier. He was tired and used to it by then. The bus ride, he just hung on his dad and watched movies, and the taxi ride, he wouldn’t stay out of the back window and was waving to everyone behind us. That made the scene of a crazy driver crashing into the back of the cabbie rush through my head every 10 seconds. People drive close here, honk a lot, and seem very anxious to get to where they are going, which I find ironic- When Levi saw his dad (he was a little mental going through customs) he didn’t hesitate for a minute. It was just like Helio had just come home from work, very normal.
11. I retract my statement to Ann about Helio didn’t get fat. After spending more than 10 minutes with him I noticed a larger stomach. I guess that is what you get when you use your dad’s wife for food and you AREN’T WORKING. He has gained about 5 pounds or so.
12. We are off today to buy light bulbs, food, get my fan and other gear I sent down a few months back. I will send pictures when we take some today. I am dying for a shower before I meet my father in law. (we didn’t make it to his house yesterday as the travel time was just too long) I hope that happens.


I love you all and wish that we had friends down here with us. I can see in Helio’s face how sad he is and lonely. He really has been cut off from his life as he has had in Minnesota. He honestly seems a little broken. I will do what I can with my “wifely” powers to fix it a little. I will write again soon. I am dying for some gossip from home.