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Oaxaca, Mexico
December, 2007
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San Mateo school kids
San Mateo school kids
San Mateo school
San Mateo school
San Mateo Jail
San Mateo Jail
Another new government building
Another new government building
Fiesta House Caption: This house belongs to Brigida's father. No one lives in it, as they all live outside the village in their family compound. It is maintained as part of the annual January fiesta schedule, when the men in the village take turns throwing a huge party for the entire village. This year was Brigi's father's turn. He went to Oaxaca city very early one morning to buy 30 chickens for the fiesta. Juan and Brigida later had to drive into the city and put these 30 live chickens in their car for the 3 hour drive out to San Mateo, where they would be slaughtered and cooked for the village.
Fiesta House
View from Fiesta House
View from Fiesta House
Our bedroom Caption: The Mixteco are not a tall people. They were very amused at Isaac and Steve's height, and guffawed with laughter every time we showed this photo!
Our bedroom
Another view from the house Caption: Brigida's father told Sarah that everything you can see from the top of this mountain is Mixteco. Beyond that is Oaxaca and Mexico. Three of his children (Brigida's siblings) teach in the local schools. They teach both Mixteco and Spanish. Many of the older people speak only Mixteco, though Brigida's father is fluent in both.
Another view from the house
Waiting for the outhouse
Waiting for the outhouse
Climbing for Granadas Caption: The San Mateo compound also had extensive granada vines used as shade for paths and patios, with ripe fruit hanging down ready to eat. These were absolutely delicious. In the morning we breakfasted on granadas, pears from a tree next to the kitchen, home made sweet bread and big bowls of lovely hot chocolate. (While chocolate doesn't grow this far north in Oaxaca, they do purchase the bean pods, grind them in a stone metate with vanilla beans and sugar cane, for a truly delicious drink!)
Climbing for Granadas
Early Morning sun
Early Morning sun
Early Morning sun
Early Morning sun
Father and son enjoy a quiet morning
Father and son enjoy a quiet morning
Armadillo shells full of pears Caption: The pine woods above this village are full of armadillos, which are hunted both for their meat and for their useful shells. These armadillo shell baskets are made to hold corn for planting time.
Armadillo shells full of pears
Carla eating a granada
Carla eating a granada
Hot chocolate, pears and granadas on the porch
Hot chocolate, pears and granadas on the porch
Carlos, Liseht and their uncle Augustin Caption: Augustin teaches in the San Mateo primary school. He reports that the government only pays teachers $300 pesos (about US$30) for 15 days.
Carlos, Liseht and their uncle Augustin
Checking the parrots Caption: Some one apparently visited a distant village where they have many parrots - this was one of the brothers who is a teacher. The teacher of that village gave him three parrots - two of which live in Oaxaca city with Adrian, and one lives here.
Checking the parrots
Corn fields
Corn fields
Steps to the Fiesta House
Steps to the Fiesta House
More views
More views
Ranchos below the road
Ranchos below the road
Ranchos below the road, clinging to a steep hillside
Ranchos below the road, clinging to a steep hillside
Getting ready to go to town
Getting ready to go to town
Watching a movie Caption: Augustin had a little portable DVD player, and Juan had brought along DVDs of Michoacan rodeos. The kids were fascinated by these, as they are not common in this area.
Watching a movie
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