Our instructor made a show of us by making it obligatory to stand in the front row so he could show us exactly how to do the moves. His moves looked like they were copied directly out of Karate Kid, with none of the coordination or skill. He looked like a kid showing off his new karate moves. I had to laugh. He continuously corrected mine and Lalo's "moves" making what we were doing all that more painfully awkward. One kick included a full turn, like a ballerina or ice skater. The room included floors that were slicker than ice and sauna-like temperatures! We were sweating our asses off, doing round house kicks, being encouraged to kick ourselves in the face! Oh yeah and we were also encouraged to hold our breath while exercising. When I said it made me feel dizzy he said that was GREAT! Where did you get your licence again?
Needless to say I don't think I will be heading back to that gym, even if it is only $250 pesos per month for a membership! I was quite sore the following 2 days so maybe it wasn't such a bad workout afterall.
On Monday I had the pleasure of being invited to the 1 year anniversary of the death of Lalo's grandfather Eugenio. It was really amazing to see the amount of tradition involved in death here. There was a large sand effigy created on the floor surrounded by candles and flowers. The effigy is made with colored sand and included a cross and his initials. Esther and Flavio, Lalo's aunt and uncle, made homemade pozole. Around 7pm we went to the church for mass, where I had no idea what to do. Of course we were sititng in the front row and I continuously had to look at other people in order to know what to do. Afterwards we went back to Lalo's house where around 100 people followed. The room with the effigy and candles is a prayer room and they pray and recite bible versus. I found myself super interested in what was going on, because first I have never had anyone close to me pass away and second it was completely different than anything I have ever seen. The what I would call pallbearers removed the candles and flowers and scraped up the sand, destroying the beautiful design and created a cross replacing the flowers and candles all around it. There were hundreds of flowers and picture of Eugenio. It was really beautiful.
Once all the praying was done, I helped serve coffee and sweets. Next came the pozole. I helped pass out tostadas, pass out pozole and the toppings, and refill coffee. It was funny to see people stare at me wondering who the heck I was. I felt a little out of place but just continued to help out figuring that was the best way to avoid lots of questions.
Yesterday we visited Eugenio's grave. The cemetary was yet another fascinating experience. The cemetary is a colorfully decorated yet gruesomely rudimentary. Most gravesites are heaps of dirt, leaving you feel like the bodies are right close to you. The gravesite is not purchased forever, rather rented year to year. Those who forget or neglect to pay lose their site. The marker is removed and another body is buried right on top! Many graves have elaborate decorations; flowers, gifts, drinks, food, pictures. For many Mexicans it is as if the grave is a replica of their loved one and neglecting the grave would be neglecting the dead. I found myself wandering around the cemetery checking out all the graves!
I find myself experiencing and understanding new pieces of the this culture daily. While some make me thankful for the 1st world from which I came, many also make me long for what seems to be lost in the American culture.
Adios...nos vemos pronto...Besitos!
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