So, this past Saturday, Daniel and I were trying to figure out what we should do since we’re both fairly low on money these days yet have been spending way too much time sitting at computers. We ended up deciding that we would just go walk around the downtown area called the Zócalo. We took a loop around the park when Daniel spotted balloons that he always used to play with as a kid. They’re these long tube-like balloons that parents will throw up into the air and little kids run and chase them. I remember last fall Daniel had convinced me to buy one with him. I had thought, “We’re going to throw a balloon around amidst all these little kids???” But when I finally said yes, we ended up having SO much fun running around and chasing this balloon! So as he spotted the balloons Saturday night (this was around 10:30pm and there were still tons of little kids running about with their parents), again I was thinking, “I don’t want to run around with a balloon! I’m 22 years old!” But we ended up buying one anyway, Daniel having exactly 15 pesos needed to buy one of the bigger balloons. After a good half hour of throwing it around and chasing it (haha can you just imagine us?), this little 5- or 6-year-old girl who was obviously from the street came up to Daniel. “Globo?” she said reaching up for the balloon. Daniel asked if she wanted to play with us but she just said “Globo!” So he told her, we’ll give it to you when we’re done playing with it ok? She nodded. So Daniel hit the balloon up into the air and I ran and caught, and before I knew it, the little girl was standing right in front of me. “Globo?” We explained to her, just 15 more minutes of playing with it and we would give it to her, so she nodded and continued to watch. Within the next couple of minutes, families were clearing out and the little girl ran up to us with this huge smile on her face carrying a balloon that was about as tall as she was. It was so cute to see this little girl who had dirty, chubby cheeks running around with her balloon. Every time she’d throw it up and catch it, she would run up to me with her big smile. I’m not sure how it even started but the little girl and I began playing with the balloons like they were swords and I can just remember her little voice, “Hiya! Hiya!” You should’ve seen the way she ran with her balloon laughing with this deep little belly laugh! At one point, her balloon broke, but we just took turns with our big balloon, throwing and catching it. We spent another good half an hour just playing with her, when suddenly, realizing it was getting close to midnight (I suppose) and noticing there weren’t many people around, Daniel asked where her mom was. “No sé.” (She said it in the tiniest little voice, making a “sh” sound instead of the “s” sound.) She look around. “No sé.” She looked and looked around, looked up at Daniel, looked around again, “No sé. Jugamos?” (I don’t know. Let’s play?) Daniel and I looked at each other thinking, ummm her mom’s not here?!) So we kept playing with her and eventually her mom did come back and started telling her that they had to go in their indigenous language. We tried to give the balloon to her, but her mom refused to let her have it since it was too big. The little girl waved goodbye to us saying, “Mañana! Mañana!” (Tomorrow! Tomorrow!) She kept saying it over and over again, telling us that tomorrow we’ll play again. Tomorrow! In silence for a moment, Daniel then turned to me and said, “I think that was the best thing we could’ve done with 15 pesos.” We really wish she could’ve kept the balloon, but on the walk home we saw another little girl, around 11 years old, just staring at the balloon. When we asked if she wanted it, her face completely lit up as she said “Sí!”
It just really amazed me to just see these little girls out on the street who have to grow up so quickly, selling bracelets or baskets filled with candy and cigarettes. There was another little girl who had joined us when we were playing but only wanted to throw it twice because she had to get back to trying to sell bracelets. Their childhood is cut so short. It’s very sad to me, and made me thankful at the same time that we could play and have fun with that little girl.
This was just one of the highlights of my weekend, and so I hope you enjoyed the little story. :)
Other than that, I am now working full time at the Bed & Breakfast. Like I said, it doesn’t pay much at all, but it will be just enough to pay the bills. And I now have a little friend… well, kinda little… it’s a big grey and white fluffy cat who likes to cuddle/attack my feet as I walk by.
Also, after a week of sitting in an office, I suggested to Daniel that we spend Sunday at Monte Alban, some ruins here in Oaxaca. It was cheap for Daniel because Mexicans get in for free on Sundays (and we tried to convince the lady I was Mexican, but she didn’t find it very funny!) It was so nice. While I had visited Monte Alban twice last fall, it was so nice to be out of the city looking out at the mountains. There was a mixture of white billowy clouds and gorgeous stormy ones that threatened to rain on us. (I’ll have the pics up soon!) We ended up walking around for four hours there while taking some time to just sit on top of the highest structure where I did some writing and Daniel rested his eyes. It was exactly what I needed. I’ve been getting anxious about finding a teaching position and want to have a teaching job lined up soon! So taking a moment to just breathe was refreshing.
Ok… I know it was a lot to read, but hopefully somewhat entertaining. ;) Take care and stay in contact!
Michele
Oh, and I’m officially visiting for Christmas in December… which isn’t too far away!
