A day in the life of a Mexican

While reading the fabulous blog of Cathryn Michon, Grrl Genius I got thinking about writing a letter to my 18 year old self.  What would I tell me? What words of wisdom would have come in handy back then? 

Here’s my best shot - just hope the busy 18 year old version of me would have read this!

Dear Mini Me,

The next 9 years of your life will seem like a roller coaster ride. Hang on tight! Your inner strength, family/friends and faith will help you get out of ruts, but know that it won’t be easy. On the bright side, you’ll grow into a much stronger and wiser woman.

Spend time with your grandparents, learn from them and make sure they know how much you love and admire them. Spend time with those you love. Surround yourself with the positive energy of genuine people.

Enjoy the present.

Practice your french, I promise it will come in handy someday (for more than ordering a meal in Paris)! And while you are at it, why not learn a 4th language? You will wish you spoke German as well.

Hold on to your passions; continue to paint, take lots of video and pictures (those will be your memories someday), keep playing tennis and write whatever your heart desires!

But don’t just write - PUBLISH!

Try to love more and worry less, Maria Stella. 

Do something challenging everyday. 

Help your community, and do whatever is within your reach to help those around you, but don’t feel like it is up to you to change the WHOLE world! 

AND DON’T EVER SMOKE!

I can’t wait to meet up with you down the road!

Take care of yourself.

peacefully,
The Older Version

P.S. - Beware of ticks and DO NOT buy Enron stock!

P.P.S. - Practice your public speaking skills, you will be glad that you did!

I’ll be rooting for the COLTS on February 4th at the kick off of the Super Bowl this year!  The game against New England tonight was FANTASTIC!   The midwest holds a special place in my heart, and Indiana is why.

GO INDIANA!

More info at: http://www.superbowlxli.org/

The cold has finally hit northern Mexico! The temperature has been in the low 30’sF, around 0°C for the past couple of days and I am semi hybernating! 

I know the cold front won’t stay here long, so I’m just being patient and enjoying wearing my winter clothes for once this season. Plus it helps to get some writing and reading done; both indoors of course!

I was in high school when I discovered the wonderful world of the World Wide Web. 

I was in the midst of planning my semester abroad in France back then, so I decided to open a hotmail account to help me keep in touch with loved ones half way across the globe.  I didn’t give much thought as to what name to chose, so I simply used my middle name and my last name, therefore the creation of: stellagarcia@hotmail.com. Only one of my friends in Mexico had internet access at home back in 1996, so I would e-mail him and he’d print and then distribute my writings to our friends and my family. 

E-mailing became more popular in the late 90’s and I began to receive e-mails in portuguese, clearly not for me, but for another Stella with the same last name.  So three or four times a year I would receive these portuguese notes in my inbox and I would immediately reply to the sender to let them know that they made a mistake and accidentally e-mailed another Stella.   

About two years ago, the same thing started happening with another Stella.  This time she was from Argentina, and probably a teacher since I used to get her class schedules from a university in Buenos Aires. Again I wrote back each and every time.

This past year MORE e-mails for Stella Garcia’s have appeared in my inbox! Too many to keep track of! Several have added me to their MSN Messenger lists and even after I explain to them that I am not the person they are looking for, they keep me on! I chat with the friends of Stella Gracia Brazil, Stella Garcia Argentina, and Stella Garcia Venezuela once in a while.  This holiday season I discovered yet ANOTHER Stella Garcia, who’s a nun somewhere in South America! 

I wonder how many others share the same name and if we have anything else in common.

RECOUNT of VACATIONS

Calories Consumed = A LOT!

Exercise = Walks on the beach and at the Mall

Alarm Clock Set = ONLY on 2 days out of 15!!!

Hours of TV watched = ZERO!

Movies Watched = ONE (The Holidays)

Games Played = Several (I learned to play spoons!)

Photographs taken = OVER 300

Friends Seen = MANY

Mosquito Bites = 2

Bruises = 3

Hours online = 6 (I did write 5 e-mails)

Flights taken = 4

Hours on the road = 12 (From Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca)

Jokes heard = PLENTY!

Alcohol consumed = I have NO idea!

Books read = 3 novels

Naps taken = about 5

Sunsets watched = 6

Sunrises watched = 1 (on January 1st)

Star seen = INFINITE!

A TRIP LIKE THIS = PRICELESS!!!!!!

This week has turned out to be a marvelous one….. the sunrises and sunsets are MAGNIFICIENT!   While I was sitting by the pool, drinking a michelada yesterday I overhead a young girl (probably around 6 years old) ask her parents why the sky was on fire. 

I will share the pictures of this fierce sky with you next week. In the meantime, know that I am doing wonderfully and loving my vacations!

besos

On my way to swim with turtles…… pictures of that later!

Ciao!

I have been experiencing the beaches of the state of Oaxaca for the past three days.  They are MARVELOUS!  The water is nice and cool, the waves are HUGE and it feels like a different world in many ways. 

My only concern right now is that I finished reading the books I brought with me already - I need to book hunt for new material for the rest of the days here!  It´s nice to have these "problems"!

Pictures will come next week…….  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!! 

Sending you my love from surfer paradise!