Mexico has been in the news during recent months with many references to drug-related violence as well as being the supposed place of origin for Influenza A H1N1. We want to share with you our own circumstances so you can know firsthand about how these two big events are affecting us.
Violence
Much of the violence in the last few years has come as a consequence of Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, declaring a war on all drug cartels in the country. Where in the past there was a more selective and reactionary approach, now the army and different levels of law enforcement are cracking down more intentionally on drug trafficking. The cartels have increased their violence with brutal killings, extorsions, kidnappings, etc. This is true throughout much of the country. Lately, there has been much activity in the state of Zacatecas, about eight hours north of Mexico City, where Lina and I met and worked for a few years in the late nineties. That's where 53 prisoners were released just last week by a planned prison break where much corruption is suspected.
Here in Tenancingo there is some minor activity. Back in March a drug gang disarmed the local police as well as that of Zumpahuacan, 10 miles south of us. There was a shootout between gangs related to some financial debts in the drug trafficking. Many of the details have been kept from the public, with authorities stating that the case is under investigation. Our perception is that people are aprehensive, but seem to lead a relatively normal life: walking freely in the streets, going to market, taking kids to/from school. We personally have never felt unsafe since we've been here.
Influenza
Late April and the first few weeks of May much of the country was put on guard to curtail the spread of the newly discovered Influenza A H1N1 which has become a worldwide issue. Schools were cancelled for a few weeks; in Mexico City dine-in restaurants were closed and public transportation dropped notably. In Tenancingo, many wore mouth covers and were generally more careful when interacting face to face. Church was cancelled the first Sunday; the following week attendance was down about 80% and those who did attend were asked to wear mouth covers and to refrain from customary greetings (hugs, kisses and handshakes).
When classes resumed on May 11th, all the children were grouped by class outside the school gates. Teachers assessed each child's health with a brief questionnaire and the regular ceremony to honor the flag was cancelled. It took about half an hour before all the kids were in school. This was repeated the rest of that week. Since then, things have eased up. Mouth covers are strongly encouraged, but not required. At Rebeca's kindergarten, one mother came to school each day with a mouth cover that matched her clothing (she has purple, blue and white, at least). As you can see, even the possibility of a serious health threat cannot keep some from being fashionable.
There is generally a much more relaxed sense among the people we interact with. If anything, this has helped make people more aware of important hygene habits like washing hands and being careful when greeting, especially when sick. I've asked if people have known or even heard of anyone in Tenancingo being infected - small town news travels quick. Someone had heard of two possible cases at the hospital, but nothing confirmed. We are taking the regular precautions, and, of course, if flu symtoms develop, we will surely seek appropriate care and testing.
Agua Bendita (Blessed Water) is the name of the small community of about thirty families who have made their home the upper mountains behind the city of Tenancingo. It takes about 40 minutes to get there, most of which is dirt roads. All uphill. Once you get there, you get this great view of the valley filled with greenhouses for all the flowers. You can also see the statue of Jesus from behind and you're actually looking down at it, which is significant since most of the time we're looking up from Tenancingo.
Our assignment was to help build a new kitchen for the family, since their current arrangement had the kitchen and a bedroom together. Also, another home had plastic sheets for walls. We were going to put up corrugated cardboard instead. In the past I'd thought that homes with this kind of siding were very poor homes. Amazing to see how it blessed them to get an upgrade to that instead of what they had!
Samuel, Rebeca and I took a walk around our new neighborhood back in late January. We walked down a ditch where there flows a small stream which could easily be crossed (not so, they say during rainy season which is between june and november - stay tuned for an accounting later about that...). We then continued up the hill and turned around to this view of Tenancingo. You can see Christ the King atop the hill overlooking town. Those houses closest to Samuel and Rebeca are in our neighborhood. Straight above Rebeca´s head and where the hill goes down in the far away distance is where their school is located. It takes a good ten minutes and nine different streets to get there.
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