Año Nuevo, New Changes

Fun. Relaxing. Cultural. My Christmas vacation was unlike any other - definitely an experience that will stay with me! 

Día de la Virgen            

The Virgin of Guadalupe has such an important place in Mexican culture and religious life, so her celebration on December 12th was a big deal here. In the days leading up to the celebration, some of the young men and women in the village went on a pilgrimage to visit the Virgin of Guadalupe’s shrine in the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. According to Wikipedia: “over six million people attended the anniversary weekend commemorations in December 2009.” The pilgrims then ran all the way back from Mexico City along the highway, arriving in town late Friday night.

I took these pictures during the long and dramatic procession on Saturday morning where it seemed like almost everyone had some role - carrying flowers, candles, or banners, etc. Interestingly, the music that accompanied them was Aztec (pre-Hispanic) drums and horns.

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Navidad                        

Sarah and I were invited to celebrate Christmas with Ismael and Lupe’s family in a town called Temixco. Ismael drives us to the village each week, always amusing us with his stories and explaining some of the realities of Mexico with a good sense of humor, critical insight and enthusiasm. Lupe works on the same street as Sarah and I so we were really excited to get to know her and the rest of the family better. 

On the morning of the 24th we hopped on a “ruta” (bus) and spent most of the day helping out in the kitchen. Then by 8pm we went over to Lupe’s parent’s house for a marathon session of the game “Cien Mexicanos Dijeron” which is sort of like the Mexican version of Family Feud. Even though we gave it a good shot, I can safely say that my team did not win. 

Then at midnight, Lupe’s mom set out scarves, ceramic angels and Jesus figures, which Sarah and I had to gently sway back and forth as live sparklers crackled above our heads. Once everyone had kissed the “newborn” Jesus and after we set him in the Nativity scene, then it was finally time to eat! The night lasted into the early morning hours as we devoured vast amounts of food, drank coffee to stay awake and nibbled on treats from the piñata. On Christmas Day we all came back for leftovers and more games! Charades, as I discovered, is more up my alley!  

 

Pie de la Cuesta

Some of the other volunteers and I took off for a highly anticipated trip to the beach! We stayed in Pie de la Cuesta, a sleepy beach town with the Pacific coast on one side and a lake on the other. The water was too rough for swimming but the breeze was salty and cool and it was sunny each day. All in all, it was the perfect place to just relax.

My favorite moments were watching these incredible sunsets:

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We also visited a place called La Quebrada in Acapulco to watch the famed cliff divers.

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Here is where high-divers jump off the cliffs into the water below.

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Año Nuevo en el “Pueblo Mágico”

Another quick trip was to Taxco, a mining town in Guerrero that still has a colonial feel to it. Cobblestone streets and red tile roofs spread across the mountainside make it such an enchanting place. No wonder Taxco is also called "El Pueblo Mágico,” meaning a magical town. Again, we were invited to spend New Year’s Eve with a coworker’s family where we indulged in a delicious feast of chicken tacos and vegetables. We learned how to dance “guerrengense,” or Guerrero-style, and I even had my turn at the piñata - although I barely made a dent in it since it was being hoisted up and down the whole time. The piñata, however, managed to hit me on the head. Go figure.

I suppose that bonk in the head is fitting by now since I feel like the “honeymoon phase” is over. The day-to-day feels less and less like a giant, wild, and surprising adventure; instead, I experience more and more comfort and familiarity in my surroundings. Being invited to all of these important religious and cultural patterns was a good buffer between closing one chapter and beginning another. That said, I do miss the acute sense of new discoveries but there's so much to be said about the meaning and purpose in adapting to a routine.

Moving into this new phase, I'm reminded of a Dag Hammarskjold quote that I came across in a book by Rebecca Schlatter (The Treasure Hunt of Your Life, 2009). It goes: "For all that has been—thanks! For all that shall be—yes!"

So with gratitude and anticipation, here's hoping that this new year - and the new changes that it brings - finds you you with deep joy and peace. Cheers!