Day 41 - It is what it is

Today at 3PM I'm taking the ferry to Playa del Carmen to do my cavern diving course. Since my Spanish lesson finishes at 12.30, I have almost 3 hours to kill before the ferry. So, finally, I go to a local nail salon. And it is not disappointing! I wonder what it is about the atmosphere of hair/nail salons that induces gossip. All around the wolrd, it's the same thing: if you want to learn the latest chronicle on the life in town, go do your hair and nails. Oh, did you hear that she got pregnant? Not, nobody really knows that, but I'll tell you, it's despicable, at her age?! - This is nothing. What's the big deal? Let her be pregnant, if she wants to. But what I heard is going to blow your mind - the owner of that bakery - yes, Carlos, Jorge's brother - is going to get a divorce, because he met a younger woman in the Canary Islands. Now, this is something outrageous! They have 3 children, and one is only a baby! - Yesterday, I passed by this store, and the sale is enormous! I had to leave a fortune there, because everything is so cheap! - Oh my god, I'm totally going during lunch! - Did you notice that Francisca gave me this terrible attitude last time she was here? I wonder why? What did I do to piss her off? - Oh, don't worry, she is known for her bitchy character. You know, one time she... Everybody is interrupting each other. Each girl has an opinion on every subject discussed and is very eager to voice it. And that goes on and on without end!!! Seriously, can there be so many topics for a heated discussion? When you feel bored with life and complain that nothing is happening in our little world, do go to a hair salon. You will be amazed at how many things are going on, in the smallest of neighborhoods (I actually suspect, the smaller the neighborhood, the more colorful the gossip). I cannot stop smiling while my nails are being done. Saint-Petersburg, New York, Cozumel - same stories, same made-up girls, same exclamations. The only difference is the language. That makes me think that we must choose a job based on our personality. After all, government employees around the world are the best (male) crossword-puzzle solvers and (femaile) knitters. But there's no denying that our personality gets affected by the job we are at. Or is it just a vicious cycle? What happens to your personality in a bad job market?

After the salon, filled with new positive attitude toward the fullness of life, I run to the pier (well, "run" is a little exaggeration with my 30-pound gear bag behind my back) to make the 3PM ferry to Playa. Only to discover - together with a thousand other ferry commuters - that as of today, without any prior ado of an announcement or any further ado of apologizing, the schedule has been changed and there is no more 3PM ferry. There's no other option but to wait until 4PM. I look around - nobody seems to revolt against the unfairness of the situation, nobody seems to mind. Well, I do mind a little bit, I have an appointment with my cavern instructor at 4PM in Playa. Luckily, technology has extended its reach to this pier, and there's some free wireless, so I can actually contact the dive shop and let them know that I'll be late. It's interesting to live on the Mexican time and by the Mexican rules. I notice that I care less and less about various stuff. It goes how it goes, and it is exactly what it is... (A quick side note - the dive shop never received my email, yet they did not seem to mind or even inquire about my 1-hour late arrival).