Letting Go of Control: A Journey of Adaptation and Flow in Mexico

Mar 14, 2025

My journey through Mexico taught me an important lesson about letting go of control and going with the flow. I arrived with expectations and plans I had built over the years, unaware that I would face a reality with a different pace of life, unexpected challenges, and a completely different way of thinking. Through random encounters—from the lively boardwalk to the sketchy laundromats—I found myself learning to release control, surrender to the moment, and discover that sometimes, when we let go, life takes us to surprising and magical places.

📍 Playa del Carmen, Mexico | September 17, 2022 – Tequila, Tequila, Tequila

I landed in the afternoon on Mexican Independence Day, and stepping out of the airport was overwhelming—crowds of people waving signs, shouting at me to take their taxi. I had planned ahead to take a bus from Cancun to Playa, and the ride was smooth—despite my sudden paranoia, at 29 years old, that my suitcase would be stolen.

I arrived at the hostel, and the first thing I wanted was a shower. But—oops—I should have listened to my mom and brought a towel because the hostel didn’t provide one. So off I went on a quest to find a towel, only to realize they aren’t exactly common here. What do people do? Just air dry?

That evening, I went out to explore and was lucky enough to arrive exactly on Independence Day. There was a concert in the local park—imagine Independence Day back home, with food stalls, loud music, a famous singer performing, and an all-around festive atmosphere. I continued on a bar-hopping adventure, which naturally turned into a night of partying—exactly how a first night in Mexico should be.

As I strolled along the boardwalk, tequila shops kept handing me free samples. Good thing I was already in love with it. One of the shop owners explained that the most famous tequilas known worldwide (Clase Azul, Patron, Don Julio) are actually better to buy outside of Mexico. I was surprised when he told me that Jalisco, the region that produces 90% of Mexico’s tequila, sells exclusive batches to the U.S.—not even to other parts of Mexico. The supplier in Playa buys the tequila the same way a supplier in Israel would. Crazy!

📍 Playa del Carmen, Mexico | September 21, 2022 – Behind the Scenes

Yesterday, there was an earthquake in Mexico. It happened on the Pacific coast, while I’m on the eastern coast, so we didn’t feel a thing. A local told me that they were kind of “expecting it” because, bizarrely, a major earthquake had happened in Mexico on the exact same date (September 19) three times in history. Mind-blowing!

There are a few things people don’t really talk about when it comes to Mexico: The water pressure is awful everywhere. Imagine a faucet just barely dripping—that’s both the sink and the shower, meaning you need a lot of patience. Most bathrooms have signs asking you to throw toilet paper in the trash instead of flushing it—probably for the same reason.

In general, patience is key here. There’s a concept called "Mexican Time", which basically means that even if the bus schedule says 11:00, well—it’s Mexico—so maybe it’ll come at 11:30, maybe at 12:00. It’ll get here when it gets here. You’re in Mexico—just enjoy.

In hostels that do have air conditioning, it turns on automatically at 7:00 PM and shuts off at 9:00 AM. They try to save energy wherever they can, and honestly, you can’t blame them. People here are incredibly poor, especially in areas that rely on tourism. The gap is striking.

Yesterday, I went to Cenote Azul, a stunning, natural freshwater pool. Of course, it was packed. Friends told me that people take photos, edit them, and remove the crowds to make it look more “Instagrammable.” But to me, that’s not the truth—the truth is that, just like me, a ton of other people came to enjoy Mexico, and they are part of my experience. I leave them in the background.

📍 Playa del Carmen, Mexico | October 7, 2022 – I Don't Like It When You Call Me Señorita

You can’t walk down the street here without every vendor trying to lure you into their store. When the streets are emptier, the competition gets fiercer, and the sales pitches get more aggressive. I feel like a zebra in a lion’s den. I politely say, "No, Gracias", and keep walking.

But they don’t stop:
"Come in, take a look."
"Where are you from?"
"Something for your boyfriend?"
"Need anything?"
"Maybe a hug?"

That’s where I stopped, turned around, and gave a look that said, "You might think I don’t understand Spanish, but dream on." They’re always shocked.

There are plenty of guys here who throw bold comments at female tourists and stare at them to the point of discomfort. Meanwhile, male travelers tell me they’re constantly approached with offers of drugs and women. Sexist much? Maybe I want women too!

Mexico is addictive. People compare it to a casino—you lose track of time, spend money recklessly, have fun, get excited, and try not to fall into the trap.

Laundromats are everywhere. A fair price is 20 pesos per kilo, but of course, some try to charge 150. I thought I had cracked the system—until I realized some of my clothes were missing. My favorite leggings and a few tops—gone. Another trap I didn’t see coming.

Honestly? Be grateful they didn’t charge you $100 just to check, because they totally could have. I think this mentality is the hardest for Israelis—because for us, not being a sucker is crucial. So let’s call it the "Mexico Tax" and stare the thieves right in the eye.

📍 Playa del Carmen, Mexico | December 10, 2022 – Mexican Slang

The most common convenience store chain here is OXXO—it’s like a mini-supermarket that has everything, and there’s one every few meters. In some locations, there are people who open the door for you as you enter and exit, standing there with a tip cup.

Plastic bags? They simply don’t exist here. It’s not like back home where they cost money—here, they’re just not a thing. Everyone carries around red reusable bags. And in clothing and shoe stores, they pack your items in large cardboard bags—kind of like oversized bread bags.

Pedestrian traffic lights? Nope. Pedestrians don’t have the right of way—cars do. It’s rare to see a car stop for someone; people just wait for an opening, cross halfway, then stand in the middle of the road until the other side is clear. It’s like they collectively decided pedestrian laws were unnecessary.

Honestly, this isn’t that different from back home, especially in Tel Aviv—where people cross on red lights because they trust their own judgment. Here, it’s like the government just said, "We trust you. Figure it out."

On buses, they always play something on the screens during the ride—it could be a movie, a TV episode, or anything, as long as it meets two specific criteria:

It’s dubbed into Spanish—so you watch Brad Pitt speaking in a voice that really doesn’t suit him.
At least once per episode or movie, there will be a scene with an insanely loud, ear-piercing scream—probably just to make sure no one dozes off.

A bit of Mexican slang:

Valle (Va) – Kind of like “cool” or “alright.” Usually appears at the end of a sentence, sometimes as a question: "S’all good?" "Yeah, all good."
Ya – Also usually at the end of a sentence, meaning something like "Got it", "Okay", "Right away", "That’s it", or "Y ya" (which literally means “And that’s it”).
No Mames – A super versatile phrase, usually meaning "Are you kidding me?" or "Seriously?!" Used when someone tells you something surprising or in other similar situations.
Gordo/Gorda – Literally means "fat" (masculine/feminine), but here, it’s a common term of endearment—used between couples, friends, and family.
Buenas – A casual way to say Buenas tardes (good afternoon) or Buenas noches (good evening).

People here are very polite, and they always greet each other, even when boarding a colectivo (shared van). "Buenos días" means "Good morning," but to me, it sounds like "Have a nice day." And since I love telling people thank you and have a great day, I sometimes find myself wishing someone good morning at 6 PM.

They probably think I’m an idiot.

📍 Playa del Carmen, Mexico | October 20, 2022 – Why Mexico?

A decade of dreams led me to the most significant journey of my life. “Why Mexico?” is a question I hear often. I explain that it has always been my dream, though I can’t even pinpoint why. The truth? This is just one stop along the way, because the real dream is to see as much as possible—and breathtaking beaches lined with palm trees seemed like a perfect place to start.

It’s rare to find Israelis my age who haven’t traveled through South America. My path, however, was different. Instead of heading to Mexico after military service, I worked at a neighborhood bar and in sales at Ben Gurion Airport, where I fell in love with money. I saw how easy it was to make it, how effortlessly people could be sold to. I rented my first apartment alone and lacked nothing.

Still, no Mexico. I decided to follow my siblings to the U.S. because "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere." I found myself blinded by wealth, looking at women and seeing only their bags, watches, clothes, and jewelry—nothing else seemed relevant. That’s how they train you to think, like a machine.

Six months there was enough. I returned to work at the airport while everyone else was coming back from South America. Along the way, I realized that working behind a computer long-term wasn’t for me. My heart longed to return to bartending.

Still, no Mexico. I went back behind the bar, and I was happy. I had no plans for the future, no desire to "waste" years on a degree that didn’t interest me—I just wanted to bartend.

Years passed, and I decided to plan my journey, for a few months down the line, when the weather would be right and I’d have enough money. But between intention and execution, months went by—and then COVID hit. No Mexico. Only fears, a loss of momentum. The crisis passed, we made it through.

Still, no Mexico. I was working in a job I loved, with people I loved, growing in my profession, learning management skills, moving to Tel Aviv—paradise is a matter of perception.

A year later, I was laid off. My apartment lease was up at the end of the month. My motorcycle’s registration was due the following week, and my insurance in two weeks. Finding a new job wouldn’t be hard—the whole city was looking for workers. Extending my lease was simple. And of course, vehicles need maintenance, even if they only have three wheels.

But then a thought: Maybe Mexico?

Mexico. Yes. I decided—it’s happening. And now, it’s time to go all in.

Looking back on my first few months in Mexico, I realize that what initially seemed like obstacles—the street harassment, the slow pace, the relaxed "Mexican Time"—were actually the most valuable lessons. I learned to let go of my need for control, to release the urge to plan every detail, and to find beauty in surrendering to the flow of life.

Instead of fighting Mexican Time, I started embracing it. Instead of resisting the local culture, I learned to adapt to it. And perhaps that’s the true essence of a nomadic life—not just moving from place to place, but allowing each place to move and change you from within.

Letting Go of Control: A Journey of Adaptation and Flow in Mexico