The Icelandic Canadian - 01.08.2002, Side 29

Vol. 57 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
27
play games and most importantly provide
friendship. These dark-eyed, bright chil-
dren have led difficult lives plagued with
the kind of poverty and tragedy most of us
cannot imagine. They hunger for affection
and attention that most Canadian children
take for granted. Yet they possess the same
insatiable curiosity the same love of laugh-
ter and fun, the same hopes and dreams.
What is truly devastating is that most of
these children will not have the chance to
realize their dreams. Most of these children
have an understanding of the harsh realities
and injustices of life that are beyond our
comprehension. And the hope that I see in
their beautiful dark eyes will fade to be
replaced by the dull shades of bitterness
and despair. Sometimes I hate Mexico.
Yes, even now sometimes I hate Mexico.
When I’m walking down the street and
everyone is staring at the tall, blond blue-
eyed gringa and 1 proceed to trip over one
of the giant holes in the uneven sidewalk, I
hate Mexico. Some days the incessant cat-
calls, whistles and lewd remarks of the men
get to me and I curse under my breath “I
hate Mexico!”. I could kill whoever taught
them the phrase “Hey baby, you wanna to
F— me tonight?” When I want to call my
parents and it costs me two dollars a
minute I hate Mexico. When I’m having a
bad Spanish day and I can’t string together
a coherent sentence and I feel like a com-
plete and utter moron, I hate Mexico.
When I get lost on the buses, when some-
one grabs my bum, when I see little chil-
dren covered in filth asking for money, I
hate Mexico.
However, when one of those children at
La Escuelita puts their small warm hand in
mine and looks up at me with overwhelm-
ing trust and love, my heart wants to
explode. When I’m sitting on the beach
watching the blazing Mexican sun set over
the Pacific, I wonder at my fortune in life.
Sitting under the stars with other travellers
from around the world, enjoying tequila,
the nearby mariachi music, the sounds of
the busy city, fascinating stories and end-
less laughter, I know that there is no other
place I would rather be at this time in my
life.
Mexico is a land of contrasts: extreme
poverty and fabulous wealth, generous
smiles and resentful scowls, polluted cities
and wildly exotic verdurous mountains,
hot days and cool nights, romance and
lechery, despair and hope. It is no surprise
that my feelings about this country are just
as extreme. I both hate and love Mexico.
Right now I am living with a friend from
Saskatoon in a wonderful little Inn called
Posada San Pablo. I have been teaching
English and enjoying the culture, the long
lazy afternoons. I plan on travelling for the
next month or so before heading back up to
Manitoba and my beautiful Willow Island,
which is the only place on earth that will
ever be home for me. I look forward to the
long summer nights spent with family and
friends on the shores of Lake Winnipeg.
Espero que tu vida esta llena con sonrisas.
Hasta Pronto mis amigos. Besos y abrazos!
Con carino,
Freyja Arnason