I’ve just watched an MTV program on punk rock. On the program someone said that it only takes 5% of the people to get together and change the way things run.
Mexico needs some punk rock.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Not again....
I’m sick again. This time, Luis tells me, it’s the Dengue Flu. Not a pretty thing. First a day and night of flu symptoms – cold sweats, achy body, the works – which worked it’s way into diarrhea and mean pains in my head. Not exactly headaches, more like my temples are playing ping-pong with electrical impulses.
I’ve pretty much been in the house for the past four days, which is a bit odd this time. I’ve been reading books – three whole books already – and watching English language TV. It’s been a bit of a reprieve from Mexico and my existence down here. So I haven’t much minded being sequestered in my room. Aside from the frequent runs to the bathroom to take care of my runs, that is.
I’ve pretty much been in the house for the past four days, which is a bit odd this time. I’ve been reading books – three whole books already – and watching English language TV. It’s been a bit of a reprieve from Mexico and my existence down here. So I haven’t much minded being sequestered in my room. Aside from the frequent runs to the bathroom to take care of my runs, that is.
One Gallon
I’ve learned exactly how much boiling water I need to bathe: one gallon. And that covers washing and conditioning my hair, washing my body and even shaving if I feel the need. How do I know this? We’ve been having problems with the water heater.
First, we ran out of gas and didn’t have the money to buy a new tank full (all the gas here is propane and is sold in tanks). So we were either heating water on the stove in order to take a bath, or taking cold showers. Some times we switched the tank for the kitchen with the tank for the bathroom so we could more easily heat bathing water.
Finally, we got some cash and bought a new tank. Hot showers again!
A few weeks later a problem developed with the heating element for the bathroom water heater. Sergio actually did some work one day and bought a new element and replaced it. But something was wrong still. Gas wasn’t coming out. After a bit of wrangling with it all, Luis and Sergio realized that the new gas tank was hooked up to the kitchen and the old tank was hooked up to the bath and was now empty.
Once again we bought a new tank of gas and hooked it up. But there was still something wrong. The heating element wasn't working right. Luis and Sergio looked at it for a while, and I assumed that Sergio, with all his extra time during the day, would investigate and get the thing fixed. I mean, no one *wants* to bathe out of a bucket, at least not for very long if they can help it.
But no. I have no idea if Sergio has never gotten off his lazy ass to figure out and fix the problem, or if the problem is too expensive to fix at the moment.
So we are back to heating water on the stove.
So I boil a gallon of water and add it to about 3 or 4 gallons of cold tap water in a larger bucket and wash like the Old West Pioneers did. It’s humbling and frustrating. It’s humbling because I’ve realized just how fortunate we are in the States. Perhaps not everyone in the States can afford to pay for their water and gas bills every month. But that water and gas is automatically pumped into their houses, they don’t have to wait for the gas truck to drive by and hope they have the cash on hand to buy a tank of gas. They don’t have to open a tap to fill a cistern, then pump that water up to a tank on the top of the house, and rely on gravity to provide pressure. Water is pumped to you. What a fabulous concept. And humbling to live without it.
And it’s frustrating because I don’t understand why Cynthia and Sergio put up with living this way. They both have jobs which pay them fairly well, but they never have any money. I would understand that if there was something to show for their lack of money. Like a new stove, or a working water heater, or some nicer furniture, or food in the refrigerator. But we live in this house as if we are poor. At the moment Luis and I are relying solely on the money we are bringing in from the carpinteria (which isn’t much), so in a way we are poor. But Cynthia and Sergio have consistent income and they can’t hold themselves above the water line.
No use in thinking about it too long.
First, we ran out of gas and didn’t have the money to buy a new tank full (all the gas here is propane and is sold in tanks). So we were either heating water on the stove in order to take a bath, or taking cold showers. Some times we switched the tank for the kitchen with the tank for the bathroom so we could more easily heat bathing water.
Finally, we got some cash and bought a new tank. Hot showers again!
A few weeks later a problem developed with the heating element for the bathroom water heater. Sergio actually did some work one day and bought a new element and replaced it. But something was wrong still. Gas wasn’t coming out. After a bit of wrangling with it all, Luis and Sergio realized that the new gas tank was hooked up to the kitchen and the old tank was hooked up to the bath and was now empty.
Once again we bought a new tank of gas and hooked it up. But there was still something wrong. The heating element wasn't working right. Luis and Sergio looked at it for a while, and I assumed that Sergio, with all his extra time during the day, would investigate and get the thing fixed. I mean, no one *wants* to bathe out of a bucket, at least not for very long if they can help it.
But no. I have no idea if Sergio has never gotten off his lazy ass to figure out and fix the problem, or if the problem is too expensive to fix at the moment.
So we are back to heating water on the stove.
So I boil a gallon of water and add it to about 3 or 4 gallons of cold tap water in a larger bucket and wash like the Old West Pioneers did. It’s humbling and frustrating. It’s humbling because I’ve realized just how fortunate we are in the States. Perhaps not everyone in the States can afford to pay for their water and gas bills every month. But that water and gas is automatically pumped into their houses, they don’t have to wait for the gas truck to drive by and hope they have the cash on hand to buy a tank of gas. They don’t have to open a tap to fill a cistern, then pump that water up to a tank on the top of the house, and rely on gravity to provide pressure. Water is pumped to you. What a fabulous concept. And humbling to live without it.
And it’s frustrating because I don’t understand why Cynthia and Sergio put up with living this way. They both have jobs which pay them fairly well, but they never have any money. I would understand that if there was something to show for their lack of money. Like a new stove, or a working water heater, or some nicer furniture, or food in the refrigerator. But we live in this house as if we are poor. At the moment Luis and I are relying solely on the money we are bringing in from the carpinteria (which isn’t much), so in a way we are poor. But Cynthia and Sergio have consistent income and they can’t hold themselves above the water line.
No use in thinking about it too long.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
We rented a movie called “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada”. It’s about a Mexican immigrant living in the US illegally, who is killed in an accident. His coworker, played by Tommy Lee Jones, had promised to take his body home to his family in Mexico if anything ever happened to him. So it is essentially a road movie. But it starts in Texas, in a small town.
One of the characters works in a restaurant, so a number of the scenes are shot there. One of the establishing shots is of a few empty tables at the front of the restaurant. There is a Lion’s Club banner in the background and a window on the far wall.
When I saw that shot I had a bit of déjà vu. When Luis, Pati and I had been driving back to Mexico after our visit to Portland, we stopped to eat at a small restaurant in Van Horn, Texas where I took this picture:
It is the same restaurant, and essentially the same shot they used in the film. Crazy what this world serves up to us.
One of the characters works in a restaurant, so a number of the scenes are shot there. One of the establishing shots is of a few empty tables at the front of the restaurant. There is a Lion’s Club banner in the background and a window on the far wall.
When I saw that shot I had a bit of déjà vu. When Luis, Pati and I had been driving back to Mexico after our visit to Portland, we stopped to eat at a small restaurant in Van Horn, Texas where I took this picture:
It is the same restaurant, and essentially the same shot they used in the film. Crazy what this world serves up to us.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Chaps
Btw, I bought my first pair of leather chaps in Leon. Leon is the world capital (according to Luis) of shoes, and they have a fair amount of leather goods too. And I was riding on the back of my motorcycle (no, Luis still hasn't taught me how to drive it!), so I figured a pair of chaps would be a good investment. Photos to come soon (I hope - my camera took one too many spills and now is on strike. Bummer.).
Leon
We went to the city of Leon this weekend for a biker event.
I love Leon. I could live in Leon. It is a City with a capital "C". We stayed in a great hotel right on the center. I went out walking by myself one evening. Luis said "be careful" before I left. I said "I'm probably safer here than in Tuxpan." He agreed. So I went walking for an hour and a half.
I was in heaven.
And I realized something while we were in Leon. It's not me. I mean, this whole time I've been down here I've thought that I had a problem, that it was me who couldn't adjust to living in Mexico, that I just needed to try harder. That all my issues in my life have come to the surface and I'm struggling mightily with them, and if I could only get a grip on them things would improve.
HA! It's not me! It's not even Mexico! It's fucking Tuxpan! I just can't adapt to this pueblito (small town)!
There were two other women there with me (and the boys of the Chayacate Bikers Club) - one lives in Tuxpan, one lives in Colima but is originally from Tuxpan. They both agreed with me that Tuxpan is waaaaaaaaaaaay too small and the people here are waaaaaaaaaaaaay too small minded.
Gaby is from here, and so is her husband, but they have moved to Colima City in Colima state. She says she doesn't like going to visit Tuxpan. Her brother and father live here, but she doesn't come to visit too often.
Fatima is married to Herman, although they are seperated at the moment. She lives in a big house with her two kids and works as a housewife. She is concerned for her kids because there isn't anything to do here in Tuxpan. Her daughter wants to take ballet classes, but there aren't any. Her son wants to play musical instruments, but the music school here isn't all that great.
HA! It's NOT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a frickin relief. Now I have Gaby's email address and I plan on emailing her often. Just to remind myself that it isn't me.
I love Leon. I could live in Leon. It is a City with a capital "C". We stayed in a great hotel right on the center. I went out walking by myself one evening. Luis said "be careful" before I left. I said "I'm probably safer here than in Tuxpan." He agreed. So I went walking for an hour and a half.
I was in heaven.
And I realized something while we were in Leon. It's not me. I mean, this whole time I've been down here I've thought that I had a problem, that it was me who couldn't adjust to living in Mexico, that I just needed to try harder. That all my issues in my life have come to the surface and I'm struggling mightily with them, and if I could only get a grip on them things would improve.
HA! It's not me! It's not even Mexico! It's fucking Tuxpan! I just can't adapt to this pueblito (small town)!
There were two other women there with me (and the boys of the Chayacate Bikers Club) - one lives in Tuxpan, one lives in Colima but is originally from Tuxpan. They both agreed with me that Tuxpan is waaaaaaaaaaaay too small and the people here are waaaaaaaaaaaaay too small minded.
Gaby is from here, and so is her husband, but they have moved to Colima City in Colima state. She says she doesn't like going to visit Tuxpan. Her brother and father live here, but she doesn't come to visit too often.
Fatima is married to Herman, although they are seperated at the moment. She lives in a big house with her two kids and works as a housewife. She is concerned for her kids because there isn't anything to do here in Tuxpan. Her daughter wants to take ballet classes, but there aren't any. Her son wants to play musical instruments, but the music school here isn't all that great.
HA! It's NOT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a frickin relief. Now I have Gaby's email address and I plan on emailing her often. Just to remind myself that it isn't me.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Still Here
Yup, I'm still here. Still in Tuxpan. Still trying to adjust. Had a fight with Luis the other day. Called my lovely sister Lisa and had her talk me through my misery. Things are ok with him now.
But I still struggle with feeling out of place. There are so many reasons for this. Mostly I think it's because Tuxpan is a very small town. Everyone is in everyone else's business. They all care what their neighbor is doing. I really couldn't give a hoot. I care about what is going on in my life. If someone around me has some effect on my life, I might care about what they are doing. If something is bothering someone I care about, I care about what that something is. But who really cares what the neice of Sergio's sister in law is doing? Does it have anything to do with me? No? Well, good on her. She should live her life without my interference.
But that isn't how it works down here. I talked to one woman about this issue, and she said that people here are poor, they don't necessarily work every day, so they have to find something to amuse themselves. And the level of education is very low. Not that people don't go to school, but what is taught and the level of comittment to that teaching is very low. My nephew is taking a Shop class in high school. I suggested that he might be interested in doing some work for us in the carpenteria. His mom said no because his teacher doesn't really teach him anything. The teacher is usually drunk.
Oh. Drunk around power tools. Probably better that he doesn't try to teach the kids anything.
Ny neice has been taking English classes for 3 years. She can't even hold a basic conversation with me. And I mean *basic* - like "Hi, how are you today? I'm going to my English class now. I'll see you later."
Really.
So poor education and boredom. Apparently that is all you need to turn your attention to your neighbor's life rather than making one of your own.
But there is this whole culture of isolation going on down here too. TV news is much more shallow than news in the US. Yes, it is possible! Most of what passes for news is gossip about the stars. Who's fucking who, who is having a baby, who is getting a divorce, blahblahblah. News of the outside world is kinda rare. News of what is going on in Mexico is kinda rare. I mean there are reports about floods in the major cities, deaths, robberies, blahblahblah. But what is going on with the people in charge? What is the president doing? What are the other state polititians doing? Who knows.
The television stations are all owned by the same company. Or maybe there are a few companies, but not many at all. It is a monopoly for all purposes. And that monopoly is maintained by keeping the people in power happy. So you don't show them on your stations in any way that might be construed as negative. Or, better yet, only show them when they want the publicity. Wait for them to ask you. Don't go after them.
Freedom of the Press doesn't exist down here.
So you only see what they want you to see. Limiting your viewpoint further.
I'll write more about all this later. I think I'm getting a bit off track right now.
Suffice it to say that I'm still here.
But I still struggle with feeling out of place. There are so many reasons for this. Mostly I think it's because Tuxpan is a very small town. Everyone is in everyone else's business. They all care what their neighbor is doing. I really couldn't give a hoot. I care about what is going on in my life. If someone around me has some effect on my life, I might care about what they are doing. If something is bothering someone I care about, I care about what that something is. But who really cares what the neice of Sergio's sister in law is doing? Does it have anything to do with me? No? Well, good on her. She should live her life without my interference.
But that isn't how it works down here. I talked to one woman about this issue, and she said that people here are poor, they don't necessarily work every day, so they have to find something to amuse themselves. And the level of education is very low. Not that people don't go to school, but what is taught and the level of comittment to that teaching is very low. My nephew is taking a Shop class in high school. I suggested that he might be interested in doing some work for us in the carpenteria. His mom said no because his teacher doesn't really teach him anything. The teacher is usually drunk.
Oh. Drunk around power tools. Probably better that he doesn't try to teach the kids anything.
Ny neice has been taking English classes for 3 years. She can't even hold a basic conversation with me. And I mean *basic* - like "Hi, how are you today? I'm going to my English class now. I'll see you later."
Really.
So poor education and boredom. Apparently that is all you need to turn your attention to your neighbor's life rather than making one of your own.
But there is this whole culture of isolation going on down here too. TV news is much more shallow than news in the US. Yes, it is possible! Most of what passes for news is gossip about the stars. Who's fucking who, who is having a baby, who is getting a divorce, blahblahblah. News of the outside world is kinda rare. News of what is going on in Mexico is kinda rare. I mean there are reports about floods in the major cities, deaths, robberies, blahblahblah. But what is going on with the people in charge? What is the president doing? What are the other state polititians doing? Who knows.
The television stations are all owned by the same company. Or maybe there are a few companies, but not many at all. It is a monopoly for all purposes. And that monopoly is maintained by keeping the people in power happy. So you don't show them on your stations in any way that might be construed as negative. Or, better yet, only show them when they want the publicity. Wait for them to ask you. Don't go after them.
Freedom of the Press doesn't exist down here.
So you only see what they want you to see. Limiting your viewpoint further.
I'll write more about all this later. I think I'm getting a bit off track right now.
Suffice it to say that I'm still here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)