Oaxaca

Oaxaca, Mexico

Apologies for not updating yesterday, I was just about to sit down and write up our first few days in Oaxaca when I went out on to the terrace and found a lovely Mexican lady sitting at the table that is there. We were talking, well trying to with my limited Spanish and I was suddenly offered a drink by two other girls who came out and joined us. It was delicious and I asked what it was; I could make out the spanish word for juice so I happily drunk it. It dawned on me when I noticed everyone drinking much slower than I, and the fact that I was becoming very happy and not just a bit giggly, that it might be a bit more than just fruit juice!

So I slowed my pace but my ability to sit down and write anything I thought readable was completely gone! So here it is a day late, my report on our first few lovely days in Oaxaca City!
We’re staying in a large house that mainly caters in renting out rooms to international students in Oaxaca to learn Spanish. When we first arrived we had a lovely large room with our own large terrace although it did feel like we were living in a goldfish bowl as one of the students in a neighboring room who had to walk across the terrace to get into the main house would insist on having a good look through the french doors every time he walked past. We’ve since changed rooms to one that became vacant after one of the students returned to the U.S. It’s not as bright and airy as the last room but we have our own bathroom which is built in such a way that when I am under the shower I just have to look up and I see nothing but a bright and beautiful blue sky.

On Sunday we went in to the center of Oaxaca and had breakfast in the Zocalo. Traditionally most, if not all, Mexican cities and towns are built around a town square called a zocalo which is where most of the action takes place. We sat at a table on an outside terrace and watched the world go by and chatted with a few hawkers who would come along and try to sell their wares. There are a lot of children street sellers here, more-so than anywhere else we have been. They are all delightful and there was one little boy who tried to sell us some wooden bookmarks, seeing us talking to him another young girl came up, the boy who obviously didn’t like any semblance of competition roughly pushed her away!

12th August is the annual fiesta of Taxi Drivers in Oaxaca

I have mixed feelings about children selling things on the street or having any kind of job that may hinder their education. I realise in poor communities families have to maximise on any opportunity to increase their family’s income but at the same time I would much rather see these children playing, doing homework and just being kids without having a financial burden placed on them. But it’s a common thing to see in non-first world countries and I accept it.

A pimped up Beetle outside the restaurant where we ate lunch

Yesterday we went to the great lending library which is mainly run by ex-pats from the U.S. and met some lovely people. I put my name down to volunteer in an upcoming rummage sale and to help out at the front desk while Katie busied herself helping to sort out and price donations for the sale. I was happy because I found the first part of a two book set for sale about archaeological discoveries in the Yucatan, the second part of which I bought in New York. There was a small group of children having an English lesson and after spotting Katie she was invited to join in which she enjoyed, and from what I was told by the lady leading the group the local children loved having someone their own age to practice with.

Breakfast in a beautiful restaurant set in a garden

Tomorrow I plan to take Katie to a children’s yoga class which she is looking forward to. Then at the weekend, every Saturday morning in fact, there is an English-Spanish intercambio exchange at the library where we shall go and practice our Spanish and there is also a children’s group which Katie is going to join in with.

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Tags: Mexico, oaxaca