Great Day for a Gringo

Monday May 1
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Cartoon-a-Day

I just completed my first day of class at the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca. It was a banner day. I have a professor all to myself. They have placed me in a special advanced class where we read newspapers, watch television and comment of local, national and world events. Right up my alley. Part of today's class included a Spanish SCRABBLE game pitting me against my professor. I thought I would hold my own, but when the game was over, I had beat my Oaxaca-born-and-raised, college educated professor by more than a 200 point margin. Not bad for a gringo. Following a half day of class (due to today being Mexican Labor Day), I had the pleasure of lunching with three of the students also enrolled at various learning levels at the Institute. We chose a balcony restaurant overlooking the Zocalo called "La Casa de la Abuela" (Grandma's House). There I realized 2 of the 3 goals of every visitor to Oaxaca: 1) I had my first taste of chapulines (grasshoppers, sauteed with onions, served with guacamole and fresh tomato). Then, for the main course, I had mole negro, another native Oaxacan dish, consisting of a breast of chicken baked and smothered in a thick, extremely rich "gravy" containing dark chocolate. It was so rich I couldn't finish it. And it was one of the most unique flavor sensations I've ever experienced. There are other types of mole that I will no doubt sample while I'm here. Below are photo proof of my culinary feats. (More on the third goal when I reach it.)

Well, amigos, that's it for today. I'm still suffering from the heat, though we just had a welcome thunderstorm that brought about an inch of rain. But the refreshing effects only lasted a few minutes. But I was glad to get it! Gotta go do my homework for tomorrow: read one of the local daily newspapers for tomorrow's discussion. Should be fun. Hasta luego!

Remember to keep it funny, hot & spicy!