Off and running...

The Oaxaca Summer Institute kicked off in high gear Sunday night with a welcome reception at the home of our directors. It was a great chance to meet the other fellows informally and get a general overview of the program. On Monday morning, we toured the Institute facilities and received more detailed information about our fellowships. We will have 2 or 3 seminars a day, each conducted by a historical scholar, and covering topics from organic coffee production, technological changes, and artistic traditions to nationalism, liberalism, and gender/sexuality. It's a great way to explore the many different facets of Mexican history, and is very inspiring for developing dissertation topics that push the envelope. The classes are bilingual, and so far I've been able to keep up with the speakers pretty well. However, my own Spanish speaking skills are still rusty - I'm hoping that will change after a few more days here.

Photos of the Institute

Outside of the Institute, I'm happily settling into my new neighborhood. There have been a few setbacks--rolling blackouts, mosquito bites that itch all night, taking three days and countless stores to find dish soap--but my apartment is great (I've added a few more photos to the previous blog) and it's wonderful to walk around and see the markets and local shops, to smell the heavenly scents coming from nearby bakeries and flower shops, to watch parents walking their kids to and from school, and to look off in the distance at some of the most beautiful mountains in the world.

Finally, the last thing I'll mention for now is food. I was hoping to go "veg" while I was here, but every where I've been so far only offers things with chicken, pork, chorizo, or beef - no cheese only, no beans only, no veggies only. The good news is that the meaty food is wonderful and very inexpensive. For lunch today I had a pollo torta for 8 pesos (or $0.80). Last night, I ordered food para llevar (to go - I had to get back to "War and Peace") and for 35 pesos (or about $3.50), I got this incredible meal:

Spicy Pineapple Chicken, Rice, Vegetables, Tortillas, Chicken and Rice soup, Green Salsa, and two glasses of pineapple juice

However, as good as the food is, it's also nice to have a kitchen in my studio for days when I don't think my body can handle another Mexican dish. I've even got a little "American" corner of essentials:

At the supermercado today, I found olive oil and pasta! So exciting! Needless to say, the majority of foods available in the store are Mexican, so there will be entire rows of things like beans or (as seen below) hot peppers.

All in all, I'm just trying to absorb as much as possible both inside and outside the classroom. Thanks to everyone who sent me a note after my last post. I'm not sure that I'll be able to write a blog every day, but I'll definitely try for a few times a week. And I'll certainly keep replying to emails!

Wishing you happiness in whatever your own passions are!
Stephanie