Work in progress
Press my onto a telescope and see everything that seems so far away.
Golden light breaks the horizon and brings the world into another day.
But, here the moonlight casts a shadow and my heartbeat amplifys.
The view of the horizon lights a fire in my mind.
The clean taste of rain comes upon my tongue but I still salivate.
More fuel for the fire.
Action is the solution for desire.
Back in the daylight she is walking on the beach.
Focus my eyes to see her face, but her hand is out of reach.
Her dark, soft, blowing hair is like the feel of the night here.
I clearly recognize she has a fire in her eyes.
Night will fade away. Can't use a telescope during the day.
A sweet embrace.
More fuel for the fire.
Action is the solution for desire.
Soneto I
Es morena ella, amor mía perfecta.
Su existencia está en estrellas oscuras.
La noche ofrece la vista absoluta
de su elegancia dominante y pura.
¿De donde vienes mi rosa divina?
¿Por qué te escondes en la primavera?
Busqué en los reflejos de una piscina
la luna no mostraría si quisiera
Me buscas en las montes de Argentina
dentro una casita hecho de piedra
la flor que crece en la sombra de mina
Te encuentro divina amor verdadera
en cada línea de cada página
o en la luz que provea la sombra oscura..
La gente Chichimeca
This weekend we went on a trip to see some of the indigenous, rural parts of Mexico. The purpose of the trip was to see a different side of Mexico. One of the main parts was to a reservation where the people of the Chichimeca tribe live. We went with a company called "gran aventura", or great adventure. Our guide, Guillermo, was a very charismatic person with a passion for the indigenous cultures of Mexico. He knew a lot about the way they live and how they survive in the arid climates of the Mexican desert.
All 8 of us crammed in the company truck and we went on our way. The trip was very organized, but it was all a surprise to us. The guides had everything planned out, but they didn't really tell us where we were going or what we were doing. We first stopped in a small town called San Luis de la Paz. We went into an old cathedral and saw a Mexican wedding. It's interesting because, in Mexico, these types of events are open to the public. We didn't even know it was a wedding until we came in and saw a bride and groom kneeling at the foot of the altar.
To me, the town seemed to be strangely located. To there we had to drive through mountains and were surrounded by nothing but various types of cactus and desert. As we were leaving I asked Guillermo why they would put a town in the middle of nothing.
He responded, "You're thinking exactly like the white man. When the Spanish arrived here they saw nothing. So, they left the indigenous people and went to find fertile land that they could make use of. But, for an Indian this is everything. Here the people live off the land. The cactus and plants that you see here are all they need to survive."
As we drove through the town the guides explained to us some of the history of the Chichimeca people. Although it was technically their land, when the Spanish began to settle in cities they pushed the Chichimeca out. They designated the people the most arid and least fertile part of the land. Since Catholicism was the ruling law of the Spanish government at the time, they prohibited the Chichimeca from practicing their religion, wearing their clothing, and speaking their language. They were condemned to a useless and small piece of land.
Entering la Misión (the Mexican equivalent of an Indian reservation) of the Chichimeca, the oppression was blatant. We saw a group of young women walking just inside the Misión. They were wearing headdresses, skirts and blue jeans underneath. Guillermo brought them over to talk with us.
Apparently they were returning from a 9 hour workday in the field that they all work (it was 4 pm on a Saturday). They work for a North American corporation that exports lettuce. They are paid 100 pesos a day (the equivalent of a little less than $10). They receive no benefits from the company, no social security, no working contracts, nothing. The interesting part is that even in the midst of this extreme poverty, they all wore proud smiles on their faces, worn and tethered from the hot Mexican sun. They all appeared to be around the same age, about 16-20. The oldest woman of the group, Esther, was 30. She did most of the talking. She said that most people en la Misión start working at the age of 10 to support their family. Out of the whole group, only she and one other girl spoke the native tongue of Chichimeca. The girls were all married and all had children. How could they be expected to learn their native language and preserve their ancient culture if their lives consisted of working in a field for 9 hours a day? Even further, who is raising their children?
We took some photos with the girls and they went on their way. Guillermo pointed out to us the reality of the situation. This is the true face of globalization. Here is a North American company that comes to an area of extreme poverty to exploit the people for their labor. They use the countries water and land to make their product, and then it is exported and sold around the world as a top quality product. The people who are doing the work receive no real compensation.
As we went further into la Misión the sense of hopelessness and poverty became even more evident. We passed a group of men that were standing around drinking. They all stumbled and mumbled harsh words as we walked by. One of them asked Guillermo, "Did you come to see how the Mexicans really live?"
We continued further, and came to the Cathedral. A picture of Jesus was painted on the outside and a service was going on. The older women were in the front of the small building, singing a constant and monotone hymn, while one man walked around with a ceramic model of the Christ child. He held the baby to the lips of all the people and they kissed its head. He came outside the doors of the church and brought the baby to our lips while we all kissed the ceramic figure.
It was a powerful yet ironic moment. The arrival of Christianity to Mexico is what destroyed their ancient culture and forced them to live like slaves in their own land. Yet, somehow they have adapted it into their lives and grasped it as a sense of hope. I left the Misión that day with a greater understanding of how much of the world lives; impoverished and exploited.
The sun fell and the night sky grew bright with the stars and the moon. Our next stop was to a religious site of the Chichimeca. We climbed up a hill to the side of a small mountain where hieroglyphic paintings were inscribed on the wall. The paintings have been studied by various archeological groups, most predominantly the First University of Paris. The paintings date back to several hundreds of years and archeologists believe it to be part of a calendar. The site is holy to the Chichimeca because the calendar was made naturally by the way a rock landed perfectly against the wall. It was a gift from nature.
We left and continued on in our trip. We arrived at the place where we were to camp that night. It was just outside the town of Posos. A family that is friends with Guillermo met us there and brought us dinner. We ate tamales and átole, which is a hot liquid that is made from corn and mixed with chocolate. As we ate, the Mother told us the story of the land.
They were in ruins of an old mine. The state of Guanajuato became wealthy because there is a natural deposit of rich minerals below the land. The mine was abandoned because it somehow flooded with water and the cost of excavation was greater than the estimated worth of its contents. So, they remain abandoned and are now owned by the descendents of the families of the miners.
We said thank you to the family and sat down to discuss further the history of the mine. During the Cold War, the United States "combated communism" by installing guerilla armies and militant dictatorships to overthrow democratically elected communist governments in South America. This occurred in a large number of Latin American countries including Bolivia, Chilé, Argentina, Ecuador, and others. The US never installed a regime in Mexico. However, they did create an institution in Panamá that's sole purpose was to educate military leaders on tactics of torture and manipulation to obtain information of communist movements and to put fear in the people.
This education was put to use where we heard the story. The room in the mine we sat in was used as a torture chamber by the Mexican government. There they brought students, intellectuals and anyone suspected of being part of the Communist Party. Up until the early 90's, researchers found the bones and remains of the victims. The site possessed an eerie and eye opening past.
The purpose of studying history is not to make us feel guilty about where we come from, but it is to make us educated and aware of the truth, so that these terrible things do not occur again.
This trip helped me see that there are at least two sides to every story. It made me realize that the cold war was not simply an arms race between two ideologically opposed nations, but that the actual battles were occurring in Latin America. It also helped me to understand that a $2.50 bag of lettuce at the local grocery store can come at the true expense of the exploitation and destruction of an ancient culture.
¡Mèxico!
Well I'm here in Guanajuato. My buddy, Nick and I, caught a flight from O'Hare that left at around 6 in the morning.... very early. All the flights went well and we arrived at the León airport safely. We went through customs and were greeted by two CIEE employees. They told us to get some money out of the ATM and they put us in a taxi to Guanajuato.
The ride was interesting. It was very mountainous and there were a lot of little rural pueblos along the way. People were selling ceramic pots, peanuts, avocados, etc. along the side of the road. Guanajuato is a fairly affluent state compared to the majority of Mexico but there is still a lot of visible poverty. It took around 20 minutes to get to the City. The entrance of the city is distinctly known for its underground tunnels. The landscape is very hilly so the main entrances from both sides are trough two narrow tunnels that have pedestrians walking on either side.
We came into the city and it was very cool. We got into our hotel, "Las embajadoras" (which is the name of the part of town that it's located). The hotel was cool, but we checked in and there was really no instruction. We asked the lady at the front desk if there were any planned meetings or orientations that she knew of and she said she didn't. The ladies at the front desk showed us to our room and we went out exploring.
Guanajuato is structured like a European city, much like Granada in Southern Spain. It is built on the side of a few separate mountains and the narrow streets go up and down constantly. It has a lot of winding, cobblestone roads and is scattered with plazas and monuments. The city is full of churches and theatres with elaborate age-old architecture, although there is a seemingly Mexican twist. Stray dogs and cats roam the streets. People sell tacos and tortas in the plazas.
One thing that's really cool about the city is that it represents the small percentage of the Mexican population that is middle class. It's not dirt poor like the states in the south or the north, but it's also not affluent like Monterrey and Chiapas. The city is specifically middle class Mexico. Another interesting point is that its located in the very center of the country. So, it has its own very distinct culture.
This afternoon, after we had our orientation, we moved in with our families. My host parents are absolutely amazing. They have three kids, all in their 20's, and they're really cool. The director of the program here described my Mexican mom, Tey, as a mover and a shaker. Everywhere we go she knows everyone and she always seems to have a cheerful greeting for everyone she meets. My Mexican dad, Filli, works for the water services of the government. In Mexico, it is quite an honor to work in such a public service. He's the President of the Lion's International club (the philanthropy service, we have it in the states as well). He was also a professor of international economics and international relations. They are a very affluent family.
We live on the top of a hill, in a beautiful home, that's comparable to an American house. I have my own room and bathroom and it's about 2 times the size of my room in Sevilla. The family is so cool. I have a Mexican brother, Pepón, and a sister, Claudia. They have another son who's 21, but I'm not sure if he lives at home or he's at school (half the time I'm not sure what they're saying - the accent is going to take some getting used to). But, they're very cheerful and they talk to me about everything. I'm the 5th student they've had.
I brought them a book of pictures from Chicago and they loved it. We looked through it and I told them all about the Chicago fire, millennium park, and how the Cubs are much cooler than the Sox. I'm really enjoying this trip so far, and I have a feeling that it's gonna go faster than I'll want it to. But, I'm gonna make the best of it.
london bridges falling down
I have to say, before this weekend I kind of chuckeled at the English. I just thought, man they drive on the wrong side of the road, they have funny accents, they have bad teeth, the list goes on and on. However, after this weekend I can now truly appreciate and understand their humor and I can see how our culture came from theirs.
Me and my friend Hailey flew into Stanstead on thursday night. We met up with Haileys friend and her friends roommate who are both studying in Israel. It was a very random mix of people but it all ended up going well. Hailey´s Dad writes for professional wrestling magazines and I guess that whole thing is pretty popular in Europe, especially in Britain. Go figure. Anywho, it worked out well because one of her Dad´s friends showed us around and provided excellent English transportation the whole time.
So, we left the airport and drove around London at night. It really was amazing. We saw Big Ben, the tower of London, tower bridge. I would add pictures to this butit doesnt work in this internet café. bs. anywho. a funny story about tower bridge. Tower Bridge is this big elaborate drawbridge that goes right through the middle of Lonpdon, its huge and really crazy looking. Apparently some really rich guy from the US, attempted to buy it. However, he accidentally bought London bridge, which is this small ugly little bridge with no handrails. So, he bought it and went to go see his new purchase and then realized what he had done. Our guide told us that ever since that story came out they have to laugh at Americans. Oh well. It´s really funny because I have never met a single person in Europe who has a positive thing to say about George Bush. There is anti-Bush sentiment everywhere. It´s even cleverly included into some advertising campaigns.
On friday morning we traveled around. We walked all through the city and we bought a day ticket for the tube, which is the subway in London. When we were on the escalator there were all of these advertisements for different companies, and one that I kept seeing all over was this picture of George Bush making this really funny awkward face and touching his nose during a speech, and it said something like this: ¨Market Stocks and analisis is like public speaking.... it´s better left to professionals¨. That´s just one example of the many things I saw. Very funny. Anywho, I have to go to class I´ll finish this update later and hopefully at a different café where I can upload pictures.... did you know they call making out shnogging in Britain? haha
alright im gonna try to put in a picture now well see what happens... the girl next to me is chewing her gum really loud. it says theres no room. i dont know how much i like this travellog i may have to find a better one some day. wel i was trying to post a picture of buckingham palace. because we saw it. then we went to westminster abbey and saw some churchey stuff. I have pictures of that too but I guess theyll just have to wait. Friday was a big traveling day.
That night Haileys buddy Chris, who´s studying in Salamanca (a university town kind of close to Madrid), flew in on Friday night and met up with us. I was really glad he made it because it was starting to drive me crazy being the only guy. He´s a good kid. We partied and walked around for a long time looking for a pub. The funny thing about London is everything closes really early. I have an interest group meeting right now and I must go meet about interesting things. Ill finish this later.
Alrighty I´m back...So yeah friday night was pretty cool although we made this made mistake of getting a 5 pound chinese food buffet.. if that translated correctly it would be like a 9 dollar buffet which in the US would be pretty damn good.... but let me I tell im pretty sure we all got the Bird Flu after eating there... well i must of because i lost some of the dinner later on... anywhoo.....so we walked around looking for an open pub to no avail so we went to the pub of our one star hotel (which was technically a hostal, but still called a hotel). It was a decent place it was called Callaghans, so i tried getting free drinks... also to no avail... im standing in front of it in my facebook picture... it was a decent night... we met some kids from scotland.
the next day we woke up and went really early to go see the changing of the guards at buckingham palace. i have to admit... it really wasnt very interesting.. the highlight of the event was witnessing a guy almost get pickpocketed and a crazy spanish lady who was pushing everyone so she could get closer to the fence... after that we tried to go into westmister abbey but it was closed.. we ran into this big group of guys who were having a bachelor party and it was a scavenger hunt.. they were trying to count all of the angels at this one arc of the cathedral... the groom was there and he had an L taped to his back... we asked them why and they said because hes a Learner until he gets married... i guess thats what they call bachellors..kinda weird...
then we got some fish and chips... amazing... went to Harrods... still didnt have many shoes in my size and the only ones they did have were 120 pounds which is about 240 dollars... i decided that since the purppose of the shoes would be to wear to nightclubs that it probablly wouldnt have been a very smart purchase... Harrods was a pretty cool store though... did find some clove cigarrettes... they dont have those in spain ive been looking all over for them and people just look at me like im some kindof crazy talker...
That night we went to go see a play called blood brothers... we sat on the last row but it truly didnt matter.. it was amazing.. seriously one of the best shows that i have ever seen if anyone ever has the opportunity to see it I would thoroughly, strongly and wholeheartedly recommend it. That night we drank in the hotel and then went out to find a club.. it took as a really long time because all the pubs close at 1130 and the clubs want like 8 pounds a person to ge in which is about 14 dollars and thats just too much... but we finally found one called Cheers... no, nobody knew our names... it was a shame. But it was a pretty good time.. we did some dancing and prancing and came home at a solid hour that even the spanish wouldnt frown upon.
The next morning Chris had to leave... we walked around and saw some more stuff. walked by the river.. ate some gross hot dogs.. went to this place called covent garden or something... it was actually really cool.... loads of street performers as the english would say.... and they would call the hot dogs that we ate rubbish... oh those english... then we went to the Tate modern art museum which was abosolutely amazing It was seriously one of the coolest museums ive seen and it was free. Then our guide took us to the airport and we flew back to Sevilla...
Overall, an excellent weekend with excellent experiences and delicious fish and chips on the side... maybe ill go back someday .... but probablly not until the exchange rate leans a little bit more in our favor..... until next time.... enjoy....
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