I can't really do mindful eating

• As I eat a bowl of oatmeal, chewing the kernels and getting it down to my stomach as fast as possible. My history has taught me if I take time to savor and let my stomach realize food is coming, I’m not gonna be able to get most of the meal into me.
• I distract myself with a show or water play or nature being silly. Watching paint dry is the prototypical boring activity, yet when one is fascinated by fluid dynamics and the chemistry behind physical processes, it can be as engaging as the most well constructed story.
• If this sounds confusing to you, you may not be autistic.
• Our brains are infinitely varied thanks to the way they develop combined with the biology it inherits. Every sense we experience is experienced on a vast spectrum, most often portrayed as a bell curve.
• That bell curve indicates how that trait manifests in our species and we often make the center area what society considers normal. Really, that center area is just the average, but every point on the chart is normal because it represents a human and their unique brain.
• Conflating average for normal has caused a lot of pain throughout history. I hear arguments about society not being able to support everyone, yet when we go back to how our species developed, it seems the effort we made at including everyone was more successful because that group had more knowledge resources to call on.
• I started this piece because I react strongly when I hear advice from people around food and eating without taking into account the wide variety of bodies, which include our brains, that interact with these reactions.
• Food can be many things. In order to consume enough to function on a day-to-day basis I need to consider it an energy source that I just need to get into my system. I have times I get to enjoy food for flavor or experience, there are times I’ve savored a dish knowing how much care was taken in preparing it or tasting memories from the flavors; that doesn’t mean every meal needs to be so intense.
• The interactions each person has with this world needs to be considered and respected. The more we learn about our species and genetics and such, the more we realize that the mutations that arise from different lines interacting are key to our species adapting to the environment we live in. This evolutionary process isn’t ending and so anyone trying to limit the amount of variety we have in our genetic pool, like those trying to cure people like me with an autistic body, the brain being a part of the body, are harming not just us but all of humanity.

Coming to terms with someone not being able to listen.

This thought came to mind when I was sorting my bedroom and an old mentor-figure popped into my mind. The way we ended things could have gone better, neither of us ever thought there would be an ending, still, I learned a lot about myself in the interaction. 

This mentor always told me to come to her with critiques and that she was open to growing in all kinds of ways. Over the years it became clear to me that this wasn’t really the case, she had a perception of herself she projected, yet she seemed to always be the person who dealt critiques and couldn’t handle the return. There was a moment the last time we spoke I realized I had to resign myself to the fact that this person wasn’t interested in listening to me. She told me straight out she thought about the words I sent to her and she wasn’t interested in talking more about it. 

A cry for help was shut down because she decided to prioritize her feelings over her mentee’s mental health. 

There was once talk in this relationship about being there for her during convalescent times and I can only wonder how genuine she was with any kind of more than work relationship moments. I think about those words that you can’t always take people at face value when they say things that would indicate you’re closer than acquaintance, the words my former roommate said as she left after spending the previous year calling me her wife. 

I know there are many people who would blame me for taking these kinds of overtures literally, and to them I say how cruel are you to wave intimate relationships at someone because you don’t take the other’s feelings into account. Coming to terms with someone not being able to listen to you comes down to remembering that it is a good thing to believe someone is genuine in their overtures of developing more intimate relationships. 

The way our society wants us to treat everyone in our circle as an intimate relationship is part of the reason many people can’t identify a real, close intimate relationship in their lives. Words of love and connection are throws around to people a neurotypical person barely knows because there is a flatness in how they consider most of their relationships. 

Each individual will vary, yet Auties being literally minded is a trope for a reason — we tend to put a lot of meaning into each word we say and expect others to do the same. 

But they don’t. 

And we can’t change them any more than they can change us. We can learn how to bridge the communication gap with practice at identifying when there may be a gap developing, yet it is a part of being human to have to deal with miscommunication on occasion.

Sometimes one must come to terms with a person in their life being unable to listen beyond the surface of your words.

Wandering around Prenzlauerberg

A return to Berlin!
It's a big city and I have the fortune of being hosted in the Prenzlauerberg neighborhood for my first month back. I decided to walk around a "3-block radius" of my current home in Berlin to see what gems of the neighborhood I could find.

Mary Makes Stuff

Mary is a freelance graphic designer whose hobbies include making dinosaur, bug, and robot themed artwork. She let me follow her to a few of the Maker Market pop-ups she participates in. Then we had a chat about what she loves about Seattle, what she misses about her hometown of Cleveland, and how great wigs are at SUIKA Seattle.

Good food, good games, good times with Nicole

Nicole has been a friend of mine going on 6 years now, meeting through our love of games at Gamma Ray Games. She's such a fan of the hobby, she started a website with her boyfriend called Across the Board Games, which reviews the plethora of new games coming onto the market every day.
She took me on a perfect afternoon/evening tour of Capitol Hill, a tourists dream itinerary of food, museums, and relaxation.

Couchsurfing Pubcrawl in San Francisco

Every year I make a pilgrimage to San Jose for the fabulous Pantheacon Convention and I usually try to take a day before or after to wander around San Francisco. Just a 1.5 hour flight from Seattle, it's a nice place to take a weekend vacation.

This year I decided to join a pub crawl organized by a few hostels near Chinatown, including the Green Tortoise, who's representative made sure we moved along at a steady clip and was a delight to talk to.
Going on 4 years now, the rock-paper-scissors themed event makes it easy to get to know people. This was honestly the most fun bar crawl I'd ever been on. If you find yourself in San Francisco on a Wednesday evening, stop by The Northstar on Green and Powell by 9pm to join in the fun. You'll be happy you did.

A Streetcar from Capitol Hill to Pioneer Square, and Lunch

Seattle has taken its time getting transit, other than buses, built in the city. So it is with a, perhaps, surprising amount of joy that the first day of a new streetcar is greeted. Also, the train has been a local joke since it was supposed to open in 2014, so we've had more time than expected to anticipate the line.
I couldn't help but hop on on the first day and check out my new, convenient connection to parts of town that were previously quite difficult to get to, especially considering how close they were.

A Karaoke Tribute to David Bowie

My home neighborhood in Seattle is Capitol Hill, an historic home for the weirdos and freaks of the world. (Some may argue this is changing, and such is the nature of life, but there are still quite a few of us keeping the faith.)
The death of David Bowie hit us hard and almost immediately, people were organizing gatherings to celebrate the life of a man who shared his life with us. When I saw a call go out on Capitol Hill Seattle for Waking the Alien- David Bowie Singing Celebration at my #1 karaoke bar, The Crescent, I couldn't stay away.

Join us as we give thanks for being alive at the same time as The Great White Duke.

Brunch and a Walk

Kicking off the New Year with an American tradition of weekend brunch and a lazy walk. The weather cooperated beautifully this year, not a cloud in the sky, giving the air an intense, brisk quality. All the better to enjoy the spectacular views of the mountain ranges on the other side of Puget Sound.

Bibiloteca Publica del Ejercito y Fuerza Area Mexicanos

I bet you've been wondering when I was going to write about the libraries of Guadalajara. Unfortunately, due to my school schedule and having unlimited WiFi at both school and hostel, I didn't need to seek out a library during most of the month.
I finally wandered across from one the day before I left the city and it did not disappoint.

What better way to end out the year than take you on a tour of an army gunpowder factory turned public library.

Thank you everyone who has been reading my blog and given me support on this new journey. I'm looking forward to 2016 and sharing with you even more about the people and places that make each city an amazing place to live.

Panteón de Mezquitán

Putting 2015 to rest with the Cemetery of Mezquitán.
It's been an adventurous year for me, starting in Berlin with a visit to a friend, which gave me the drive to quit my job in the tech world and dedicate myself full time to traveling and teaching English.
I've visited Pittsburgh for my brother's wedding; spent more time in Berlin with quick side trips to Leipzig, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam; gained a new appreciation for walking around Los Angeles; spent over a month in Guadalajara getting my TEFL certificate; met wonderful Couchsurfers, fellow life travelers, and reconnected with old friends.

There will be one more post from me before the year is out, but for today, enjoy a look at the Panteón de Mezquitán.

Parques Agua Azul y Mirador Independencia

Having been cooped up in classes for most of the month, it was only in my last week that I had time to wander and appreciate the parks Guadalajara has to offer. The city is dotted with green spaces, large and small. On this Wednesday, I visited two- one in the south of the city and another on its northern edge. All thanks to a great BRT line.

Parque Metropolitano

I may have a new favorite place in the world. The Parque Metropolitano in Zapopan can occupy a park lover's month, let alone day. Located a quick 20 minute bus ride from Parque Revolución on Tren Linéa 1 (a bus line, not a train line, no matter the name), the park is full of activities to delight kids and inner kids alike.

Festival Internaciónal del Globo 2015

An easy 2.5 hour drive from Guadalajara, the ITTO graduating class of Nov 2015 decided to check out the International Balloon Festival held in Leon every November. There are worst ways to spend a weekend than in a park enjoying hot air balloons play in the wind. If you ever make your way to this event, do yourself a favor and camp at the park. There's an ample supply of hammocks for sale for you to enjoy throughout your visit.

Murals of Mexico

While I'm working on editing some videos, thought I'd share the murals I came across in Guadalajara, Tequila, and Leon. Some of these have been featured in other posts, but I wanted to collect them all in one place so you can appreciate the variety of styles and locations of the public murals. Murals are an important part of Mexican life. The government commissions many pieces to tell the history of the land for population who aren't as literate in Spanish. The following pieces were all found on the street, maybe commissioned for the business it resides on or just a way for a neighborhood artist to show their stuff.

Tequila

A day spent in the town that has given joy and sorrow to millions across the world, Tequila, Mexico.
Just a short hour drive west of Guadalajara, I would recommend a tour for those interested in visiting the area. Our hostel signed us up with "Guatequi Tur", full of interesting facts if you can understand Spanish or if you have a good translator with you.

Welcome to the tour

Our tour guide, Sr. Armando Ramírez León treated us well and can be contacted at asesorarmando@hotmail.com. Highly recommended!

Mountain Biking with Couchsurfer Francisco

Oh, does my body hurt, but oh, how much fun I had last night.
Francisco invited me to the Paseo Nocturno en las Montañas that happens every Wednesday, organized by Gdl Bikers/MTB. After outfitting me with the requisite gear, we were off to La Primavera.

Día de Halloween

The party started at dusk and continued for many until late into the next day. Mexicans seem to personify the saying, 'Work to live, don't live to work.'
The holidays of Halloween and Día de los Muertos are starting to blend in the larger cities of Mexico. Some traditionalists are not happy with this, as Halloween is seen as an infection on the true spirit of Day of the Dead, which is supposed to be a time to reflect on and celebrate the life of those departed, not an excuse to dress up and party at a bar.

Couchsurfers at Centro Cultural Breton

Another week, another Thursday Couchsurfing meet-up. This one was at the fabulous Centro Cultural Breton, near the Cathedral, but hidden away on a quiet street.

 

Check out this post about Nahuatl

I couldn't help but steer my readers to a post written by my Spanish tutor, Siskia Lagomarsino. She talks about the process of learning one of the native languages of Mexico, Nahuatl, something I have a great interest in picking up in the future myself.
Do yourself a favor and check out her post on Fluent in 3 Months, then check out her own blog, The Polyglotist, for more language learning stories. She's a great tutor, so if you're interested in learning Spanish or Japanese, I'd highly recommend her.