Home again home again Jiggety jog
Not sure where that saying originated but my mom would use it every time we would pull back into the driveway when being gone from travels. It’s like I can’t pull up back home and not say it aloud…”home again home again jiggety jog”
I had a spectacular time in Veracruz, Mexico the past two weeks while visiting my friend Yasiel. I was able to witness a few firsts for me, change my opinion of that area of Mexico, meet the most amazing people that I know I will see again, have tons of laughter with Yasiel and his mom not to mention beach time which always makes me happy.
Although I am working on, and have taken Spanish classes but I am no where remotely near fluent in Spanish. What so ever. I understand a fair amount of Spanish depending on who is speaking and their speed, and if they breathe between words, but if you have been around Cubans you would know they are tough!
So what that means to me in a lot of situations is I have no clue what is being said unless a slow speaker, or Yasiel or someone around can translate. Otherwise, I improvise! I have learned that a smile from a blonde gringa lets me get away with a lot of things, and people are always willing to help. Maritza, Yasiel’s mom speaks zero English and we realized I am the ONLY person in her world that doesn’t speak Spanish. So not only does she not have someone to practice with, it shows how much in certain parts of the US there really isn’t a reason for some to learn English.
So yes, there are times I most certainly struggle while alone trying to communicate. The first time out trying to rent a car in Mexico I left in tears because I couldn’t communicate, it was hot and miserable and I still didn’t get a car. It wasn’t until I found two nice people the next day that spoke English while I was floating in the pool, and they took me back to the rental car place and helped me to secure a car.
Something I know I wasn’t genuinely aware of when it came to baseball was the number of games that they play and that for players, they are playing/at the field 6 days a week. They only have one day off. So to put in terms of being in their presence during ball season, Yasiel will have off Monday. So every other day (let’s say he is playing in town and not traveling for an away game) he is heading to the ball park at the very latest 3 pm. Most often he has eaten breakfast/lunch and heads to the ballpark between 11 and 1 pm. During that time he does meetings, physical therapy, if has any injuries addresses those, etc. Then a game starts at 7 ish. Goes for three ish hours, and if a good game or something occurs he is then going to have press or interviews he must deal with. And if wanting him to spend anytime addressing fans or signing things he has to do then after the game.
I am going to say most often his day ends at 11 pm or after, he is starving and needs to eat and then basically has until the next morning to sleep, socialize, do laundry before he gets up and does it all again. And remember here in Mexico he is playing in 100 degree weather.
I just had no idea! It is so much on these athletes I know when I am with him I’m tired keeping up with his schedule and I have done nothing! I loved he was chosen for the all star game which game him a kick ass all star ring, which he lost first night and someone found it. 🤦♀️ There were quite a few “all stars” that made it extremely fun to watch and see the top athletes perform. I had the chance to watch pitch and meet Trevor Bauer who is quite a scandalous player that I had to take a pic with. I would have been nuts to be within 6 feet of him all night and not ask for a picture. If you know baseball you get it. (Not saying I approve or know of his character or anything more than he’s a piece of baseball history)
I also got to see a first of a home run derby. Now that was fun!!! I will try and get a video added of Yasiel getting in his groove and just pounding them out. There were three rounds and I didn’t think he was going to win it, but third round I swear he just had to show off because he started cranking them out of the park giving the stadium a show. That shit was fun to watch!! He killed it and won it so I love I was able to be there to see him come out on top.
I’m going to sign off for now, but have more to share or Mexico next week!
Hasta luego,
Jenny
