BRATTLEBORO — My plans had already been made to spend the winter in Oaxaca, Mexico when Donald J. Trump - hereafter, “45” - won the election.
I was embarrassed that 45 had become president. I wasn't sure if I should stick with my plan or if I could be more effective politically here in the United States. Like most people I knew, I was deeply concerned about what would happen next in this country.
After giving it a lot of thought, I felt sure that my presence in Mexico, as an ambassador of goodwill, was as important as whatever I might do in this country. I was appalled at 45's hateful rhetoric towards Mexicans.
This past winter was my fourth living in Oaxaca. There are so many things I enjoy about living in Mexico, and even without long-term planning, I continue to return.
People do want to talk about U.S. politics sometimes; they are not sure of how individuals voted. I haven't met one U.S. citizen living in Mexico who voted for 45.
It was not as hard as I imagined to share conversations with Mexican friends about how 45 had become elected, despite my difficulty in explaining the electoral college. I usually wouldn't try.
What my friends and I came to realize, together, is how money, connections, and corrupt people come to power.
In our discussions on this issue, Mexican people nodded with an internal sense of understanding. It had happened over and over in their country, and now citizens of the United States have witnessed the same.
In one sense, this election has united us across countries as people and citizens who often feel powerless.
* * *
The circumstances surrounding living in another country can be very sensitive.
When we - a group of retired, mostly white people - come to live in Mexico, we must acknowledge our privilege and division by class, ethnicity, and status. Even living on Social Security, I am earning more than two to three times per month as an average Mexican citizen.
Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico, where tourism is a major source of income. The people there have always been warm and gracious, even when they are serving, literally, others.
Of course, I questioned how the demeanor of our so-called president would affect life in Mexico, as well as the effects of the economic changes that have come about because of his election.
Many people are there for the winter or year-round simply for the weather and economic advantage. Since the election, the peso fell to a historical low. Last year, it was 14 pesos to the dollar; this year, 20. That's a huge jump.
The consequences for the Mexicans have been fairly devastating. The prices of gas and other utilities have gone up drastically.
We will find United States citizens living in Mexico simply because of this monetary advantage and climate. Often, these people call themselves “expatriates” - a misnomer, according to the original definition, coined in 1868: people who live abroad and who have given up their citizenship in their native country.
The vast majority of U.S. citizens living in Mexico have not renounced their citizenship and would never consider doing so. They would lose their Social Security, insurance, and safety net.
And in these times of greater sensitivity to language, the word “expatriate” is considered elitist. After all, millions of people living in other countries not their own are called “immigrants,” “refugees,” or “migrants.”
* * *
A small group of U.S. women in Oaxaca decided to get together to do something on Jan. 21, the day after 45's inauguration and the day of the planned women's march in the U.S.
We decided that a sister march would be a great idea.
We went through all the proper channels to make sure we wouldn't be arrested for some sort of political action - no one wants to go to jail in Mexico. We got our permits, we made our banners, and we started publicizing on Facebook and other media.
Our meetings grew in size and frequency as more people became involved. We had to decide what to say on our banners. We didn't want to be anti-anything. We wanted our action to be pro-Mexican and to show the Mexican people that we were standing with them.
I bought canvas and hand- painted our banner for the Oaxaca march: “Oaxaca Mexico Sister March, in solidarity with the Mexican people.” We made another banner and sent it to Washington, D.C. to be a part of that demonstration.
We originally thought we'd have 40 people, maybe as many as 100. In the end, more than 2,000 people showed up for the march.
Hundreds of Oaxaqueños joined us or cheered us on as we marched through the streets that day. We made international news, many of us wearing our T-shirts with the Women's March logo.
Since January, we have met monthly and have addressed issues of deportation, immigration, and dual nationality. We are making art in response to the political situation.
We are also specifically addressing an important issue.
There are those born in Mexico who emmigrate to the United States and have children born there. Those children - U.S. citizens - go to schools in our country and often don't speak Spanish; they find themselves in between two worlds, confused and lost, if the family relocates to Mexico.
As most of us know, the U.S. has been deporting Mexicans in great numbers. Also, many Mexicans who have been living in United States for years return because their parents are aging and they want to reunite with their families.
Consequently, it's very complicated for those U.S. children of Mexican parents to get into school in Mexico. The amount of red tape is daunting, expensive, and complicated.
* * *
Many of us are rightfully concerned about the ways to show respect to Mexican people, in spite of what 45 says.
Most people I know work at learning the language. We buy Mexican products - handmade, local, and beautiful. We pay rent to Mexican families, rather than staying in a Holiday Inn or an American-owned bed and breakfast. Many people hire someone to clean their house, something many of us can't consider or afford in the United States.
Since the peso is so weak, I believe it's very important to pay a fair price, to try not to barter or haggle, and to tip well.
The majority of U.S. citizens living in Oaxaca absolutely love the life there and are very grateful. The culture is beautiful. The art, the music, the dance, the food, the history of the indigenous people is very present in everyday life, as is the joy the people show in their families and friendships and celebrations, the pride of their history, and their talents and skills.
I'm grateful to see Mexican businesses thrive because we are there. I'm grateful to see my landlords repair and improve their house because I pay rent.
I am grateful I don't see resentment or hostility from the Mexicans toward those of us living a more comfortable life. We can hopefully transcend the differences of economics, nationality, politics.
Today, I went to a local bookstore to buy a new bumper sticker for my car. I looked through about 50 of them. Finally I chose the one that says “coexist” and has seven different symbols for seven different religions cultures.
It complements another of my favorite bumper stickers “Think globally, act locally.”
Do just that. Wherever you are.