Luisa and The Missing Eagle

LUISA and the MISSING EAGLE

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Once upon a time, there was a woman who came from the other side of the world, whose flag was missing an eagle devouring a snake on top of a cactus, but nonetheless shared the same colors. Their land did not have the same smells, or tastes - the air did not  feel the same. She did not speak much Spanish and still came to Guadalajara with the hope of completing a high specialty in medicine at a renowned hospital in the city.

This is her story.

The morning after my arrival, I went for a walk around the neighborhood where I stayed, and the first thing that amazed me was the smell of wet earth. I arrived in June, the rainy season, when so much water fell that I no longer knew if the meaning was from top to bottom or from bottom to top - hail, thunder and deafening lightning. Even so, everything is light, people smile, there are flowers everywhere;  people go out to water the garden on Saturday afternoon and greet you without knowing who you are.

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On Monday, when I arrived at the hospital, everyone greeted me as if they knew me forever.  Although I asked everyone about the poor Spanish I had, I always found someone to help me understand. Will it be for me? Or will they always be like this? The truth is that they are like that with all foreigners - warm and friendly. I fell in love with Guadalajara because every day was a surprise, every day was different -Mexico welcomed me. Everything surprised me, everything seemed incredible to me despite having already traveled the world. Mexico had an energy that tied me as if I were a lover.

One day, while I was finishing my internship at the hospital, I told some of my colleagues that I had a toothache and asked if they could recommend a dentist. A resident of the hospital told me, “My wife is a dentist, you should go to her!”

With all the fear in the world thinking of the worst, I made the appointment and went to the dentist. That day changed my life forever. Upon arrival, the doctor immediately came out to greet me; she was a doctor with black hair, green eyes, and a beautiful smile. I fell in love with her treatment; she gave me confidence and security. I never imagined that she would become my best friend, my sister, my most emotional link with Mexico.

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My friend's name is Graciela. She received me at her house to introduce me to her family - her parents, her sisters, and since I was alone, she invited me to eat at her house every Sunday. They made me part of their family.  Now I have a Mexican mom and dad, and although more than 13 years have passed, I still feel at home every time I visit them. That is what they told me - this is your house, too. In the morning, they have huevos con tortilla for breakfast and in the evening, they have pan dulce.

I learned to eat tacos al pastor, with chili and pineapple, tortas ahogadas but not much chili, carne en su jugo, and agua fresca of Horchata and Jamaica.  I bought a bicycle and then a car and toured the entire city. I also got to know Tequila and Tlaquepaque and fell in love with Lake Chapala and Ajijic. In Guadalajara, everything is colorful and everyone is friendly.

I have returned to Mexico every year, to Guadalajara since then - I love going to the Santa Teresita market to eat gorditas, and practice my Spanish. In Italy, they ask me, why do you keep going back? You are no longer a student. They just would not understand it - Guadalajara is a magnet that constantly attracts me, I simply enjoy being there. I feel full, safe. I feel at home.

I love Mexico, I love Guadalajara, and I live waiting for the moment when the world returns to normal to take a flight and go straight to the tacos, arrive with my family that I left there, hug them and have pan dulce con leche for dinner.

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After my first trip to Mexico, I concluded that the stork was wrong, was drunk or distracted or perhaps the majesty of the eagle scared her, and left me in a country without an eagle. I love my country, but my heart now belongs to two nations and the other half is in Guadalajara.

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