A while

It's been awhile since I've written. Mostly because my life is much less interesting than it was in Mexico...well at least to other people. I have been working at the Y as a lifeguard/deck supervisor. I enjoy it most of the time. I've also been trying to hang out with friends as much as possible. It keeps me sane, and helps me feel like I will still be able to reconnect with people no matter how many times I leave the country, or for how long.
I emailed with Nadine about their situation in Mexico. They have left the country because of the risk of closing borders between France and Mexico. Right now they are in France with her family and plan to be there until mid-June. She says that the hospitals in Mexico are not equipped to deal with a pandemic should it really become bad. Emilia, the housekeeper, is staying in their house in Cuernavaca in order to avoid Mexico City.
I look back on my time in Mexico a lot. I know I complained a lot in the posts on this site. It was not an easy experience, but I am very glad to have had it. I have many fond memories and although I will not forget the difficult times, as with most experiences, they fade faster. I miss the children and I am glad to have Nadine to email with. It was also great to get to know another country and to have something that pushed me to learn more about myself. At times I think it would have gotten better had I stayed a little longer. I was just learning to really speak Spanish and to really get along with the family when I left. I will never regret going, even though it was very rough at times.
I miss being able to practice Spanish so easily. I found out today that the cleaning lady really does not speak a word of English so I was forced to speak Spanish with her. I still do not know what the correct protocol is for that. I never approach someone with Spanish because I find it rude since it is not the language of our country. Knowing Spanish I would never have approached anyone in Spain or Mexico in English first, so it only feels natural to have the same courtesy here. But it actually did come in handy today. I get to practice a little with Mary, our cleaning lady, and with a woman at work. I will try to speak with this woman at work, although I still feel self-conscious about it. It might make her feel more comfortable there though. I just never know.

As for the future, I am starting my application process to World Teach. I am applying to teach for a year in Namibia, with the option of helping with the HIV/AIDs programs in the country. I find this an ideal program for the price and the amount of involvement you get to have with the people. It is not simply a 2 week mission project, it is real international experience, something I need for any jobs I would be interested in. It scares me to really think about it, and I think that I will avoid really thinking about it until I am accepted. What scares me is not that it's Africa or that I might be able to do it, but that it will be a year in another country where I am really an outsider. I was an outsider in Mexico, but I had some idea of the culture before going. This is something I cannot fathom and will throw me completely out of my comfort zone, but the program seems very supportive and helpful. And I will not stop myself from doing it just because I have a healthy fear of the unknown. It is what I have always said I wanted to do, and how will I ever know that it is or is not without trying. A year is a big commitment, but I can't think of anything else.

Jenn