same o different

When living in a place for an extended period of time, you start to see some of the similarities between this place and your home. Or some of the differences. For instance, the garbage man comes in his big loud truck (this is Mexico, everything is MUCH louder) and picks up your bags of trash you've put out in front of your door, just like at home. However here in Mazatlan they mostly come at night, sometimes at 9pm or like the other night, at 2:30am. It scared the living crap out of me...why was there a big loud truck next to my little apartment, had it accidentally run in to the building? After shaking the sleep out of me, I realized but of course, it is the garbage man.

Or, product similarity. In the States we have Mr. Clean, here in Mexico they have Mr. Musclo (Mr. Muscle) and the ads have this huge musclar man (cartoon character) coming to save the day for the poor tired cleaning house wife. Another favorite of mine is Vicks Vapor Rub, here it is just called VIC and like Coca-cola they seem to sponsor everything. So you see this name everywhere. In fact, speaking about Coke, it is way better down here because it is made with pure cane sugar so it has a bit of different sweeter taste to it. And, they DO sponsor everything. There is a huge Christmas tree near the Mercado that is actually decorated with all Coke items, just like the commercials you see.
Am I in the States, or in a foreign country?

My little place has a TV of which I've been watching. Even though all is in Spanish, I figure it is a great way to learn how to pronounciate words. But, on one of the channels that is a show that is Mazatlans version of the Today show, or something of the like. However there are about 8 hosts, all very good looking, and airs for about 6 hours a day. They have everything from cooking, to various games, to entertainers, to guests. But a big difference from the Today show to this show is the sexuality. Women tend to wear very low crop tops, exposed navels is not unheard of, whenever a game is happening, women come out in their bikini´s to lead the contestants out while the men whistle. Even the hosts will whistle or give a look to the camera that says, äy-äy. If I was a man I'd move here in a heartbeat because the culture here allows for that. It is not uncommon for me to hear whistles as I walk down the street or various comments that I can't understand...hopefully it is harmless! I need to learn how to say, my dog bites...I think the translation is...mi perra mordida's hombres?

But, you know the women also want to talk to me which is nice. Yesterday a woman asked me about the dog and said she remembered me from the park. She then invited me to come see this ab-fab house she works at. So, I plan on going to see, ¨Maddie¨ironic huh, same name as my dog.

And the kids love me. They are almost always tentative of the dog, particulary because she is on leash. But when they see me at the beach throwing a stick into the water and her actually swimming to get it they are amazed. Mexican dogs just don't do that-so they want to come play with her. I have to be careful here though, the undertow is pretty strong on certain days, so she actually has been pulled under. But she still wants to go in...so I let the kids throw the stick once again.

As well imagined, there are many other things worthy of telling. But I must go now...I need to go walk up to El Faro...the lighthouse. It is the second tallest in the world. Hopefully there is a Pacifico at the top...and for you beer concious people...Pacifico was invented here, in Mazatlan. A useful fact to pass on...

Drink heavily, but responsibly. It is the holiday season afterall...
Te amo por todo