Anthropological Study

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  Mexico City, Mexico
Sunday, August 5, 2007

Today was all about anthropology. The online dictionary defines it as "The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans." The day started with the anthropological study of Chinese dance. We journeyed to the Zocalo (the main plaza) to watch these amazing Chinese dancers expose us to a bit of their culture. It was seriously SO amazing! I almost cried. Their dancing was just so beautiful, the music so powerful, and the emotion so deep, you couldn't help but me mesmorized. It was exotic! There was this announcer who explained a bit about the Chinese exhibition in Spanish. It was just so nice seeing two cultures come together in harmony. I LOVE culture! At the end of the dance all the Chinese dancers came out holding either a Mexican or Chinese flag....showing mutual respect for the respective cutlures. Amazing! Bravo! I applauded until I was the only one left clapping. :)

I am going to post a video of one of these dances on  youtube....just follow the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR4S5XvNjDI

We also saw an Aztec cleansing ritual!! Here is the video of that...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZEejxvG-vo

So today was also FREE MUSEUM day! How great right! We would be able to explore all the museums we wanted to see, but didn't feel were in our budget. However we soon realized that this would never happen since the line to the first museum we went to ran back nearly a fourth of a mile. I think they were having some kind of exhibition of art there. This was of course the Museum of Art. We elected instead to try our luck at the Museum of Anthropology. Remember, I told you this was a day for anthropology!!

The line was MUCH shorter here...in fact there was no line at all!!! Yes! But it did cost money for non-Mexicans (again, sucks to be American). Before we entered we watched this awesome Aztec ritual. So let me explain...five guys climb up this massive pole where at the top four of them wrap individual ropes around their feet. One guy sits at the very top of the pole and begins to play flute. Once secured in place, the four guys begin their descent downwards as the pole spins. Each time the pole spins, the four guys turn one revolution. They were basically led to the ground at the rate in which the top of the pole spun. You will see the picture and then it will make much more sense. I promise!!

Anyhow, they turned 13 revolutions each- which when multiplied by four people equaled 52 revolutions. This represented the weeks in a year. Fascinating huh!!!

After the cool show we attented the Museum of Anthropology. Let me just tell you that this was the MOST amazing museum I have seen. It even tops the Louvre in France!! What made this museum so great was the fact that it was both indoors AND outdoors. You found most of the ruins outside. There were tombs, glyphs, etc. Inside, there were 6 different rooms. The first room was the most amazing I felt. It covered the development of species from our early ancestors the Austrolopithecus Afarensis to our current species Homo Sapien Sapiens. The museum also covered everything that I teach about the anthropology of the species... in detail!! It even showed the different climate regions, how early humans adapted to those climates, and then how they migrated to inhabit the world. Did you know that Mexico has SEVERAL petroleum reserves! Itīs amazing to think that we extract most of our oil from the Middle East with such surplus existing just south. In fact, Diego Rivera alluded to the exploitation of oil reserves in this country in his murals....it depicted governmental leaders shaking hands- with oil company logos in the backrground while in the foreground the lower class lived in dire conditions. 

Another fascinating room in the museum was the room dedicated to the Olmec. I have to admit my ignorance of the Olmec. Oftentimes they are overshadowed by the greatness of the Aztec, Inca, and Maya...but this culture was equally as developed. They also built pyramids and temples along the cardinal points and in line with the solstices and equinoxes. However, their city was destroyed....and archaeologists have no clue why!! Yes! Finally, a chance for me to do some excavations. :) Anyways, I am visiting the site tomorrow. Itīs mostly been reconstructed by archeologists speculating what the city must have looked like.

Another cool room was the Maya room. Although I have been deeply embedded in Mayan knowledge...what they have to offer is ENDLESS! I mean this room showed even more of their amazing glyphs and tombs. I thought I saw them all! It was at this point that some little Mexican kids came up to talk to me. I was quite nervous given that my Spanish is still in its infant stages. But I actually did quite well! I find kids to be SO much more patient than adults. They worked with my broken Spanish. They even helped me. :) I then taught them some English words. Finally I can claim to be "un maestro nacional." Meaning I teach in Mexico and get all the discounts. :)

Daniel and I stayed at the museum until closing time, which was 3 and a 1/2 hours after we got there! And there was still more to explore! Oh well, maybe next time I am back in Mexico City.

After the Museum of Anthropology we grabbed some dinner and headed back to the hostel. It was here that I met this AMAZING family. The family was from Sweden and was 11 people in size! The dad and mom were taking their kids to see the world! The dad was so humble. He was 51 years in age and played the Oboe. Basically his friends raised enough money for him and his family to travel. Isnīt that sweet! His kids were very humble and nice also. They were also very into pool. And guess what...there was a pool table right next to the couch!! It was VERY shabby. But nonetheless it would make for a good game.

They beat me! I was very humbled. Deep down I blamed the sticks that had only plastic tips, but perhaps it was a lesson for me as well in humility.

I finally called it a night at around midnight. Tomorrow is going to be stellar...seeing the Olmec ruins!

Love and miss you all!

Waggy Woo Woo

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