The Third World ?

Are the countries and cultures in the 'third world', some alternate experience? Something surreal? Are these cultures really outside of the norm? Something that doesn't measure up?
I'm thinking that it's better referred as...the Two-Thirds World..because that's where the majority of people on the planet live-out their lives.

Statistically speaking, there's an average person around the world. All things being equal, statistically, you are probably...a 30 year old Muslim female farmer, who speaks Mandarin Chinese, and you support 2.6 kids on $1,600 U.S. dollars a year.
That's the world average, majority experience.

ALL TOGETHER NOW, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN BEYOND YOURSELVES, SEE THE MARGINS OF THE WORLD, WHERE THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM US ARE WAITING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE AS HUMAN AS WE ARE. RECOGNIZE YOURSELVES IN HE OR SHE WHO ARE NOT LIKE YOU OR ME.

Carlos Fuentes

A HUMAN BEING IA A PART OF THE WHOLE, BUT A PART LIMITED IN TIME AND SPACE. A PERSON EXPERIENCES THEMSELVES, THEIR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AS SOMETHING SEPARATED FROM THE REST, A KIND OF 'OPTICAL DELUSION' OF THEIR BEING. THIS DELUSION IS A KIND OF PRISON FOR US, RESTRICTING US TO OUR PERSONAL DESIRES AND TO AFFECTION FOR JUST A FEW PERSONS NEAREST TO US. OUR TASK MUST BE TO FREE OURSELVES FROM THIS PRISON BY WIDENING OUR CIRCLE OF COMPASSION.

Albert Einstein

LAUGH WITH YOUR HAPPY FRIENDS WHEN THEY'RE HAPPY, SHARE TEARS WHEN THEY'RE DOWN. GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER, DON'T BE STUCK-UP. MAKE FRIENDS WITH NOBODIES, DON'T BE THE GREAT SOMEBODY.

Romans 12:15-16 (The Message paraphrase)

Adios, Bruce

New Year’s Traditions, photos

OAXACAN TAMALE. WRAPPED IN A BANANA LEAF STUFFED WITH CHICKEN AND BLACK MOLE.



A REPRESENTATION OF THE OLD YEAR IN THE FORM OF AN OLD MAN.




12 GRAPES FOR MAKING WISHES AS YOU BRING IN THE NEW YEAR.



ROSCA BREAD, WITH A SPECIAL TREAT INSIDE.

New Year’s Traditions

What comes to mind? An evening with friends? New Year resolutions? Singing Auld Lang Syne? Toasting with Champaign?
Well, what about Rosca Bread? 12 grapes? Tamales? Saying goodbye to the old year? A Word of expectation or hope for the New Year?

We are experiencing the excitement of the New Year in a new culture and so we witness new traditions as well. Still, we hope to bring in the New Year with friends; laughter, games, music- it wouldn’t be a party without these things, regardless of the culture. But Rosca Bread? MMMMM, you’re missing out! Rosca, or King’s Cake, is formed into a ring to symbolize a crown. It is a sweet bread often drizzled with light frosting and pieces of dried fruit, like you’d see in a fruit cake. But the excitement is about what’s inside the Rosca, small plastic baby dolls, about the size of the end of my pinkie finger. The tradition in southern Mexico is to pick the piece of bread you want and cut a slice from that part of the loaf. If your get a baby, and usually there are several, you WIN! Your prize is that YOU get to prepare a party on Feb. 2 (Candlemas*) and make tamales for EVERYONE! Well, Bruce and our friend Roy, found the dolls this year, so if you can make it, they’ll be hosting a party on Feb. 2

And what about the 12 grapes? At the stroke of midnight you are suppose to gobble one grape with each stroke of the midnight bells ringing throughout the neighborhood. Some say the 12 grapes represent the twelve months, others say the 12 strokes of the clock. But with each grape that you eat, you make a wish for the New Year. One wish might be that you don’t choke!

Tamales? A party in Mexico would not be a party without tamales! And Oaxaca is no exception. In fact, Oaxaca is defined by many as the culinary capital of Mexico; 8 different kinds of Mole, Squash Flower soup, and Oaxacan Chocolate are proof of that truth! My favorite is Tamale Oaxacano. It is much thinner that the kind of tamale you may be familiar with, it’s filled with chicken and black mole! The special touch is that it is wrapped up in a banana leave and tied with palm string.

Saying goodbye to the old year. The tradition is to make a representation of the old year in the form of an old man, like a scarecrow. These old guys sit in chairs outside everyone’s house awaiting the New Year. Always beside him on the street is a bottle of wine, usually empty! In Vera Cruz, where this tradition is said to have started, they burn him at midnight, and then welcome in the New Year!

Lastly, a word of expectation or hope for the New Year. Now, I’m not sure if this is a Mexican tradition or an Eberhardt tradition; that’s who we learned of it from, Roy and Julie Eberhardt, long time Oaxacan residents. On New Year’s Eve each person shares a word of hope for the new year. It could be something personal (romance, a promotion, etc.) or hope for the world at large (peace on earth and goodwill to men). It is a word, a quote or a verse for you to focus your attention on for the whole year: friendship, patience, laughter. Mine for this year:

Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good, share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship- a different kind of sacrifice- the kind that takes place in kitchens and workplaces and on the streets. (Hebrews 13:16)

Trying to implement this will be a whole year’s (and more) worth of contemplation for me; making life and love meet together in the street, in homes and workplaces. What are your hopes and dreams for the New Year? Send us a note, we’d love to hear!

*Candlemas: Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son Jesus, traditionally Feb. 2. This day also marks the ritual presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was met by Anna and Simeon. Simeon held the baby Jesus and called him a Light to the World. The festival is called Candlemas because this was the day that all the Church's candles for the year were blessed. On Candlemas night, many people place lighted candles in their windows at home. (Wikipedia)