Mexico: On Departing
Once upon a time in Kenya, my American counterpart and I tried to share a bit of American culture with our hosts by baking them some banana bread. We had all of the ingredients mixed together and were ready to put the pan in the oven, only to discover that there was no functioning oven in which we could bake our bread. We resorted to a makeshift oven over an open flame...and the planned banana bread turned out to be more like banana bread soup in a crusted shell. Oops. Nevertheless our Kenyan friends graciously accepted our attempt at a gift and loved the sweet taste of banana bread failure.
This memory reoccurred to me as I was preparing a banana cake to bring to my boss and coworkers here in Mexico. This time around the cake turned out to be pretty cake-like (even though it took a ridiculous amount of time to bake here in my Mexican oven). I brought the cake to work as a "thank you" for the past four months. My coworkers told me they loved my cake...and I believed them as I watched them go back for seconds and thirds.
These past months have flown by, and I cannot believe that I am scheduled to leave Mexico in 3 days. Some might call it denial, this state that I am in. The key for my gym locker has been returned, all school/work assignments are completed, and the cleaning/organizing/packing process has begun. I refuse to say "goodbye" to my Mexican friends because I know that we will remain in touch and we will be reunited in the future.
They tell me that ice, snow, and negative temperatures await me in Minnesota. I am not ready for this, oh dear goodness I am not ready for this. I hope I am greeted at the MSP airport with ten winter jackets, a scarf, a hat, mittens, boots, and a box of Hot Tamales--simply because they do not exist in Mexico and I have had a craving for cinnamon candy for the past two months. Ready or not, I am about to return to the tundra for the two coldest months of the year.
This memory reoccurred to me as I was preparing a banana cake to bring to my boss and coworkers here in Mexico. This time around the cake turned out to be pretty cake-like (even though it took a ridiculous amount of time to bake here in my Mexican oven). I brought the cake to work as a "thank you" for the past four months. My coworkers told me they loved my cake...and I believed them as I watched them go back for seconds and thirds.
These past months have flown by, and I cannot believe that I am scheduled to leave Mexico in 3 days. Some might call it denial, this state that I am in. The key for my gym locker has been returned, all school/work assignments are completed, and the cleaning/organizing/packing process has begun. I refuse to say "goodbye" to my Mexican friends because I know that we will remain in touch and we will be reunited in the future.
They tell me that ice, snow, and negative temperatures await me in Minnesota. I am not ready for this, oh dear goodness I am not ready for this. I hope I am greeted at the MSP airport with ten winter jackets, a scarf, a hat, mittens, boots, and a box of Hot Tamales--simply because they do not exist in Mexico and I have had a craving for cinnamon candy for the past two months. Ready or not, I am about to return to the tundra for the two coldest months of the year.
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