Travel Journal 游学手记

Documenting the best year of my college 记录我大学里最美好的时光

[chen-chin]

Last day at work

(Friday, July 11, 2014)

It was my last day at work today--how fast does time go by! Remembering how nervous I was the first day, my anxiety was melted away by all of my coworkers’ kindness and friendliness. Their warmth has really made me feel at ease in my workplace. All of my coworkers have been greatly helpful—I have not seen any of the office drama or politics. Everybody greets me with a beautiful smile and a warm kiss on the cheek every day. Aguascalientes, "The Land of Good People", has proved true again.

I also met with the delegada, the biggest boss in the office. She greeted me in English and radiated approachability. She is always very very busy and I genuinely appreciated her time.

[chen-chin]

Beggars and OXXO

 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)

I went grocery shopping with Paola. No, it was not for the family but for the beggars on the streets. There are many beggars--often elders, mothers with young children, and handicapped. In order not to fall into the begging scam, Paola's family does not give money but hands out food to the beggars. Pao bought packaged biscuits, pasta, salt, sugar, etc. I really like this way of giving to the beggars.

Afterwards, I went with Paola's mom to buy something at OXXO. OXXO is a chain convenience store just like the Mexican version of 7-11; it is EVERY where--not just gasoline stations. In this neighborhood, there are 2 OXXO's located 3 minutes walking distance from each other. I don't understand. Paola told me that she does not like OXXO, because it has forced many local convenience stores out of business. It's the same problem with big standardized monopolies like Wal-Mart, I said.

[chen-chin]

Abi stories from learning Spanish

(Wednesday, July 9, 2014)

Avocado vs. abogado

Pao mentioned a friend whose nickname was “Abogado” (attorney). “Que? Avocado?” Apparently the Spanish pronounciation of the English word “avocado” sounds just like the word for attorney.

Que sería vs. Quesadilla

When my teacher did the dictation exercise a Spanish song, there was a phrase "que sería" (it would). I said, "Que? Quesadilla?" To which she responded "you are hungry"

Pie vs. Pay

One morning, I told Paola that I ate “pie”… except I said it with a Spanish accent. She looked so confused. And then I realized that I basically said that I ate a “foot”.

[chen-chin]

BASIC MEXICAN FOOD VOCABULARY

(Introducing the differences among tortilla, taco, quesadilla and burrito)

Yes! I finally know how to order Mexican food now, after Paola explained what each dish implied.

A tortilla is a thin, round bread made from corn (yellow) or flour (white) with no topping.

A taco is a corn tortilla plus a topping (exp. meat, seafood). You fold the taco in half and eat it.

A quesadilla is a tortilla plus a topping AND cheese, so it’s like a taco but also with cheese.

A burrito is a flour tortilla plus a topping. You roll the burrito and eat it like a wrap.

[chen-chin]

Mexican vs Chinese food

I found the Mexican and Chinese (especially Sichuanese) cuisine to be so similar. For example, we both eat all parts of an animal, and we like to pickle things. Sichuan, my province, is known for spicy food in China. I told Paola's friend's mom that I love spicy food and so I love Mexican food. She asked me if I have tried anything very spicy. I told her no. She then walked to the kitchen and brought me something in a cup. It was a red chilli sauce that looked extremely familiar. After tasting it, I realized that it is just like the hot sauce that my family uses to cook Sichuanese food. I found images online and showed the mom, and she recognized that the Chinese hot sauce is made from chile de árbol (called 朝天椒 in Chinese), which is a potent, common Mexican chili pepper. The way both cultures prepare this spicy salsa is the same--we heat the oil then add the chili. The smell of chili soaked in hot oil is so tantalizing. I am truly amazed at how connected the two seemingly faraway cultures are.

(Spicy sauce made from chile de arbol, same in Mexican and Chinese cultures)

[chen-chin]

Paola's niece's birthday party

(Saturday, July 6, 2014)

I attended Paola's little niece's 4-year-old birthday party. The party was Frozen-themed. The little birthday girl dressed as Alsa, there was an Alsa piñata and even the cake was Alsa. I found out that the Spanish version of "Let It Go" is "Libre Soy" (I'm free).

(So adorable!)

In Mexico, they don't sing "Happy Birthday" as the birthday song, they sing a traditional song called "Las Mañanitas" (Little Mornings).

[chen-chin]

Hanging out with Jessi and her family

After my internship, Jessi, a Rotaractor, took me to her house. Her siblings were coming home to visit, so her dad and she cooked a lot of Mexican food. There was rice with tomatoes, fried pork skin, beef liver with chili, guacamole, broccoli cream, beans with cheese, etc. Needless to explain, I ate a lot.

Jessi's family was very nice to me. Jessi spoke to me super slowly, which was very helpful.

After lunch, Jessi, her 7-year-old niece and I went ice skating. The place is new and far. When Jessi asked me to go, I said, yeah sure, completely forgetting the fact that I don't know how to ice skate. When I put on the skates, reality slapped me in the face. I could not skate because I was afraid to fall, but how could I learn if I don't fall? After struggling with myself for an hour (felt like three), I did improve.

Jessi's sister is a lawyer but also owns a Mexican food restaurant serving only dinner (a cenaduría). I ordered pozole, a pre-Columbian soup made from maize, meat and other seasonings. Yummy!

(Cuerito, picked pork skin, mixed with lettuce and sauce)

(Pozole soup and enchilada with red sauce)

[chen-chin]

Aguascalientes Rotary Club's officer transitioning banquet

(Wednesday, July 2, 2014)

The Rotaract Club was invited to attend the Aguascalientes Rotary Club's officer transitioning banquet. The mayor was there as well. They honored many outstanding Rotarians, including a Paul Harris Fellow.

The Rotaractors stayed for two more hours after the banquet in order to plan for their own officer transitioning banquet. I decided to make a slingshot out of the rubber band bracelet that I received at the Rotary banquet. After multiple tries, I was finally able to shoot far, but my dream shattered when I missed my target and instead shot a water bottle. The Rotaractors looked at me and shook their heads; they ruthlessly took away my ammunition. "I'm twelve; don't mind me." I told them.

[chen-chin]

Heroes’ Park

(Tuesday, July 1, 2014)

After class today, another Rotaractor, David, took me to the Park of Heroes. It is a very big park with lots of plantation. It even has a zoo section (sadly, the animals were confined and some were even chained).

We rented two bikes and surveyed the park. Feeling the breeze, I thoroughly enjoyed my relaxing bike ride. On a Tuesday afternoon, the park was fairly peaceful. David told me that many families bring their kids here on weekends.

(Relaxing bike ride in the park)

Afterwards, we went to downtown where I also saw the San Antonio church. I remember a story about San Antonio from Paola. Paola told me that there is a tradition for young women to turn the figure Saint Antonio upside hoping to get married.

(San Antonio church)

David's English isn't very good, so we spoke mostly in Spanish. Well, a lot of times I had to pretend like I understood—that's my trick to just go with it. I was worried that it would be awkward to tour with David because of the language issues, but we actually talked a lot; we even talked about the politics and economies for the U.S. and Mexico.

[chen-chin]

Climbing Picacho

(Monday, June 30, 2014)

I got up and 5 to go hiking with the Rotaractors. We climbed the "feet" part of the Cerro del Muerto, which is named Picacho. By "climbing", I mean climbing. There was no trimmed trail at all. We literally had to make path and climb the rocks. Needless to say, it was challenging for me, but I really enjoyed it.

(Picacho is the "feet" of the Hill of the Dead--doesn't it actually look like a dead man?)

It was actually pretty scary when we drove in the pitch darkness and started climbing—it felt like a horror movie. It was also scary looking up at the monstrous rocks above me. "One step at a time. Only mind the step below you." I kept reminding myself.

As we climbed up, the darkness slowly lifted, illuminating my path to the top.

We reached the top before the sun rose. The city, glittering with lights, was covered by a mist of grayness. Then, amidst the clouds, a fiery, red blob appeared. I quickly turned on my camera to capture the gorgeous scene, but the sun rose up too quickly and hid behind another cloud in just two minutes. When it reappeared, it was already fully up.

(Sunrise)

When I was climbing up, I tried not to think my way down. It was hard to balance my weight and not slip, but I was glad I got back safely without scratching myself.

(Aguascalientes from the top)

[chen-chin]

Mexico vs. Netherlands (no era penal) and Museums in Aguascalientes

(Sunday, June 29, 2014)

I have never felt so nervous watching a game. 1-2, Mexico lost. It was so close. I was sad, I was really sad. I wanted to cry. I have never felt so emotional about a game.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one. From that day, the Mexican Internet has been dominated by “NO ERA PENAL” memes, referring to the Dutch player Robben’s diving and faking a penalty.

(I even saw bus with "NO ERA PENAL" written over it!)

Because most of the museums are free on Sundays, Paola took me to visit them in downtown after the game. There were barely any people walking on the streets in downtown compared to other Sundays, probably because everyone is staying at home mourning for the end of Mexico during this World Cup. For us, the World Cup is over.

(Inside one museum)

I learned not only more about the culture and history of Aguascalientes, but also of Mexico and the native people on this land. Out of all of the museums, my favorite museum was the Museo Nacional de la Muerte (National Museum of Death). The museum displays objects associated with death—not gruesome, dark objects but beautiful, colorful things. On November 1 and 2, Mexicans celebrate “Día de Muertos” (Day of the Dead). The Mexican native tradition believes that death is not the end; instead, it resembles the passage of a new life. Day of the Dead is a beautiful ritual in which Mexicans happily and lovingly remember their loved relatives that have died. People swallow skulls made of sugar to signify that death is not bitter, and that death can be eaten and conquered; skeletons are dressed up fashionably because they will continue to look beautiful in the journey after death.

(Inside the Museo Nacional de la Muerte)

(Inside the Museo Nacional de la Muerte)

We saw the origin printing of “La Calavera Catrina” in the José Guadalupe Posada Museum, the famous Mexican printmaker who created this image a century ago. The iconography depicts a female skeleton dressed only in a European hat as a satirical commentary on the Mexican natives who were aspiring to adopt European aristocratic traditions in the pre-revolutionary era. La Catrina can be seen everywhere in Aguascalientes: in the San Marcos garden, in theme parks and in graffiti. It has become the icon of the Day of the Dead and Mexican culture.

(Giant La Catrina in a theme park)

[chen-chin]

Juan Jose’s fútbol game

 (Saturday, June 28, 2014)

Paola and I went to watch Juan Jose play fútbol. The game was in the UAA, the local university’s stadium. The view from the stadium was absolutely stunning—a sea of blue and green.

(The view beyond the stadium)

[chen-chin]

Chinese in Mexico

(Friday, June 27, 2014)

I visited a Chinese food restaurant today. It is a very small place, comparable to a smaller Panda Express. I met a Chinese guy working there. He's from Canton, a southern province by the coast in China, and he speaks a little Mandarin. He is only eighteen-years-old. He has been in Mexico for three years, and he came here because his parents own a restaurant here. He said most of the Chinese people in Aguascalientes work in Chinese restaurants.

Ah, I totally understand. That’s the usual job that most first-generation Chinese immigrants work. My parents own a Chinese restaurant in Dallas; the work is very demanding. However, most parents are willing to make the sacrifice and be the stepping stone for the betterment of their children. Thus, as a second-generation immigrant, kids like me have much, MUCH opportunities and resources.

I am surprised at how cheap the Chinese food is here in Mexico. Chinese food is already relatively cheap in the States, and the Chinese food in Mexico is only a third of the price in America. It is very difficult to make a profit. This is why he wants to go to the States. He thinks there are more and better job opportunities in the U.S. Thus, he's studying Spanish and English.

American dream. I don't know how tangible American dream is today, but it still lures many people around the world. Sadly, the economic situation in America isn't very good, I told him.

Despite of how full I was, I ordered food here. I told him I only needed a little bit, but he gave me huge portions for only 30 pesos (a little more than 2 dollars). After dining, I walked out of the store, wishing him best luck.

[chen-chin]

Food: restaurant next-door, taco street stand, and hot chocolate café

(Friday, June 27, 2014)

Now that I've bought natural juice at the restaurant next door to my internship so often, I have become familiar with the people working there. They are very nice, and they always speak slowly to me. We’ve even exchanged a few conversations. The people who work there are mostly in their twenties, and they are all girls. I met a little boy of about eight-years-old. His mom works there. He helps out when he doesn't have school. I chatted with him, and when I tried to tip him for his work, he shied away and did not take my money. So cute.

(The restaurant next door; it is extremely cheap. It is not considered a restaurant here. Restaurants are sit-down and more formal. This is classified as a lonchería, a place for breakfast and dinner)

(Various types of guisado (stew) offered. There is potato, pork skin, chili, etc.)

(Gordita--one or two stewes with the option of adding cheese stuffed inside thick tortilla bread)

(Huarache--fried dough as the base with a variety of toppings)

For dinner, the family went on a taco adventure. Street stands are the best!!!! Tasting real tacos makes me wonder how I was able to swallow the "tacos" in the States. I had tacos with beef tongue, head and pork. Pure deliciousness.

(Taco street stand)

(Real tacos--tacos with beef tongue, head and pork)

Then, the family took me to a hot chocolate café. The place was named Xocolātl Mexica. The word “chocolate” came from the Aztec word “xocolātl” (meaning "bitter water"), since chocolate originated from the Aztecs. I was so ready for the authentic chocolate adventure!

(The hot chocolate café)

The little café looks organic—a brown color scheme, a live sprouting tree, and beadwork artworks by the Huicholes are displayed (Huicholes are an indigenous group mostly living isolated in the mountains; they are famous for their elaborate beadwork and yarn painting). The shop makes its own chocolate from cocoa beans. Then, they "grind" the chocolate into powder by rapidly twisting the chocolate with their hands—it was the original way.

(Handmade bead work by Huicholes)

Of course, adventurous Abi ordered chili-flavored chocolate. The fuming chocolate came in a ceramic cup. Carefully sipping it, I did not taste the expected spiciness. Instead, the chocolate tasted creamy, sweet and a little bitter. Yet, after swallowing it I felt a kick of spiciness stained in my throat. Pure happiness.

(Chili hot chocolate. Pure deliciousness)

Food: restaurant next-door, taco street stand, and hot chocolate café

[chen-chin]

Palacio de Judicial and Descubre Museo

(Thursday, June 26, 2014)

At work today, Lupita, a coworker, asked me if I’d like to go to the Aguascalientes Palacio de Judicial (Palace of Justice) with her to visit the judges. Of course I said yes.

The Judicial Palace is an old and modestly sized building. Rooms are full of documents and hustling crowds. Lupita told me that one thing she does not like about the judicial system in Mexico is how people have to wait for a long time for their case to be resolved.

There are 20 judges in the entire state of Aguascalientes (Aguascalientes is a very small state). Following Lupita, I visited 3 judges—2 male, 1 female. The judges all seem very professional and approachable. Lupita told me that the Secretaría (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) has a good relation with the judges, because both departments collaborate on many issues. For example, if the Ministry finds a person with fake vital records, the Ministry immediately reports to the police and the judicial department.

After my internship, Sofia, a Rotaractor, came to pick me up. We visited the Descubre Museo (Interactive Science and Technology Museum). Compared to the Perot Museum in Dallas, it is more targeted towards children and hence has more many interactive games and activities. The museum did not have many patrons, most likely because it was a Thursday afternoon and the little kids still had school until July. I felt like a curious twelve-year-old. We also watched an IMAX in the planetarium section. The last line of the film stated "the universe is in you." I felt powerless yet powerful at the same time.

(Descubre Museo)

Afterwards, Sofia and I sneaked in to the city theater, where we saw some high-school students rehearsing a Mexican dance performance.

(Rehearsing the dance in the Aguascalientes Theater)

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Tres Centurias

Tres Centurias

(Wednesday, June 25, 2014)

My host Rotaract club planned out where to take me to visit for the next three weeks that I'll be here. It is very sweet of them, and I am super excited!

  My journey started today. Juan Luis and Ruben from another Rotaract club in Aguascalientes took me to Tres Centurias (Three Centuries), a park/ museum of trains. Aguascalientes used to be the epicenter for train transportation in Mexico. Of course there are not nearly as many trains now, but they kept some old wagons and put them on display in a neat-looking park. There was also a fountain that danced to the traditional Mexican music in the park.

(Tres Centurias)

（Dancing water fountain)

We also had chaskas frutas, which is a type of ice cream made in three minutes from the fresh fruits that the customer had just selected. I honestly don’t know how they did it, but very tasty indeed!

[chen-chin]

Food: Nieve de garrafa and chaskas

(Tuesday, June 24, 2014)

After our failed adventure a month ago to hunt for nieve de garrafa, I finally tasted it today!

Nieve de garrafa is a type of handmade ice-cream made by stirring a wooden shovel in a steel cylinder. What is unique about this ice-cream is that no fat is added at all. It usually has fruity flavors.

(Nieve de garrafa)

Chaska is the local dessert in Aguascalientes. It is made from adding a paste of mayonnaise and cheese on top of boiled corn grains. The customers can then add lime juice and chili sauce depending on their likes. The little street stand we went to is very popular—often times, cars driving by would honk as a signal to ask if there is still any chaska left, and the owner would yell, “Sí, hay” (yes there is) if there are still some left. Therefore, the little stand is dubbed “Sí, hay” by the locals.

(Chaska + chili)

(“Sí, hay”)