Meeting GREAT people on the METRO

I try not be too friendly in the METRO because I am afraid to be mistaken as "vulnerable"...
BUT I can't help it, when I am in another country I am always amazed by the hospitality :)
SO, I try to do the same .
Monday I was late to the first interview of my job hunting career.. it was a horrible feeling and i was sooo mad!
All because the bus driver was rude to a handicapped woman.. it turned out to be a violent exchange and the supervisor had to be called .. meanwhile, the passengers angrily waited ( I was one of them).

I met a nice man named Ebuka from Gabon. He shared his experiences in Paris and we actually had lots to talk about. HE invited me to his African parties in LA. It was a great cultural exchange :)
We were both going to an interview, we may have more in common with people than we think. So talking to strangers is not that bad, actually.
Sitting there talking to him reminded me of sitting in a train and relating to the African men on a train in Italy last year. These men were hard workers and it was so heartwarming to see one of them gazing at the picture of his family back home.
Being in a new land can be so confusing and lonely and when there is someone to talk to it is refreshing.. I have been on both ends.

Going "Green"

For 5 months I have been relying on public transportation in Mexico, Guatemala. To my surprise Mexico had a very impressive and effective system with subways and city buses not to mention, the popular 1st and 2nd class buses and terminals that get tourists and nationals alike to and fro big city destinations. My favorite was ADN, we had comfortable seats that leaned all the way back and we even had a snack bag- way better than the Greyhound.. But I must admit the snack bag got me ! :) Transportation in Guatemala-- hmmm.. questionable, but interesting. Lets just say you get to ride in an old 1980s school bus next to about 5 people in the same row and when it is a popular destination you get to stand. The driver is a fearless son of a gun that loves his amazing job.. or does he? Truly admirable though are the "ayudantes" (the aides), they strap your belongings to the top of the bus while the bus is driving away... its like an India Jones movie!! I had other experiences in the "micro" (pronounced mee-cro) - short for microbus. Overall I enjoyed the down time and people watching, it was always something interesting.
So with all these experiences I thought: "Piece of cake, I'm in LA I can get around just fine without a car"

**Sidenote: I sold my bluberry blue Acura Integra to finance my trip-- NO REGRETS.**

Say that again?? Well it has been a bit hard to get around BUT perfect timing to GO GREEN and save money for more important things. Job hunting with all its challenges has proven to be difficult, however the "Down time" I get in the bus and the metro is the cherry on the top of my day....WELL sometimes..
Other times it is stressful to hear people complain and be disrespectful with each other. At the same time it is an eye opener, and I feel familiar when passing through the poorest areas of LA I feel the way I felt when in Guatemala.. there is Hope. :)

What the..?!?!?!

So.....
I am back and this blog did not fulfill the purpose I intended it to have- technical difficulties were at an all time high and I (must admit) I was too relaxed to worry about the issues google had with this blog.
I did keep a journal and will find a way to pull stories and interesting events from it :)
I met great people, saw awesome places, and had an eventful journey back.
Nonetheless, I am Home <3
.. Whatever that means...

Because home is where the heart is AND my heart is many other places too ..

On Homeliness and Gratitude (Entry 9/7/2010)

I know i should be posting more often and sharing more pictures or what not, but I am trying to make topics and really let you in on my experience. Not just travel experience, but people experiences. People experiences are the best! (if that makes sense)??

I really enjoy meeting people from different places and sparking random conversations. The other day on our way back to the hotel from Museo de Antropologia ( Museum of Anthropology) in Mexico City, I asked a young couple (who were speaking Spanish) where they were going- bc we did not!

They helped us out and sure enough we talked the whole way to the hotel. Both were travelers from Spain.. the most interesting part they were a traveling duo just like Hector and I! Like us, they were not dating and we both shared that we got some high brows when other people asked. Turns out we met later and had a great time!!

went to a posh (hollywood-like) cafe/bar.. not our thing!!!

went looking for places to hang out and ended up in a gay scene.. guys felt uncomfortable and asked for a drink to go.. As result................. *drumroll please.** we ended up in the back of mexican cop car... SCARY! --what do ya know?? having a drink in hand in public in Mexico is illegal too! How ironic because..

Fortunately... rumors are true .. cops are corrupt here.. my friend paid $40 for our freedom.. phewww!!
We later learned we got ripped off- Oh well.. I guess there really isn't a price to freedom. I could just picture the look on my parents' face when I told them I spent the night in a Mexico jail!!

Anyway.. the purpose of my entry is related to homeliness. "Home is where the heart is" or the famous "mi casa es su casa".

my heart seems to be all over Mexico. I feel at home with the people we've stayed with (mostly Hector's relatives, so far). All these strong women!

I had the honor to meet both of his grandmas and the opportunity to learn about how things were "back in the day". It pushes me to be a better "woman". (lol)

We are currently staying in Mexico City with a wonderful family <3

they have received us as their own children and that is such a blessing. Even thousands of miles away from my own family I am bonding with wonderful people and wish them nothing but the best. If these wonderful people share their roof and table with me .. then they have paved their way into my heart and if they have done that .. I am very grateful!

Even if it seems like they don't have much to give, they give their all and that is truly powerful.

I hope I can do the same and share my home and my love with others one day. <3

The most confusing part and frustrating is that I wish i had something to give in return but all I can do is Thank them and bless them :)

It is now that I truly understand the gift of gratitude

** ABOVE is Doña Mary.. She welcomed us into her house in DF with open arms and a lovely smile. She was so happy to have company :D

10 days since departure...

Phewwwww!!!!!!

its been 10 days since departure.. it feels like 10 years...

Aside from missing my family and really wanting to run away as fast as I could from the mosquitos in Elota, Sinaloa and the heat of Mazatlan I really like it here.

In Mazatlan we hiked up "El Faro" (The Lighthouse) in the scorching noon heat and humidity.. I was trying not to be a princess about it ...BUT it was kind of hard.

the view up there was amazing and at the end of the hike I felt PROUD. Proud of myself for going up the hill in the heat and not complaining and proud of Hector for making me do it.

It's interesting how the neighborhoods are divided and named after a famous landmark or store.. The neighborhood we stayed at in Mazatlan is called "La Ley Vieja"- "La Ley" is actually a Wal-Mart-like store and to get to Hector's grandma's house we just had to say: "take us to the "Old La Ley" and they knew exactly where!

We walked the "Malecon" (Boardwalk) at night and saw people working out and sweating because they were literally in a beachside sauna... eek

After three days of "city" we went to the outskirts in a town called Elota.. "El Rancho" .. where life is laid back and people live day by day surrounded by nature and animals that greet the sun everyday as it peaks in the sky :)

so, that basically means we were up at 4 am everyday bc the roosters were crowing!

We ate food cooked under firewood .. yummy! and the last day we ate ceviche made with fresh shrimp from the river :)

. Lucky for us.. we have great stomachs.

now .. we are Guadalajara.. a big city and we are staying at a pretty little "posada" with vaulted ceilings in the historic district...

We made it!- Day 3

We left L.A Thursday and all of a sudden its Saturday!!

Colonet (our first stop) was awesome: Small town and Hector's aunt wasn't home, so we went to a beach house about 6 miles from Colonet- San Antonio Del Mar. No electricity and water but the sky at night was beautiful!!!!

It was nice to be away from all the tourists (no offense) lol

We were the only people within (I'm guessing) a 10 mile distance along the coast... it was so silent and it was timeless.

We met 2 of Hector's family members who were great guides and very kind (: -

They gave us a ride into town where we bought some drinks and snacks.

For "dinner" we had leftover black bean sandwiches my mom made for the road, we took a walk in the beautiful sand dunes and looked @ the beautiful landscape before dark. Then we had a bonfire- the special guests were the moon and the stars!

Day 2:

I slept OK- It was chilly and my sleeping bag was not at all cozy. But I slept well on the 20 hour bus ride to La Paz.

On Day 2 (Friday) we finally were able to catch a bus to La Paz and we hitched our first ride!! :)-- BUT i hurt my tailbone real bad :/

Anywhoo... here are some pics and vids

FIRST STOP- SUNRISE

In less than 48 hours I will be departing :)

My parents are great and will be dropping us off @ our first destination: Colonet, Baja California, MExico.

I hear it is traditional Baja town: fish, surfing and quiet ( in no particular order)

Can't wait!!