Drew Lund's Mexican Adventures: Living Mexico

Drew Lund's Mexican Adventures: Living Mexico:
February 24, 2014

"Today I went on what I would consider my first true Mexican Adventure. Every Monday I travel to Ensenada with a few other staff from the ranch to attend a sign language class taught by Carlos, a former student-turned-staff from the Rancho Sordo Mudo. This time it was only David (Pronounced Dah-veed -- also a former student from the ranch, now on staff as a dorm parent) Noemy (girl's dorm parent) and myself.

The three of us got a ride into Ensenada with Luke (El Jefe) and Josefina (La Esposa del Jefe), who dropped us off on the edge of town to find our way alone. Now, David lived in Ensenada for several years working construction all over town, so he was essentially Noemy's and my guide. We caught a crowded bus that was mostly full of kids on their way home from school so we could make it to David's friend's house to get a car (the friend also happens to be Carlos, our sign language teacher). We definitely attracted a fair amount of attention on the bus and the streets, probably because we were a group of two Mexicans and a 6'3" gringo that only spoke to each other in English and sign language.

After we talked with Carlos and his sister Gabby for a while at their house, we left with the car to continue our Mexican Adventure. We drove around looking for place to get some quality Mexican cuisine and eventually ended up at a medium-sized diner where I ate something that a don't even remember the name of, but there was meat in it and it was good. Once we finished, we drove down along the beach looking for something to do. It wasn't too long before Noemy spotted horses on the side of the road that you could rent and take for a trot along the beach. We decided that sounded like fun.

Once we parked and walked back to where the horses were, David told us he didn't actually like horses so he didn't want to go for a ride, but he insisted Noemy and I go without him. So, we paid our dues and embarked on what turned out to be an hour-long jolty ride along the beautiful Mexican beach with the sun setting on the horizon. When our hour was up, we left with David again and went to the church our sign language class is held in. To finish of the experience, we stopped by one of the many taco stands on the way out of Ensenada to get some tacos and tortas to take back to the ranch with us.

David joked with us as we waited for the bus at the beginning of our adventure that we would be living Mexico instead of just seeing Mexico. That turned out to be a good summary for the day. I really feel like a got a whole different view of Mexico than I've had in the past. You see one thing when you just only to the touristy beaches and streets that are so angled towards catching tourist's attention that you pass with more signs in English than you do in Spanish, but you get an entirely different picture when you walk, ride the bus, and drive through the real Mexican streets, eat at the real Mexican restaurants, and meet the real Mexican people. Today I got to experience more of the real Mexican culture at one time than I have at any of my previous trips through town. Today, I got to live Mexico."