Obviously the news of Mexico came to the family as a shock, a change that would radically redefine who we are. A new language, a new culture and even a new continent, I mean I have heard of moving, but this was more like ocean jumping. Either way, my family and I have always been the adventurous types and we could hardly say no to something this insane.
Mexico, the only thing that came to my mind at that moment was a little mouse screaming “andale andale arriba arriba!” then rush off to some distant hole in a wall. Either way my over active imagination would not cease to keep on thinking of the unimaginable possibilities that would be waiting for me there.
Yet before my great departure I thought it would only be right if I left my home continent with a big BIG bang. And thus my mind went into the deepest caverns of anarchy possible and formed a master plan to paint my school with a brush of chaos. I planned and planned until finally it all was ready. Gasoline to burn a gigantic Nirvana smiley face in the grass on the rugby field, a half a pound of home made smoke bomb, timers, firecrackers, wire cutters and the works. A few days prior to my plane leaving I went to work.
Like a ninja I crept through the darkness un-noticed by even the darkness itself, I approached my entry point of the school where I cut a small hole in the fence, like a floating mouse I crept through silently. Once I reached all of the checkpoints I previously established I placed my various contraptions with their timers to go off at the beginning of school that following Monday. According to my plan everything would blow the moment I am on the plane a few thousand feet in the air. From what I heard from my soon to be forgotten friends, it all went according to plan, apparently the culprit was never found, I wonder why?
The flight on the way to Mexico was nothing but action, five South-Africans and about twenty one suitcases made the journey more interesting that an elephant trying to balance itself on a tennis ball. We rushed from one gate to another trying to make it on time, hoping we didn’t miss our flight. This was definitely one of the most bonding activities you can do with your family, so if you ever find yourself having family issues, just migrate to another continent it will bring you all together.
After a twenty seven hour flight we finally got to Mexico City, where the people were tiny and the language was strange, yet still I was just looking for that mouse. I asked my father if this was the place we we’re going to stay at of which he replied “No Jeandre, we’re going to Monterrey.” Well, that was only an hour and a half more to go, and then finally I could meet the place that would house me for more than a decade.
My mind was still wondering on how Monterrey would look like, and how the people were, if it was as safe or unsafe as South-Africa. The most important question was, how are roads and can I still Rollerblade?
Finally we made it to Monterrey International Airport, although to me this was the least “international” looking airport I have seen during the entire journey over here. We finally got our bags, all twenty one of them, and approached the door to the outside. As the automatic doors open I felt the sudden slap of forty degrees Celsius hit my entire body like a curtain of hell. The air in my lungs became like that of an oven and my body gradually began to lose strength. “Water, water!” my tongue cried out as my skin started to turn raison. We got into the car that was waiting for us, and as I looked to the scenery I began to see what the cartoons spoke of. There was dust and tumbleweeds dancing in the distance, and definitely no place for me to skate. I just kept on hoping that the scenery would change, and eventually it did. There appeared a city in the distance, Monterrey, and as we kept on advancing closer to the high mountains my spirit began to lift, it turned out that my new house was bigger than my last. I was surrounded by trees and ample places to play at, to create more unique and interesting games to entertain my over active imagination. I said to myself “I can do this!” but little did I know what I was saying I could do.
Only the future would hold the secrets that were blinded to my present, for now I was good…but for tomorrow, I just had no idea!
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