ODDS AND ENDS, BEGINNINGS AND NORMALS

Now for some things about the culture and experiences




ODDS – things that are different than what I'm used to


1.Most of the roofs are flat.

2.Dogs like to stand on the roofs.

3.Dogs run, walk, and lay on the streets, and cars either just swerve around them or the dogs know to move at the last second.

4.The toilet paper is scented. It also makes blowing one's nose more pleasant since you get to smell flowers.

5.It is considered strange to pet mountain dogs, since they are considered dirty. They are also not treated very nicely. This gives fresh insight into the way the Jews of the Bible viewed “Gentile dogs”.

6.A peddler of bread comes by regularly in the morning, tooting his horn so loudly you can't help but wake up. There's all types of peddlers. The garbageman comes this way too, standing outside your gate calling out “Basuuuuuuraa!!” [“traaaaash!”]

7.In parking lots there are people who are there to help direct your driving to make sure you don't hit other vehicles. You must give them a tip if they help you.

8.Lunch is usually between 2-4. Supper is around 10/10:30.

9.The concept of “right of way” at a stop sign does not exist in Orizaba. Here it is the opposite. He who stops first waits, lets another car go, and then goes himself. Or, if he just doesn't feel like stopping at the sign, that's perfectly ok too. He can just speed on through and others will have to stop for him. Talk about confusing!

10.There are no barriers or warning bells at train tracks. If you have enough time to get across before the train would hit you, you go. Last night I was riding a little bug and it stalled right smack on top of the track.

11.It is quite common to see illegal immigrants riding the tops of the trains. Some ride in between the cars on the platform and fall asleep there. Some who fall asleep accidentally fall off and are run over. Those who survive usually lose limbs. I have already seen at least three people missing two limbs each.

12.A fair amount of people put tile on the OUTSIDE of their house.

13.People will paint their houses any which color. And if it's two-toned, the colors don't necessarily match.

14.Building workers mix the cement right in the middle of the new house.

15.I've lost count how many cars I've seen with cracked windshields. Upon questioning their owners, I find that the cracks have been there awhile. I guess they don't bother to change it out until it's practically falling out or something.

16. Washing machines and dryers are kept outside. If the roof does not cover them, they put a plastic casing on top.





ENDS – miscellaneous random comments/observations


1.It is directionally challenging here because everything looks basically the same. One of the ways I am finding my way around is by remembering the different graffiti. Sometimes I also remember places by the placement of the mountains around.

2.When saying hello and goodbye, you shake hands with everyone. So imagine shaking hands with every person on entering and leaving!

3.Mexican tacos taste absolutely nothing like American tacos.

4.Flavored water is referred to simply as water.

5.If you want to get a picture of Aztec children, you either need explicit permission, or you must do it so subtlely that they don't know you've taken it. When people take pictures of Aztec kids, they think they're going to sell them on the Internet.

6.No two days have been alike thus far.

7.The young people here are very lively, encouraging, and love to sing! Almost everyone plays some kind of instrument. And if you show any talent in music (instrument or singing), they WILL draw it out of you and put you on display to play or sing for everyone, someway, somehow.

Here are pictures of most of my lively friends:

Friends in Mexico








BEGINNINGS – firsts


First time I ever...

1.went to a party for an engaged couple. It was like a bachelor/bachelorette party for the two together and not separated. Apparantly they do also have separate parties for bride and groom, but I'd never seen or heard of a party like this for the two of them. Definitely the liveliest fiesta (and most unusual) I've ever seen.

2.stopped on the side of the highway next to an exit to drop someone off. Here in Mexico, it seems just about anything goes on the highway.

3.saw coffee bean stands on the side of the highway. Just as kids in the States set up lemonade stands, grown-ups set up coffee stands (and sometimes other goods too) on the highway.

4.have had to light the boiler by hand any time I want to take a warm shower.

5.ate ice cream that had a little bit of expresso coffe poured around the base of the serving dish. It made the ice cream amazing!

6.gave my Christian testimony of how I get saved in Spanish.

7.began learning an indigenous language!! Yay!!

8.was responsible for videotaping (with an HD recorder!) a choral concert (1st time for any concert, for that matter).

9.visited a church where up until about 8 years ago, there were no believers in that village. Later I visited a village that had no believers until 2 years ago. Now there's a church of 40, and a building was put up for them 3 months ago.

10.got to see stone age homes of real people who really live on dirt floors and share two or three beds between 8-10 people.

11.played my bowed psaltery in church (in Tepexpan).

12.saw such extensive and painstakingly long creativity in making VBS decorations.

13.heard Star Wars music among the Aztecs, via a radio that one of them has and plays really loud on his loudspeaker. Very comical.

14.was asked why I was wearing a seatbelt.

15.ate apple and mango slices that had been sprinkled with lime. At first I didn't realize that there was lime on it, and I just thought it was a different tasting Mexican brand of apple. It tasted like an apple of steroids however, and I soon realized why. I actually really like it, and will try it at home. Apparantly they put lime and chile on just about any fruit. I avoided the chile, however. Not that brave quite yet.

16.had a two-inch (or so) long scarab walk on my hand and arm.

17.saw a young boy around 8 or 9 driving stick shift.





NORMALS – things that are similar or basically that same as at home


1.Wal-Mart
2.Subway
3.Kentucky Fried Chicken
4.Blockbuster
5.Domino's Pizza
6.Six Flags

7.electrical outlets – I don't need a converter! This is very good.