Day 19

We woke up again to rain.  This was supposed to be the dry season, but the weather this year is strange.  Still, water is a precious resource and Mexico is happy to have it.  I wanted to take a shower and so after Gio turned on the gas that was supposed to start heating the water, I waited awhile and then went to shower.  Well, apparently there was no gas, and I end up taking the coldest shortest shower EVER.  All I could thing was, “Great, I’m going to die of hypothermia in Mexico”.  I only washed my hair and then quickly dried off and went inside to help Becca make german apple pancakes-Delicious.  The electricity was out, due to weather and so we cooked and ate in the dark.  After breakfast the power would flicker back on and then off again, but through the morning the weather improved and the power came and stayed with the sun for awhile.

We had most of the morning off since our hike was canceled and so I choose to pack and write.  I thought that packing would take me a long time, but actually it was much easier this time.  We had a nice lunch of stuffed zucchinis and yellow rice (with turmeric).  Then we did so major cleaning in the theater and we had our closing circle.  

We started all sitting in a circle and we took time to visualize the last three weeks.  Then we all went around and one by one we took two minutes to listen as others said what they appreciated about you.  It was very touching and by the end we were already crying.  People said that I was kind but also always honest at the same time. Sam said that she felt like I understood her and cared about the same things that she did.  She also said I was the coolest nerd ever.  These were probably some of the most wonderful compliments I’ve ever received and it felt good to give them too. Next we took a moment to go out (in the rain) to collect a piece of nature that had meaning for us and our trip.  I choose two-One of Mama Amate’s leaves and a lavender flower-to remember the first night here when I knew that this was the right place for me to be, and the lavender to represent the time spent at Andres’ house and Kathy and Gio’s house.  We spent some time meditating and then Kathy presented us with small gifts- a Mexican learning pamphlet on  flowers (because we are like flowers to her) and a red bandana, symbol of the Zapotista movement and great change, tied off with a red ribbon, often used by shamans and priestesses. It was so kind.  We finished with a salute to the nine directions (North, South, East, West, Earth, Sky, and heart).  

Afterward, we went to Svante’s to coerce him to make cookies with us.  He ended up giving us a lecture about modern civilization and evil society.  Really, he makes good points but he’s an extremist.  We went to the theater to bake cookies but very soon we had a dance class with Pati.  Salsa is fun!  I don’t think I’m a very good dancer, but it is fun and I even got some compliments.  Quite a few community members came to dance and then we all had a huge dinner of tomales.  I had one made of a certain type of flowers and another with cheese and peppers.  We finished the night with a slide show made by Svante much like his earlier rant about society.  He finished by projecting images on peoples bodies and faces.

I have a new idea.  I think that I might take next fall off and make a tour of several huge global social and environmental conventions.  I could probably pull off a journaling internship or something for credit.  I figure that education is good, but it shouldn’t get in the way of being a part of a global movement and changing times.

Day 20 

We started our day at 5:30 am.  Doña Marí got up early to make us breakfast and the morning flew by.  Before we left, I went over to say goodbye to Mama Amate.  There were sleepy hugs and tears all around and I cried until we were far away from Huehue.  Still, I was reminded of a Dr. Suess quote that Kathy told us, “Don’t cry because its over, Smile because it happened.”  We left in two taxis and rode to Curenavaca to a bus station and then took a bus to the airport in Mexico City where we waited for several hours.  One-by-one our group members got on their planes and we said goodbye.  It was sad and strange.  It felt we had just been in the airport a few days earlier, but like we had spent a lifetime together in Mexico.  Eliza and I were lucky because we were on the same flight home.  We didn’t have seats near each other, but when I went m=to my row of three seats there was a mother with a child beside her and a baby on her lap.  I wedged in with them, but thankfully the flight attendant saw my despair and allowed me to move up to the front-Where Eliza had a free seat beside her!!!!We got to sit next to each other and sleep on each others shoulders all the way home!  It was very nice.  Then at the airport she had to catch her connecting flight and I had to go home.  It was really sad to say goodbye.  

As said as it was to say goodbye, it was exciting to see mom and Keith waiting for me in the airport!!!  I hadn’t been looking forward to coming home but now that I’m here, I’m very happy.  This trip was empowering, eye-opening, encouraging.  It wasn’t so much that this trip taught me so many new things that I’d never known or thought about before, but it offered a place that encouraged me to think about the system I live in, my personal preferences, different ways of life, the balance between science and spirituality and this thinking was really something I desperately needed.  Now its back to school, work, and future plans, but I feel changed.  I feel like a better person and I hope very much to return to Huehue, a place that felt just like home.