Arin walks in a calenda (parade with mezcal)

Arin has been tutoring one of our summer school students, Daniel, and yesterday Daniel invited us to participate in a calenda sponsored by his college.  I had to work, but Arin walked the 3 miles in what he describes as a mobile party.  The calenda winds through the streets of town.  One person carries a giant paper globe with the name of the group and others might carry smaller decorations made from cellophane. You walk about 150 steps drinking mezcal, then the band starts playing and everybody stops to dance.  Another 150 steps and you repeat.  Of course traffic is halted while you snake through the streets of town and it took about 3 hours to go 3 miles.  He said that virtually every person has either a bottle, a shot glass, or a cup in their hand.   

Some of the calendas have choreographed dances with participants in traditional dress, but this calenda was just a drinking one.  Arin didn't take any pictures but as we say in Oaxaca, "If you miss the parade, wait 5 minutes and catch the next one."  I'll post a picture as soon as the next calenda marches by.


Update-I just ran out to the street because I thought I heard one, but it was another protest march instead.

Peace Corp volunteers from Guatemala

Two Peace Corp volunteers from Guatemala (Bill and Steve) are vacationing at our apartment building.  I played cards with them tonight and heard all about their experiences.  They work in small towns teaching nutrition. I think I would like to be in a smaller place where everybody knows your name.

One needs to be a college grad to join the Corp, so to all of you grads who are unable to find a job in the horrible US economy, think about the Peace Corp!

They must think I am an angel. An angel amoung us?

Almost daily, our street is shut down for a period of time to allow a peaceful protest march to proceed.  Here is a picture of a 5000 person "marcha".  At one point I thought that the march had ended and began to follow the crowd back to my apartment.  Another 200 people appeared and I had to stand in a raised doorway to let them through.  They were all very poor campesinos from the outlying pueblos.  It is likely that many of them had never seen a gringo, especially one with blond hair.  One by one they all turned their heads and stared at me as they marched by.  Finally I had to move down to ground level because I was feeling uncomfortable. 

Yesterday, nursing students were marching because they wanted their principal fired.

Arin is offered a job

Arin has been assisting me in my classes and now has been hired as a teacher's aide.  Unfortunately that means that he is no longer beside me.  He makes half of what I make.  He is looking forward to the day when he can look back and say, "Well, my first job only paid 40 pesos."

Preparing for the Day of the Dead celebration

The town is gearing up for Dia de los Muertos where the Mexican people honor their loved ones who have passed away.  Tomorrow we are invited to participate in a calenda, which is a type of parade where mescal is poured out in shot glasses for the adults and candy thrown for the children. Also, costumes are worn. Traditionally the only costumes have always resembled skeletons, but in Oaxaca we see the influence of Halloween  as many children wear traditional American Halloween costumes such as superheroes and princesses.

Zocalo-the center of town

Here is a look around the Zocalo.

These are rapasitas which are snow cones with real fruit. 

Candy

The return filght to Oaxaca

We had a great time in Sacramento, first at the church 100 year anniversary party and then at the a family wedding.

We survived our 20 hour flight from Sacto to Oaxaca with little sleep.  We were in the Mexico City airport  most of the night and spent our time with a fellow American, Max, who lives in a beach town near us call Huatulco.  He taught us some Mexican card games and described how much everybody loves his ice cream shop.  I can definitely understand the popularity.  The ice cream is in actuality, ice milk. Oaxaca's ice cream is made mostly of water with very little milk.  To me, it is not very satisfying.

We are back in our same apartment-Zaachila.