Beginnings

Today I strolled from my apartment into the city center, a walk that takes over an hour. Along the way, I passed stands of horse-drawn carriages; a church filled with worshippers and live music; and a statue of a cow that stands precariously on the side of a wall, 25 feet in the air. The man pictured was sitting inside his car, playing his saxophone along with accompaniment from his car stereo. It was a scene that reminded me of old Europe. After I took this picture he wished God’s blessings upon me. That was thoughtful—I will need many blessings here. People I have met are lovely, but life truly feels like starting from scratch. My apartment has a zen-like feel with its lack of furniture; I cannot help but be reminded of the Buddhist monk I went to school with who had all of the college-issue furnishings removed from his dorm room. My employers have graciously provided me with a fridge, a table and four chairs, and a bed. Unlike the monk, I am not sleeping on a floor pallet!

Going Global

It is 10:45 in the evening and I am kept awake by the sounds of tabla and Indian pop singers streaming in through my Mexican hotel window. My travel guide bills Guadalajara as the largest “truly Mexican” city. Yet sushi restaurants and Starbucks joints abound. A building I passed today advertised yoga classes. I find myself pondering an age-old question: in the process of acquisition, do we lose ourselves?