Lost and Found in Mexico is a documentary by Caren Cross about her experience of moving to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Cross left behind a successful psycotherapy practice, and it quickly becomes apparent that self-exploration is the theme of this film. The bulk of the content of the documentary is divided between images of Cross walking past gorgeously colored walls throughout the town and interviews with ex-patriate Americans who talk about "finding themselves" in Mexico: reconnecting with their long-forgotten youthful selves, escaping the hurry sickness of American culture, finding healing for the hurts and disappointments of relationships and just the daily grind and high pressure of life in the States. Listening to the interviews is like eavesdropping on a dozen very productive psycotherapy sessions. It's a little touchy-feely. At the same time, it rings true. I've had that experience, of feeling like I had finally "found myself": I was in Burgundy, France, and it broke my heart. Because I had to come back home. The people interviewed in Lost and Found were each in a position to decide, at that pivotal moment, that they didn't have to go back (they initially had come to San Miguel as tourists). Their stories about their impetuous decisions are exciting to hear: "She went to Mexico for 10 days, and on the 10th day she called me and said, 'Honey, we're buying a house.'" A few people point out that their transformative experience wasn't necessarily dependent on being in Mexico- it happened to them because they weren't at home. They just needed to be away, somewhere, and Mexico happened to have a very conducive character, captured by two words: calm, and community. They talk of being able to slow down, of letting go of performing for others, of developing an image of themselves independent of their careers, success, and wealth. Of errands taking twice the usual time, because of running into so many acquaintances and friends along the way-- and being willing to stop and chat. Again, it rings true. It gets me thinking, "What would my life look like if I weren't always hurrying? Who would I be if my value wasn't dependent on my productivity and accomplishments?"
The reason Cross was able to find so many American subjects to interview is that San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato, has, according to Tony Cohan, unfortunately been discovered and overrun by hordes of ex-pats. He's written two books about his own transformed life in San Miguel, On Mexican Time and Mexican Days. He admits being partly responsible for the word about the town getting out through his first book.
Well, I'm going to Mexico this summer. To Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco (home of mariachi and tequila). For three weeks. I'll be going to a Spanish language school and staying with a Mexican family. The seeds for this trip were planted quite a while ago, and watered and fertilized last year in San Antonio when I started this blog. I'm scared. Not scared of what my mom will be scared of when she reads this. Scared it will break my heart to leave.
