<\/p>\n
Mexico City, Mexico. <\/p>\n
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It was almost as if the words leapt off the screen. I didn\u2019t know what was calling me to this place I had never been to, nor knew anything about, but as I stared at this city staring back at me, it was as if it were pulling me to it, like two magnets with opposing poles.<\/p>\n
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I scrolled Google Maps to other Mexican cities and a jolt of electricity ran through my body. Guadalajara. San Crist\u00f3bal. Monterrey. San Miguel. Sayulita.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They beckoned me to come explore.<\/p>\n
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I imagined myself on a months-long trek through the Mexican countryside, wondering over cobblestone streets, getting lost in ancient history, and sipping coffee at beachside cafes.<\/p>\n
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From the wild and windswept beaches of Nayarit; to the central highlands of Guanajuato; to the hidden bays on the Oaxaca coast; to the mountain towns of Chiapas; to the charming fishing villages of Guerrero; to the absolute gem that is CDMX; I knew I was in for a whirlwind ride traversing through this culturally diverse country.<\/p>\n
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What I wasn\u2019t expecting was to be seduced with the magic that is Mexico\u2014the art that lays within this land and its people.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
It always comes back to the people.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Juan Carlos selling incense on the corner who helps correct my butchered Spanish.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s Karen at the flower shop who hand-delivers a bouquet of flowers for my birthday.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Mart\u00edn at the taco stand who offers a hug and invites me to his debut boxing match.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s Clarissa at the cafe who, when I tell her I wrote a book, offers to sale it in her store.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Jan\u00f3, a wondering accordion player, who offers to share a beer after his performance ends.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the unending and unwavering displays of generosity that seem to be infused into the culture.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In full transparency, I had stereotypes and preconceived judgements about this country that I didn\u2019t even know I had. Cabo, Cancun, and Cozumel were the extent of my understanding. Yet once I began to push beyond my fear and see Mexico for what it really is, I could never unsee all of the good I saw\u2014even if at times it was uncomfortable to reconcile head-on. This was the most precious gift I have ever given to myself and it has left an indelible mark on my consciousness.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, thank you for the gift, Mexico\u2014a gift that I will never be able to repay; and that\u2019s precisely how she prefers it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Copyright \u00a9 2022 Ryan Crain<\/p>\n
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