When I was eight years old, I traveled to Mexico for the first time ever. This trip was unexpected; my grandfather had passed away in the middle of the night and my mother decided to travel to Mexico to lay him to rest. This trip was one of the hardest things to ever happen to me. I fell asleep in my room, ready to go to school the next day, but instead, I awoke at the U.S.-Mexico border. For me, this memory was filled with loss and sadness. From one day to the next, I could no longer see my family, my friend, and everything I ever knew. Now, I was in an unknown country, seeing the only father figure I ever had, laying in a coffin.
For an eight-year-old, this was very hard to understand. I didn’t know why something like this had happened. This made the first memory of Mexico leave a sour taste in my mouth. After this day, things only seemed to worsen. I learned that my mother could not return to the U.S. and I didn’t understand why, all I knew was that the country I was currently in took everything I loved from me.
Adjusting to this new life was hard. I had to learn many new things, and it was very overwhelming. I remember being so angry that I had to be in Mexico, all I wanted was to go back home and see my family again. However, this was not possible. I had a lot of hatred for this place, but in reality, I only hated what being there meant. Now, almost thirteen years later, I realize how wrong I was. I eventually understood that no place was at fault for the memories associated with it. It took a lot of growing and understanding to get to that point, but I’m so glad I did. I have mentioned before what a special place Mexico has in my heart now. For me, it’s important to realize that it wasn’t always like that. I had to learn to appreciate this place and what it had to offer.
I started loving Mexico when I started making memories there.
In Mexico, I met some cousins for the first time. One day, or whatever reason, we thought it would be a great idea to leave our grandfather’s ranch and walk to the lake. No adult noticed we were gone, and we were only supposed to walk to the lake and back. Everything changed when we took a wrong turn and couldn’t figure out how to come back. Looking back at it, it probably wouldn’t have been hard to follow the river back. My cousins and I sat on some rocks for what felt like hours (although my uncle swears it was only 30 minutes) before anyone could find us. We told jokes as we listened to the beautiful sounds of nature and the nearby river. Finally, we saw my uncle’s truck pulling up in the distance. We were being saved! I ran trying to get to his truck first, but I slipped and fell in a giant mud puddle. I was so embarrassed and almost started crying, but then my cousins all sat on the mud with me and we laughed it off. I’m sure our moms did not appreciate us being covered in mud, but the memory will last longer than those jeans ever did. 
Around the same time, my aunt invited us over to her ranch and I was fascinated with all the animals there. I had never seen real life farm animals before! When we saw the sheep, my mom’s friend convinced me to get on one. I don’t know why I agreed, but the next thing I knew I was holding on to a sheep for dear life. I remember being so scared, but at the same time, I felt so brave. I remember how hard it was to hold on, and how with every step the sheep took I was scared I was going to fall. At that moment, I felt as if I was the coolest little girl out there. I had never known any other kid who had ridden a sheep before! This moment was such a special one, especially considering that I had grown up in a city. It was moments like this that made me realize I had a new life.
Sometimes, on an off day, my mind would be flooded with negative memories. But then, I’d be able to go to a baseball game after a rainy day. Or I’d go to the plaza and eat Mexican style corn on the cob. Sometimes, sitting in front of the chimney, drinking hot cocoa was enough. Regardless, everything I did always helped the hurt go away.
Mexico is filled with so many great memories. Eventually, the positive overpowered the negative ones. This experience taught me that you can’t let your initial experiences ruin a place. Sometimes places are filled with negative experiences, but it is up to an individual to replace those memories with good ones and choose to create new ones. Creating better memories won’t make you forget the rest. They will, however, have the chance to change your perspective on something.
Personally, all the amazing memories I made replaced all the anger and fear I felt in Mexico. This helped me come to terms with my new normal, and it eventually helped Mexico become one of my favorite places ever. The joy I felt playing with my cousins, or doing crazy things slowly started making my life better. It was never about what led me there, it was about what kept me there. I am currently 20 years old, and every year I look forward to returning to the place where memories are made.
If I leave you today with one message, let it be this: Never let bad memories ruin a place for you. Instead, create your own memories, and if you’d like, go to Mexico and tell me what memories you end up with. Whether you end up getting lost, riding a sheep, or just relaxing, I can promise you you’ll return with a million joy-filled moments. 
