where everybody knows your name...

As I was walking the 45 minute walk home today from my galavanting around, I experienced that awful feeling you get in your stomach when something totally startles and scares you. I was walking past a very populated bus stop, my bag on my back, when i felt someone grab my sides. My eyes burst open, my heart and stomach dropped, i grabbed the hands on my sides, scared to turn around to see who it was or what they might be trying to do. But as I turned expecting to find someone trying to rob me, I heard "Natalia!" Looking behind me, I saw Gabi, the daughter in-law of Dona Juana, both of whom I lived with for a month at the beginning of my time here in Cuernavaca. A smile came to my face and a rush of relief swept across soul. I walked with Gabi for a block or two before we arrived at her work where I stayed for awhile to chat and catch up.

Now this story in and of itself is not that exciting. But this morning on my way out, i ran into Angel on the street, a teenager that lives in La Via and helps out at the Buena Tierra just because he wants to. Later I bumped into Zaira, Angel's sister, who works at the Kinder with me for scholarship to attend beauty school. And Wednesday as I was walking the hour walk home from language class, I ran into Sabrina (teacher/secretary at BT) and her daughter waiting in line at the zocalo to attempt a pass at the (weird) ice skating rink.

These are just a few examples of the incredible fact that here in Cuernavaca, in a city of one million people, where I have only lived for 4 months and feel that I know next to no one, pretty much every time I leave the house I run into someone I know on the street. I am constantly amazed by these encounters. Granted, Cuernavaca is no HUGE place like Mexico City, but still, one million is pretty big, and it is incredible to me that I see so many people that I know when I'm just wandering about the city. I find it a blessing and a bright spot in my day. In a city, and country, where i often find myself feeling very lonely, these rendezvouses remind me that i am not alone, and that i have built many more relationships than i might even realize. although its not everybody, its nice to feel like i'm in a place where at least lots of people know my name :)

p.s. in 6 days there will be one more person in this place that knows my name ... elena comes on friday !!! i'm so incredibly stoked ...