The Weird Juxtaposition That Is Monterrey
Two San Pedro municipal workers recently gave me yet another example of how this area is a bridge between Latin America and the US. I was walking the dog on the Calzada a few days ago. I passed a worker using a backpack leaf blower to clear the leaves and dust from the sidewalk, a scene I've witnessed countless times in the US. I reached the end of this branch of the "cross" (where the two Calzadas, del Valle and San Pedro, intersect) at the statue of David and turned back towards home.
A few minutes later I encountered another worker. This one was probably 15-20 years older and he was clearing the sidewalks with a large dead palm frond, sweeping it back and forth. I'd say this method was just as good for the leaves, seeds, and twigs, though probably not for any dust or dirt.
A few days later I saw this same older worker using a backpack leaf blower. Maybe he lost the rock-paper-scissors or coin toss that determined which worker got the gadget the first time around.
Modern and primitive, high tech and low tech, Hummers and donkey carts - this is Monterrey, Mexico.
P.S. I finally saw the tangerine sherbet colored Lamborghini that everyone told me about about a week ago. I can add that to all the Ferraris and Porsches I've seen tooling about. Have I mentioned that San Pedro has one of the highest per-capita incomes in Latin America?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Multiple topics to cover this time, so I'll try to make each quick.
In Memoriam...
I heard on NPR today (we're members of WUWM, previously members of a DC-area station that gutted its news schedule for classical music, not that I have anything against classical music) that an author that held a warm spot in my heart, Madeleine L'engle, died Thursday at the age of 88. I fondly recall getting A Wrinkle in Time off one of those grade school book orders, reading it, and then heading to the Staunton Public Library to find more. It was science-fiction written for my age level that I didn't feel talked down to me. Without that book, how long would it have been before I learned the word tesseract? As with C.S. Lewis, faith colored Ms. L'Engle's works, but I honestly didn't even notice as a kid. Later I just didn't care; I loved the book, so why worry about the author's faith? I can only hope that there are other authors out there to carry the torch for our youth. She will be missed. The New York Times has a nice write up.
NPR has a several stories and interviews with her, as well as mentions of her works in various book lists.
Missed Opportunities
Last Friday, Emily had plans to see the Vienna Boys' Choir here in Monterrey. I was waiting for her to get home, knowing she'd have little time to change before heading out to dinner and the show with her co-workers, when she called. Her cell phone was dead and she was borrowing the phone of the woman who had just rear-ended her; said cell phone was also nearly dead so she had little time. She was fine, but they were waiting on the insurance people to arrive. She told me to pass a message on to the co-worker who was going to give her a ride to the show. I did so and waited anxiously for Emily to come home.
When she got home the first thing she had to do was call our insurance people. Since she had no functional cell phone, she had to wait until she got home. She called and we waited. The guy arrived, but took a long time to complete the paperwork. By the time he finished, it was too late for Emily to make the show. Here's the only thing she'll have to remember the show by:
$513 (pesos, about $50 US) down the drain. The only bright spot, if there is one, is that the bumper is likely to be replaced. That will also eliminate the scratches on it from two previous collisions, neither of which was our fault either and neither of which we were able to pursue at the time.
How Sweet It Is...
Emily found this recipe she wanted to try, but it required maple syrup. We found it at HEB, one of the two big grocery stores here, but it was expensive: $119 pesos ($11 US) for 100 ml. Today Emily found it at Costco. Here's the visual comparison:
The Kirkland syrup, also 100% pure maple, was $196 pesos ($19 US) for 1.89 liters. So, that would be nearly 19 times the size for about 66% more. I guess this means lots of pancakes in the next year, 'cause we're not moving it!
In Memoriam...
I heard on NPR today (we're members of WUWM, previously members of a DC-area station that gutted its news schedule for classical music, not that I have anything against classical music) that an author that held a warm spot in my heart, Madeleine L'engle, died Thursday at the age of 88. I fondly recall getting A Wrinkle in Time off one of those grade school book orders, reading it, and then heading to the Staunton Public Library to find more. It was science-fiction written for my age level that I didn't feel talked down to me. Without that book, how long would it have been before I learned the word tesseract? As with C.S. Lewis, faith colored Ms. L'Engle's works, but I honestly didn't even notice as a kid. Later I just didn't care; I loved the book, so why worry about the author's faith? I can only hope that there are other authors out there to carry the torch for our youth. She will be missed. The New York Times has a nice write up.
NPR has a several stories and interviews with her, as well as mentions of her works in various book lists.
Missed Opportunities
Last Friday, Emily had plans to see the Vienna Boys' Choir here in Monterrey. I was waiting for her to get home, knowing she'd have little time to change before heading out to dinner and the show with her co-workers, when she called. Her cell phone was dead and she was borrowing the phone of the woman who had just rear-ended her; said cell phone was also nearly dead so she had little time. She was fine, but they were waiting on the insurance people to arrive. She told me to pass a message on to the co-worker who was going to give her a ride to the show. I did so and waited anxiously for Emily to come home.
When she got home the first thing she had to do was call our insurance people. Since she had no functional cell phone, she had to wait until she got home. She called and we waited. The guy arrived, but took a long time to complete the paperwork. By the time he finished, it was too late for Emily to make the show. Here's the only thing she'll have to remember the show by:
$513 (pesos, about $50 US) down the drain. The only bright spot, if there is one, is that the bumper is likely to be replaced. That will also eliminate the scratches on it from two previous collisions, neither of which was our fault either and neither of which we were able to pursue at the time.How Sweet It Is...
Emily found this recipe she wanted to try, but it required maple syrup. We found it at HEB, one of the two big grocery stores here, but it was expensive: $119 pesos ($11 US) for 100 ml. Today Emily found it at Costco. Here's the visual comparison:
The Kirkland syrup, also 100% pure maple, was $196 pesos ($19 US) for 1.89 liters. So, that would be nearly 19 times the size for about 66% more. I guess this means lots of pancakes in the next year, 'cause we're not moving it!
Friday, September 07, 2007
South Park Me
Curt is to blame for this one, both on a time-wasted and on the eyesore bit. First time with the South Park Studio, here is Neal in Mexico:
Curt is to blame for this one, both on a time-wasted and on the eyesore bit. First time with the South Park Studio, here is Neal in Mexico:
Air Mail - Mexican Style!!!
In the spring semester of this year, the college sent the exam package to the Mexico address for the Consulate. Admittedly my proctor probably put that on part of his correspondence, but the college sent the previous semester's exam package to the Brownsville, Texas, address. In any case, the package took perhaps eight weeks to make its way to Mexico. Lesson learned.
Unfortunately for regular ex-pats, this service is provided to US Government employees and family members only. I say this because we continue to get mail for the previous residents of our lovely house, an American family we met at a number of ASOMO events. Our first few weeks here, we arrived in July 2006, we didn't receive any mail for them, then we received a few letters, then a veritable flood, and then a long dry spell of nothing. Once we met them we would occasionally pass collected mail off to them, a mix of college alumni, retirement plan, bank, and credit card bills for the most part, along with months-late holiday cards. The husband said he once received an American Express bill six months after it was due.
We continue to receive their mail, although they moved back to the US (Michigan, I think) several months ago. We simply shred it, along with any convenience check offers we've received via US Mail in the past week. Recently we received two items which caught our attention (photo courtesy of Emily).
Note the two dates I've high-lighted: June 18 and July 16. Both envelopes arrived on Monday, September 3. You do the math. By any calculation, that's not speedy service. I almost forgot: the front of the envelopes were also marked "Priority." Maybe that was the problem: it simply wasn't a priority for the postman.
The postal system isn't as highly regarded as that in the US. Many companies here use couriers to deliver their bills rather than use the Mexican system. I'm not certain which of our bills come which way, but I've only seen our mailman once in the past year, so I don't think he's delivering the cable or phone bill, and possibly not the water, gas, or electric.
Hmm.... I'll have to think up a motto for the Mexican postal service. I realize the US Postal Service has no official creed, but the "unofficial motto" is: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
Perhaps something like: There is no snow, but plenty of heat, and that or rain, or cerveza or tequila, or las chicas... I'll deliver it tomorrow, or maybe next week.
In the spring semester of this year, the college sent the exam package to the Mexico address for the Consulate. Admittedly my proctor probably put that on part of his correspondence, but the college sent the previous semester's exam package to the Brownsville, Texas, address. In any case, the package took perhaps eight weeks to make its way to Mexico. Lesson learned.
Unfortunately for regular ex-pats, this service is provided to US Government employees and family members only. I say this because we continue to get mail for the previous residents of our lovely house, an American family we met at a number of ASOMO events. Our first few weeks here, we arrived in July 2006, we didn't receive any mail for them, then we received a few letters, then a veritable flood, and then a long dry spell of nothing. Once we met them we would occasionally pass collected mail off to them, a mix of college alumni, retirement plan, bank, and credit card bills for the most part, along with months-late holiday cards. The husband said he once received an American Express bill six months after it was due.
We continue to receive their mail, although they moved back to the US (Michigan, I think) several months ago. We simply shred it, along with any convenience check offers we've received via US Mail in the past week. Recently we received two items which caught our attention (photo courtesy of Emily).
Note the two dates I've high-lighted: June 18 and July 16. Both envelopes arrived on Monday, September 3. You do the math. By any calculation, that's not speedy service. I almost forgot: the front of the envelopes were also marked "Priority." Maybe that was the problem: it simply wasn't a priority for the postman.
The postal system isn't as highly regarded as that in the US. Many companies here use couriers to deliver their bills rather than use the Mexican system. I'm not certain which of our bills come which way, but I've only seen our mailman once in the past year, so I don't think he's delivering the cable or phone bill, and possibly not the water, gas, or electric.
Hmm.... I'll have to think up a motto for the Mexican postal service. I realize the US Postal Service has no official creed, but the "unofficial motto" is: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
Perhaps something like: There is no snow, but plenty of heat, and that or rain, or cerveza or tequila, or las chicas... I'll deliver it tomorrow, or maybe next week.
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