Blog #2: Greg's thoughts

December 27^th, 2008:                 

          Today, traveling to see the Zapotec women and their culture was truly an eye opening experience. When first entering the village, a person of my own background from the States would think that the inhabitants where very poor. However, this is not the case. Seeing the pride and amount of time these people take in their work making Tapetes showed that they are very rich in culture. Tradition is very important and plays a very large role in these peoples everyday lives. Although these traditions are very important it also has influences from outside sources such as the United States.  In the history text, Zapotec Women, by Lynn Stephen he writes, “ Emigrants who have returned to the community have introduce significant changes in community life including the formation of weaving cooperatives, a somewhat expanded role for women in the formal political system, more consumer goods, and increased capital used to invest in house construction and busness.” Since the United States is such a world power its economy can sometimes influence the economics of other nations such as Mexico.  This idea of tradition first struck me when the man who was showing the class how these rugs are made said that he is of the 9^th generation in his family. This was shocking to me when all I know of my family history is back to my great grandparents, and many of are family traditions are very general and Americanized as are many of the inhabitiants of the United States.  

From reading the background of the Zapotec women and the issues on the McDonalds in the Zocolo, I can understand why tradition is so important to many of the people of Mexico exspecally when fighting the outside sources of influence. Felipe H. Lopez in the article, A heated Mc-culture clash writes, “The zocalo, or central plaza, a 473-year-old colonnaded square, is the heart of this city, and it languid beat almost never changes.” After 473 years of existence a person can understand why many citizens are unfavorable to change, since much of their every day lives are based around the very culture which they had fought hard to keep, with battles such as this.

                  But, what has struct as most important so far in my exploring Oaxaca is the importance of tourism in the economy. So far every where I have traveled within the city including the Zocolo and the various markets and shops, as well as the Zapotecs of Valle de Teotalian use tourism in order to make a profitable living. It seems as though without tourism the economy would almost collapse in most of the areas I have traveled in Mexico thus far. Being able to keep Mexico traditional but yet appealing to tourism must be a very difficult task for many of the Citizens of Mexico. It seems as though survival is based on a balance of medium in which Mexico’s citizens must strive to keep things traditional but also appeal to the tourist which provide them with their day to day income. 

- Greg -