It's a Cultural Thing

I’m in a big store like a Kmart. In the electronics section there is an electrical outlet sticking out of the floor, right in the middle of the floor where shoppers pass by with their shopping carts. It’s just there for no apparent reason, sticking up at least three inches. Now the interesting thing about this is that only a Gringo will trip over this electrical outlet. Did I mention we are in Mexico? The Mexican shoppers who pass by will somehow know not to trip on this outlet. They will see it out of the corner of their eye, “de reojo” and go about their way. But a Gringo, ah, a Gringo will not expect any kind of obstruction in the floor and consequently will trip right over it.

It’s a cultural thing. In the United States, we are taught that someone else has the responsibility for our safety and if we fall or trip over something, well, some other person or company is to blame and must pay for our mishap. Consequently, we are less vigilant about where we happen to put our feet when out and about in the world.

In Mexico, culturally speaking, everyone knows that each person is responsible for his/her safety. If you trip over a rock or pipe sticking out of the sidewalk there is no one to blame, no one to pay for your mishap. You are on your own.

Is one way of life better than another? I’m not saying that. It’s just different and only the Gringo will get his foot stuck in a pothole.

I find that very interesting.

Soy Lorena.
1/27/10


(Sorry, no translation today…it’s a cultural thing)

El Planeta (18)/ The Planet (18)

Astra seguía contemplando…”Temor, temor, ¿de qué tengo temor? ¿De vivir? ¿De los asteroides? ¿De mi planeta? ¿De la muerte? A propósito, ¿qué es la muerte para mí? Tal vez, perder mi identidad, ya no ser luna sino un pedazo de nada en el universo, sola, triste, perdida, no tener mi capacidad de pensar, no tener una mente, no estar conectada a mi planeta, Pleno Verde, no poder ver, no poder comprender nada…pues, hay mucho temor si me dejo contemplarlo. ¿Cómo rompo esta resistencia que siento dentro de mí?”

Astra oyó estas palabras: “Vas bien, Astra, sigue contemplando, vas bien. Poco a poco te das cuenta de tu verdadero ser.”

Astra siguió su órbita por un millón de años más meditando sobre el muro del temor.

Continuará.

Astra continued contemplating…”Fear, fear, what am I afraid of? Of living? Of the asteroids? Of my planet? Of death? By the way, what is death for me? Maybe it means losing my identity, no longer being a moon but rather a piece of nothing in the universe, alone, sad, lost, not having the ability to think, not having a mind, not being connected to my planet, Holy Green, not being able to see, not being able to understand anything…well, there is a lot of fear if I let myself think about it. How do I break this resistance that I feel inside of me?

Astra heard these words: “You are doing fine, Astra, keep on contemplating, you are doing well. Little by little you will realize your true being.”

Astra continued her orbit for another million years meditating on the wall of fear.

To be continued.

Soy Lorena.
1/9/10