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 Vallarta Living | December 2005 
Vivendo en Mexico (Living in Mexico) 5
 Korah Winn - PVNN
I do not own a wristwatch anymore. It was a change I actually made a couple years ago. Who needs a wristwatch when it seems like every room has a clock in it and every town has at least two time and temperature bank signs floating around? When I went back to college dos (two) years ago I got a cell phone. I got hooked on being able to check what time it was on it whenever I needed to find out how close I was cutting it before class started. I even bought a bicicleta (bike) lock that came with a complimentary key that had a digital display that kept time.
I was not aware of the fact, but I had grown up as a time junkie. You have probably been somewhere and felt the pangs of withdrawal like me. It is usually when you are at the mall and you need to meet with someone. You realize that you do not know what time it is. It probably bugs you just a little bit so you finally break down and politely ask someone if they would tell you what time it is. They kindly oblige and the pang of withdrawal leaves you and you are able to go on your way secure in the knowledge that you know what time it is.
I have been going through massive time withdrawal here in México. My first two weeks I kept asking, "Where are the relojs (clocks)?" You should have seen the huge smile on my face when I finally realized that one church on the bus route to my school actually has a clock built into the building. Relief swept over me because I knew I would not have to sit in anticipation of what time it was until I got to school. I hated the feeling of worrying that I was running a few minutes late. Until I moved here, I did not realize what a comfort it was to know what time it was any time I wanted to know.
Time seems to be more flexible here. My first experience with this was with my flamenco maestra (teacher). She agreed to meet with me at 10:00 a.m. and help me pick out the right fabric to make a special falda (skirt) for the dance class I attend. I took the bus downtown, but it took longer than usual.
When I got to the right spot, I practically sprinted to the store ready to spew out an apology in my broken Spanish. She was not there. I was probably only three minutes late so I knew she had not left. I breathed a huge sigh of relief because I would much rather give grace to a late person than to have to ask for it myself. I waited ten minutes then twenty. I finally said to myself, "I'll wait until a half an hour passes and if she is not here then I'll just figure she forgot." Just as if on cue, she showed up at 10:30 and asked if I had been waiting long. I just smiled and said I had been there for a little while but that was ok and I was just happy to see her.
She smiled back and we went in the store and bought the fabric like nothing ever happened. I have had several other experiences like this and I am finding out that is best to go with the flow here. The irony is, with all the waiting, I feel like tengo (I have) more time. ¡Salud!
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