Hola, hola!
Back in Mexico! This time for a while. I finished the old masters degrees, and got a three month mini-job here in Mexico City. But they've offered me a year contract, so I'm staying!
Here's the quick rundown: The NGO I'm working for is a policy advocacy and information group on reproductive rights, with a focus on abortion rights. It is a nice atmosphere, and I feel like my work uses my skills and training. My honey was here for the three months, but has headed back home... a year is kind of a long time to acompañar someone.
The NGO is in Delegación Coyoacán which is a very nice area of the city, about 3 miles from the Centro Historico. This city is immense! But the fun thing is that I still run into people I know every once in a while, even in other colonias.
The first time I lived in Mexico I started jotting down my Most Mexican Moment (MMM) of the day. Today's MMM: At busy intersections there are usually little stands that sell magazines, newspapers and sodas. This morning walking to work, I was a young guy running up the street on the side of traffic with a big block of ice in his bare hands, obviously for the big cooler the stand uses to chill their sodas. As I walked on, I realized the kid was running so he could drop off the ice and get bak to the truck, with two other guys waiting inside, before the light changed so they wouldn't have to stop to make the delivery. The best part was the tagline on the side of the truck : "Hielo nunca tocado por la mano del hombre" (Ice never touched by a man's hand).
I love the idea of a "Most Mexican Moment", we're going to have to start doing that though I'm having a hard time coming up with a good acronym or phrase for what we would call it...
My favorite thing from today so far has been the little lady in the internet shop. We used our computers for about 20 minutes and she charged us for a half an hour each - not a big deal, you can round up. Total cost: 90 centavos. We tried to pay with a pesos$2 bill and she said "don't you have anything smaller?" Well, no, no we don't, mam! After first suggesting that one of her fine candies would bring the total up to pesos$2 and having us decline the offer she finally came forth with the change.
I've read before that this process goes in waves - that sometimes people have lots of big bills and sometimes the monedas are in high demand. I'm not sure I understand how or why such a thing could happen other than a "sunspot effect" where people feel like they are missing, so they horde them, so they disappear. Other than that - it's only 1 block to the bank - if you want to run a business then go get some change!
Ahhh, the no-change game of chicken. No one EVER will admit to having change here. I limit my militancy based on the size of the business. If it's a bag of limones from a señora on the street, I do my best. But if they claim not to have change at a grocery store, I initiate a stare down-- "if you don't have change, take back my groceries!" even if I have smaller bills... I need THEM to make change for ME, so I can buy my limones.
Thanks for the info. BTW I've marked it at
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