Hello loved ones!
Today marks exactly one month since I’ve left my little nest in Waunakee, and I honestly can’t believe how fast the time has flown! As many of you know, I spent a week in Chicago at orientation with the entire YAGM crew, and then was traveling around central México getting to know the people and places my comrades will be serving alongside this upcoming year. I was going to spend the time writing out every single site we visited so that you all would have a better idea of the diversity of our realities this year, but then my friend Gracia went and wrote a beautiful, humorous, and seriously accurate piece about the same thing. I know it may seem lengthy, but this woman has a way with words, so I strongly advise you to click HERE and read all about what we’ve been doing during orientation and the amazing individuals I’ve been growing with already! Here’s a picture of us by the Tepozteco pyramid for good measure:
Just a few days ago I arrived in Cuetzalan, which is the town I will be living in the rest of the year! The first time when we visited with the group during orientation, I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes as we began winding up the side of a lush, green mountain. Around every curve were small farms, cows grazing on steep hillsides, tropical flowers, and dogs chasing chickens. The trees at the start of the climb reminded me of the forests in the Northwoods of Wisconsin where my grandparents live. Omar (one of our amazing country coordinators) had the windows of our 15-passenger van rolled down, we were jamming to Coldplay, and as the fresh, crisp air was hitting my face, my new reality began forming before my very eyes, although at that moment it felt much more like a dream. The pine trees slowly turned into wild vines riddled with vibrant flowers and sprawling trees with leaves almost as big as me that at times gave way to cornfields perched at acute angles on the steep hillside.
I remember reaching the enchanting town by way of cobblestones and thinking to myself “HOW IS THIS MY LIFE RIGHT NOW?!” I’ve found that those moments only keep coming as I get to see more of this beautiful region of the country, but most of all as I get to meet more of the people who live here. My host family is a tight-knit unit who you’ll get to hear more about as the months go on, but my favorite thing so far (besides the amazing cooking) is the fact that they own a rancho or farm outside of the city where they harvest their own coffee, bananas, sugar cane, papaya, limas, oranges, and this fruit called espinozas which I have found taste kind of like corn, but less sweet and more like the consistency of a squash. Also it’s covered in sharp spikes, so don’t pick it up. Learned that one the hard way. I was lucky enough to get to visit el rancho my first full day here since it was a national holiday and no one had to work! As Carmen, my host abuela (grandma), showed me the view of the valley from the plantation’s rooftop, I once again stood silent in wonderment. “How is this my life right now?”
Yesterday was my first official day at the biblioteca (library) and I woke up SO excited to go and hang out with the kids again. When we visited during orientation, we emerged from the van weary from traveling for hours but were quickly swept up in a group of giggling, gabbing niños who quickly displayed their incredible intelligence despite their young age. They lead us through the portreros to an open expanse of green pastures. As we walked and talked in a jumbled mixture of Nahuatl (the native language here) and Spanish, one by one the kids brought me wildflowers and explained what they were and if they had any meaning or if it was their favorite flower, why. My hands were soon bursting with different colors and smells and as cheesy as it sounds my heart was so full. In this moment, I watched the kids tumble down the grassy hills next to a beautiful flower covered pond and once again thought “Es mi vida, en serio?” Their joy is contagious and their quick wit and intelligence inspires me to be on my toes at all times.
This year is going to be incredibly different than anything I’ve ever know, seen or done before. I find myself extremely humbled by the fact that I was placed here in this warm, welcoming community. I think my favorite thing is when I tell people I’m going to learn Nahuatl, they pause, look at me really seriously, then we usually share a good laugh and I say “Ojalá” which roughly translates to something like “God willing”. I can’t even tell you the number of times this has happened, but I haven’t given up hope yet! They also say it rains here 300 days out of the year, and so far I’ve ended every day relaxing to the sound of the falling (or in most cases rapidly plummeting) raindrops. I’ve always loved the rain and for now I can’t help but keep on thinking “How is this my life right now?”
I hope you are well, no matter where you are in the world.
Besos y abrazos a todos!
Up From Below 
