We Moved to Mexico City
Change begets change
Earlier this month, Rachel and I moved to Mexico City (CDMX o D.F.) for six months. Our first two weeks here have been really nice and really slow – slower than our usual slow travel. Despite typically trying to live a bit more like a local than the average traveler, one month is not enough to stay in on the weekend or cook at home three nights in a row, “luxuries” we are taking full advantage of since moving here.
Before I continue, I want to address el elefante en la habitación: the presence of English-speaking remote workers in CDMX is noticeably strong and increasingly controversial. This reality is exacerbated by a consistent barrage of English-speaking tourists to the trendier colonias de La Condesa y Roma Norte (we live in the former). On top of the city’s unique soundscape, a weekend stroll through either neighborhood will be heavily peppered con conversación en inglés.
Since deciding to move here–and presumably before–there has been increased pushback to “people like us.” Marko Ayling, who writes about life in Mexico City, wrote a really great summary of what’s going on at the intersection of gentrification and xenophobia in CDMX. I am neither qualified nor comfortable ruminating on the state of affairs in the city yet, but I am mindful, aware, and like Marko – hopeful.
As a place becomes more like the world, the world also becomes more like that place.
I see a future in which the flow of migration between Mexico and the United States is more balanced… Where Mexico City becomes more closely tied to the other North American capitals. Where Mexican artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs can reach a more global audience. And where North Americans can become better visitors, immigrants and neighbors. —Marko Ayling
I have some specific goals while I am here – to immerse myself in and hopefully contribute to the local culture, to become a proficient Spanish-speaker, to learn how to DJ (heh), to write more (hi), and narrow in on what I want to spend the next three to five years working on.
Currently, I am 100% Spanish-first when entering conversations and can usually hang until either I get lost at about the third or fourth exchange or my counterpart gives up on me... “¿Prefieres inglés?” It’s an unusual feeling being apprehensive about answering “sí” to a question I don’t understand and then end up having my empty plate left on the table because I thought I was being asked if I was done, not if they can take it. However, it’s incredibly rewarding when that conversation goes smoothly. Bonus points when I get to use a phrase I learned earlier in the week. There is a study I often reference to anyone learning a new language. Essentially, it is a sure-shot way to guarantee happiness, as it is both challenging and useful. In other words, it is satisfying to work hard to learn something and then actually use it. I imagine it must be like what training to dunk a basketball is like, albeit less cool and with your mouth. There are several other benefits, such as improved memory and enhanced creative problem-solving.
My seemingly disparate goals above can perhaps be summarized a few ways, but none better than by my dear friend Mikey, who felt the reason we’ve remained such great friends for nearly two decades is simply a mutual desire to get better – to try to become the best versions of ourselves. Moving here, living here, is signing up for a thousand new experiences (just last week: major earthquakes and a cop extorting a group of us in the park for $1000MX). Hopefully, on the other side, is a better version of myself. And though I’m not sure which came first–the desire to seek new experiences or change, el clásico pollo o huevo–it remains true that change begets change… in myself as well as the city I’m currently calling home.
My Life In Error
I consider one of the good fortunes of my career to be the extensive amount of time I had my words read by a copy editor. While there were many a time that I found myself incredulous at a copy editor’s query (“Do you really need to refer to a ‘halfpipe’ as a ‘U-shaped ramp?’”), there were many, many more where I was grateful for the assistance in making my writing clearer. (Even writing that previous sentence, I shudder at the thought that my punctuation at the end of that parenthetical phrase—question mark, single quote, double quote, end parens, comma is incorrect.) This piece by the copy chief of Random House highlights the obsessive attention to detail required to be a copy editor and reminded me why I am glad there are such people and sad that more people don’t get to work with them.
—Justin
Yurts
For no good reason, I’ve been looking up yurts and geodesic dome tents a lot lately. They just look so cool and offer this relatively straightforward solution for additional real estate square footage in an aesthetically pleasing and semi-affordable package.They also seem incredibly multi-purpose, being able to serve as everything from spare bedroom to artist studio. In my opinion #yurtlife > #vanlife.
—Justin
LCD Soundsystem — new body rhumba (from the film White Noise)
First new song since 2017! Just listen to this. If you don’t like this, we do not have the same taste. Go see them live if you can. After Justin’s piece last week I tweeted my my personal MSG wishlist: Phish 1, LCD 2. They don’t have any plans to play MSG until they shut down the band again. I’ll be there then.
—Andrew
Octo Octa — Love Hypnosis Vol. 2 Mixtape
I’m honestly not sure if I shared Octo Octa’s music in this newsletter yet, but her latest mix is as good of a share as any. The perfect Friday, into the weekend mix. Best played loud.
—Andrew