Mexican Sushi and Buddhist Sangha

We had a very interesting evening last night. Pablo's cousin, Claudia, came to babysit the girls. We met her last Sunday when we were invited to attend their extended family's weekly Sunday meal. I have grown to respect and trust this family so much in the short amount of time that we have been here, that I did not hesitate to use her babysitting services. Frankly, she was probably a better parent than I last night. I think the girls were sick of the sight of me and we were mutually ready for a break from one another. Is it a bad thing when your kids start asking for a baby sitter? I am growing to appreciate our telecommuting set-up back in the States as Chad leaves each morning at 7:45 and doesn't return to "Casa Contenta" until about 8:30 p.m. It doesn't leave much time for a mommy break. Besides the schedule, the girls are a bit homesick.

I think they feel more isolated than I do with the language barrier. Face it. I will find a way to communicate. I could make a friend with the dude at taco stand #137 in a matter of moments. There is a lot that two people can discuss with broken Spanish, your hands and playing something that resembles Pictionary on scraps of paper. Yes, I have done this.

Claudia arrived with games, crayons, coloring sheets and a few other toys and the girls didn't mind our departure what-so-ever. We rode with Pablo to downtown Guadalajara's Buddhist Center. We were late due to traffic. The meditation portion was first. Poor Pablo. Wait, I know this phrase in Spanish. Pobrecito Pablo! He walks into a community of his friends calmly meditating, late, with two gringos. Chad tripped and fell over a meditator as we made our way....Just kidding! It would have made for a better story though. Although I couldn't understand the talking portion of the evening I'm sure that "tell the truth" was in there somewhere so I won't embellish. Our entrance wasn't too bad. We were able to participate in about 20 minutes of the meditation and then we listened to The Master speak for an hour and a half. And much to my dismay, there weren't subtitles.

The Master, his name is Tony but I can't remember his last name, lives in Mexico City. (Foot Note: People in Mexico just call Mexico City "Mexico." A bit confusing for me at first.) The Master's talks are recorded onto DVD and then they project them each week at Sangha. I don't know exactly what type of Buddhism this is but I saw pictures of the Dalai Lama if that helps clear things up. I didn't get much out of the recording as my Spanish has not progressed to that level in the past week. I'm sure it went something like "be a good person, blah, blah, blah, watch your tongue, blah, blah, blah, meditate, spread love, blah, blah, blah." I certainly don't mean that disrespectfully, I just don't know what to write about the speech because I understood about 20 words over the course of the hour and a half. It is interesting to sit in a room with 30 other people who actually understand what is going on and to hear them laugh at something funny. I didn't want to appear uptight so as soon as they started laughing, I used my best acting skills and joined in. I didn't want to be the only person in the room who didn't "get" the joke. I do wish I could have understood the speech because just from watching the way the man spoke, I could tell he was an engaging and dynamic speaker.

Afterwards, a gentleman asked me in English where I was from. I told him and he asked me how I found out about Sangha. At the risk of embarrassing Pablo, I told him we came with Pablo. He asked if I spoke Spanish. I, of course, replied "no" as I have learned not to embellish in regards to my skills. I did this once at an audition when asked if I could tap dance. There are just some things one cannot fake. When I told him that I didn't speak Spanish, he first gave me a look like "Are you loco? Why would you sit through something this long that you can't understand?" I then saw a shift in his eyes and he said "Good for you." At that moment I felt brave and adventurous. I have surprised myself over the past couple of weeks. I haven't traveled much and I find that I am brave as I seek out and try new things each and everyday here. It isn't always easy but I am enjoying it immensely.

We spoke (sort of) with several people at the conclusion of the meeting and then Pablo asked if we wanted to go out to eat. He said "Let's go to sushi, for a change!" Chad and I love sushi, so off we went. The restaurant was about to close and I don't think they were too happy about serving us but did so anyway. Ordering from a menu that is Japanese translated into Spanish was very difficult. Mexican Sushi is slightly different. Chefs put cheese in nearly everything here, including sushi. Sin queso, POR FAVOR! Also, we had to ask for wasabi. The Mexican version is salsa de soya con jalepenos! Muy caliente, but not the same as wasabi. We also had a bowl of yummy miso soup that came with fresh lime. Lime and chili powder accompany everything here. Even the candy at the end of the meal had a delicious (choke) chewy chili center. The meal was fine and the conversation with Pablo was superb.

We enjoyed the experience of both the Sushi and the Sangha. We are grateful to Pablo for not only letting us tag along when we invite ourselves to Sangha, but for inviting us to do many, many things here. While writing this post, he stopped by to ask if we wanted to go to his uncle's cabin in the mountains this weekend. Next weekend, we have been invited to go to a ranch near a remote village with Pablo and his friends.

Today, Guadalupe took the girls and I to Parque Agua Azul. A lovely excursion filled with exotic birds, a mariposaria (butterfly house), an orchid house, our first banana tree sighting, and of course, juguetes para los ninos (playground equipment). Several children were fascinated with Jaydn and Azlyn at the playground. One ten year old girl in particular was playing detective and trying to figure out where in the world the "blondies," as she referred to us, came from. Guadalupe translated for a while and then the girl and Jaydn began playing together. After a few minutes detective girl determinedly walked up to Guadalupe and asked her some questions. Guadalupe translated for me. The girl had asked Jaydn "Who is your mother?" in Spanish. Jaydn replied "No se." Jaydn just meant that she couldn't understand the questions. Detective girl was immediately concerned thinking that Jaydn did not know who her mother was. Perhaps she thought I was the nanny, adopted mom, or child abductor. Who knows! Unfortunately, I forgot to bring the camera, but we will definitely be returning to Parque Agua Azul. Guadalupe then took us to a vegetarian buffet that was lovely. The girls ate with much less complaining than normal. I actually think I saw joy on their faces as they gobbled down some sort of vegetarian sopa (soup).

We walked around downtown Guadalajara a bit until we found an Indian clothing store where the girls and I each purchased a beautiful cotton wrap that we can use after swimming and for lying in the sand at the beach. As a momento of my sushi/sangha night, one has a Buddha surrounded by vibrant colors that resemble the colors of the birds we saw in the park. All of the wraps are so beautiful that two out of the three of us have agreed to trade them around. We are still in negotiations with the toddler. And then, (cue the angels, beam of sunlight, and the hallelujia chorus), Guadalupe, the saint, took me to a Starbucks. I have missed that homegrown mega-corporation! I walked in and immediately heard the "F word." Some lovely Americans were sitting at the first table. Can't say as I've missed that word and since we haven't gotten to the chapter in Spanish Class with Spanish cuss words yet, I am blissfully ignorant to sailor talk around here.

Pablo and Guadalupe are people that Chad and I will be friends with for a long time. Que suerte! We are very lucky! The arrangement with "Casa Contenta" has gone way beyond business. I'll bet some chili powder and lime that at least Pablo will come visit us in Idaho within a year. I certainly hope so!