Today in Spanish class one of our main tasks was to comment on the culture of Oaxaca as we have observed so far. The lesson was titled ?Que honda Oaxaca? (What’s happening in Oaxaca?) We offered reflections on our experiences in bars, lines, public transportation, and experiences viewing television and movies, etc.
I explained that men seem to be much more impatient than women, especially in lines. Mothers seem not to notice the poor behavior of their children until they done something that bothers them specifically. If a child stomps on my toes, for example, this is not a problem until he stomps on her toes, too. Some of this is because many places are crowded and many mothers are occupied with the groceries or other children they are attending to.
I explain that in the United States, movies are rated PG 13, but here the ratings is 15. I have seen little girls cringe and cover their eyes at kissing in a romantic part of a movie. At the same time, I have also been surprised that some of my students stay up until almost 11 p.m. to watch novellas. This is a bit of a contradiction given the raciness and drama of novellas.
Flor specifically asks me what I think of all of the young couples kissing in the park and on the bus. She knows that public displays of affection are not prevalent in the US. I say that I have a lot of questions for the people engaged in these activities such as: What are you doing under that coat? Why so much slurping as you’re kissing? One of my classmates inquires: “Don’t you know the answers?” I explain that while I have an imagination, I just want more specifics. It’s not that I’m a voyeur; it’s more that if someone is putting on a show, my brain doesn’t just ignore it.
Then, I wracked my brain quickly to remember the idiomatic expression we learned weeks ago, “Es como comiendo pan enfrente de los pobres” (It is like eating bread in front of the poor), I explained. It sort of makes the viewer a bit hungry. My classmates laughed.
shewhodaresnothing 