These are some of the unique situations I have encountered, and I got to reflect on:

Finding Perspective In The Mundane

Adapting to public transportation in Merida has been quite an adventure. Having previously lived in different cities where the flow of buses is critical, I found this can be a complex and even frustrating task, depending on the efficiency of the operations. But regardless of how simple or difficult it could be to figure out the system, I have learned to see it as a stimulating opportunity to get accustomed to the local culture. After getting through a few hoops just to get a bus card, two weeks ago I took a bus trip for the first time. According to Google maps, it should have taken twenty-five minutes to get to the shopping center I was heading to; however, it took nearly twice as long, as there was a slight schedule delay, and I also had to transfer to another line at about halfway. Returning home I got to the bus stop and thinking I would wait ten to fifteen minutes; I sat there for close to an hour before the bus finally passed by.

This was a test of patience that reinforced to me the utility of not having expectations. While waiting for the bus to come, without an internet connection in the street and not knowing how long I was going to wait, I was challenged to stay levelheaded and be resourceful navigating the present moment. I recognized I was in a vulnerable spot where the mind’s default reaction is to cause stress and anxiety by storytelling. In this situation, there was a lot I could have been complaining about, regretting mistakes I may have made, or lamenting over more “productive” ways I could have been spending my time; nevertheless, having awareness that none of it is (ever) helpful, fully accepting reality and embracing the circumstance with gratitude allowed me to gain so much from such an ordinary occurrence.

Learning To Teach

Over the past four weeks I have gone through an intense process of self-discovery by serving kids and teenagers in the areas of sports and English. Without any proper teaching knowledge or practice, and only a brief coaching background, I committed to working in such capacities, and in doing so I have been pushed out of my comfort zone, getting to know myself more and uncovering skills I couldn’t see myself developing. Teaching gym and English classed at a local middle school, as well as coaching two soccer teams of different age-groups for six days a week have been the most difficult and humbling responsibilities I ever took on. I have essentially become a student in a totally unfamiliar space, where I have been learning every day by actively doing, making mistakes, observing and constantly trying to utilize more effective pedagogical approaches. Working with young students and athletes and gradually building a positive relationship with them has given me an invaluable opportunity to develop empathy and tolerance above all else.

Additionally, having the amazing chance to form two soccer teams from the ground up and help kids – of ages between 9 and 16 – not only to develop their athletic abilities but also healthy habits and behaviors, has been a true blessing. In fact, it has inspired me to explore a potential path in soccer coaching in the future; and I have already taken steps toward it, having enrolled on a few virtual and in-person coach licensing courses.

Exploring On The Run

The first few weeks after getting to Merida and acquainting myself with the environment around the neighborhood where I’m based, I had a bit of a hard time finding safe and pleasant running routes. Eventually, I figured out a decent four-mile course that looped around town and I ran laps on it. This was toward the east of the neighborhood, but on a car ride to the gym more recently, I noticed a proper running/walking path stretching toward an adjacent city to the west and decided to explore it on my run the following day. Since the pathway originates on the side of a highway, I didn’t think it would be a safe option by simply looking at the map; nonetheless, when I went on it, I discovered it leads to a bigger town with commercial and residential areas.

Keeping my eyes open when going to different places, noticing my surroundings, and then acting on my curiosity served me greatly in this case. Venturing on new routes significantly elevated my overall running experience, as the paths and lanes on the side of the roads are wide and especially designed for running/walking and biking, and the areas they pass through seem much cleaner and are more developed.

Embracing A Spiritual Culture

Living in Mexico has opened a wonderful opportunity for me to attend Sunday Mass more regularly and get to practice my faith in diverse worshipping communities. Given most of the population in the country is catholic, there are churches all over the map, and ever since I arrived at Merida, I have been going to different ones. Last month I went to the local neighborhood church Santo Domingo, I took a walk to San Jose Sanchez del Rio in the town over and made a short bus trip to Santa Maria de Guadalupe. Each church was special in its own way, packed with all kinds of people at Mass, and had such unique energy. Apart from all external factors that have made these church visits wholesome experiences, they have most importantly allowed me to become more active in my faith and in turn continue to grow in my spiritual relationship with God.