I was clipping my toenails yesterday and realized how I still have traces of my last pedicure on my big toes. Those white flowers on burgundy are from my spa visit last October while we were in Cancun on a vacation. I was in awe of the great job the lady at the spa did that day- not a single chip or smear! I guess it could also mean that I don't clip my toenails often enough and should not be posting pictures of the said toes on social media, but I digress.
I vividly remember that spa experience. There were six of us, three moms and three little girls. We were all very excited to use up the resort credits and get pampered. We each were assigned a stylist and were too separated from each other to hold conversations with anyone other than our own stylists. Mine was visibly pregnant. So naturally that's where our conversation started. She said it was going to be her third kid, after a boy and a girl. She said she takes the shuttle every day from a town one hour away to work at the resort. Meanwhile, her coworker stopped by. They didn't really say much to each other but they just looked quite stressed. Their eyes followed another serious looking lady, likely a supervisor, who had walked by. I figured some workplace politics were at play, remained silent, content with the gentle feet massage I was getting.
Her friend had stepped away to tend to a new set of customers that had walked in. While putting a clear coat on my now sparkling clean nails, she asked where I was from. When she found out I was from the US, she said her grandfather lives there. She said she hopes to go there one day to see him. Apparently he never came back to Cancun once he left years ago. I remember asking her name and wishing her good luck with the delivery of her third baby.
I don't remember her name any more but I do remember feeling weird, even slightly guilty of the irony. I got a relaxing spa treatment from someone that is likely stressed out herself. I left the stresses of my American life behind and checked into the luxurious resort while the spa lady hopes to one day leave the stress of working at this very resort, travel to the states where I live, see her grandfather, and live her american dream.
I vividly remember that spa experience. There were six of us, three moms and three little girls. We were all very excited to use up the resort credits and get pampered. We each were assigned a stylist and were too separated from each other to hold conversations with anyone other than our own stylists. Mine was visibly pregnant. So naturally that's where our conversation started. She said it was going to be her third kid, after a boy and a girl. She said she takes the shuttle every day from a town one hour away to work at the resort. Meanwhile, her coworker stopped by. They didn't really say much to each other but they just looked quite stressed. Their eyes followed another serious looking lady, likely a supervisor, who had walked by. I figured some workplace politics were at play, remained silent, content with the gentle feet massage I was getting.
Her friend had stepped away to tend to a new set of customers that had walked in. While putting a clear coat on my now sparkling clean nails, she asked where I was from. When she found out I was from the US, she said her grandfather lives there. She said she hopes to go there one day to see him. Apparently he never came back to Cancun once he left years ago. I remember asking her name and wishing her good luck with the delivery of her third baby.
I don't remember her name any more but I do remember feeling weird, even slightly guilty of the irony. I got a relaxing spa treatment from someone that is likely stressed out herself. I left the stresses of my American life behind and checked into the luxurious resort while the spa lady hopes to one day leave the stress of working at this very resort, travel to the states where I live, see her grandfather, and live her american dream.
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| Clearly my feet are long due for another pedicure but I might wait until all traces of my Cancun connection disappear... |
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