Quotes by Abril: numero tres

Sarah and I were conducting our first interview with Pepe tonight.....

Pepe: "I have a very rare personality. I am very cheesey."

Abril: "Oh Pepe, we are going to be such good friends!"

Interviews and Rock Concerts! by Christina and Bekah

Today we had our first interview with our interpreter. He is a student at the state university here studying to be a veterinarian. He has some interesting views about family, politics, etc. We enjoyed getting started and beginning our journey as researchers. Later today we were able to attend yet another festivity outside our hotel in the plaza. A politically sponsored rock concert took place surrounded by a younger crowd. We are definitely beginning to see the many sides of the city.

So it begins....

We have begun interviewing and data collecting with a BANG! Tonight, Jody and I went to a married couple’s home and interviewed the mom. She spoke fluent English and was able to communicate not only her words, but her thoughts and ideas to us. She is getting her Masters of Philosophy at the University in Zacatecas and doing her theses on the hermeneutical analysis of Bull Fighting. She is an environmental activist, and had some amazing thoughts/views on the drug war going on here as well as the Swine Flue. She offered insights we could never have asked for. It was fantastic! The interview was a few hours long, and we could have gone longer. We are going to meet her and her musician husband for dinner/drinks on Wednesday. They are eager to tell us more.

The interview ended up being exactly what we want while we are here: We are here to learn. We are not here to impose our standards, ideologies, or Americanization upon any of the people. We are here to take a “one down” position and learn from our participants. Such learning can only take place when you humble yourself and mentally prepare to have your ideas/stereotypes rocked.

Best!
Emily

Callejoneada by Bekah

Just now as we write this there is a Callejoneada (street party) happening right outside our hotel. This involves live bands dressed in 16th century costumes, dancing, balloons, cups on strings and a lot of alcohol! This phenomenon is said to happen weekly here usually brought about by students who travel through the streets stopping to dance in the plazas, imitating a 400 year old Spanish tradition. Christina and I had the fortune to observe this unique event twice tonight after our full day of acclimating to this city. We are excited about learning more about this aspect of the culture here.

Quotes by Abril #2

The new Ocho Cheer: practice it, learn it, love it!!

Earthquake!

Prisonbreak!

Swine flu Outbreak!

Goooo Zacatecas!!

-courtesy of Dr Ryan

Walmart - Siempre! by Lindsey

We were finally able to meet our interpreters this afternoon, and they were excited to show us around the city.  This evening our interpreters accompanied us on the bus to Walmart.  Can you believe it - Walmart?!  It had everything from Kellogg's cereal to typical Mexican pastries.  Also, we hear that the large superstore across the street called Soriano is owned by a Chinese company.  Having stores like this has obviously affected the economy of Zacatecas and many other aspects of life here in Mexico.  In the coming weeks, it will be interesting to learn how globalization has affected the way the Zacatecans live.  

Church Bells Ring! by Gift

We live a couple of blocks away from the the Plaza de Arma where the famous Catedral is located.  

The richly decorated,  carved red-stone Catedral

was built in the early 1600s and reported to be looted during the civil wars in the 19th and 20th century.  The benefit of living a couple of blocks away from the Catedral is that you do not need an alarm clock to wake you up.  The church bells do that for you very early in the morning!  

Off to Zacatecas!!! by Gift

On Wednesday morning the cohort left Guanajuato and headed northwest. About 4 hours later, we arrived in Zacatecas city, the location where we will be carrying out our research. Zacatecas city, like Guanajuato, is rich in history as it is in the mineral that is known for -- silver. For the next five weeks we will be making our home in a hotel located in the heart of downtown Zacatecas on one of the busiest and most vibrant streets in the city.

Quotes by Abril... Numero Uno

Wisdom of Guanajuato:

Sarah and I were buying water at a little shop and tried rather pitifully to carry on a conversation. The shop lady's response to our lack of Espanol was,

"Go to discoteca, drink tequila, and you will speak soo much Spanish!"

Guanajuato, Mexico - An Inviting Place

Cohort eight had a wonderful introduction to Mexico.  We arrived in Leon, Guanajuato early Tuesday morning on May 26 and took a van to Guanajuato City.  The driver took us through tunnels that used to be the Rio Guanajuato riverbed, but today serve as the city's main road system.  Guanajuato produced 20% of the world's silver for 250 years since it was discovered in 1558.  The richness of the city's colonial past is evident in its remarkable Spanish colonial-structured buildings, vibrantly-painted houses, eye-catching doors (not to mention intriguing door-knockers) and cobble-stoned roads.  The apparent tourism infrastructure and the presence of La Universidad de Guanajuato, among others, draw scores of people from all over the world, including cohort eight!