First Day of Work

I started "working" the very first day after I arrived. There was a big celebration in the Cathedral to commemorate the 100th birthday of a beloved local bishop, Sergio Méndez Arceo, who passed away 10 years ago. The Cuernavaca Center for Intercultural Dialogue on Development (CCIDD; the organization that I work for) was responsible for making sandwiches to feed the several hundred people who would come out to the midday ceremony. So my co-workers and I got up bright and early and whipped up a gazillion very delicious sandwiches. It was a great way to get to know everyone because all of my co-workers were involved and we talked casually while we worked. We finished with the sandwiches just in time to bring them to the Cathedral and go to Mass.

The Mass was absolutely beautiful. Bishop Sergio worked very closely with the indigenous population in the area, so the Mass incorporated many indigenous worship practices to honor his memory. For example, native women dressed in their traditional clothing began the Mass by dancing up the isle to the altar carrying urns filled with burning incense. They then danced around the altar to bless it. A huge entourage of priests, seminarians, and altar boys followed these women, and once the women had finished, two of the priest blew the ceremonial conch shells - a native practice that indicates the commencement of the ceremony. The music was performed by a Mariachi band, but the singers were indigenous men. These singers have a very particular sound - they don´t seem to sing in a major or minor key, and their sound is very gutteral, but at the same time nasily. I really enjoyed their music - if I can figure out how to download a link to an indigenous song, I´ll post it because it´s certainly worth listening to.

After the Mass, the several of the indigenous singers gave a concert and we passed out the sandwiches and Boings. Boing rivals Coca-Cola here as the preferred soda. It is natural fruit juices with carbonation. They even have fig and guava flavors! After the concert ended, the ceremony was over. My co-workers and I cleaned up, and then our day was done. It was Friday, so everyone went home. Kathy and I went out to eat, and then I turned in early.