Simple Love.

Throwback Thursday.

Alright, let’s throw it back to the first week of February. My first week in Mexico, on one of those first days we went to Paseo San Quintin, a community about 40 minutes away from where we live here in Mexico. We have been teaching English at a school there every Thursday. That first week we had a massive soccer game. Girls vs. boys of course. It was such a great way to start off the Mexican experience. The only thing that suffered that day was my dignity from falling on my butt… more than once trying to get the ball from an elementary student. The amount of fun I had that day was a good look into how I was going to feel for the next four months to come.

This experience has been absolutely perfect. So much has been accomplished in such a small amount of time when you think of it on a bigger scale. Our first month here we started right into a schedule that consisted of Social Justice and Spanish classes. Volunteering at an old folks home every Monday and Tuesday, and teaching English at two different schools on Wednesday and Thursday. We also had lots of time to experience the culture and different activities people do for fun around here. We have a weekly Taco Night trying out some of the different taco stands in the area. We went crab hunting with one of our favourite Mexican families and their friends. We drove down the coast to go whale watching… we all know how that went. We’ve had mornings and afternoons spent at the beach, a chance to reflect and watch the sunset from the community water tower, and bike rides to explore the community we live in. Also numerous trips to the fruit stand, bakery, and grocery store, an opportunity to camp in the mountains, and a trip to the big city. And then of course, the month of Hero Holidays was the best thing ever. We made so many more Canadian friends as well as meeting new friends and families in Mexico. We've been so blessed to have so many different experiences.

 The relationships that have been built over these last four months will never be forgotten. Even though we are moving back to Canada on Sunday, that doesn't change the love I have received from this place or the amount of love I am leaving here. Love can be shared in the most simple of ways, like it should be. Real love is loving something and expecting nothing back in return. There are many examples of experiencing real, raw love over the last few months. Having that “one person” you looked forward to see every week. That person for me was Nalleli, who I've written about before. I said goodbye to her yesterday without knowing the next time I will be saying hi to her. She’s so young and doesn't realize I won’t be coming back to teach English next week. But our last day together was great. Before we teach English, we play with the kids. It was also lunch time for them so I sat in one of the classrooms with her, one of her friends, and her brother. She and her brother were sharing a very small lunch and I just wanted to give them more food. Yet, they were offering me some of their lunch. It was just nice to watch them interact with each other and for them to let me be part of it. I don’t know what it is about this little girl that I just adore. Maybe it’s the fact that she has remembered my name from the beginning, or that we always find each other in the sea of the other children. She gives the best little hugs and has the biggest smile, even when she’s sad. I think it’s the fact that she’s so simply happy and loving, it’s the simplicity in this child that I love and admire so much. She’s a perfect example of what I’ve learned over the last few months. She’s my reminder to live simply, to appreciate what I do have, because she appreciates what she has too. Not only just appreciate what I have, but to just live a life filled with more conscience decisions. From turning the water off as I shower, to not buying things just because they are on sale. My goals for this semester were to focus more on people and to just simply being simplistic and enjoying my time for what it was worth. I have a new appreciation for the little things. Like being blessed to watch the sun come up over the mountains every day, and set over the ocean. I’ve learned a new appreciation for love, to love because I can, because I want to, and have the ability to. I’ve been given love in so many forms these last four months that I am forever grateful for, whether it’s in the form of three year old kisses, a family giving us snacks, or just for the company of others. It’s been a life changing experience and I don’t care how cheesy that sounds. My eyes have been opened wide to the beautiful way we can all live. We just have to work together, love each other, and share the love as much as we can, so that someday every one can experience the amount of love I have been blessed to have.

Remember how I was talking about that soccer game? Today is the third to last full day in Mexico, and guess what I did? I played soccer at that school, and loved every second of it. As I stood there catching my breathe from running all over the “field” ( dusty playground) I was watching the kids smiling and my fellow LDA’s… it was a simple moment of happiness... no one cared that we don’t speak the same language, or have different soccer abilities. We were all having the time of our lives, because there was love in the air. It really is one of the simplest needs in life, which we all have the ability to share. So tell someone how much you love them today, they may need to be reminded and I’m sure they’ll say it right back… xo see you soon Canada. 

Guilt vs. Gratitude

To be completely honest this has been the hardest blog to write yet. Most likely because this has been the most influential thing that has happened since being in Mexico and I have a feeling it will be the most influential thing for the rest of Mexico, months to come and maybe even a lifetime. The week I just experienced is the well known within the Live Different world called “shack week” which is now called A week in the life experience, and what a week it was. We started bright and early, brighter and earlier than any morning we had on tour last semester. We woke up in our nice, big, warm, cozy house and had to take our garbage bag full of our belongings across the road to our new home for the week, our “la casita” which means, little house. After we dropped our belongings off it was time to walk to the Pemex, which is one of the many gas stations of its kind on the Baja. The closest to us, depending on how fast you walk, some days we were fast, others took a lot longer, was 15 minutes away. This is where the “bus” picked us up for work every morning. As this was a simulation of how locals live and we did numerous different jobs that would've been different types of transportation our Live Different van would pick us up and we would pay for transportation.

            Our first day of work was rock picking. Many people have already asked me the purpose of this from the pictures that have been posted. Those little perfect black rocks you buy at Home Depot or Canadian Tire to add to your landscape? Yeah, we picked those!!! It was 5 pesos for a bucket of rocks. They are very little rocks so it was a very time consuming job. 5 pesos is roughly 40 cents at home. It was 40 cents for that entire bucket, where in Canada you’d be buying just a fraction of those rocks for double the price. Its crazy how it’s such a time enduring job but the amount of money you actually make is nothing. Most people who rock pick must own their own vehicle or know someone to be able to transport the rocks from the beach into town. It’s such a tedious job, by lunch time on our first day all the rocks were starting to look the same in my eyes. As the salt makes the rocks appear lighter than their actual colour we would spit on the rocks, or dip them in a bucket of water, or in some cases we’d just lick them when we got too lazy. I remember on this first day how frustrated I felt. Not because I just became completely immersed into a culture of work I was beyond not use to, but because it’s obvious how hard people have to work here and make so little. It’s even harder to me because some jobs in Canada people make way more money than they may deserve, so I just have a hard time comprehending the differences between these countries in instances like this. After each day of work, we get paid, have to pay our rent, child care, transportation, and any accidental fees that could happen at any time without notice. Our first night after work we made a supper consisting of Mr. noodles which we made over our fire with the pot we were allowed to bring and with the fire wood we walked around the neighborhood to collect. We were exhausted by supper time. I always wondered what people did in the evening around here when they don’t have power. But I started to realize, they wake up so early, and work hard so day that the only thing to do is go to bed. All six of us were usually in bed around 7, and asleep by 8.

            Day two was field day. The day I was most nervous and excited for. Would we be picking raspberries, strawberries, or tomatoes? Do I want to pick the easier one or have a challenge? Will I get in trouble for not doing as well as a Mexican? I had so many thoughts racing through my head as I woke up at 4am. We got to the field, and Santi told us to pick up string and tie it around our waist. At this point, I still had no idea what we were about to do. Which is a reality most mornings for field workers, they do not know the type of job they will be doing until they get to the field. Also some days, people get paid by the day or by the bucket. Depending on how hard of a job it is and how fast of a worker you are, it made a huge difference in how you got paid. We ended up picking raspberries. The string was for attaching two buckets to our waists. One for Primeras, and one for Segundos. Primeras means “Firsts” They are the lighter coloured berries which are almost ripe. These are the berries you will see in your grocery store. They are not that colour when they get to you, that’s why they are picked early so they are ready when they make it to the US and Canada. Segundos are the berries that are already ripe and past ripe. These go in the other bucket and are used for jams, juices, etc. Primera buckets are worth more peso than the Primeras, but everyone picks everything. Some workers try and just pick Primeras, for the obvious reason, but if your row gets checked, and this is the case, you can get into trouble. You’re supposed to pick both kinds even though one is worth less. I really did enjoy picking. You got satisfaction at the end of each row knowing you picked those berries. When your buckets are full you take them to this stand where they punch your punch card that keeps track of your buckets of berries and gives you a chance to clean your buckets if the berries were messy. As it was the first day we hadn't quite got the hand of which berries to put in which buckets, this is when we found out one of the men working at the stand spoke English. So it was neat getting to tell him about why we were there and also he told us a little bit about him as well as how to pick the most efficiently. We were so hungry by lunch time, we had packed beans and corn tortillas… two things I really dislike eating, but that’s not what this week is about. We bought them because they are cheap and semi filling. So I ate them, our new friend from the field also brought us tacos. I was so thankful as I was so hungry, but at the same time as I was feeling my hunger pains I was feel some guilt as well. This was only our second day of hard work on emptier bellies than normal. These other people we were working alongside most likely their stomachs were just as empty and even more. They were more deserving of the food and I felt bad. In this same time as me feeling bad about food, some of the field workers commented on how they thought Santi was working us too hard, which he wasn't. We were doing the same job as them. I wanted to be seen as an equal in their eyes, and they saw us differently. They thought we shouldn't have to work here, and I think the same thing everyday when I drive past a field. How hard working they are, how appreciative of everything, and how they deserve so much more. We did two field days in a row, it was very rewarding. I loved working there. As each day went on, my appreciation went up every time. They we’re all so happy when they were working! I can see how it’s a tedious job and can get old. But they were happy and talking and picking way more berries than any of us. So whenever you buy Driscolls again, think of the people who picked them, think of how much hard work is behind those berries.

By day four my asthmatic lungs did not like sleeping on a dirt floor every night. No one deserves to have to sleep on a dirt floor; it’s a sad reality here. This was a hard day as we always seemed to have lots of time to think, today I thought about how there is enough food in the world for everyone, yet not even close to everyone gets some. Everyone I met this week makes me want to be the absolute best person I can be, as a citizen, for myself and for others.

“You don’t know what you got til its gone” has never held more truth for me than this week. I have really bad chapped lips, so going a week without lip chap was very hard. I’m still recovering from them being chapped. But it happens here, its an expense that wouldn't get a second thought because there is so many more important things that must be bought.

The one thing we did not want to happen this week happened, it rained. 4 am I woke to the sound of sprinkling on the roof. Thinking it was Andrew or Heather, as we were told to expect that. As part of this week it’s a good reality to experience the rain. However, I got out of the shack, and it was not Andrew, it was actually raining. Meagan and I got up, covered our fire wood with a tarp, and moved everything else into our shack. We went back to sleep until 6am, when it really started to rain! We were lucky enough to have an extra bano (outhouse) on the property, so we put all of our bags in there, we moved our floor out, which was all cardboard so it wouldn't get soaked, as our roof was leaking in numerous spots, and then we started using our three bowls to scoop water off the roof. After it settled and we had to wait for things to dry, the six of us sat on the ground in our shack, cold but with a huge reality check in our hearts. This is the ultimate reality here, this happened to someone just down the road from us. It happens every time it rains. I’m happy it rained only so we got to experience what it means to really live here. That afternoon as I walked around collecting firewood I was more aware of the homes than I've ever been. Noticing how they were made and seeing how everyone survived the rain.

We did a night of clamming which was an adventure! We went to work with some locals, and got 3 dozen between the 6 of us. It was very cold, but an experience I’m glad I got to have. We also did a day of general labour, which involved sweeping the driveway here, which may not seem that big of a job, but when the country you’re living in is completely made of dirt, it’s a big job. We did another day of rocking picking as well. We also had a day off, so we got to experience what its like when you have to budget for days off. People hate having days off here; it means no money which means a lot of things they may have to go without on these days. Every work day is a precious day to families.

It’s crazy how you see everything in a different light after this week a twig in the street I never would've given a second thought, now its precious fire wood. When the wind blows, I think of those feeble roofs that could cave any second. When it rains, my heart hurts for everyone who is feeling it, literally through their roof. This week I experienced so many things and learnt a lot about myself as well. It’s only been a few days but I’m very aware of my decisions when it comes to buying food, how much and the price, etc.

This week I learnt about the fine line between guilt and gratitude. I don’t have to feel guilty about having more than these families. But I also have to be aware of the fact that because I have the resources that I need to use them to the best I can, to make living easier for others by my actions. There’s a quote that was in my mind all week, “Live Simply so others can simply live” This has never felt truer. I know now to be aware of my decisions, to be thankful, and to not feel guilty. This week was a life changer, I’m still wrapping my head around all the emotions that came with this week and the ones I’m still feeling and trying to figure out. But this is it in a nutshell, and I apologize if my thoughts are unclear but I wanted to give everyone an update!

: ) xo

Forgetting Everything Else

My biggest concern as I ate breakfast this morning was updating my apps on my iPad and making sure I had enough ketchup on my eggs. Tomorrow morning my worries will be slightly, if not completely different. If I get up at 4:30 I’ll have enough time to make breakfast, "take my kids to school", put my belongings in my new home, and walk to the gas station to catch the bus to go to the beach for rock picking all before 6. These are the tasks locals do every morning, and are the tasks I will be doing for the next week. 

Having spent this past weekend building my home for the week I had so many different thoughts. Our shack is tall enough to stand on your knees and completely made out of material we found on the side of the road or in the garbage dump, along with a handful of nails, a hammer, and a saw. We spent 6 1/2 hours one day working on our shack... it felt much longer than that. My body felt as if I had worked a lot longer than that. Which made me start to think about this upcoming week... we'll be working earlier and longer than I ever had. Most mornings will consist of getting up between 4-5. Some moments I dread the thought of waking up and being functional at the time I would normally consider still night time. But then I remember the families I just helped build homes for. This is reality for them. There's no  "Oh I only have to do this for one week, I can survive anything for one week." Thinking this fills me with some guilt and appreciation for my roots. I do get to come back to my big comfy house at the end of the week. There is no getting to move somewhere better for them. It makes me hate where I’m from sometimes, that I’m so fortunate. I get to be in a different country having this experience of how others live. They can't even dream of doing this, getting to go to a different country for a gap year/ leadership experience. Having all these emotions and feelings makes me remember that I must deal with them in a positive, effective way. I must use my guilt and change it into power to do something positive with that energy. 

The best advice I've received in reference to this upcoming week is from my friend Ursula who did "week in the life experience" last semester... she said, "Just forget everything you've been told about it and keep an open mind" 

Keep an open mind and open heart. Filling the other girls with encouragement, thinking things through, making a stronger connection with the other girls and to just go into every new job with an open, willing mind. I have no idea what to expect or how I’m going to be "forever changed" as everyone keeps saying. I know Mexico has already stolen a huge part of my heart and I have a feeling this experience is going to have me even more attached to the love I have for this place. At the end of this week I'm hoping to have more of an understanding of where these families and people come from, getting to experience a different array of jobs which include, Rock Picking, Field Work, Clamming, and General Labour. It may only be a week experience and may not be completely realistic as we're really only trying each job for one or two days. But I’m hoping this will help teach me some more empathy. This week is about just being open minded, and having this once in a lifetime unique experience. So i'm going to forget everything else, all my worries and concerns, and just go with it. But for now, I shall keep the rest of my thoughts for my blog to follow shack week. I'll see you all on the other side of the shack! Have a lovely week everyone! xo

To Build A Home

With a hectic but rewarding month of Hero Holidays over, I’ve been doing some reflecting of the things that have happened over the last month. I personally had the opportunity to build for three families. Each and every one is special in a different way. The last family was very precious in a number of ways. The parents are so in love. If she was helping paint you could catch him watching her and just smiling. Then there are their two beautiful little daughters. Luz and Yamilet, they are two bundles of joy. Two loud bundles of joy! We had two teams here building so Luz and Yamilet’s parents, Rosa and Luiz were receiving a home but as well on the other side of the property Rosa’s parents and younger siblings were also receiving a home. Luz and Yamilet’s house was dedicated first, meaning all the team members stood in a circle with the family in front of their new home and we each had the opportunity to say something to the family and for them to say something to us if they wished as well. It’s like putting a new blessing on the home. The little girls were so excited when they went into the house. Each not only had their own bed, but bedrooms, equipped with Barbies, Candy, new clothes and a bicycle for each. They couldn't contain their excitement as their grandparents were receiving their new home. So the little girls grabbed Beth and I, took us to their old house so they could grab something and then they yelled, “Let’s go to our new house!!!”

Dedication day is something very meaningful and leaves and everlasting feeling on everyone. We were trying to make the girls be quiet so everyone could say what they wanted to in peace, but they were just too excited. We shushed them long enough to get them into the new home; they both then ran into their own bedrooms and just screamed with happiness! There was no doubt in my mind that the girls were going to love their house. Earlier in the week as the house was still being built, Luz, the oldest ran into her room that had nothing in it. Laid on the floor, smiled, and said ahhh my bedroom!!! This is a huge deal for her. She’s been sharing a bed with her parents and sisters for most if not all of her life. As Beth and I were with the girls in their home, Luz went into her room, took her shoes off, got into her bed and said “I won’t be cold anymore” something we take for granted daily. We always have enough blankets and comfort. This is the first time she’ll have blankets all to herself. It is common also for families to continue to share one bed for a while. Getting used to their beds and new home is a life changing event. It’s an overwhelming event for sure. So the comfort of each other makes it a lot easier.

 I’m very excited and fortunate to be in Mexico for almost two more months and am hoping to go back and visit this family and see how they've made the house into a home. Being apart of this experience has made me really appreciate the little things in each day. At the beginning of the month I saw the bag of doorknobs from the hardware store. Some may just simply see a bag of doorknobs, but I see the safety and opportunities that comes with having a home, having the chance to get to lock their door for the first time, making this house into the home this family has deserved for a long time. 

Another thought: The house we live in here in Mexico has bunk beds and some clever person over the years has written quotes on the boards on the top bunks. I am currently sitting on the extra bed in my room, I look up and the board says, "turn over" ... funny how the universe sometimes knows exactly how one is feeling. xo 

Reality Check

This month has been a whirlwind. Eight houses have been built so far for very deserving families in Las Avez and Padre Kino. It’s been an emotional month, but almost all the tears have been happy tears. I don’t think there’s anything that could replace the feeling in my heart when a family has been told their land payments have been paid up to date and now they don’t have to worry for a few months. That they can focus on starting their new life and being able to support their families. Live Different really prides themselves on the fact that this is a hand up not a hand out. We have no intentions of abandoning these families and saying: “fend for yourselves”. It’s about helping and teaching a community to be healthy and look after each other.  

I've had the honour of getting to build for two families this month. They both had this way of showing me love like I had never seen before. They love each other so much and with such passion. It’s beautiful to watch how they've been through the absolute worse situations but stuck together because love saves the day. They lean on each other for everything. You can see in their eyes how much they love each other and how much they appreciate us being around for a week as well. They think we’re the heroes; the one making a “difference” but honestly, the people who deserve the recognition is these families. Their living conditions are unimaginable to most in Canada. What they live with everyday is what we like to do for fun and go camping. Yet, these families are forced to live this way everyday for years and years. They’re admirable. They make me want to become a better person. They have the simplest of things yet are the most happy. That’s always struck a nerve for me about my culture and Mexican culture. They’re just generally happier with less. Yet, Canadians are constantly complaining about not having the newest iPhone, biggest house, best paying job, etc.  

Being here gives me a reality check everyday. Things like using less water, to finishing everything on my plate. Or enjoying the company of others and appreciating my family more. I've been sick for about a week, and I feel guilty about it. I can buy antibiotics and go see a doctor, whereas people die all the time from little things that could easily been cured with clean water or something as simple as check up with a doctor to see what’s wrong. Being here is definitely making me open my eyes and see the world in a different light. Like I said before, just being here makes me want to be a better person. Not for the recognition of being so, or to feel good about myself, but simply because the strongest people I know live here. They’re living and surviving better than I will ever be able to. They make me want to be a better person so I can continue to bring awareness about poverty and to help make poverty an old statistic, instead of my friends that live down the road. People may say I’m only one person, how in the world would I be able to make a change? Or that Hero Holidays’ don’t really make a difference as they’re only helping one family. I know it’s hard not being able to help on a larger scale, but it always must start somewhere. Any thing can help. You just have to start somewhere. Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” 

It's saves the day. It always does.

My last week of being a teenager was an eventful one. I lost/or my phone got stolen, I was in a video that got over 1,000,000 hits in three days, and had many many moments of remembering that I am exactly where I'm suppose to be. 

Yes my phone may be gone, but hey, at least I can afford one and have loved ones to talk too. This isn't always a reality for some. I've been spending my Monday mornings volunteering at an old folks home where many of the men and women who live there have no contact with their family, for many different reasons. Monday mornings may be some peoples least favourite day but they've turned into something I look forward to. I cannot get over how happy they are to see our faces. They brighten my mood just being in their presence. Especially if I'm having a day where I'm lacking confidence they are very fast to tell me how beautiful and blessed I am. It sounds so much nicer hearing it in spanish too. Which is something i've been working on. Learning more spanish so I can communicate with these people who I care a lot about. 

Yes I was in the silly whale video. But the only reason this was even a possibility is because of the organization I'm so honoured to be apart of. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, Live Different has really changed my life. I've found self confidence, compassion, and love and drive for something so much bigger than all of us. I wish more people were more interested as to why I'm here not how did it feel when a whale hit me. This organization deserves so much recognition. It changes peoples lives on a daily basis. All over our country and the world. Life is about people not stuff and I've been reminded of this a lot lately. I'm determined to be focused on why I'm here and how my life and others will be changed over the next couple months.  

When people can come together for a cause that's bigger than ourselves, to be selfless and to have a passion for compassion, this is when our world is and will be on the right path. I'm exactly where I'm suppose to be. I don't just mean wrapped up in a Mexican blanket drinking tea, watching the stars as people wish me a happy birthday. I'm exactly where I'm suppose to be because I want to be a part of something bigger than I am. This is not about me, it's about how next week I and many others start a month of building houses, bringing more love to some of the most loving people I've ever met, and just being together as humans. Enjoying each other's company and love and remembering, Love is what saves the day. Always. 

This is Nalleli. The star of my last blog. 

Nalleli: my bundle of love

 Nalleli is a name usually used in Latin America but still rarely used for girls, which means I Love You and jovial. Love and joy are the emotions I felt when I met Nalleli last week. She was a semi shy little girl with the biggest smile and giggle in the world. She was younger than the other kids she was hanging out with but still held her own. She kept looking at me during class when we were teaching English and I knew that the following week I would for sure seek her out and play with her more. 

Sure enough, this morning when we arrived the first person I recognized was Nalleli. I knew I loved her when she came bounding over to me in all purple and bright neon green tights on. We were bound to be friends. She may be seven but she's easily the size of a 4 year old. Thus, when she jumped into my arms I just wanted to hold on and love her with all I had. After some piggy back rides around the schoolyard we found a table with dirt on it and we both wrote our names down. She made me write mine down so she could practice writing my name down. "Chelsi" as I am known here. 

After awhile her and I were playing tag and she was hiding in the classroom and unbeknownst to me the other girls were helping her hide, I finally found her when I heard her crying. I think she hit her head on the desk she was hiding under. I instantly felt so bad. It was an innocent accident and I knew she'd be fine in a matter of minutes, but for some reason I felt extremely bad. I just went up to her and she sat in my lap and she just cried and let me love her. She really is one of the most precious people I have met. 

In total I've probably spent about only two hours at her school but when I think of her I'm so happy. She opened up to me despite the difficult language barrier and we managed to communicate on what spanish I do know, she showed me where her house was over the hill from the school and was just generally interested in being with me instead of the other kids. I wasn't teaching in her classroom today and she was very reluctant to let me go teach. After classes were over and we were heading back to the van we caught each others eyes, and we had a movie moment. I got down on my knees, put my arms out and she ran as fast as her seven year old legs could run into my arms. 

Even if she doesn't remember my name next week, that's okay. I know she'll know my face. Love doesn't need names and titles. Just the content feeling in my stomach knowing I love something and it loves me back. This little girl showed me love and joy in the simplist of ways. I cannot wait for each Wednesday to spend some time with my little bundle of love. 

Xo, Chelsi