Monthly Archives: November 2014

 

When people ask me what I study here in Mexico I just tell them Agriculture and Indigenous Studies to keep things simple. Actually though, my focus is more social agriculture rather than Agriculture Engineering (what TEC offers). One of the students in Agriculture knows/thinks I study agriculture back home so invited me to go with his class to visit one of the largest Agriculture fairs held in Latin America. I actually visited the exposition with four other agriculture classes in Irapuato Guanajuato (about a two hour bus ride away).
I was going to the fair with some things in mind—main example, I have an interest in the social impacts of small scale agriculture and I dont think this fair was really going to be geared towards that. As well as “Yesssss ticking off another Mexican state off my list!”

To nobodys surprise, the exposition was very focused on large scale agriculture. Anything that you would ever need in the agriculture industry could be found at this fair, from John Deer tractors, the cardboard boxes that vegetables arrive in at the grocery store, to hydroponics and different types of animal feed. So as you imagine,  it was HUGE!

It was HUMOUNGOUS.

We were given five hours to explore, and some students were complaining that this would not be enough (Oh come ON, SERIOUSLY?).

As it was focused on things like maximizing yields, specializing machinery, and the latest technology, I soon became quite bored. Like mind numbingly “holy shit it has only been five minutes since I last checked my watch” bored. So, as I always do when in situations in which I feel uncomfortable, I decided to run away. To be honest, I was more bored than uncomfortable, but still pretty uncomfortable nonetheless. But before I slunk away from the fair to go explore the surrounding neighbourhoods—and by explore I mean taking a nap in a local convenience store— there was something that struck me about the fair: the role of woman.

There were so many people at the fair, and yes, it was mostly men. Not just the visitors but 95% of the vendors were men. And this is where my biggest “this is super weird” moment came. The role of woman who were at the exposition was to wear 7 inch heels, do their hair and wear “sexy” clothing to entice men into the stand. They were there soley as sexual objects in the most non-subtle way possible. If you are a human in todays society and have stepped outside in the last 100000 years you have probably seen this before in some shape or form. As a minuscule example that is comparable to the Agriculture fair, at UBC you see those “sexy girls” who come to campus handing out red bulls. Why are there no old people or fat woman handing those out? Wait, even if they did diversify the type of people who were handing them out, they are still being used as objects no? I don’t know. ANYWAYS.

Here in Mexico, this objecitifcation is much more up in my grill.  More exagerated and prominent. I think it also has to do with the contrast of the machismo-ism that exists in Latin culture, and the prominent gender roles here.  But I wish I was more critical thinker and able to figure this out better. In my experience at the Agriculture fair, the woman are literally on display. I was creeped out thinking about what those men who were taking pictures with these woman were going to do with the photos. Admire their good looks later? Like seriously!

But the thing is, its not just taking place at this one place in an Agriculture Fair in Irapuato. I see it here when there are furniture sales and at fried chicken stores…everywhere! Its strange when you compare the role of woman on the morning talks shows with what the men do: the amount of talking the woman do[nt] do, the amount of dancing they do (yes, they dance.), the amount of production that has gone into putting them on display. And I could go on and on!  And there is a HECK of a lot more that can be said around this topic, but I don’t feel I am able to articulate all these things yet, because I am still learning and unlearning.  So if you have anything to add or comments, please leave em below 😀

My last few posts have been semi-negative, but I want friends and family and randoms to know I am still having a wonderful time! I have chosen a new apartment for the next semester, and when I move in January I will blog about that tooººº   I am going to have my own place (plus a roommate from Chiapas)! Cooking my own soy sauce dishes and baking bread!! I AM SO PUMPED but sad to leave such wonderful homemade Mexican food :3

Okay talk to everyone soon

I would like to say before you start reading: this is a nice song to listen to in the background that is kind of beautiful and spooky and about ghosts and people returning.

This past weekend was one of the weekends I have looked most forward to since hearing descriptions of it from Spanish teachers in high school. Is was one of the few things I knew about Mexico before arriving, and that is Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos.

Día de Muertos is a celebration that takes place in Mexico on November 1st and 2nd. It is similar, I think, to “obon” in Japan where it is said that family members who have passed on come back to eat, drink, and spend time with family members who are still on earth. All over Mexico, family members and friends spend this evening and night hanging out at the graves of loved ones, oftentimes singing/drinking/eating and taking time to remember them.

Originally a celebration with Indigenous roots, it used to take place at the beginning of summer before Spanish colonization. However, it was was moved to the current day in order to coincide with the Catholic celebration of what we now know as Halloween. Colonization 101 people.

There are a few things that are very symbolic and representative of this holiday:

1. Pan de Muerto: only sold in the few weeks before Day of the Dead. A sweet bread roll oftentimes flavored with cinnamon, chocolate or orange. Super delicious, soft and white. There is a bakery near my school who has offered to make me Pan de Muerto, post Día de Muertos! Woo!
2. Calaveras: skulllllllls. You have probably seen these before, and are pretty iconic with Día de Muertos. Everywhere they sell sugar and chocolate skills that can be eaten or given as small gifts. According to my school, these are  a way of teasing and making fun of death.
3. Along the same lines…La Catrina. There are figurines of her  everywhere too, and is a figurine of a skeleton woman. Many people paint their faces kind of Catrina style during this time of year, which you may have seen before. You can find Catrinas made of clay, sugar, glass everything! So many little souvenirs which embody her.
4. Cempasúchil: a bright orange flower. As you will see in the photos, these sort of marigolds/chrysanthemum  decorate graves and are seen everywhere during this time of year
5. The Altar: A lot of Mexican families build altars in their homes this time of year, decorated with a lot of the things mentioned above and pictures of the deceased to honour/celebrate/remember them.

 

So what did I do this really special weekend? I decided to go to Morelia and Pátzcuaro in the state of Michoacán. It seemed that everyone was telling me to go here and there were a lot of school groups planning trips here this weekend. Its considered to be one of the most popular places in all of Mexico to go this weekend.

I was struggling with the decision to join my friends to go, as I wasnt sure if I wanted to participate in something so huge. On the other hand however, it felt like I should try and see it if its sooo famous. In my gut, I knew I should try finding something smaller, more intimate. But in the end, I decided to go as it was the easiest choice (just join along those who were already going).

Not going into too much detail, it was a disaster. Maybe I am being dramatic. There were just hoards of people everywhere. Everything being sold to seemed kitchy, and aimed at tourists (which may or may not have been true). And we went with 10 people, which meant a lot of time spent on decision making, waiting for others, etc. Usually mild Mexican taxi drivers seemed snarly and trickster, and busses heading home were sold out. The look on the face of the girl who graciously allowed us to stay at our house…she thought there were only four of us coming….then 10 of us showed up at her door….. And to top it all off, we lost a friend in the crowd at 10pm on the Saturday. After waiting for us in the cold for 4.5 hours, he took a 6 hour journey back to Querétaro at 230 in the morning. So yeah, shitty.

I was feeling pretty shitty that it was a shitty trip. I had looked forward to this weekend so much, and was left with feelings of disappointment and frustration. At the cemetery we visited, it was strange to see so many strangers and tourists peering into the rituals and intimate spaces of people trying to connect with their passed-on family members. Was I expecting too much “authenticity”? Striving for a specific experience? Was I bringing in my own ideas of death which were affecting my judgment and thoughts on how people should act?

Whatever the answer is to those questions, I have accepted and come to terms with it. Because some experiences aren’t going to be not great Saki. Remember that you need crappy ones to remind you of the awesome ones too. Actually, this past weekend I took a day trip to Sierra Gorda (a biosphere reserve in the Northern part of our state) and it was GORGEOUS, spontaneous and fun. So, I guess you win lots, and lose some too 😛

 

**Note, some of these photos were not taken by me, but rather a friend with a sweet camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I went to this dinner party today because a girl’s parents are visiting her from the US and were kind enough to make like 20 people dinner! How nice. Anyways, in this conversation I was having with this belgium dude he sort of reminded of why I am here, and how lately I have forgotten why I am here:  to learn spanish. I am here to go to bed at night with my head hurting from practicing spanish so much. I am here to be vulnerable andd being okay with feeling stupid, not understanding everything. Being here, I’ve realized I HATE feeling stupid. I don’t mind looking silly infront of people, or curious to learn more. But I have realized I do not like feeling and looking stupid. And this is something that naturally happens when you’re learning a new language. Because you’re learning! So instead of gritting my teeth and digging my heels in, I end up talking in english so that I can be understood. So it is clear to myself and others that I am able to communicate my ideas. I avoid conversations with Mexicans at school in spanish. Because I hate not understanding! But c’mon, how am I going to learn without that yucky feeling of inadecey? I can’t grow from a comfort zone. And I feel like right now, I am getting w-a-y too comfortable here.

So yeah. Quick midnight thoughts.

But don’t worry, you don’t have to wait two weeks until my next post, I won’t count this as a full post. There is one coming up in the next week I promise:)