La primera de julio: still getting to know my new home

This morning I met the other students, there are seven of us all together. We took a tour around the city to learn where the hospitals are and how the bus system works so that we may use it when we have exchanges.  Most of the other students spoke limited Spanish so the guide spoke in English. Today was election day for Mexico. There were a lot of events going on associated with it (including a lot of fire works). As we drove around the city we passed the building were people go to cast their ballot. There was a line wrapping all the way around the block. 

My host family is pretty awesome. For lunch, Evangalina (the mom) made agua de horchata. It is new favorite drink. I spent most of the afternoon/evening playing games with Danny and Vero. When Vero asked me if I wanted to play a game with her I though she was asking me if I wanted to go home. Jugar and Hogar still sound similar to me. I had to go ask her mom what she was saying! I think we went through every game in the house including (but not limited to) Sorry, a Janga version of Phase 10, Operation, Hide and Seek, Tag, and something that involved piranhas. They even tried to teach me a number game but I could not understand.

Jardin Etnobotanico

I walk by this botanical garden on my to the school. It boasts plants from all over Oaxaca.

Benito Juarez

 A statue of Benito Juarez, pointing towards Monte Alban, overlooks the city. He was an Indian (native race) and orphaned at the age of three. His uncle took him in and he became a shepherd in the mountains. There was a lot of civil unrest going on in Oaxaca at the time. When Juarez was 11 he decided to go into the valley to learn what was going on. He went to live with his sister and took a job for a Franciscan. The Franciscan was impressed with him and over looked his training. Juarez's first language was Zapotec (native tongue), his second Latin, and his third Spanish. As an adult he helped overthrow the French Occupation of Mexico and the Second Mexican Empire. He later became President of Mexico. Oaxacans are very proud of his success story and the capital city is named after him (Oaxaca de Juarez).

Monte Alban

 Benito Juarez points towards Monte Alban, which is everything in this picture plus some. Only about 10% has been excavated. If you look closely, some of the hills have an additional bump. These are thought to be unexcavated sights.

The guaje tree from which Oaxaca received its name

When the Aztecs came to Oaxaca another group of indigenous people lived here called the Zapotecs. Instead of taking them over the Aztecs and Zapotecs had some sort of mutual agreement. The Aztecs named the valley for the type of tree that grew there. Oaxaca is derived from the Nahuatl word, Huaxyacac, which refers to a tree called a guaje. Confused how Oaxaca comes from Huaxyacac? Me too. I still have a hard time explaining to my dad that an Oa is pronounced "wa" and xa is pronounced "ha." The name was later passed on to the Spanish Conquistadors. This tree is very important to the Oaxacans. 

Marcado de carne

After the tour, the other students and I went to one of the big markets in town. This vendor sells raw meet. I think they also cook it (but I'm not positive). The guy with the green strip is a student named Isaac. He bought pork sausage. He had me help him with his order, which ended up with me having to sample some of the food. mmm...

Corn on a stick?

The Oaxacan form of cotton candy. They boil it, put lime juice on it, salt, butter, cheese and chili powder (in that order). I could eat ten of these.

Tacos!

My family hosted an exchange student from Leon, Mexico this past school year. The one thing he suggested I do was try the tacos. I spent a long time looking for these bad boys (as well as chocolate covered grasshoppers but I think they use a different word because no one knows what I'm talking about). It looks more like an English Taquito but much bigger. As always: served with bean paste, guacamole, salsa, and cheese. It was delicious!

ps. I love the food here and the weather. It is soo much like Southern Oregon. Freakishly hot during the day but warm rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Good think I brought my sombrilla!