Tonight I went to the supermarket. Craving cottage cheese and a sweet potato, I found both and could hardly wait to get home to eat them. But I did have to wait a bit for a taxi back to the posada. At about 8:30, as I approached the place where the taxis usually are, the guy who organizes the taxi rides said, “Parque Conzatti. ?Si?” I replied, “Soy conocida” (I am known). He said yes and got me a ride for ten pesos less than usual. I think I paid the local rate rather than the tourist rate.
As my silent driver and I we were leaving the university area, while we were stopped at a red light, I noticed that there were two kids dancing and doing their version of gymnastics in the dark street. As the light turned green, they were almost to our car to request money for the impromptu show they’d put on.
This reminded me that I have homework tonight. It is to research the social classes in Oaxaca and to be prepared to speak about them in some detail in the morning. I am sure that after a bit of research I will find this anecdote useful.
As we were talking about the various versions of panhandling today, Flor said in Spanish, “All that shines is not gold.” I am not sure if this saying is the same in Spanish. I will learn more tomorrow.
shewhodaresnothing 