In non-kitchen related news, Mexican independence day was last week! To celebrate, I went to el zócalo with a friend from the program, and met her friends. They are exchange students from Ciudad Juarez, and they're history majors. I ate chalupas, which are a traditional fiesta food because they are covered in white cream, red salsa, and green salsa, the colors of the Mexican flag. We watched some performances on a stage set up in the zócalo even though it was raining, and at 10:30 PM-ish there were fireworks, and el grito, which is when the governor of Puebla comes out on the balcony of the Palacio de Gobierno Municipal and yells, "Viva México!" among other phrases regarding the heroes of the republic. I found Mexican independence day to be very different than fourth of July. For one thing, el 16 de Sepiembre is a Very Big Deal here. Many, many people go to the zócalo of their city/town to celebrate, and those who don't probably watch el grito on television. There are parties, big and small. In the US most people have small parties with their family and friends, and maybe go to a parade or to see fireworks. Fourth of July just doesn't have the overwhelmingly nationalistic feel of Mexican independence day. Some other time I'll share my thoughts regarding Mexican nationalism. For now, here re some pictures!
Miguel, Me, Sarah
Some blurry pictures of the fireworks
Friday, September 18 was the welcome festival for my program. I thought it was a bit late for a welcome festival because we arrived August 6, but who really needs to justify a fiesta? A good time was had by all, especially my host mom because she loves to dance, and the band was a lot of fun. Everyone wore a traditional Mexican dress, and I wore a yarn snake in my hair! And I wanted to keep my huipil (the tip); it was so comfortable and pretty. Alas, I had to return the outfit. I was not sad to let the yarn snake go.
My host mom's sister Gabi, Me and my yarn snake, my host mom
Saturday the 19th I went to a wedding in a very small town with my host mom and her sister. The bride was the daughter of my mom's close friend. The pueblo San Nicholas is more like a large neighborhood than a small town, and it's about an hour outside of Puebla. We arrived just in time for the party after the ceremony. The family set up a tent in the vacant lot next to their house, and decorated it with cut paper chains and beautiful flowers. The food was so good! The abuelas made the best molé ever, and fresh hot tortillas and tamales. There was so much food left over, so we took some home with us and we're still eating it. What stands out most in my memories of the wedding? First, an image of the bride in her white dress with lace, posing for a picture in front of the family's pig enclosure. Second, everyone was so welcoming! The groom and bride made the rounds (bride while wearing heels!) and personally greeted every single person at the fiesta, asking us if we needed more food or anything else. At an American wedding the bride and groom stand still and everyone else walks past them in the receiving line. On the way back from the wedding we stopped at a roadside stand for elotes asadas, which are grilled ears of corn. I ate mine covered in lime, salt, and very spicy ground chiles, and my host mom and her sister added mayonaise and grated cheese to the mix. I still don't understand the Mexican culinary fascination with mayonaise.
Stay tuned for updates on exciting things, like my trip to the DF tomorrow, my volunteer job, and the upcoming program excursion to Cuetzalan!
Word of the Day: Cohetes! It means fireworks.
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