Postcard from México

Hola a todos! It’s been almost three years since I took a plane back to Mexico City, but somehow I still feel part of Sammatz and I see reflections of it all around me every day, even in my work!

When I arrived in Sammatz I was looking to reconnect with the natural course of things in nature and life, take a break from computer and city life, and to start a new chapter just being me without any professional labels or old friends and family anecdotes. And it sure worked! I tried almost every task available and every bread baked in the beautiful stone oven, enjoyed great talks and magic long walks, made friends from all over the world and all the way between 2 years and about 75 years old, danced every Friday and sang along everyday. All these joys and lessons, helped me realize what I really care about and how I wanted to live from then on.

During my last weeks in Sammatz, my designing break came to an early end, first by drawing with the children, and then when I was invited to collaborate with the Michaelshof brand identity design. That opportunity made the perfect connection between my before, at Sammatz and after Sammatz life. I’ve enjoyed every step of the creative process but above all I love keeping contact with the community and still being part of its magic.

So I got back to Mexico City during the autumn of 2018, being same same but different in all kind of ways. Although I still love working as a graphic designer, I’ve made huge changes in my professional life, I’m no longer working 40 hours a week (or more) in some office far away from home, and I prioritize healthy work environments over shiny desks. I’ve changed houses 4 times, and it’s ok because I know home it’s my heart. I’ve rediscovered the beautiful nature Mexico has, and found myself sometimes in the middle of the city, wishing I could do some weeding and seeding in random potentially nice gardens I see on the streets. I still cook what I learned to cook in the big kitchen, pizza with real Italian tips, real pannekoeken for breakfast, and I even wash my salad the Sammatz way.

The biggest change of all since I was in Sammatz it’s my beautiful daughter. I’m sure she would love to be around all the kids, flowers, and farm animals everyday. I do my best to let her know everything I learnt about farm life and nature, I try to spend as much as possible time in the countryside where she can run free and see infinite shades of green and blue. I’m teaching her some German! So far she uses in her daily life: Hallo, Tschüss, Oh nein! and Gut! 

I keep dreaming I’m in Sammatz, designing for Michaelshof as I do, but right there in the office and gardens, and when I wake up I always feel like I was actually there. It has taken longer than I planned or imagined for me to visit Sammatz again, but I’m happy for the lifelong lasting connection and I’m sure we will meet again.

I don’t know if the 90 days I spent in Sammatz changed a lot about me or if I just got rid of all that wasn’t really me. Anyhow, it was a life changing experience that released a transformation dynamic inside me and I hope it continues everyday.