24-November-2019, Sunday, 5:49 PM CDT
I come to you, Constant Reader, with one week left in my first semester as an English professor at TEC Tepexi--one week left for me anyway. A week from now I'll be back in Queretaro for early in-service training (EIST). It's remarkable, the fact that my service is about a quarter of the way through. EIST is a milestone for all PCVs and an exciting time for our cohort to get together and talk about things more tangible when compared to all the theory we had to rely on during PST. To be honest, I could really use the week of EIST to teach my students. Right now between sporadic student attendance and school events, planning has been difficult. We'll have to rush through that last two units--not something I want to do, but, as the saying goes--ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
Aside from our first semester together coming to an end, the highlight of this week was my first trip to the market. Wow. What a wonderland that place is! Every Tuesday morning, all roads in the region lead to Tepexi the tianguis or open-air market. This was my second trip overall but first alone as a big boy buying his own groceries, and I think I did pretty good. I struggled to the taxi with my haul which included black beans, bananas, rice, mezcal 😀, almonds, raisins, eggs, oats, onions, peppers, garlic, a box of milk cartons, ginger, jitomates, and more. La plaza--as it's called in Tepexi because there's another place in town known as "el mercado"--is magical. I felt like I was walking into the Bloomsburg Fair the atmosphere was so festive. Live music or in radio playing cumbia or mariachi or banda, aromas of frying chicharon, fresh cut flowers, and the wholesome scent of tortillas heating up, all kinds of people walking here and there, conscious consumers aware of the uniformly better pricing there than in town. I sampled some mezcal and chatted with some locals and was offered a barbacoa taco (goat) on the house by a family that I knew. What a great first trip it was, and I can't wait to go back this Tuesday.
Quick aside: the Spanish word "anteayer." It means "the day before yesterday," and it's a shame we don't have an equivalent word in English. Such a useful word. Any suggestions for one in English? After all, remember, all words are "made-up." How about...I don't know...yonderday? Not at all married to the offer, just trying to spark the discussion that leads to its coinage. Remember once again, there are no bad suggestions while brainstorming in a group (there are actually, but it's detrimental to the process to say so).
¿Que mas? Oh yeah, la quinceañera, talk about throwing the house through the window.* If you've never been to a quinceañera, you can't know the extent of their significance. I went to one a few weeks ago but didn't stay long, but stayed for the first band at this one on Saturday. Huge tents, hundreds of people, food for days, bands, fancy dresses for the girls who're taking their first step toward adulthood, an escort of young men also formally dressed accompany them, choreographed dances, a table full of candies swarmed when the announcement is made, tables of gifts and cakes and dancing into the night. I got to dance with the honorary young lady last night, and I learned a few more steps by dancing with my cousins and other guests at the party. Dancing is a skill that is prevalent here; most people have at least a basic level of the many differents steps danced throughout an array of occasions. I hope to be a better partner dancer by the time I leave. You, Constant Reader, probably already know of my...propensity for solo dancing.
So I spent last night in La Colonia, where I used to live with my family, the Aranguthies. I'd been feeling pretty lonely at times since moving out, so it was nice to reunite with them. This morning, at 7:30, I joined them more mass on the mountain. I don't go to church often, but it's nice to go once in a while and be reminded that you're an insignificant, misguided sheep of this universe under the auspices of the cosmic shepherd--plus, there were tamales and coffee afterwards, so you can't beat that. I often joke and tell people that I came to Mexico for the food. All jokes contain at least a trace of honesty, and in this one it's more like a heap of honesty--I love Mexican food. I won't become a taco snob when I return to the US, but I will always knows that we can't do tacos there like they do them here.
Ok, I know I said last week that I'd have a post comprised entirely of a random wrap-up, but you should know of my flakiness by now, Constant Reader. At a later date I'll write it. I need to take better notes throughout the week in order to deliver a wrap-up sufficiently random. I've also had an idea of posting an Mexican Flora album, which I will do in time. I first have to take a collection of photos that showcases some of the many types of beautiful flowers here. Well, it's late and I'm tired. My first last week of class is tomorrow, so I need to rest up. It's time to run through the finish line. Till next time. Keep your stick on the ice.
*"tirar la casa por la ventana" is a Spanish phrase translated literally above, but it means to pull out all the stops or go all out for someone or something, spare no expense, "Efforts must be doubled." - Finch.
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