For future reference:
Toner - Ran out, should have brought 8 ounces for 2 months.
Deodorant - Will barely squeak by.
Toothpaste - Squeezing every last bit out of the tube.
Soap - Only needed two bars, not three.
Jojoba oil - Probably used 8 ounces.
Hair conditioner and no-poo - 12 ounces would have been sufficient, but I don't know if I wouldn't have brought the travel containers.
Hair gel - Will use 4 ounces. Brought way too many kinds of hair styling products.
Makeup - Barely ever wore it after the first two weeks.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Su Hijo?
Our family status has been questioned in Mexico much more than at home. We hear the question "Su hijo?" a lot. I guess it's because people here recognize E as Mexican, and me especially as "guera." At home, I think people are more likely to ascribe our race to E, not looking closely. I don't really know because we have almost never been asked to explain our relationship to him. In four years, I can think of only once. I'd say it happens twice a week here. Intellectually, I know all this, but it's still jarring when you're explaining you adopted your son to the clown making him a balloon animal for 5 pesos at the mercado.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Feet of Clay
From the beginning, there was no way to keep our feet clean. I think the streets are just filled with dirt, but our apartment floor - while appearing clean - is just a dust trap. I instituted measures early to avoid dirty feet - and keep it out of our beds, basically wearing shoes or socks all the time. However, the last few weeks, my feet are just ground-in dirty. Every little crease is grey.
Somewhere along the line, this reminded me of the foot-washing in the Bible. And of the belief in India that the soles of the feet are the lowliest parts of the body, because they touch the earth. How common dirty feet must be in unpaved societies. How cushioned we are - literally - from this experience in modern America.
You see a lot more feet here, because many people wear sandals or flip-flops. I've even seen indigenous vendors barefoot in the market. There's a lot of calluses and thickened nails. Which I guess explains the existence of stores like this one:
Enlarge the photos and you'll see they offer help with buried nails, nail fungus, callouses, and correct cutting of the nails for normal and diabetic feet!
Somewhere along the line, this reminded me of the foot-washing in the Bible. And of the belief in India that the soles of the feet are the lowliest parts of the body, because they touch the earth. How common dirty feet must be in unpaved societies. How cushioned we are - literally - from this experience in modern America.
You see a lot more feet here, because many people wear sandals or flip-flops. I've even seen indigenous vendors barefoot in the market. There's a lot of calluses and thickened nails. Which I guess explains the existence of stores like this one:
Enlarge the photos and you'll see they offer help with buried nails, nail fungus, callouses, and correct cutting of the nails for normal and diabetic feet!
Friday, March 1, 2013
El Fin
It's hard to believe that ten weeks ago our bus pulled in and we started this chapter of an adventure. And it's harder to believe that today the next chapter will begin.
Hasta Luego, Oaxaca!
Hacer El Trabajo
They are currently having a temporary exhibit about stiltwalkers in different cultures -- ranging from small villages in Mexico to Occupy Wall Street protesters -- and the costumes they wear. This is what we were greeted with as we walked into one of the rooms. It was gorgeous and wacky at the same time -- in fact, we expected Tim Gunn to come in from around the corner at any moment.
A Diversity of Faces
Sometimes, I'll catch someone who has the face of a Mayan statue. It's remarkable.
A number of times, I've had the experience of thinking someone looked downright Asian, until they turn full to me, and I can see they are Mexican. I mean, I know the anthropological history, but seriously, some of the children look just like my Korean-American hapa friends back home.
Anytime I see someone with tight curls, though, it's like I'm looking into the face of my child or his birthmother.
At this age, I don't think he sees the differences in his facial structures from the traditional Mexican appearance. He's so focused on the brown skin and black hair and black eyes (because this is the language that was taught to him at his preschool in the US. They didn't describe wide noses, soft cheek bones, or epicanthic folds.) But someday, I imagine he will notice or be made aware of how soft his features.
I feel comforted knowing that, while he does not have the typical Mexican face, when he looks around the city, he'll see faces like his own.
A number of times, I've had the experience of thinking someone looked downright Asian, until they turn full to me, and I can see they are Mexican. I mean, I know the anthropological history, but seriously, some of the children look just like my Korean-American hapa friends back home.
Anytime I see someone with tight curls, though, it's like I'm looking into the face of my child or his birthmother.
At this age, I don't think he sees the differences in his facial structures from the traditional Mexican appearance. He's so focused on the brown skin and black hair and black eyes (because this is the language that was taught to him at his preschool in the US. They didn't describe wide noses, soft cheek bones, or epicanthic folds.) But someday, I imagine he will notice or be made aware of how soft his features.
I feel comforted knowing that, while he does not have the typical Mexican face, when he looks around the city, he'll see faces like his own.
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