Final week in Oaxaca

I am on my third week in Oaxaca and I have come to find that while i am absolutely an outsider here i have become very comfortable with my surroundings. Granted, i don´t know much about Oaxaca, not really anyway...but what i do know and what i have seen and experienced has made it so that i am quite sure i will want to return again and again.

Obviously i haven´t seen or experienced all that is available here or throughout this state, but in part it was a deliberate decision to "miss out" on certain things in order to experience others. For instance, one of my teachers asked me why i have not spent more time going out to the clubs-bars. Initially my response was that I was spending time with the family and that i had less interest in the dancing-drinking-partying scene. While both things are true, upon further reflection that is a simplistic answer.

The family i am staying with includes a grandmother of 85 years who is a fabulous cook, a devout Catholic and a devoted grandmother. She has introduced me to her favorite telenovelas (including catching me up on what i missed), explained the intricacies of many of her recipes, told me stories about her childhood, and shared her hopes for her family. Together we walk to church or a local concert. Together with my hostess we could talk about music for hours! Oh and she helped me to not only appreciate but enjoy the marimba!

My hostess, as i have mentioned before will talk with me about everything and while there are times i get a bit confused or lost in the conversation she is always willing to repeat or help me to understand. We have talked for hours about politics, the state of education, relationships, discrimination, family, religion, children-youth, travel, and so many other things. I have learned so much from her and am so grateful for her and her willingness to spend time with me.

The family...grandchildren, children, cousins, uncles, siblings and all the rest have welcomed me at every occasion. Recently there have been many and at each one they have not only allowed me into their lives, they have shared parts of themselves with me and allowed me to get a glimpse into their lives.

The grand trip, 4 months in many places, has never been for me to see things. Rather it has been for me to EXPERIENCE things. It is an attempt to understand just a little better how and why people think, live and act as they do. I am confident i will have many opportunities to go out at night throughout my trip. but, i am not sure how often i will have the opportunity to spend time with the people who live wherever i am, and to do so with family no less, it just doesn´t seem as likely.

So in this moment i am a bit sad to see my time here coming to an end.