Friday, March 31, 2006 

Mexican Ants: Irresponsible Drifters, Super Villains

I know you aren't supposed to compare everything when you move to a new place, it annoys the locals and the insights are rarely interesting, but the state of Mexican ants can't be ignored.

Mexican ants are irresponsible drifters and maybe, just maybe, lethal super villains.

Now before you berate me with terms like NAFTA and globalization, let me explain. The ants I'm familiar with behave like good, obedient members of an organized colony. If there's a trail of ants in your house, you can be sure they've discovered food and are working hard collecting their bounty. Upon discovering these unwanted guests, one typically follows their trail to the point of entry and executes the dastardly deed upon the lot of them leaving a trail of little ant bodies after the smoke clears.

The ants in my apartment, on the other hand, defy all the ant logic I throw (shout) at them. They appear out of nowhere without a goal, destination, or discernible reason for being. There are no cookies on my ceiling. There is no watermelon in my dresser. And there is definitely no chicken on my bookshelf. And yet this is where I find them. I try to follow their trail to some source but I can't. I finally realized it isn't a path at all, but a circle. These ants are loitering! Just passing the time, hanging out, walking from one end of my bookshelf to the other. They are like the local hoodlums looking for trouble as they cruise the strip. And the worst part - they don't even care. They are totally irresponsible ants, drifting about from scenic wall to luxurious corner, blissfully ignoring the culinary needs of their hard working brethren.

I have no patience for this intrusion so I turn the Raid can on my wayward pets. But after the smoke clears I never find that trail of little black dots. Their little bodies just disappear. Poof - gone. And this little fact is what really worries me. What if they aren't dying at all, but instead limping off to recover in some dark, seedy ant hospital. With each shot of Raid becoming stronger and more radioactive. On top of this already perilous situation, my apartment is teeming with toxic fumes from my recent exploits with wood stain and a suspicious "paint thinner" that melts all things plastic.

Yes, maybe I'm a little paranoid, but with all the ingredients for superhero mayhem (radiation, creepy creatures, unsuspecting victim), it's easy to imagine being dragged off to my demise by some enormous, surly, super-ant. On the positive side, perhaps I will emerge from the encounter with super-ant powers of my own. An Ant-Boy of sorts. I can think of worse.

Research Notes
Antus Normulus
Likes: Working hard, carrying food scraps, long lines, appearing overnight en masse
Dislikes: Soap, water, Raid
Size: Small

Antus Mexicus

Likes: Appearing out of nowhere, loitering in small groups, my right stereo speaker.
Dislikes: Soap, water, Raid
Size: Small (but growing)

Antus Radioactivus
Likes: Committing evil, causing chaos
Dislikes: Kryptonite, capes
Size: Terrifying

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 

Weekend Getaway

Another great trip with Javier, Amandine and Marisol. This time to Javier's cabin at Quercus.

Javier's family owns a plot of land close to the town and lake of Patzcuaro. They divided the land into smaller plots for sale to individuals. By sharing the cost of utilities and plumbing amongst everyone in the community, called Quercus, they can offer people a place to build a country home at a fraction of the cost of an equivalent property elsewhere. Brilliant and beautiful. I wish I had taken more pictures of the actual countryside because it's incredibly lush and relaxing.


Some crazy drink at Javier's
Family's restaurant on the way to Quercus

Javier and Amandine in the cabin at Quercus

On the way home we stopped off at the most tranquil spot
I've been to in Mexico, the lake Zirahuen. It was at a restaurant on
the other side of the lake where I first contemplated living in Mexico.

Monday, March 27, 2006 

How Cute is My Niece?

This has nothing to do with Mexico, but seriously, how cute is my niece? It's pretty ridiculous.

That's not a real goose.

Going for a walk in Palo Alto.

"Yes, yes...you can check
your email as soon as I'm done."

Saturday, March 25, 2006 

Cuanajo, Tzin-tzun-tzan, y Quiroga: Part 2

When we last saw our adventurers, they were in the middle of an ancient, church that was rumbling and shaking something wicked...

Luckily, just as things looked ready to turn nasty our sage explorers stepped back outside into the safety of the courtyard. It is difficult to report with any certainty what was said amidst the evolving ruckus but some sources report hearing the following words uttered in a strange, foreign tongue, "Uhh, who wants to check out those crazy old trees we saw on the way in? This Church is in a bad way."

Amandine enjoying the safety of a
crazy, haggard, old tree in the church courtyard.

Happy to be safe and wearing green.

Marisol and her guerros.

Marisol helping us buy the best carnitas and fresh tortillas at a little street market in Quiroga, a town famous for carnitas. We were all ravenous after the close call in that spooky old church.

The park where we gorged on carnitas tacos.

And yes, we got lost on the way home.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 

Cuanajo, Tzin-tzun-tzan, y Quiroga: Part 1

Took a great little trip with Javier, Amandine, and Marisol. First stop was Cuanajo where they sell cheap, wood furniture. I purchased a little coffee table which I've been sanding this week to prepare it for some nice, dark stain ala Home Depot. Pictures to come once I've got at least one room pulled together.

Javier's bitchin shades and 'stache.

My 3 best (and only) amigos, helping me look for furniture in Cuanajo

The high desert scenery en route to Tzin-tzun-tzan and Quiroga.
After Cuanajo we headed over to Tzin-tzun-tzan for a little look around. Tzin-tzun-tzan is famous for an old Church and little hats. Well, it's not famous for little hats yet...but fashionistas take note - these little babies are going to be hott! (See following photo with profesional models wearing said little hats)

Gueritos con sombreritos en Tzin-tzun-tzan


Super duper old church in Tzin-tzun-tzan

BUT...just as we set foot inside the ancient church walls, the ground began to shake and everything went fuzzy....

Oh no!? What happened to our intrepid travelers? Were they crushed in a pile of rubble and aviator shades? Did the earth swallow them whole like tasty green tic-tacs? Or did they complete their trials and emerge victorious in Quiroga only to gorge themselves on delicious carnitas tacos?

fIND oUT iN tHE nEXT pROBADITA!!

Sunday, March 19, 2006 

The Good Life: Revisited

Friday, March 17, 2006 

First Fiestacita

First little party in my apartment.

My three favorite people drinking wine on my couch right
after I moved into my apartment a few weeks ago.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 

Mercado San Juan

The Mercado San Juan, located three blocks from my apartment, delivers a shopping experience quite different from your local Safeway. Though similar to a farmer's market, the mercado's hundreds of enthusiastic and vocal vendors create an interactive adventure wholly unique to Mexico. Heeding the requests of these marketeers results in a tour of fresh Avocados, Chile, handmade Tortillas, Papaya, Mango, Cactus, and recently alive and now dead and de-feathered chickens.

And the prices! Not even the biggest and best supermarkets can compete. Here in Morelia the best 'Super' is, dare I say it, Walmart. Sad but true. The reality is that people (including myself) buy fresh food at the mercado and everything else at Walmart.

Below are a few photos from my first, chaperoned trip to the mercado. I've since completed solo journeys but it is still a crazy experience. Kilos, pesos, Spanish, 20 vendors selling the same stuff - what's a guy to do?

An aisle of fruit vendors.

Marisol picking out the best Mandarin Oranges.
(I'm still completely useless at picking out the best fruits and vegetables.)

Me and my reusable, old lady, shopping bag.
With a hundred little stores each giving you a tiny bag it is the only way...really.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006 

I Must Be Crazy

Odd dream last night.

I'm at a party with a bunch of people from my high school who were not my friends. We are all wearing A's uniforms. Mine is, of course, the best - all white with the green pin stripes and the hat and everything. I'm sitting on the couch with other non-friends when someone asks me how much Spanish I'm really learning down there. I explained to them, in Spanish, that it would be better if I answered that question in Spanish.

All of a sudden we are sitting around on the playground equipment at a children's park talking and I can't help but notice the equipment is covered in pasta sauce.

And then I wake up smiling and happy. I guess because I was speaking Spanish in a dream(?)....or I'm crazy. Time will tell.

-n

Monday, March 13, 2006 

Mexican Politics in Action

The other day I was walking in the Centro when I came upon this big to-do. Mexico's next presidential election is on July 2 and the most popular candidate with the laborers, Lopez Obrador, was visiting Morelia. His visit brought countless busses packed with people coming to show their support. I didn't stay long but everything appeared very organized and orderly.

Mexico has three political parties, PAN, PRI, and PRD though it is interesting to note that Vicente Fox, the current president, was the first non-PRI president in 71 years.


Supports walking past the main cathedral

The stage where the politicos were exciting the crowd

Another shot of supporters in front of the cathedral

There were lots of mini-parades as people marched with signs towards the festivities

A cool red bug equiped with political ideal spouting speakers

Friday, March 10, 2006 

Now Showing in your Email Inbox

Now you can subscribe to my site via email and receive a new email message when there are new posts to view. Simply type your email into the little white box below.

Enter your email to subscribe





Powered by FeedBlitz


There is another little box like this in the right column of my site.

For those of you who don't read other blogs and don't use an RSS reader, this is probably the easiest way to find out about new posts.

-n

 

La Vista

The view from my 2nd story bedroom window. I believe the rooster is somewhere off to the left but like the garbage man, I've never actually seen him.

The building across the street is in ruins and has been abandoned but this is actually less common than you might think. As you can see in the second photo, the rest of the houses on the block are in good shape. I've noticed five cats who enjoy passing their days there lazing around. I feel bonded to them by our common pursuits of food and leisure.


The view when leaning out of my bedroom window.
That's the end of my street, Calle 20 de Noviembre.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006 

Phantom Truck

I knew things would be different. But it's never the things you expect. Take garbage for example.

My last apartment in San Francisco had the best and most futuristic system for garbage I have yet encountered. Simply walk 5 steps down the hall and drop the offending bag into the garbage shoot. Down the hatch and whooosh, it is whisked away to a happy place where little gnomes magically take care of everything. Perfection. Even after three years, each whoosh and satisfying thud gave me a slight rush.

Here in Mexico things work a little differently.

First of all, there is no shoot but that was to be expected. No big deal. Instead of the shoot and gnomes, Mexico has a truck with a little bell. Every morning at an unspecified and highly irregular time, this truck drives around the neighborhood ringing the bell to alert attentive garbage disposers of its presence. The system is simple, when you hear the bell and see the truck, bring out your garbage and pay them a small tip ($0.25 per bag) for the service. Oh they love to ring that bell. Ring a ling a ling.

It's 7am, I'm still asleep but from the corner of my mind I hear a sound to faint to be my alarm clock....Ring, a ling a ling a ling a ling. "Oh god, is the truck here? Is it close?" The bell is louder now. I run to open the window, sticking my head out to see if I can make out the phantom truck in the distance but it's nowhere to be seen. Ring a ling a ling. "Yeah, yeah. I hear your damn bell. Where the heck are you?" Ring a lin a li..... and it's gone. No bell, no truck. I've heard the bell many times but I have never seen that truck.

The old lady who runs the corner store and spends her days asleep behind the counter told me the truck comes when it wants to come. Not helpful. When pressed she said usually around 8am. But at 9am, still no truck and I have to leave for school. When I return, I turn the corner full of anticipation. Did they pick it up? Things look good, all the garbage is gone, but wait, what's that? They left mine sitting there? Of course they did. No tip, no pickup.

When I get desperate I leave money with this same old lady and put my garbage in front of her store. This works but I feel bad and I doubt she appreciates me dumping my garbage duties on her. But so it goes. Maybe they come by on Saturdays.

Asì­ es.

-n

Tuesday, March 07, 2006 

Pretty Things Near My Apartment



Monday, March 06, 2006 

Country of Contradictions

They keep telling me Mexico is a country of contradictions. I'm starting to believe.



 

I Made Salsa

I made my first real salsa last week and it was actually really easy. Oh, and delcious if I do say so myself.




So proud of myself here.
Marisol pretended to be impressed which was very sweet of her.

Saturday, March 04, 2006 

School Days

I spend my mornings at the Instituto Baden-Powell learning Spanish.
My classes are one-on-one for three hours every day from 9-12. The first hour is grammar, the second hour is practice and the third hour is for everything else including the use of prepositions, indirect object pronouns, and the like.

The quality of the instruction here is excellent. The teachers are better than any I had in college or in San Francisco. Pretty incredible considering I found the school on Google.


The view of the Morelia skyline from one of the school's many terraces.


The Panaderia (Bakery) around the corner where we buy tasty bread and doughnut snacks.


A few of my American friends and me enjoying our tasty bread and doughnut snacks on one of the terraces. These guys are priests from Sacramento learning to speak and give Mass in Spanish.


Everyday I have my Practica class outside on this terrace. Only a tiny bit different from the learning environment in Rhode Island.

My grammar classroom. Perfect for 1 student and a teacher.


Friday, March 03, 2006 

Favorite New Snack

  • Non-Fat Plain Yogurt
  • Fresh Blackberries
  • A dab of Fresh Honey


Delicious. You can switch up the berries or leave out the honey but the combo is divine.

Note: If you are planning on visiting a 3rd world country like Mexico (hint, hint), eating yogurt daily for four weeks before your trip will help prepare your stomach for the trip. It adds something, I'm not sure what, to your stomach that helps you digest new foods that might otherwise make you sick.

-n

About me

  • I'm Nate
  • From Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
  • I used to live in California. Then I met the girl you see here in this photo. The next thing I knew I was in Mexico swinging a frying pan at a scorpion and chasing after phantom trucks. You will find pictures and stories about my life in the pages that follow.
My profile

Subscribe To This Site

Enter your email to subscribe


Powered by FeedBlitz



Add to Google

Subscribe in Bloglines

Add to My AOL




Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.