John's Chapter Five: Things I didn't expect about moving to Mexico

I first arrived in Mexico over six months ago and have been adjusting, enjoying, and learning ever since. So I thought it'd be nice to share some of things that surprised me the most.1. Speed bumpsI thought I was used to speed bumps growing up in the US. You see them occasionally in a neighborhood or around a school. Maybe in a parking lot or a traffic stop. Fairly common but not exactly a daily occurrence. But in Mexico they take speed bumps to a whole other level.I first noticed this on the drive from Cancun to Carrillo when my bus started slowing down in the middle of the highway. At first I thought maybe there was a stop and some passengers might hop off. But looking out the window I wasn't sure where anyone would be going, especially since this bus directly from the airport was mostly tourists. Then I a flash of panic set in as I thought that there was a problem with the bus. Would we just wait for another bus to come or this one to be repaired? Before I got too far ahead of myself I realized we weren't the only ones slowing down and there was a line of cars ahead of us. But they weren't slowing for a traffic jam, they were slowing down for a huge speed bump right in the middle of the highway!We hit more and more of these on the highway down, and once we started getting into town I realized they were everywhere. Before intersections, near schools, on side streets... I wouldn't say there is one every block but there certainly isn't a route I've been on yet without them.The surprise I originally felt has turned into appreciation. Now that I'm mostly traveling on bike speed bumps are a good equalizer that keep the cars from going too much faster than me. The bumps before an intersection are also very useful for crossing without worrying about someone speeding through. And perhaps most importantly they seem to do their job quite well, as rarely do I see someone speeding.What's the point after all if you're going to slow down in a few blocks anyway?2. Dogs are different hereI love dogs. I grew up with usually one or two dogs in the house. Everything from pure breeds to rescues. I'll admit they were mostly larger dogs, but I had friends with little beagles and other tiny things so I'm an equal opportunity dog lover. But here, it feels different.I don't like dogs any less but they're less pet-like to me than before. Many people keep dogs in Mexico for guard duty, and as outdoor pets. So you'll see houses with dogs in the yard or on a chain. But there are also people who keep dogs kind of like people in the states keep an outdoor cat. They come and go from around the house but they also are free to wander on their own. Add in that spaying and neutering dogs is less common here and you end up with a good amount of strays in the mix as well.3. Your relationship to fruit changesIn the US I feel like fruit has fallen into a category of particularly tasty health food product. It's almost a novelty when its incorporated into a standard dish - "Have you tried their pork with the mango salsa?" - and one you feel good about partaking in. Don't get me wrong, fruits are a regular part of my diet but they're a snack, a quasi-supplement. An apple with lunch, a banana with breakfast, an orange in the afternoon. And when berries are in season I can eat a whole bushel full.Here though fruit is everywhere. It's falling off the trees, overflowing the bins in the market, mixed into the drinks. I wouldn't say that its better incorporated into the meals. But its a better alternative to them. Things are fresh and local and still connected to the environment. You're not eating a banana because its got the nutrients you want, you're eating it because it's the freshest thing around. You're eating it because it feels like being a part of the neighborhood with everyone enjoying pitaya - dragonfruit - because it just ripened, not because it's the latest super fruit or Food Channel sensation.4. New schedulesYou probably wouldn't be surprised if I said there is a different relationship with time in Mexico than the US. Before I came I heard enough to know about la hora latina and the tendency for things to be a bit slower. So I expected that, and I think have done a good job of managing the need for punctuality and precision that I learned when in Germany.What I didn't expect is that the heat of a tropical climate also changes the rhythm of your day. Siestas aren't just a nice sounding nap, they're a response to the temperature. Folks will wake up early or stay out late so they can avoid the heat of the sun. But come early afternoon the whole town will go quiet. Shops and restaurants will close as people go back home for a big lunch with the family and/or a nap. Then rather than being done for the day - which is what my Sunday afternoon siestas back in the States often lead to - people get back out again to do their shopping at night or visit folks in the town square.This leads to all sorts of little changes that you don't think of. For instance if you want to go out for lunch in a small town you may be out of luck. Often there isn't any place open at the time you're looking for food. Similarly in Carrillo there are a lot of great marisqueras - seafood places - that are really only open between what I would call lunch and dinner in the US. Even the cantinas are mostly closed at night and instead are a place to hide out at during the heat of the day.5. So many shops!One thing I was really surprised about in Mexico is how common little shops and restaurants are. It almost seems like every other house has some sort of side entrance for a convenience store, a bike shop, a restaurant, a fruiteria, etc. Sometimes it's just a sign in a window saying they sell ice or charcoal or who knows what else. Whatever it is, it seems like most people in Mexico run a little side hustle.What's nice though is that it takes buying local to a whole new level. Being able to walk to the bakery when you want some bread or go to the store across the street when you forgot an ingredient for dinner is pretty convenient. And having your favorite neighborhood panucho stand is something I'm going to miss!

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