Childhood Days in Mexico
There are a myriad of things that differentiate us as individual human beings. Among these things is our childhood. This is since we all experienced different and unique backgrounds that ultimately set us apart from each other. For my part, my days in Mexico have been of great influence to who I have become as an adult. The purpose of this essay therefore is to reflect upon the accounts of my childhood days in Mexico. It is an attempt at showing how my native country was back in the day and how even though that image has changed over the years, I still manage to look at Mexico with the same awe, positivity and romance in my eyes.
Growing Up in Mexico
It is difficult to explain to an outsider who has already formed an opinion of what growing up in Mexico feels like. One might have already formed an impression in his or her mind that the country is a haven for drug traffickers, cartels and gang wars. While that impression might be warranted owing to the numerous news headlines pointing to that, it was not always the case. I was born in San Antonio, Mexico. During those wistful days, the smell of sweet Mexican chocolate permeated the air and wafted incessantly in the streets of Michoacán, where I grew up. It is hard to recall those days without getting the fragrant tinge of tacos and fruits that blended perfectly in an aroma that was the signature smell of my childhood neighborhood. I was brought up in a hilly farmland full of lively neighbors. I loved the dreamy landscape that painted picturesque scenery on my way to school. As I journeyed there every morning, I would pass by horses grazing on the dewy grass, through the small local shops, appreciating the scent of fresh leather as the occasional trader tried to persuade me to purchase their rare cowboy boots. And even though the daily trek on the gravel road to and from school was long; I tend to remember it as more of a hike.
The People of Mexico
While it is indubitable that the scenery of my childhood country was breathtaking, it is the people that actually did it for me. I recall the people as cordial and friendly. There was always an unspoken sense of unity and duty to family that marked these people. Life in Mexico was always simple and positive. There was always this politeness that emanated from the people there. In fact, in my experience, Mexicans are the most accommodating and kindest of people. They will go out of their way to help one with whatever compromising situation that he or she find themselves in; be it asking for directions or swapping change with you at the bus stop. Mexicans hold the institution of family close to their hearts. In fact, it is one of the most important elements in Mexican society. This is especially truest in those living in the countryside. In such areas, familial attachments not only revolve around the nuclear family but also the extended family as well. True to the Mexican way, my family hosted parties for our kin on the weekends. In such parties, great food, music and dancing would be used to bring us closer. Long-standing traditions are also a hallmark of the Mexican culture. One such tradition is the Quinceañera, a coming of age party hosted for every girl at her 15th birthday, which is bound to be a favorite memory for her.
Memories of Plaza de Aromas
No memory could however surpass that of our Sunday morning trips to the Plaza de Aromas with my mother. The Plaza was a square at the heart of Michoacán made up of beautiful gardens and landscaped spaces surrounding a central kiosk. The Plaza was flanked by stores and restaurants all around it separated by a pavement with ornamental diagonal lines and paths that converged at the central kiosk. The square had a large open space that was sometimes used by street performers to hold events every now and then. Taking all that in was all a Hispanic girl could ever want. It has been nine years since I moved to the US. Even with all the wondrous things and people that I left in my childhood home, the Plaza has been the hardest to get over. For this reasons, I have made it my pilgrimage to visit it every three years as it will always the symbol that reconnects me with my beautiful past. However, even though the plaza still stands, its atmosphere has been changing over the years. For example, children no longer played around the square with their bouncing balls. More and more stores have been closing with every subsequent visit to the square. The numerous restaurants have moreover closed and the laughter that permeated the Plaza has been replaced by cries of women who are losing their children to the numerous drug cartel wars that haunt the once beautiful town. It has become the plaza of fear.
Conclusion
It may seem childish to expect that things will always remain the same. However, it is not a welcome sight when one’s childhood home changes for the worse. It may have been nine years since I settled in the United States, but there is always a connection that one will always have to their former home. For my part, the connection is to Plaza de Aromas, the square in Michoacán. However, though it may hurt me to see the place being ravaged by terror, I will always be proud of what it once was. I will always remember the positivity in the people of Michoacán. When I think about Mexico, my memories will always play back to the savoring food, the merry dancing, the fragrant smells and most of all, the awe-inspiring sense of unity within my people.
