MISTI Blogs

On random drives in the city, I saw many fancy restaurants and exorbitant car dealerships like Porsche and Bentley. But it wasn’t Beverly Hills or Dubai; it was Monterrey, Mexico. I was surprised by the extravagant places Monterrey had. I felt tempted to make plans to go to those places in high-end clothing and act like I was one of the other people eating expensive meals and buying luxury cars to see how it felt. I did fall into that temptation with fancy restaurants, and I was even considering going to a dealership to act like I would buy a car.

I had been living a more luxurious life in Monterrey because the money I had was worth so much in Mexico. I wanted to see how the luxurious life felt. But in my excesses spent on fancy restaurants, I had forgotten my normal existence in New York. I was provided a good life through the sacrifices of my family, not a life that was born to wealth.

What was important to me was the history, authentic food, and understanding of all parts of the culture that make Monterrey.

But I had moments of perspective when I saw a mother juggling in the middle of the road with her child wrapped around her and people working construction in the smoldering heat. Their actions reminded me of my family and how they also took on labor-intensive jobs to provide for us.

I realized that I had forgotten my origins and the sacrifices of those who helped me reach this position. I acknowledged that the money I had made me well off in Mexico, but I knew that it didn’t give me an excuse to act like something I am not.

I knew I had to stay true to myself and do what was important to me, not what was important to a fake me. What was important to me was the history, authentic food, and understanding of all parts of the culture that make Monterrey. Deciding to not go to those car dealerships and just enjoy Monterrey proved to be the best decision that I could’ve made while there.

I began to experience various parts of Monterrey, adjusting to the extreme heat with indoor activities. This helped me find all kinds of museums, ranging from the history of fútbol in Mexico to contemporary Mexican artists. In the Museo de Historia Mexicana, I saw pre-colonial artifacts of the Indigenous tribes that lived there and paintings of Mexican Revolution figures such as Pancho Villa. I gained additional knowledge about the history of Northern Mexico, which I appreciated as I had not previously acknowledged it. At the Museo del Noreste, I learned how this geographical region used to be an ocean, which explains why there were so many fish fossils in the state of Nuevo León. I also visited the Palacio del Obispado, a colonial building I constantly saw in historical paintings due to its strategic high vantage point and view of Cerro de La Silla.

Despite the heat, I knew I had to take advantage of the hiking opportunities offered by the mountains surrounding the city. Scaling Grutas de García brought me into a chilly cave on the mountainside, which had a visual array of tall stalagmites and sublime mountain views. Parque Ecológico Chipinque offered an unforgettable view of the city that got more magnificent as the night progressed.

But a trip to Monterrey would not be complete without mentioning the star of the show, fútbol. 

Fútbol, as it’s known throughout the world—or soccer in the United States—is the most popular sport in the world. I knew I had to take some time in Mexico to watch this beautiful game. A match can elicit all types of feelings, like immense passion, love, anger, and sadness. 

Through a TV screen, I always saw how passionate the fans of Liga MX were when they waved their team’s flag and shot fireworks. Every weekend at home, I would watch one of the many games with my dad and brother because we were so captivated by it. What made it so special was that there was no clear favorite—every single team had a good chance of winning, so every season felt different. That’s why we watched.

I wanted to know how it felt to watch a game in person. I wanted to hear the stadium roar and feel the vibe of the stadium. I knew I had to watch a match since I’ve watched a game on TV at home so many times. I was there not just for a match but for the Liga MX Femenil final.  Although the ticket cost a good amount of money, I felt fine spending it because I was being authentic to myself by watching that game.

I was there when the BBVA stadium cheered with excitement as the goalkeeper for Las Rayadas de Monterrey blocked the penalty to win them the title against Club América. I jumped excitedly, as I had just witnessed one of the most stressful yet captivating games in person. From América’s first goal that created an aggregate 2-1 lead to the penalty scored by Las Rayadas at 102nd minute of the game, I stood at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.

Even though I enjoyed watching that final, I felt the absence of the people I always watched those games with, and the absence of my family who were not there to enjoy Mexico with me too.

However, despite my family not being there with me in person, I can always carry the lessons I’ve learned from them and the experiences I share with them wherever I go. They have made me into the person I am today, and I will do the best I can to make it up for them. Whether I am as far away as Monterrey or as close as a seat away at dinner, I will never forget their guidance and will always remain true to myself.