It upsets me that I was one of the people who viewed the Mayan culture as one of the past. I suppose I hadn't really thought about whether the culture had survived into the present or not. It also makes it so much the worse to know that those people are treated so poorly and that, more than once, they have been stuck in the middle of a conflict and forced into horrible situations. I think the worst part of this is the shock that I didn't know, didn't have a single inkling. I feel like our media keeps so much of what happens elsewhere in the world out of our news and entertainment, but that is another story.
On a lighter note I am fascinated by the religious aspect of the Mayan culture today. The idea of a mixture between Catholicism and their ancient beliefs sounds both beautiful and awe inspiring. I'm a little intimidated by the idea of chicken sacrifices at shrines but the more I think about it I shouldn't be. I grew up Catholic at a private school and is taking the wafer and wine not like a sacrifice depending on how you look at it?
Also the weaving is both gorgeous and interesting. The fact that one could look at the patterns in clothing and know what specific group they are from is very cool. The weaving is so colorful and eye catching, it verifies what I mentioned in the previous post about thinking of color when I think of our southern neighbors.
The pure fact that there are still Mayan people around is news to me and so learning about their life in today's world was both wonderful and horrifying. It's terribly sad to know that a people with such lovely weaving skills and a rich culture are in some cases treated so inhumanely.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Mexico Experience- Sam Fairley
I've never been there myself but my parents are heading down to Mexico next month (Needless to say I'm jealous!). I did however take Spanish classes from first to eighth grade which were instructed by someone from Mexico. The very first thing that comes to mind as I think of Mexico is just the colors! The yellows and greens and blues of the beautiful garments and dances. I used to see the dances performed at school and the music was always so pretty. I even learned a dance or two myself though I only got to wear one of the skirts one time and only for a brief school performance.
The second thing I think of is perhaps a very common thing to relate Mexico with and that is El Dia de los Muertos or The Day of the Dead. It's the day after my birthday so it's always been a day I relate to. The whole concept of the celebration of life and remembrance of those lost is so wonderful to me. It's a much better way to deal with death then the fear we've instilled into our culture of graveyards and resting places for the dead, at least in my opinion. Instead of spending the day in somber quiet ways there is a parade and food and candy. It was a day my Spanish class looked forward to every year (Me especially as it meant my birthday).
The third thing to come to mind is the Revolution. Perhaps a little lame and dorky on my part but eight years of classes will do that to you. We spent every anniversary of the revolution learning and relearning the facts of it. We would often do art projects or the likes on this day and I remember how difficult it must have been to stand against an army backed with money when you had none.
So really my experiences with Mexico are not from physically being there, but still they relate to the culture in that I would often partake in the celebrations and often on the same days that people in Mexico were celebrating. That's comparable to being there at least.
-Sam Fairley
The second thing I think of is perhaps a very common thing to relate Mexico with and that is El Dia de los Muertos or The Day of the Dead. It's the day after my birthday so it's always been a day I relate to. The whole concept of the celebration of life and remembrance of those lost is so wonderful to me. It's a much better way to deal with death then the fear we've instilled into our culture of graveyards and resting places for the dead, at least in my opinion. Instead of spending the day in somber quiet ways there is a parade and food and candy. It was a day my Spanish class looked forward to every year (Me especially as it meant my birthday).
The third thing to come to mind is the Revolution. Perhaps a little lame and dorky on my part but eight years of classes will do that to you. We spent every anniversary of the revolution learning and relearning the facts of it. We would often do art projects or the likes on this day and I remember how difficult it must have been to stand against an army backed with money when you had none.
So really my experiences with Mexico are not from physically being there, but still they relate to the culture in that I would often partake in the celebrations and often on the same days that people in Mexico were celebrating. That's comparable to being there at least.
-Sam Fairley
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