Viewing things from afar

I have had a great tutor for the past few weeks named Octavio. Yesterday in particular was interesting as we talked (in about as much depth that I could muster in Spanish) about the political scene in Estados Unidos and the debate. Octavio is well read in the politics of America and he, like many Mexicans, is just as interested in the upcoming election as I am. How could skin color possibly affect a person's capacity for intelligence? Octavio and I both wondered. Octavio asked me whether I thought it was truly possible for McCain and Palin to win. Sure, I do not have that answer. However after watching Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric, and hearing Obama and McCain speak last night, I am more convinced than ever about my choice for president.

In other news, the trumpet practicer who lives next to us is practicing again. He is getting better... trills and all. My bike is fixed. Well, sort of (see below). The neighbors around us have been out sweeping most of the morning (this is big here- I have to work on this). Josh and I will make plans for the day. We discovered a terrific park close to us with running trails and lots of green space. Perhaps we will head there?

If you are still wondering...

... about my bike, it's not fixed yet. This is something that I am trying to adjust to... it literally takes a whole day to get something like that done when you don't know a city, and don't have a car. It was also a challange to try and mail something today. Post offices are few and far between here, and when we finally found one, it took quite some time before we could buy the postage to mail our letter. To recap, most of my day was spent searching for a post office and a bike repair shop. I think I found the shop, but I have no idea what kind of hours it keeps. So I locked the bike outside of the supposed shop, and will head back to see what is going on tomorrow. You might think that it is peculiar that I do not know whether or not it is a bike shop. Yet there are a large number of businesses that do not have signs. You just have to know that they are there, and be lucky enough to catch them when they are open.
This is like the orange juice lady near our house. I managed to catch her one morning selling fresh-squeezed juice from her house. But I haven't managed to find her again. I will keep trying.

Getting into the Groove

I thought this would be a good lead-in photo for today. These are wall hangings that we bought (and lost for about 45 minutes) a week ago. They popped out of my bike basket when I hit a pothole (a blog posting focused on Mexican street and sidewalk hazards soon to come) and we did not realize it until we made it to our place. Miraculously, we retraced our route and found them... sigh.

This morning Josh went to film a family that works on one of the main arteries through Guadalajara: Calle Federalismo. The husband, wife, and their niece clean car windshields while the two-year-old plays in the median and the 9-month-old sits in the stroller. They do this seven days a week, primarily so that they can make enough to pay for their lodging in a pay-by-the-day apartment.

I spent the morning working on beginning designs for the Cerro Del Cuatro artisan group and then had the opportunity to visit the same run-down bike shop as Josh when I flatted a bike tire on my way to class. I paid $1.50 to have a tire patched (which had already been patched 3 times). Normally I would have objected and suggested something different, but I haven't worked up very good Spanish bike terminology as of yet. So I politely waited in the midst of piles of tires and tools and trash, while a dirty poodle rubbed up against my leg. The owner of the shop remarked over and over about my old (probably crappy) bicycle. About 6 hours later (after attending class and CODENI), when I went to ride my bike back home, the tire was flat again. So I left my poor bike locked up downtown.

Happy Birthday Casey

Today is our nephew (sobrino) Casey's birthday (and my mother-in-law, Angela's). I wanted to use this post to show my favorite photos of him.

Not so happy about fireworks, 2005

Flooding and Bosque la Primavera

It is the rainy season here in Guadalajara, and during this season in particular we have been told that there has been an unprecedented amount of rain. Yesterday was the mother of all rainy days, as we were left unable to leave a Papeleria (paper store) for nearly two hours as a 2-3 foot high river flowed down many of the city's streets. People were taping big bags over their shoes and calves in order to leave the store. We decided to wait it out. Thus, I made some really terrific paper selections (as pictured above). Josh will have photos on his blog soon.

Today we had another Saturday field trip. We rode our bikes downtown and caught a bus to the Bosque la Primavera (Spring Forest)- a huge nature preserve on the outskirts of the city. It took us nearly 2 hours to get to this place by bus, which made us appreciate our vicinity to Mill Mountain in Roanoke a great deal more! Yet it was a great experience to get out of the city and into someplace quiet and natural.
We walked down to el Rio Caliente- a hot river, which is fed by hot springs. It was so peculiar to dip my hands in water, expecting it to be cool, and having it be quite the opposite. We ate our sandwiches and papaya next to this steaming body of water. Also... I have a weakness for collecting rocks and can now add obsidian to my collection. It is so glossy, sharp, and beautiful. Josh even used a piece (the circled one below) to cut open his pocket, as the zipper broke and he needed his wallet.

Cerro del Cuatro II

Today Josh and I biked to the center of town and took a bus up to Cerro del Cuatro where a group of women were once again meeting regarding the forming of an artisan cooperative. As the cooperative becomes more of a reality, it has been stressed to the women that they will all be depending on each other to follow through with their role in the organization.

Josh is encouraged to try on one of the shirts (this one was a bit small)

Mother and her children head to catch the bus to the city center to sell potato chips and for the kids to attend school.

Vuelta a México

Today is México's Independence Day, 16 de Septiembre. Last night Josh and I headed to the main square to see hoards of people celebrating. Josh is sure to have better coverage of this on his blog in the coming days, as I left immediately after the fireworks because of continuing fever symptoms (which I thought had subsided). But I will offer a little sense of the scene... there were vendors everywhere, selling everything from noisemakers; glowing jewelry; fried pig skin; pretty-colored drinks in clear jars; face-painting supplies; sombreros; fake mustaches and beards...
At 11:00 the mayor of the city stepped out onto the balcony over the main square to lead the crowds in shouting "VIVA MÉXICO!" and then the fireworks shot off. Wow. The only downfall (aside from the fever), was a downpour of rain (which helped the fever, I am sure).

And onto today. We headed to the main square again, thinking we were going to see a parade (which had already ended). Instead we encountered an even more exciting event, the Vuelta a México; a professional bike race in México. In the center of the city the racers were supposed to do 18, 4km laps. Due to rain, this turned out to be more like 10 laps. Josh worked his way beyond the race barriers and in with the press and managed to get some wonderful shots, I am sure. It made me very happy to see him able to gain access to an event that he loves. Today made me miss my green racing bicycle. But the old Schwinn will due for now.

Bikers from American Beef, the team of the winner (unfortunately, the winner is not pictured here)

Josh photographing a Guatamalan rider

The winner for today