Recently I've learned a lot about Mexico. I'm a curious person and so I ask questions. But what I have learned has made me think, a lot. My dad asked me before I left whether or not Mexico was a third world country. I didn't really know and I assumed it wasn't so I just said no. But what I've learned is that it isn't a first world country, nor a second world country. It is a "developing" county. About 50% of the population lives in poverty as a third world country. 20% live as a first world country, like the U.S. and the remaining 30% are middle class. I guess I wasn't expecting these numbers, so they took me by surprise.
Friday morning, as we were driving through small towns I saw lots of children walking to school. I inquired about the education system here and what I learned breaks my heart. 4 in 100 children that begin elementary school graduate from high school and 1 in 300 make it to the University. Many children are forced to quit their studies to help their families make ends meet. Kristine and I met one Mexican girl the first time we went to a bible study. Her name is Norma and she is new to the faith. She is 23 years old and she works from 7-3 in her family's panaderia. From 4-8 she attends school. She works six days a week. She is not in the University yet. I can't believe it. I don't know how she does it. But I've learned that this is not an uncommon situation here. Carlos also informed me that only 60% of the teachers actually pass a test issued covering mathematics and grammar.
I also learned that minimum wage is 50 pesos for 8 hours. That is equivalent to just under 5$ for a whole days work. I know..... the first time I heard this I thought I misunderstood but when I asked for clarification these same numbers stared me in the face. About 40/45 % of the people earn this. Others earn maybe two or three times this. But if you think about it, it's not a whole lot more. I've heard many people argue that Mexican prices are way cheaper, but in reality they are not a whole lot different from the U.S. At least, not enough to make up for the difference in pay. Many people work six days a week and get paid for seven days of work. I still can't believe it. I make twice the minimum wage in ONE hour of work. Carlos shared with me that the problem with Mexico is the poor distribution of money and that is due to a lack of Education.
I am really enjoying my experience here. I live with a middle class family. But I so wish that I could experience the other 50% of Mexico. I want to know both sides, and it makes me so sad that what I'm receiving here, is the best of the best. I don't want to walk away from Mexico only having known the 50% of Mexico that is first world. I want to experience and learn more about how the other half live. I'm hoping that I will have that opportunity.....
I posted some pics so you can click on the link to view them.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
rEaLity iN mExicO...
Guanajuato
This past weekend Kristine and I traveled to Guanajuato, a state located about 6 hours north of Cuernavaca. We left early Friday morning and made our first stop in San Miguel de Allende where we visited a Cathedral. It is the only Cathedral in all of Mexico with Gothic architecture (picture located on fli
ckr). San Miguel is known for it's beauty. Next we stopped in Dolores de Hidalgo where we visited the Cathedral in which the "Grito de Dolores" was given almost two hundred years ago. This is the event that marked the beginning of the Independence. We also visited Miguel de Hidalgo's house. He was the leader of the Independence movement until his death in 1811. We strolled around the city while enjoying some "Beso de Angel" ice cream. Here we are at the above savoring every last bite. =)
We finally arrived in Guanajuato in the evening and decided to rest up for the next day's journey. We began our adventures early the next morning. Our first stop was another Catholic Church. We visited the church because it was constructed with the profits of the silver mine that we also visited. I am continually awed by the amount of effort that these churches must have taken to construct. Inside they are absolutely gorgeous and there is so much gold. I'm still learning about Catholicism and I'm hoping that by the time I leave here I will have grasped a clear understanding of the religion.
We then visited one of the first silver mines established in Guanajuato. We were able to go down into the entrance of one of the mines and it was really neat. They had some hard hats at the entrance that we could use and Kristine and I decided that it would be fun to use them. Who would
have ever thought that you actually needed it! I seriously was going for fashion when I put that hard hat on but by the time I exited the cave I was glad that I had chosen to use it. I followed Kristine and Carlos into the cave, all of whom are shorter than I. Carlos is probably a whole foot shorter and so he just walked through 
with no problem, but as for me, every 5 or 6 feet or so I would bunk my head on the ceiling. My head felt so heavy with the hard hat but had I not wore that hat I may have had some serious injuries. (hehehe.....) Here is a picture of me playing around with one of the tools that miners used to use. Poor Carlos, we asked him to take so many photos of us, and sometimes we felt silly being silly in pics. I'm sure he was relieved when his duty ended in the evenings.
We also visited the Museo de la Alhóndiga de Granaditas, where most of the Españoles were killed two hundred years ago. Now it is just a museum that contains most of the history of Mexico, but it was neat to think that we were standing where the Spaniards had taken refuge a couple hundred years ago.
Here Kristine and I are standing near the replica of the bell that initiated the start of the Independence in Dolores. The original is actually located in Palacio Nacional in Mexico City. I'm hoping that Kristine and I will have the opportunity to return and see Diego Rivera's murals.
In addition, Kristine and I visited the House that Diego Rivera lived in until he move to Mexico City when he was eight. It is now a museum and contains many pieces of his artwork. I really enjoyed this museum. I think I tested the patience of Kristine and Carlos who wanted to go at a more rapid pace.
After a long morning of visiting museums, we enjoyed a pleasant meal together in the center of town. Later, Kristine and I departed for the Mercado, the town market. We spent hours wandering around looking at all of the different things to buy. It was so neat. After our adventures with
out Carlos, we returned to the hotel where we played in the pool and got ready for the "Grito."
At 9pm we headed to the center of town to dine. After finishing our meal we headed over to the main plaza where the Grito was held. There were sooooo many people but it was so cool to actually see the grito take place. After the shouting there was a celebration of fireworks. I don't think I have ever been so close to fireworks in my life. But it was quite an experience, and one to remember!
On Sunday we were granted the privilege of sleeping in. After breakfast we took off for the Mummy Museum because I really wanted to go. Kristine wasn't so interested but she had planned to hang out at the mini mercado there. We spent forty minutes driving around town in search of the museum. Carlos said he knew where we were and how to get there. In a book that I read recently it said to just let men figure it out, them them find their way. I would have rather stopped to ask for directions but I wanted to be supportive of his determination to find the museum without help.
We finally arrived to find a huge line and to be informed that we had not been supplied with adequate funds for our trip and if I wanted to go inside I would need to pay for it myself. Well, that would have been fine, except that I had spent my money on gifts the previous day. Since Kristine and Carlos were not going to enter I decided to check out the market with Kristine and be on our way back to Morelos. On our way back we stopped in Querétaro which is where the conspiracy started. We returned to Cuernavaca in the evening. I had a lot of fun on this trip and I learned soooo much, too.
ckr). San Miguel is known for it's beauty. Next we stopped in Dolores de Hidalgo where we visited the Cathedral in which the "Grito de Dolores" was given almost two hundred years ago. This is the event that marked the beginning of the Independence. We also visited Miguel de Hidalgo's house. He was the leader of the Independence movement until his death in 1811. We strolled around the city while enjoying some "Beso de Angel" ice cream. Here we are at the above savoring every last bite. =)We finally arrived in Guanajuato in the evening and decided to rest up for the next day's journey. We began our adventures early the next morning. Our first stop was another Catholic Church. We visited the church because it was constructed with the profits of the silver mine that we also visited. I am continually awed by the amount of effort that these churches must have taken to construct. Inside they are absolutely gorgeous and there is so much gold. I'm still learning about Catholicism and I'm hoping that by the time I leave here I will have grasped a clear understanding of the religion.
We then visited one of the first silver mines established in Guanajuato. We were able to go down into the entrance of one of the mines and it was really neat. They had some hard hats at the entrance that we could use and Kristine and I decided that it would be fun to use them. Who would
have ever thought that you actually needed it! I seriously was going for fashion when I put that hard hat on but by the time I exited the cave I was glad that I had chosen to use it. I followed Kristine and Carlos into the cave, all of whom are shorter than I. Carlos is probably a whole foot shorter and so he just walked through 
with no problem, but as for me, every 5 or 6 feet or so I would bunk my head on the ceiling. My head felt so heavy with the hard hat but had I not wore that hat I may have had some serious injuries. (hehehe.....) Here is a picture of me playing around with one of the tools that miners used to use. Poor Carlos, we asked him to take so many photos of us, and sometimes we felt silly being silly in pics. I'm sure he was relieved when his duty ended in the evenings.We also visited the Museo de la Alhóndiga de Granaditas, where most of the Españoles were killed two hundred years ago. Now it is just a museum that contains most of the history of Mexico, but it was neat to think that we were standing where the Spaniards had taken refuge a couple hundred years ago.
Here Kristine and I are standing near the replica of the bell that initiated the start of the Independence in Dolores. The original is actually located in Palacio Nacional in Mexico City. I'm hoping that Kristine and I will have the opportunity to return and see Diego Rivera's murals.In addition, Kristine and I visited the House that Diego Rivera lived in until he move to Mexico City when he was eight. It is now a museum and contains many pieces of his artwork. I really enjoyed this museum. I think I tested the patience of Kristine and Carlos who wanted to go at a more rapid pace.
After a long morning of visiting museums, we enjoyed a pleasant meal together in the center of town. Later, Kristine and I departed for the Mercado, the town market. We spent hours wandering around looking at all of the different things to buy. It was so neat. After our adventures with
out Carlos, we returned to the hotel where we played in the pool and got ready for the "Grito."At 9pm we headed to the center of town to dine. After finishing our meal we headed over to the main plaza where the Grito was held. There were sooooo many people but it was so cool to actually see the grito take place. After the shouting there was a celebration of fireworks. I don't think I have ever been so close to fireworks in my life. But it was quite an experience, and one to remember!
On Sunday we were granted the privilege of sleeping in. After breakfast we took off for the Mummy Museum because I really wanted to go. Kristine wasn't so interested but she had planned to hang out at the mini mercado there. We spent forty minutes driving around town in search of the museum. Carlos said he knew where we were and how to get there. In a book that I read recently it said to just let men figure it out, them them find their way. I would have rather stopped to ask for directions but I wanted to be supportive of his determination to find the museum without help.
We finally arrived to find a huge line and to be informed that we had not been supplied with adequate funds for our trip and if I wanted to go inside I would need to pay for it myself. Well, that would have been fine, except that I had spent my money on gifts the previous day. Since Kristine and Carlos were not going to enter I decided to check out the market with Kristine and be on our way back to Morelos. On our way back we stopped in Querétaro which is where the conspiracy started. We returned to Cuernavaca in the evening. I had a lot of fun on this trip and I learned soooo much, too.
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