Crossing the Border (III)

Oaxaca
13:15

Okay, it’s my second day in Oaxaca and I’ve got huge stomach cramps. From the questions folks asked at orientation, it appears that I’m not alone. It took me a while to figure out where I got it, but I finally realized that I brushed my teeth with tap water this morning. Damn, but better now than later. I would *hate* feeling like this and having to drive, but I expect that it will happen. Unfortunately, there are enough intestinal parasites and bacterium that folks never develop an immunity.

Supposedly yoghurt helps. I’ve eaten some and it appears to have eased the cramps. I also took a few Pepto Bismo tablets as a preemptive measure. One can never be too safe when it comes to explosive diarrhea.

escuela

I had my orientation at the Instituto Cultural this morning. One of the things that they told us was that we should not take pictures of children without the permission of the parents. Apparently, there is a rumor going around town that foreigners come to Oaxaca and snap pictures as part of a baby-stealing ring. It sounds like an urban legend, but 6 missing kids recently turned up in Canada, according to the local paper. (Blame Canada!) I think this may apply to all of South America as well.

They also told us that there are a large number of ‘zocalo boys’ that make their living off of favors from foreign women. They didn’t mention foreign men, but I expect that there are several flavors of boys available. The orientation also warns that SIDA exists in Oaxaca, and to “mix safely with the locals.”

Class will consist of lecture from 900 Р1300, despu̩s una hora por comida, followed by conversation from 2-4, lunes to viernes. Sabado y domingo are free, though they usually have tours on domingo.

You may have noticed the random Spanish in that last paragraph. I want to try to use it whenever I know the word. Deal with it. You may learn something!

That’s enough for today. I’m going to lie down.

Ron

Instituto Cultural Oaxaca
Avenida Juarez #909
(corner Calz. Niños Héroes de Chapultepec)
Centro, Oaxaca de Juarez
Oaxaca, Mexico
+52 (951) 515-3404
+52 (951) 515-1323

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