Then, last night I went with my host family's kids and their nanny to take the kids to their swimming lessons. These swimming lessons were at what would be the equivalent of a country club. The place had playgrounds, tennis courts, a picnic area, and a snack canteen. It was really nice, and it was obvious that it was frequented by the more wealthy people in Guanajuato.
Contrast this with the festival I saw today. I was walking down the street that leads to my classroom and which is next to a large church. As I made my way down the street, I heard an incredibly loud jingling behind me and I turned to see several people decked out in traditional, very fancy costumes. They were wearing massive, feathered headresses and colorful, woven outfits. The jingling was from the bells that they had tied to their legs. They were celebrating the saint of the church near my classroom. There was live music and these giant plastic heads for the children to wear and then dance in. (They kind of looked like the guy with the giant, plastic head in Shrek, if that gives you a mental picture.) I tried to take a picture without looking really touristy so you can visualize this experience.
In one of my classes were were talking about how the indigenous languange of Nahuatl has retained some of its words in the Spanish that the people in Guanajuato speak. However, Mexico has also adopted many English words and made them Spanish. One example is the word gogles or goggles. Basically, just say goggles with a Spanish pronunciation and you've got it. When I first arrived in Guanajuato, I did not see much that screamed "indigenous" and I was a little disappointed. However,the more time I've spent here, the more things I've noticed. I think that my experience here will be very interesting as I discover how the very old and the very modern live together in the same city.
Hasta luego!
Becky
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