A day in the life of a Mexican

I have been putting off writing this post for months, but I believe it is time to close this blog once and for all.

Before any of us knew what a blog was, (about three or four years ago) a close friend of mine mentioned that he liked the way I wrote, and insisted that I start a blog of my own.

Pablo thought that the stories I shared with him were blog worthy. For a long time I would just e-mail him these stories, most of them were about things I noticed in the day to day of life or about my dreams to build a better world. 

It wasn’t until two years ago when the whole world starting noticing blogs that I decided to follow Pablo’s advice and start this blog.  In many ways I think that my conversations with Pablo were his way of relating to the world.  Pablo’s life changed when he entered the seminary to become a priest, and I think I became one of those people who kept him in the loop about the "real world".

Sitting down and writing on my laptop was a learning experience and I enjoyed doing so. It was nice to share experiences with friends through my online blog. But nowadays we have networks such as Facebook, which is tailored better to my needs. And the things which I wish to share with friends and family can be done through there.  I see no need in keeping this blog open anymore.

In mid September I received a call from one of my uncles in Mexico. My uncle Javier (aka. Pato Avila) who is a jesuit priest, like my friend Pablo Martinez.  He called to tell me that Pablo had passed away in an accident.  My most faithful reader was traveling from Tijuana to Guadalajara when the pilot mentioned they would have to land in Puerto Vallarta because of mechanical failures on the airplane.  Pablo needed to be in Guadalajara early the next day so the priests he was travelling with and some other passangers from the flight decided to take a bus from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara.

I do not know the details about the accident, all I know is that the bus fell off a cliff and more than 20 people died that evening.

My heart still aches when I think of Pablo. I was lucky to have met him and proud to call him my friend. I am grateful for our time spent together, and the many convesations we shared and I know that I will always miss him. 

I believe it is now time that I started pouring my words into an actual project that may someday be published.

Therefore I thank you for reading, and I thank you for the feedback and your comments during all of this time. 

But, don’t worry, I am not gone.

I will just be distracted pursuing my dream to become an author.

And since I do not like to say good bye, I will merely say, "hasta luego".

I wish you the very best in the pursuit of your own dreams!

with love,

Maria Stella

I arrived in Canada almost a month ago, but it seems like yesterday! Time has truly flown by since I got here. I have been faced with numerous challenges but thankfully have been able to tackle them all. The new job is a marvelous experience! It will definetely be a milestone in my career.  I don’t regret having moved here (but ask me again during the winter months).

The one thing that I was worried about was finding an apartment that felt like home to me. The good news is that I already found it and I moved in on my birthday (July 18th).  Little by little I have started furnishing it and adding my personal touch to the place.

Here’s a picture of the living room:

Ohhhh and before I forget, there is a guest bedroom in the apartment. Which is being used by my youngest sister right now, but she’s leaving me next week. I can’t wait to have more of my family and friends over in my new home! So take this as an open invitation to visit Canada, I am sure you will like it! 

My farewell party is scheduled for Tuesday and I am leaving Mexico on Thursday ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT!!!!

A ONE way ticket was sent to me by my new employer!  YIKES! ONE WAY!  No scheduled return for the time being.

Wish me luck! 

I love post its!

They really do help me organize my life…. and remind me of tasks that need to get done.  I would never pick up dry cleaning if it weren’t for post its!

I recently found something BETTER than regular Post Its!

E-Post its!

You can download a program and place virtual Post-It Notes on the computer screen!!! It is the greatest invention and an ecological one as well!

It’s the best invention for visual people like moi!

http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/digital/digital_notes.html

Here are some of the beautiful places which

I got to visit in Colorado this past weekend. 

P.S. -  Update from the previous entry: The friend who I visited in Colorado took me to a little town in the middle of the mountains. Very pretty place where I totally felt like I was somewhere on the European Alps.  Guess what the name of this little town is? Nederlands!  (like the original dutch spelling). 

I am writing this from Lakewood, Colorado and should be on my way to Boulder soon.  This state is lovely, I had only been here for skiing before during the winter.  I am quickly discovering that there is so much more than skiing to do up here.

Anyway, I will upload some pictures next week. Just wanted to let everybody know that I haven’t disappeared, I am just vacationing on the Rocky Mountains.

If a Hollywood director heard the crazy stories of my group of friends, I am sure he’d decide to make a movie out of it instantly!  Tickets would sell fast to watch this romantic comedy. But until anyone in California figures this out the story remains untold.

It all started out with one of my friend marrying a dutch man that she met in Finland. When another one of our friends visited the new bride in Holland she fell in love with another dutch guy! 

What are the odds?

At the wedding of couple #2 another one of my single friends met her soulmate and thus couple #3 was born (and yes, he was dutch as well). Couple #3 went mountain biking in northern Mexico and brought along a male friend.  And after two dates he hit it off with another one of my friends. He and she then flew back and forth from Switzerland to Mexico once a month for about a year before he proposed on a glacier and now couple #4 lives happily on the Swiss Alps.

At the same time that all this is happening, I moved to Dallas and ended up going out and dating all dutch people. And my boss in Dallas, dutch as well. One of my male best friends was dating a dutch woman too. My sister then decides to study abroad in college, and the university that accepted her was in Maastricht, Holland.

So off she went to pursue her studies in the Netherlands…..

Anyway, I don’t need to give you more details. Orange and the dutch seemed to be very much in my life.

Come January of this year, I meet an interesting man in Mexico who lives just down the block from my house.  Yes, once again dutch, dutch, dutch.  Thankfully, we parted ways, cause we are just not even remotely compatible. (who would want to be with a person that doesn’t laugh?!?!?!?!)

Anyway, I wasn’t happy with WHY things ended and wasn’t in the mood to meet anyone new. I was tired.

I was on a break from men. 

When I met this great guy three weeks ago I was cautious (and maybe even a bit afraid).  We laughed, talked for hours on end about everything and nothing and I noticed I started to feel comfortable with him.

Inside I was thinking, "this guy is NICE and NOT dutch"! He’s different, quite unique, incredibly intelligent and VERY American!

But when I asked him what his last name is, he answered and I nearly choked on the chicken……. his last name is HOLLAND.

I can’t help but laugh. 

How does such a small country seem to be all over the place?

More dutch stories to be continued….. and even a dutch clip on YouTube will be my next post!

Now I know what it is like to have a ONE TRACK MIND!

I can’t stop thinking about CANADA!

I was offered a very interesting job there last week, and it looks like I have to move up north within the next month.

But I need to talk to my boss here beforehand and finish up a million things.  How am I going to fit my whole closet into two suitcases?  If it were up to me I would start shipping things to Canada TODAY, but I need to remember to be patient.

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know what I have been thinking about this past week.

And think about saving up for a trip to Canada, ehh.

I’d love to have visitors in my new home!

If you are about to buy a cell phone in the United States, I recommend you this website: www.point.com  It gives you tips on the best companies according to your needs, as well as the latest news on discounts, rebates, etc.

Personally, I figured that a T-Mobile to Go plan in which you pay as you go was the best choice for me right now since I don’t want to pay any monthly fees.  Especially since I will only be using this new cell phone on my travels to the US and NOT when I am in Mexico.

It just made more sense to only pay for what I use when I am on the road up north.

I LOVE my new phone - it is a red Motorola with some silver on it, yes, it is very cute!  AND it weighs close to nothing!

Check the site out and happy talking!

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, Be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others - Even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons - they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career - However humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is. Many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection, neither be cynical about love. For in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, It is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the council of the years, Gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune, But do not distress yourself with imaginings - Many fears are borne of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe. No less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, Keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

Your friend,

Maria Stella