Carnitas

Friday equals Tianguis. El Parque Llano (pronounced ya-no) is the place to be on Fridays in Oaxaca. In the mists of the night phantom workers enter and create a veritable warren of booths and covered walkways; the fires are lit and the air is filled with whispers of crowds to come and the first flakes of ash float from the ovens from whence will come the sacrifices to the masses. It is a mysterious event like most life experiences.

We arrived at least an hour later than anticipated to the VBS, so Kimb, Em and I went straight to the Llano with promises from Migue and Jose to join us for lunch there. We walked and ducked, smelled and touched; I bought a half kilo of coffee. We looked and asked where items came from, how they were made and what they were made of. No sooner had we told a ragamuffin (and I use this label most affectionately as they are my people but on a much more true level) that we would return to see his wares after having lunch it began to rain. Not unexpected, but Em didn't have her rain jacket. It rained hard enough for me to don my rain pants for the first time this trip. I found myself to be the only person in Oaxaca to have a rainsuit. Not only am I tall, white, dreadlocked and bearded I now add a matching gray rainsuit to my personal smorgasbord of rarity. One must embrace oneself for there are times when no one else will (unless of course you have a wife as wonderful as mine, but still love yourself). We waited under a tarped walk way, waiting for the decision to be made for us as to whether we would go for the jacket or wait the rain out. Our decision was made a bit easier by a small woman with a large pokey stick, as she thrust forward into the air her enchanted spear she smote the sagging tarp with electrifying strength that sent the deluge racing down the tarp in a liquid avalanche onto Kimberly's head. We shortly thereafter decided to go.

We walked and yes raindrops kept falling on our heads. We arrived avoiding the carwash (that being the street spray spread by speeding cars entering the street lakes). Em surrounded herself with an eye searing orange jacket; we made our return. Kimb went with Em to find a gift or two and I sat to await the arrival of our promised friends at the rendezvous point. They arrived and moments later the chicas returned. We had tacos arracheras from the sombrerudos (these guys with cowboy hats). As always they were delicious except for the piece of bone that I crunched on, but hey it's bone, in my mind that increases the authenticity of the meat (don't ask me why and don't ruin my optimism). Kimb and I shared a strawberry drink.

We left and returned to the church building there to wait for any adolescents who wanted to play soccer at two. No one showed. Aaron was still there as was Angel (Jose's little brother) so Migue, Jose and I joined them for some soccer 3 on 2. Jose and I were winning quite convincingly when Aaron was overcome by the heat; not that there is any real heat during the rainy season in Oaxaca even during the afternoon, but it must have been an inner heat, a passion if you will that would inspire the 12 year old to doff his shirt. Not a problem, nor was it a scandal and honestly it didn't help the team that much, but it did allow for one goal. I cannot recall the exact circumstances from whence this comment came but I am certain that there arose such a clatter as to merit a comment from Migue concerning Aaron's 'carnitas'. Now carnitas comes from the word carne meaning meat and the diminuitive ita meaning small and it is of course plural bring the medley to literally mean little meats though there are obvious contextual and cultural layers of meaning that need be applied but you get the idea. Aaron is a very athletic young man and is a great kid all around as well as quite active. He wears however a bit of baby fat around his midsection. With his shirt on you would never have noted its existence, however such was not the case. Needless to say Migue's comment about Aaron's carnitas brought every member of my team to their knees (being me and Jose) leaving carnitas to score a goal uninhibited. The goal was worth the laugh. Then, as you would have guessed, it began to rain. Again.

When it rains in Oaxaca all the Americans are supposed to stop what they are doing and drink a cup of coffee (it's Oaxacan law). So I, being the lawbreaker that I am forwent but Em and Kimb went with Migue to have another of the local brew. We basically own a table at a place called El Barrio across from the Lechuza taco place. It was shortly there after we returned to the church for the last night of regional service. The churches of Christ had been meeting at a different church in Oaxaca each night for women's class and then a congregational service; tonight was the last night and was hosted at our church. During the service we received most pleasant news. Pedro had arrived (He is Migue's brother who is finishing medical school in Puebla). We stayed and chatted after the service and helped cleanup and put chairs away. Then we went to Marisol and Soledad's home close to the church, so Em could pack her things. In preparation for the arrival of the youth group from Toluca Kimb and I are staying with Marisol and her mom Soledad and Emily is moving to Esperanza's house (a sweet lady from the church that owns a restaurant). We watched the first part of the Deathly Hallows film with Carlita (Marisol's daughter) in preparation for seeing the final Harry Potter film tomorrow. Coco arrived to take Emily and we said goodnight. I turned a knob and found myself being rained upon once more today but I embraced this shower closing my eyes and thanking G-d for this day.