Gringos

As I mentioned in my last blog, our class spent last Sunday learning about and attending a concert by the Oaxaca State Band. I thought I'd throw a picture up just to show you how lovely they, and the day, were.

The Oaxaca State Band performing in the Zocalo

On Tuesday, a group of us explored colonial churches undergoing restoration in the Mixteca region. Traveling to very rural areas in the mountains is a great idea in the morning, but coming home in the evening can be a different story. While we were completely safe the whole time, the hours and hours of winding roads at high speeds can (and did) take a toll on even the most iron clad stomachs. Fortunately, the daytime hours were worth it as we were able to enjoy spectacular architecture and meet the diligent workers helping to restore the buildings.

In addition to our tour of colonial churches, we also visited the municipal archives in the city of Tlaxiaco. This area doesn't get many visitors (from other parts of Mexico, much less from other countries) so we turned several heads as we walked through the main part of town. Taken right out of a bad western movie, when a small group of us were walking to get a cup of coffee, a little boy yelled (and pointed) "Gringos! Gringos!" causing everyone around him to turn and check us out. Doing the only thing we could think of, we started talking to him in Spanish and totally threw him for a loop. He talked to us for a few minutes (his name is Miguel) and then went back to playing with his family. After that, I think we were "in."

One thing that definitely stands out in this city (besides us) is the statue of Porfirio Diaz in the center of their Zocalo. For those of you who aren't familiar with Mexican history, Diaz was the dictator toppled during the Mexican Revolution. However, since the Diaz family has close connections with the area, the statue has remained in their honor.

Statue of Porfirio Diaz in Tlaxiaco

Back in Oaxaca, I've continued to dive into all the different topics being discussed in our seminars. This week has been particularly important for me because several of the speakers are covering public health. I've had fantastic opportunities to talk to them about my research both in and out of class, and continue to find new sources of inspiration for my dissertation. To help unwind after long days of intensive coursework, most of us gravitate toward establishments with adult beverages. Below is one of my favorites:

Inside "La Comala"