The last time i went to Mexico was when i went with my grandma and my big brother i was about 11 or 12 and we went to Torreon, Coahuila which was where my mother was born. It was my first time ever going to Mexico so i was excited. Three of of the things that come to my mind would be some of the poverty that i saw while i was visiting, different lifestyle and the fast food restaurants.
When i was younger my mother used to tell me how they used to live in a "Casa de Carton" a cardboard house and it would always be so difficult for me to try to imagine someone living in a casa de carton because i grew up with the opportunity to live in a well built warm house. When i went to Mexico was when i first saw one and what i saw was a little house made out of cut milk cartons and cardboard and some sheets it was then when i was able to visualize what my mom was trying to make me see. I appreciated living where i was living then, it might not have huge like most people would want but it was my home and the size didn't matter anymore i was grateful for having a nice home. We stayed at my grandmas house that she had their and i had to do things differently than i would have done at home in the United States.
Living in the United States where we take so much things fore granted i learned to appreciate the little things i had when i stayed in Mexico. In the united States we have the reward of turning the sink key that says hot and hot water comes out or taking a shower and having warm water come out of the shower head. In Mexico i couldn't take a shower i had to take baths and i would have to fill a huge pot with water put it on the stove that i had to light and warm it up if it was too hot then i had to wait until it cooled than i had to carry the water to the tub and take a cup with me and use it to get water and pour onto my head. It was defiantly more difficult than if i would have showered in America. Also washing clothes was done by hand when i was in Mexico and i would have to hang my clothes so that they would dry. Fast food restaurants was also something that was different.
In America fast food restaurants play a huge role in most of Americans life. When i was in Mexico yes they had Mcdonalds, Burger King and Dominoes Pizza and many more fast food restaurants but they are not visited as much as they are in America. I remember that we passed by a McDonalds and i asked my cousin if she has eaten Mcdonalds and she told me that she had never been their i was taken back by her saying that because i remember always going to McDonalds when i was her age. It seemed weird for me to hear that when its something that is so common in America. Even though things were different than from what i was used to i still enjoyed going to Mexico and having the chance to see how other countries live and it was a life changing trip for me. It made me realize that we do have it easy here even though times may seem hard it can always be worse somewhere else but those people are still happy just knowing that they are alive and healthy.
It is true there is poverty that I had never imagined. I do remember when getting water in Guerro I had to go with someone else walk half a mile to bring back a bucket of water. As of just five years my grandmother finaly had a hose to obtain water and it was the only one that other families would share. But when you meet these people they are some of the most hardworking, appriciative people you can meet.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting information. It seems like other cultures are more connected to their surroundings, too. Because resources, such as water, are more scarce, the people are more aware of where their water comes from, use it only when necessary, and conserve. Although tasks are harder, an understanding and respect for our resources is so important. As we learned from the Teotihuacan, if we abuse and over use our resources, we can lose everything.
ReplyDeleteAdilene, I agree with you in that it is so shameful and sad that the Maya people today continue to live with discreimination from those around them. It is my belief that somewhere along time, somebody was afraid of what the Maya people believed and felt so threatened that they felt it was their duty to make their beliefs known to others. Opinions are hard to ignore, especially when they grow. That said, it is sad that the Maya people could have fallen victim to this possibility because I'm not sure that such damage can be corrected.
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