El fin for Today

Wow; right? The list shows that in Mexico it would take the typical worker 70-75 minutes of labor to be able to afford a Big Mac.
It's super interesting because we've spontaneously started conversations here with a lot of people... whether they are Taxi drivers or people to the side of us at a museum, etc. But I can say that the majority of those people, who are mainly from Cuernavaca, always talk about their lack of support and lack of options in the job market. For example, there are huge amounts of people here who have graduated from their universities and who maybe even have their Masters, but ultimately there are just such little to no jobs that are available for them. So ultimately many of these people end up not being able to apply their accredited skills to a job that they're meant for, so they are forced to drive Taxi or be street vendors. Now, this does not say that being a Taxi driver or street vendor has no dignity and takes no skills; that is not what is meant at all. But, the point is that alll those credits earned through the university and possibly through grad school are just not able to be applied to a job that is made specifically for them.

So this is just some of the cultural analyzing we have been doing. If anyone is interested in a really powerful article, check out: "To Hell with Good Intentions" by Ivan Illich. I'd really, really recommend it*
CGE has been incredibly good at making us aware , aware in a lot of ways.


I better get to studying but my love to you all, como siempre.

Awareness

Other random things: two days ago we went to El Palacio de Cortes, which is near the center/Zocalo of Cuernavaca. Many of the walls inside had murals painted by Diego Rivera which depicted the Spanish Conquistadores in the Inquisition taking over Mexico. Morelos and Zapata were also highlighted for their importance in the Mexican Revolution. Rivera always portrays the plights of the Mexican indigenous people in such strong ways.
The other day we went to the market, which is packed with different fresh fruit, fresh vegetable, beans, meat, mole, and any other types of vendors you can think of. The point of us going there was to uncover the economic differences between Mexico and the US, but even more so to realize how extremely difficult (to say the least) in the job market here in Mexico. The minimum wage in Mexico is $4.95 pesos PER DAY for an 8-hour work day (that equals out to be $6.2 pesos per HOUR or US $0.56 per hour). Currently (or at least before I left for Mexico) there were 11 pesos to the US dollar. Upon analyzing the results when we had our "lab group" back at the house, our leader, Julie, gave us an annual study done by the "Economist.com." :
"Since 1986, "The Economist's" 'Big Mac Index' has compared the real purchasing power of currencies around the world. UBS, an investment bank, aims to measure well-being by estimating how many minutes workers in various countries must toil to buy a Big Mac. In Kenya, UBS says that it takes just over three hours of labor for a typical worker to afford ONE of McDonald's hefty burgers. [North] Americans, lucky for them, need to work for only ten minutes. Such differences reflect variations in productivity as well as desparities in local costs of ingredients."

Manana

Tomorrow some of the other girls are thinking about going back to Tepoztitlan (where I did the hardest hike that I have done thus far eek but amazing); but I am feeling more like going by myself to Taxco. Taxco is famous for being a mining town of silver. They have laws that do not allow any of the homes to be changed from their white deco walls; Taxco is protected by the United Nations because of its rich past. Taxco is also only an hour or so away from where we are so...

Plans to come

The girls and I, over lunch, began planning our trip that we will be taking in a couple weeks to Oaxaca. It's exciting looking at all the options for different hostels. We are definitely going cheap. Oaxaca is about 7-8 hours from Mexico DF so we will be making it a three-day-weekend-trip. Oaxaca is known for its chocolate, art, and also for being one of the heated political centers of the south. There is also a substantial indigenous population there and soo much hiking to do.

So today after breakfast I headed off walking by myself to go to a cafe and do some homework... That turned into walking around many parts of Cuernavaca for two hours. This was for two reasons: one, I really enjoy walking--especially around places that I have never seen before; and two, because I was too picky about the cafes and didn't want to sit down in any of those fancy ones that looked like tourist-attractors. Ok, so then since I did walk so much I can admit that I drifted from my "route" and got quite a bit off course and "lost"... But no worries at all! All I had to do was ask for some directions. One woman told me I should take the bus back because of the distance but there was no way I was settling for that; walking was a must!:)
By the time I got back to where I had planned on being I had about 40 minutes to do some work. My philosophy, though, is that learning does not solely come from the homework that is done, but even more so the learning comes from the experiences and reflections that are had---ah ha!
---So now I don't feel so bad about not getting to my work right away.

Cuernavacan life

Last night my friend Marie and I went with our new friend Lorena (who babysits two of the profesoras' children at CEMAL) to an opening/inauguration ceremony of an organization that her friend established. The organization is one founded upon GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) rights and offers support to Cuernavaca's GLBT community. Just this past May 17, laws changed in Cuernavaca (and maybe Mexico as a whole?) supporting GLBT movements and human rights as a whole. It was a monumental thing for Marie and I, these "foreigners" from the US, to be able to show our support for such an organization and social movement. Lorena introduced us to her friend, the founder, and to other supporters of the group. We then got the chance to talk with the winner of Cuernavaca's GLBT Miss Cuernavaca. Just being welcomed/getting a peek into different parts of Cuernavaca's vast and diverse communities is what is most important to me. So following that, Marie, Lorena, and I went to see live (Tropa?) music at a paaacked bar. The environment was great and although it was loud, we kept the conversation up by all having our heads in the middle of the table and talking as loud as we possibly could just to hear one another in Spanish. Lorena is great because she is easy going with Marie's and my Spanish; and she'll correct us when needed. Dancing was a bit in store afterward so we headed off to a different place. Initially the place was pretty empty but a short time after we had started dancing more people joined the floor. You've got to love the House/remixed music; Marie commented with a smile that she and I dance like such hippies. Jaja, oh well; it's all about the diverse style, no?:)

Mex

It's strange to think that we are already in our second week here... next Friday the two other girls and I will begin our home stays with three different families from the San Anton neighborhood. I'm looking forward to integrating myself into a family setting and hopefully meeting many relatives!
The "CEMAL" (Augsburg) house here has been great. Tere and Lupita are the main chefs here; they're wonderful ladies who I'm getting to know bit by bit each day. Tere actually owns a small snack/beverage store up the street; she lives with 12 members of her family and never hesitates to tell me that I'm welcome there whenever I want. She caught me by surprise this morning when I asked her how she was... I guess I would say that at that moment I felt as though I had, throughout my week here, gained a significant amount of her trust by how she responded. That was really genuine to me because she got a bit emotional and opened up about how one of her daughters will be leaving soon, etc. and the effect that is having upon her. Anyway, that may seem like a meaningless short story to tell but it's pretty great here to feel like you're finally becoming a part of something and developing unique relationships with many new people.
But they feed us very well here and there are always the vegetarian options! Yogurt is our main morning food with their home-made granola. Then there is always the pan dulce (sweet bread) that is tempting. To finish it off heavy, there are usually "sopas" or "gorditas" or other mexican cuisine of that sort to get the morning going!...And do not forget the chile! Fruit is always stocked so this is my type of eating, ya? Today Tere and I made a deal that I would teach her my style of making hot cakes with fruit and chocolate chips; she'll love 'em.

Spanish Musica, ¿anyone?

The Spanish artist, Bebe, is on the top list for today.

Check out her latest CD.

She is straight from Andalucia, España, anda!

Tortas and Politics

So I un-officially became a "regualar" at this Torta place that was about a half block away from La casa de los amigos in DF.

For some recommendations, I would try La torta "cubana" and then La torta "jenny," which was actually named after an Augsburg Center for Global Education student!
Her mark remains in DF!

Felipe, a worker and I, got to talking and he gave me an "in" on Mexican thoughts about their President, Calderon. Felipe also asked me about the future election in November, and specifically what I thought about Hillary.

Yes, my nose was running and the system was getting cleansed because of my Tortas´spicy-ness, but Tortas and Politics go together pretty darn well, if I do say so myself;)!

Frida Kahlo

I recommend seeing the movie "Frida."
Just after seeing her art today and walking through areas of what used to be her home, she was truly an intricate, stunning woman that so many of us can learn from.

Her art developed incredibly, especially after she got in that car accident.
I look forward to learning more about her and coming to a new appreciation of Frida and what she stood for.

La casa de los amigos

In DF the girls and I stayed at La casa de los amigos, which is a Quaker house thats mission is instilled in international-cultural understanding, respect, peace, and engagement. They are focused on the enjoyment and celebration of community. Many other foreigners were there. The house is now mainly a hostel, which also is a home to a couple of refugees. The initial purpose of the house (when it started 52 years ago) was to be a safe space for refugees. It has definitely got some human rights roots.

I even made some MN connections while I was there!
Now I am keeping it in mind to go back there and be a volunteer in the future.

DF has SO much to experience and I had just begun.

DF Activities

In Mexico D.F. (City) we went to the National Museum of Anthropology, the Frida Kahlo Museum-House, the National Folkoric Ballet, Coyohacan (spelling?¿), a couple of super ornate Cathedrals, El Socalo (which is this massive plaze-park-square where all these activities go on), a corner Tortas (Mexican-styled sandwiches) place (many times:), other museums with amazing murals of Diego Rivera, etc. (I have never seen such true masterpieces).

We are keeping so busy and definitely are doing almost all that we can and seeing almost all that we can.

Mexico, I´m here

Mexico DF is an awesome, but congested, place. I am part of the Center for Global Education group which consists of three other girls. They are great; we all share many of the same passions.

We just arrived to Cuernavaca from our Orientation in Mexico DF and we have already embarked on the social justice mission of Augsburg´s CGE.
Tomorrow I will begin my first assignment for my Latin Am. Culture and Civilization class. The theme of the program, by the way, is that exact title--Latin American Culture and Civilization.

In six days the girls and I will begin our homestays with Cuernavacan families.

If you think "paper planes" is good, then...

You will grow to JAM [very much so] TO "BUCKY DONE GONE."

M.I.A. at The Myth

M.I.A. put on literally the most entertaining live music show I have ever attended.
Yes, the sound wasn't all that great, but I was not even aware of that factor at the time.
To tell you the truth, on the way to the Cities her CD was on repeat and the same thing happened on the way back. M.I.A. IS IN MY HEAD!!!!
The pretty awesome, alright--incredibly awesome, thing that happened though was actually meeting M.I.A. herself and having a couple conversations with her dancers and back-up singer, Charity and Sisco.
They were quite down-to-earth.
Yas and I "woman-ed up" to ask for their autographs and then we told them a little bit about ourselves. I mean hombre, ya gotta do it. Why let the moment pass you up?
Going out of the comfort zone is so rewarding usually ayyy

POWER TO THE PEOPLE
M.I.A.--THIRD WORLD DEMOCRACY

In the words of M.I.A. as she culminated her performance: "Have an open mind."

--PAZ.

You've Gotta Love Those Short Weekend Trips

It's nice to have relatives who invite you places, you know?
This weekend I'll be taking up such an invitation with my parents when we will head to northern Minnesota; unfortunately tomorrow will be a bit of an early morning, but that is what sleeping in the car is for I suppose.
Hopefully I'll get some good reading accomplished. But let's be serious, as far back as I recall every time I read I end up falling asleep. I guess it just depends... usually the eyes will start closing a good 15 minutes later.
Oh gosh that's really bad.
Let's work on that.

El dia de las madres

Happy Mothers' Day, mama!

One good way to soak up Mothers' Day:

Gardening.

--lots of flowers planted taking lots of time, pero valio la pena.

The New Ella

The utmost happiness to Carola and her husband Brent, because their daughter was born early this past week*
Ella is her name is she quite preciosa!
Cheers to their future!

I'm Back; the Transitions have always been

Being home has been relaxing, productive, un-productive, exciting, frustrating, restless,...
But,
overall it has been quality. Quality in the respect that my time at
home has allowed me to be around the best of the best--mom and dad.
Although my brother isn't here, I have talked with him on the phone a couple times, so we'll include him in the above category.
There's
just all this transitioning that's going on, ya know? Life is just a
turmoil of unique, spontaneous, bittersweet transitioning. A lot of
times these transitions happen without us even consciously realizing
them. I mean, let's take into account a simple thing such as
re-arranging your dorm room. Although moving around some furniture and
taping up some new posters doesn't lock in as a monumental
transformation, that change in [life]style still constitutes as a
transition--whether having more clutter on your walls relaxes you, or
if it gets to theclaustrophobic, distracting point where you just have gotta take that shit down!
Well, what I'm getting at is that it's just important to be resilient--resilient
while still being aware, soaking in what you are experiencing and what
you can squeeze out of those experiences, even down to the little
details.
So as transitions are constant and imminent, let's work with them for everyone's sanity, eh!