Lunch

Being a professor, my host father is naturally didactic in all our conversations. Since I am here to learn, he seems to me a blessing! Following are some of the “lunch tutorials” he has presented.

Tequila:

Tequila comes from the cacti named “agave” and “maguey,” one being bluer and one greener in color, but I can’t remember which is which. The laborers grind up the heart of the cacti and after time create the tequila. Tequila is often served with the “gusano” (worm), and if you eat, you should have good luck. The night Sr. Luis drove Holly and me to Los Pozuelos, a section of town, where the Mega (like a really nice Super-Target) was built last year. He took me to show me different types of Tequila. The best, apparently, is the Don Julio. Here they sell it for about $30, but in the US, he said it can get up to $200 or more.

Another time we discussed the economic situation in Guanajuato. Apparently, because there is no major industry here (though originally known for a mining, it is now a marginal industry), there are no extreme social classes, unlike the rest of Mexico, where the officers and laborers of large factories are greatly separated in lifestyle. I have seen a few people begging on the streets, but apparently, they come down from rural places on the surrounding mountains. This lack of large industry leading to a greater middle class is an interesting concept, which made me wonder if there might be ways to implement some of the characteristics of Guanajuato to other more socially stratified cities. Although some stratification is inevitable, maybe this is an economic phenomenon worth considering more…

Last night we discussed holidays, especially in relationship to today, being “Miercoles de Ceniza” (Ash Wednesday.) (Many people have the ashen crosses on their foreheads today, probably about 1/3 people on the street.) I have many vacation days this semester due to holidays such as Benito Juárez’s birthday March 19, Día de las Flores March 30, Semana Santa (Holy Week, which is actually two weeks) April 2-13, Día del Trabajador (Worker’s Day or Labor Day) May 1-2, Día de la Madre May 10, and Día del Maestro (Teacher’s Day). Other holidays, for which I don’t get out of school, include the first week in March or Family Week, of course Cinco de Mayo, and others.

The Día de las Flores is always a Thursday/Friday affair and is specific to Guanajuato. According to my host parents, on Thursday, many vendors sell special items for the more religious families to make alters to “la Virgen de Guadelupe,” a.k.a. the Virgin Mary. On the alters, under her image, people place drinks and ice-cream to represent her tears and pain. A big altar is constructed in the center of town, where people basically party all night. The next day, Friday, boys and girls form two circles, the girls’ circle surrounding the boys circle. Then, according to old tradition, the boys, each with his own flower, take turns giving their flower to the girl they think the most beautiful. At the end the girl with the most flowers is crowned the most beautiful girl in town, hence the name, Day of the Flowers. (Lucky for her, but that probably leaves quite a few disheartened chicas!)