Differences We Noticed Between the U.S. and Mexico

After being in the U.S. for several days, Mike and I realized we had yet to hear a car honk it's horn. In Mexico, you don't go five minutes without hearing honking.

Upon taking a walk in downtown Naperville, Mike and I both had the thought "there's so much open space". In Mexico, open space is very difficult to come by.

In the U.S., we had to make a conscious effort to get out and walk around. In Mexico, walking is all we do. Every single time we go anywhere, aside from Mike going to work, we walk.

We used to think traffic in Naperville was heavy and annoying. Now, we think it is light and peaceful. Driving in the U.S. is so much easier and less stressful than driving in Mexico. In Mexico, driver's have to be constantly alert and aware of all the cars around them, jockeying for various lanes, watching for topes (speed bumps), looking for cars going thru red lights, etc.

Certainly, there are MANY things we take for granted in the U.S. Going to the grocery store and having refrigerator upon refrigerator of choices. Aisle upon aisle of beauty products and toiletries. In Mexico, I have yet to see an eye pencil sharpener, nail polish or greeting cards. I am sure they are in abundance at Walmart...but I have only been two Walmart twice in five months. And, at the time, those were not things I needed. When I started wanting these items and was on the lookout, these items were nowhere to be found!

Back in the US

Shortly after arriving back in the U.S., I left Annie with my parents and headed out to pick up a fountain diet coke...and a pizza. The fountain diet coke (FDC) was a must have! I am addicted. And, the FDC's must come from McDonald's. They are just better from McDonald's!

I was gone for about 20 minutes. I realized that that 20 minutes was the longest I had been away from Annabelle for over a month. In Mexico, she is always with me. Never leave home without her!! In that month, I had left her twice. Once to go to 7-Eleven, four doors down from my building...I was gone about 5 minutes (and Annie was sleeping...Mike too). They didn't even know I was gone. The second time I ventured out on my own was to run down to the market to talk to a vendor. I was gone about 15 minutes.

Anyways, the 20 minutes I took to get the pizza and coveted diet coke was very liberating!... It was also the first time I drove a car in over a month. So, that was nice too! Especially driving a car with a radio that works! In a town where the citizens obey traffic laws!...

Although now when sitting at a red light in the U.S., at a time when there are no other cars around, I think "I should just go. In Mexico, I wouldn't be sitting here. I would look around and gun it thru the intersection". But, I feel compelled to be like the masses and obey the laws in the U.S., like a good citizen!

Also, as soon as I got back to Chicago, I started catching up on American Idol and some other shows, via OnDemand. In Mexico, I had gone a month without tv and didn't miss it. But, I quickly fell back into my previous routine upon re-entry! Certainly moving to Mexico is getting me out of my former comfort zone and routines. So, I am very excited to now be back in Mexico to continue learning, growing and questioning my self and my actions, such as tv watching... You can be certain though, one thing I won't be questioning or changing is my FDC addiction! Looking forward to returning to the U.S. in a few months for a McDonald's FDC!!...among other reasons!