DIFFERENCES

Even after 3 months here, I’m still amazed and marvel at the wonderful differences I see and try never to judge. Here a man gets on the bus with a very large machete knife, I think nothing of it as he is probably returning home from work.The same situation at home would have me jumping off the bus at the next stop. Small children playing outside until 11, I would be questioning what kind of parents they have. Or a 5-year-old boy proudly sipping a soda beside his papa enjoying acervesa at the bar. 10-year-old boys bagging your groceries for tips or carrying them to the taxi. Peoplehere still carry the items they sell on their head, and go through town calling out what they sell. Here you can put a table on a

side-walk and sell food or beverages you made at home, or hand crafts you made last night. Here I feed street dogs and cats at home the Humane Society would be called.  Dogs accompany their masters into restaurants.

I never tire of seeing a mama or papa holding their child’s hand while walking them to school each day. Or mama’s who carry or wear their infants instead of plopping them into a stroller, and parents who take their children to work with them on a daily basis. Here they fix things instead discarding. Our neighbors had a suitcase zipper repaired, my swim fin bag was repaired and one of the Senor’s flip-flops, and for very few pesos.

Somethings I find difficult, like learning Spanish even though I’ve just completed 2 terms of Spanish prior to coming here. Sidewalks with odd pieces of iron sticking up out of them, or chunks of side-walk missing, with my propensity for tripping I have had to be very careful. ATM machines that deliver your money all in 500 peso notes, as most shops have little to no change. Learning the currency has been a challenge, but now I can use exact change for my

Mercado purchases.

Author: zihuathyme

I'm a traveler, not as frequently as I would like , but I plan on doing more. After working full time at Mount Rainier National Park during the summer of 22 I have decided to retire completely and forever. Prior to that I was semi retired as a Wedding Officiant I officiated at about 20 weddings a season, and with my small delivery service I handled the distribution of a local high-quality Home and Garden magazine . Prior to my "semi retirement" I was in corrections and before that I owned and operated a bail bond agency. I now plan to travel to new places and exciting places, getting ready to do that as a solo as the Senior is no longer with me, his choice, and I am OK with that. For hobbies I'm a reader and love my kindle. And I enjoy writing. View all posts by zihuathyme