!Que Chido es Oaxaca!

We've just completed our fifth week in Oaxaca and we're finally starting to feel like true Mexicanos (or at least that's what we'd like to believe). Most of the home sickness is gone and we're all coping with the fact that we only have 9 weeks left in Mexico!!! This week started off right with Monday being a much needed day off for Mexico's Constitution Day. Many people used this as a day of rest after our long weekend trip to Capulalpam. 

The rest of the week continued as it normally goes, Spanish from 9 to 1 and Oliver's class in the afternoon. This past Tuesday however, instead of going to our second part of Spanish class at 12 pm, we visited a different University here in Oaxaca: Multiuniversidad. Upon arriving we realized that we were going to participate in an intercambio, where we could meet with students our age and talk to them interchanging between Spanish and English so that we could both better our language skills. However, before that actually occurred we received a very thoughtful welcome from the students, in four different indigenous languages, as well as in English in Spanish. They then asked us a few questions about ourselves and where we come from. After that we had some yummy tostadas with salchica (sausage) and agua de jamaica (hibiscus water) or horchata (a type of rice milk/water). It was delicious! As soon as we were done, we were put into groups of 2-3 UVM students with 3-4 Mexican students to actually participate in the intercambio. It was a really great experience and it was finally nice to meet some people our own age. Many of us left with new friends.

Tostadas with Salchicha.

[Side note: we also had our very first taste of Mcdonald's in Mexico! Way better than the United States.] 

Link: Mare rapping for us in class.

On Wednesday we had a special guest in Oliver's class named Mare Advertencia Lirika. She is a Zapotec women who was born in Oaxaca state. Mare uses her rap as a tool to raise awareness and strengthen networks with social movements in Oaxaca and in other places. She also works to eradicate the inequality that exists against women in society. Mare is also currently still working on her solo rap project where she supports community based initiatives by offering dance, rap, and hip hop culture workshops. 

The presentation was a Q&A session where we asked her about topics that interested us such as the 2006 social movement in Oaxaca which began in May when the Oaxaca teachers' union went on strike to demand wage hikes. The demonstrations grew as the teachers were joined by other social organizations, which began to call for the resignation of Governor Ulises Ruiz, who was accused of corruption and repression. Mare explained to us the impact that this social uprising had on the current politics in Oaxaca and how it fostered a more open mindset in Oaxacans, allowing her work and music to be heard and accepted. After her presentation we were able to support her work by buying shirts, earrings, and other things. It was a powerful experience and a great opportunity to listen to a true Oaxacan's opinion and experiences.

A Shirt sold by Mare reads "Believe, Conquer, Obtain, Power: Women don't limit yourself to what they ask of you."

This past week had presented us with more beautiful experiences in Oaxaca that we're so lucky to be able to be a part of. From the intercambio to Mare and even our everyday Spanish classes, everything we do opens us up to this new culture and enriches our experiences here. Until next week!

Saludos,

Janice y Analiz