Actually, Love is all around….

Being a Brit I can`t help being anything but synical about St Valentine`s day of love. Thinking about how school girls dream about being serenaded by a guy who is really too immature to have a clue what it is all about.

Magazines create propaganda campaigns of how a guy who really loves you should behave. Distasteful teddy bears and oversized tacky cards sell in droves; all in the name of Love.

The day seems to be responsible for a huge calorie intake amongst disappointed singletons and also, I wonder how may one nights stands or ex`s are contacted around this time? I actually started dating one boyfriend on 13th February. Maybe it was something to do with St Valentine that he found the courage ask me out?

Not realising it was Valentine`s day this year, I became ingrossed in a conversation in the staffroom in which a single colleague was asking her friends how romantic their evening would be. The tone in her voice and the wincing way she questioned, showed her disappointment at spending the day alone. Seemly distressed, she continued to pry in the preparations and replying that she would spend the day `all by herself`. The day was traumatically like an a uncelebrated birthday for her. The poor girl was clearly feeling at a loss. Why did St Valentine decide the day was only for lovers? Why can`t it to show love the people we love?

Here in Mexico City, Dia de Amor y La Amistad is just that. These people don`t need an excuse to exert their feelings. The official kissing capital of the world, it is pretty impossible not to spend a day without being kissed even if it is only on the cheek. Love is seen in the smallest of ways. Kissing in plazas, opening of doors, families spending time together. Chocolates. Roses. Serenading Mariachi`s over dinner. Only today, a student gave me three chocolates..just because? Being used to it, I have stopped asking just because what?

Here Dia de Amor y La Amistad is super special too although for everyone and not just lovers. Girls arrived at school with bunches of roses for their best friends, boys arrive with dozens and share them around. Even boys like to recieve roses. Teachers, whatever than means, in England it would result in months or even years of ridicule for giving your teacher a rose. I recieved three. In class we ate chocolates from pink paper and wrote love sonnets.

Spending my evening with Anglos was quite the contrary. We ate french crepes and talked about Valentine`s day. Swinging became the topic of the day. Is our western concept so detatched from old fashioned love that people see love and sex as totally different entities? I hope not…Some of my friends think swinging is justifiable and can strengthen relationships. Oh dear, I think. Maybe I am still clouded by the movies and fairytales. While others, need one night stands to keep them sane. Comparing these notions, it sounds too egocentric for good old fashioned selfless loving.

So next year change your ways….instead of splashing out on a new tie for your spouse or perpetuating sympathy for feeling unloved if you don`t recieve a floral bouquet. Share the love with those you love. Bake some treats, write a poem or two, some catch up emails and smile…for love is love and it is all around if we chose to see it and not wrapped in shiny red paper.