Phil and I have spent years in Mexico and know many of the Mexican people personally. They have become good friends even though for most of the year, many miles separate us. The Mexican people we know are hard-working kind people
I recently read an article written by an American woman who lives in Puerto Vallarta. She had to pay her electric bill. When trying to do so at a kiosk, she had difficulty getting the system to accept her payment. She wrote that a line of local people stood in line patiently waiting for her to finish. She said she was very embarrassed by her inability to get the kiosk to work. Finally a young woman came and helped her and the job was complete. Never did those local people waiting in line grow impatient. On her way home, she wrote that she reflected on how fortunate she was to be a part of a community of caring people. Of how many times, her path had crossed that of strangers who have demonstrated kindness, patience and support to her. This is not a culture of the self-absorbed or those fixated with a sense of self importance or narcissism. Self-entitlement does not reign with the Mexican people in Puerto Vallarta, but rather humility and humbleness.
We have experienced these daily expressions of graciousness and kindness so genuinely expressed by the local people.
During our last couple of months in Puerto Vallarta, I thought you might find it interesting to see how some of the Mexican people work. Some of it may seem somewhat primitive according to our standards in the U.S., but it is how they do their work. And when they are working, they are laughing and singing….enjoying one another’s company. We awakened to the joy of their working each morning we were there. We didn’t like the dust, but it was just how it was…..construction of a new building right across the street from our condo. As I was putting on my bathing suit one afternoon, I looked up to see a young man taking a break from working on the balcony directly across from our bedroom window. It seemed he was looking right in our window so I checked it out by giving him a little wave. To my surprise, he smiled and gave me the “lookin’ good” symbol. How fun was that!!
It is sad, but Puerto Vallarta is changing. Old Town (Romantic Zone) will no longer be as Phil and I have known it. Many new condo buildings are being constructed, many stories high, without any sign of Mexican architecture……but money talks. I am so happy we have known Puerto Vallarta “as it was.” We have decided to return there one more winter, but that will probably be our last visit.
A friend added this message on my Face-book page. I think it is worth sending on to you.
“The bird sitting on a branch is never afraid of the branch breaking. Its trust is in its own wings and not the branch. Always believe in yourself.”
Soon there will be Spring in Minnesota…………Anne