A Walk Through Vallarta
By Luisa Yim
Isn’t it wonderful! Something as simple as a walk provides an opportunity for new insights and discoveries.
Each day, Pauline, my eight pound Chihuahua child, and I take to the streets, either on a chore mission or just plain exploring new areas. In two months of daily walking and I have worn a pair of sandals literally down to the core. As luck would have it, a neighborhood thrift shop, Encore, was on the path of our jaunt; I am now the proud owner of a gently used pair of Teva sandals.
Our journeys have taken us to Puerto Vallarta neighborhoods that appear pretty scruffy on the exterior, but a closer look exposes well-kept small stone build casas, with an abundance of flowers and stalky green plants everywhere… Also, tiendas..little hole in the wall stores, dot the uneven cement frontage bordering earth packed or cobblestone streets, selling the very, very basics with a slim supply of merchandise but always abundant customer traffic. A good source of lovely red tomatoes, other home grown veggies, freshly baked bolillos and more.
Pauline and I are greeted enthusiastically wherever our journey takes us. My experience has been that Vallarta folks are warm and friendly to strangers; they greet with a smile, eye contact and a zestful buenas dias, tardes or noches, depending on the hour. [I am not adept in determining when tardes becomes noches and I am usually corrected in a kind, helpful way So typical of Mexicanos!]
The kids are amazing, and that includes teens. Still large remnants of that traditional respect that all kids, everywhere, use to have…I am so impressed by the gentleness and calmness of the young ones, regardless of age, it seems.I see these youngsters everywhere and particularly, as Pauline and I pass through the vecinas where they live and play.
Ofcourse, my four legged furry child, Pauline, is an instant magnet, and literally stops traffic [the foot traffic sort] Conversation immediately ensues, and one word is immediately spoken by all, young and/or old.. Mordita????[As a novice, not long ago, the word was new to me …Sounds like, uh, murderer????!!!!!Paolina, mi perrita!!!!]
Now, knowing that morder means to bite, immediately, I retort, something to the effect, ” No,Paolina is muy sympatica!”[Pauline and I have since Espanolized our names as part the ‘adaption’ process.]
One thing leads to the next, and soon there is a bevy of folk, little, big, old and young gathered around us, all with grins and smiles and hands reaching to pet this sweet, tranquil, rotund Chihuahua girl, born and raised in Minnesota.
These daily forays have been an eye opener for me, providing the opportunity for meeting and interacting with locals, average folks who neither make the front page or TV headlines. A real chance to get a glimpse into their lives, where they live, make their living and how they are able to sustain their heads above water, while retaining what appears a very upbeat attitude about life.
All of this has further affected the way I see my role…basically, as a visitor in someone else’s country.
I am pretty mortified by the way we ‘visitors’ sometimes act our behavior often reflects the expectation that Mexico should be just like home…it isn’t of course, and thus we proceed to cite and dictate how improvements/changes can be made so as to achieve par status…[How erroneous to assume everyone wants to be like us but so typically Americano]
This mantra goes on all the time when gringos assemble. I admit, at times, in the past, I had been a participant, regrettably.
The insights I have gathered from just being here a short time, doing a lot of foot travel, and keeping my ears and eyes open, have elicited a new way of thinking, at least for me. This has made me more attuned to the differences and similarities amongst people as well as identifying values and qualities that I respect and admire.
I love being in Mexico surrounded by this diversity and a rich culture, reflected by generous, kind people.
The history of this country has been brutal and tumultuous; with generations of the worst kind of torture and degradation instituted upon the native population. Mexico is marbled with so many influences and residual effects of its conquerors and political movements. The present and the past have been fused. Most is beyond my comprehension but in my own way, I am trying to grasp to understand at least, some of the dynamics that shape the compassionate Mexican character that has been instrumental in conceiving a culture that is lively, romantic, full of color and texture, good food, good music/art/dance and so rich in tradition and custom.
In the meantime, Pauline and I continue to put on the miles, she on those soft doggie paw pads, and me on my soon to be worn down Tevas.
Luisa Yim is a six month resident of lovely Puerto Vallarta, hailing from Minnesota.
