Semana Dos

Well, I´ve officially been in Oaxaca for over two complete weeks. Its such an odd concept to think about it like that because somehow it feels like i´ve been here for months, and in other ways its like i just landed here today. my friends are getting ready to leave to go back home, and they´ve made me think a lot about what it will be like to be leaving. Right now i find it hard to imagine wanting to leave, or wanting to stay either. I imagine it to be a bit bittersweet after three months. I´ll be happy to get home and see everyone, but i´ll have to miss this place too.
I should mention the incredible things about Oaxaca so you can all put your horror stories of Mexico out of your head for now. For starters, Mexicans are incredibly nice and helpful people, that dont want to harm you because your white or any other reason actually. Theres a lot of poverty, but a lot of love and family, and pride in their home and culture. Setting aside the hospitatily, imagine a place where its around 30 degrees everyday, with huge white fluffy clouds resting atop of tall green mountains surrounding a city filled with palm trees, flowers, brightly painted buildings on cobblestone roads! Sure theres political turmoil, machismo, stray dogs and homeless people, but its still the most beautiful place i´ve ever seen in life, movies, or pictures. I would recommend a trip to real Mexico any day of the week, even on my bad tired days. if you ever get a chance to come down and try mezcal or quesillo, or chocolate oaxaqueño hop on the plane regardless of the amount of debt you will acquire. Its worth it to be the only white person around for miles, and for that to not really matter other than getting a touch of extra attention.
Granted there are some downsides to being a tall white woman in mexico, but at least im not considered a gringa because i´m canadian! But I´ll write up another entry about the noises, machismo, and the political stuff thats going on so you can understand why i´m not concerned about it no matter what north american media is saying. Oh, but the BBC website is the best place to get updates if you dont read spanish news of course. Dont let anything you hear spoil the image i just created for you, put your mind at ease, i´m super safe, and super happy with a new cell phone to ensure that fact is true, and a fantastic bunch of friends making the experience great.
i wish you were all here to share the experience of real mexico with me, but someday, maybe, I´ll come down with you to Cancún for Spring Break and be your mexico tour guide. Three and a half months should be sufficient to know the lay of the land!!! Until that day comes, in honour of Dia de Independencia which was last yesterday, i´ll say la Grita, about 16 hours late, because its supposed to be said at 11pm on september 15th... and feel free to join me... VIVA MÉXICO!!!!