Antojos y "Novedades"

Todavía parece que era ayer cuando esperaba con muchas ganas el entrar a un H-E-B Plus!, un Target, un Walmart, o a las 3 tiendas para buscar los dulces que no encuentras en México, así como algunos otros antojos y “novedades”. Los antojos son los dulces ya conocidos, inclusive algunos dulces nutritivos como las cerezas deshidratadas y arándanos azules deshidratados. Las novedades vienen siendo todo lo nuevo: Sour Patch de un sabor nuevo, jelly beans de Sweet Tarts o de Life Savers, harina para hacer quequitos (o magdalenas, como le dicen los Españoles) de chocolate rellenos con chocolate líquido, etc.

Normalmente tenía que ir a varias tiendas para conseguir de todo lo que quería llevar. Estando ya en Odessa no hay necesidad de hacer lo que hacía antes, de poquito en poquito puedo decir que ya probé todas las novedades ACTUALES. Falta ver con qué salen ahora con los dulces navideños. Después de haber probado todo lo congelado que no podía llevarme a México puedo decir que las nieves más ricas de la Blue Bell son las de vainilla sabor casero, chocolate holandés, “dessert trio” (esa de vainilla con jarabe de chocolate, brownies, galletas (y quien sabe que más). La nieve de Butterfinger marca Dreyers la regó al ponerle mantequilla de cacahuate, porque eso le quita sabor al Butterfinger.

La clave es siempre buscar el balance entre la comida rica saludable y la comida rica chatarra. En el sentido estrictamente alimenticio, no hay nada mejor que tener todos los antojos lo suficientemente cerca para ir a comprarlos cuando quieras, y lo suficientemente lejos que no te quede la tentación de tener todo al alcance de la mano como en tu despensa.

Otoño 2013, Regreso a Monterrey

Es otoño y de repente sientes como el calor de ahorita no es como el calor de verano. Te das cuenta que aunque sigue la mejor temporada del año el trabajo sigue. Después de dos meses hay tiempo para repetir experimentos en la cocina.

Es otoño y no hay nada más rico que salir a caminar cuando el cielo está completamente despejado pero que a la vez se siente agradable. Cuando el clima es así sientes calor, pero no te da calor. Es otoño, aunque el sol sí quema. Es octubre y puedo decir que el mes que entra regreso a Monterrey, aunque falten casi dos meses.

1. The Moment of the Truth, 2. The World Turns Left

As we try to balance eating healthy and at the same time eating delicious, this is the moment of the truth: which grapes are the best tasting? I'll find out with my fruit allowance this week. I call it an allowance as I do not allow myself to eat more than one fruit type in a week, as I get to buy food just for myself now. The fruit will simply spoil (unless it's apple). The moment of the truth also comes as you continue with your first year of teaching to see which teaching strategies are the best, as well as if and when will you need to differentiate.

The sad truth is that the world is turning left, and no, this is not about politics. I talk about social liberalism. While no far right or far left policies are good, families are being torn apart and new "varieties" want to be included as part of the definition.

People will continue to struggle choosing right, center, or leftist politicians around the world. The real moment of the truth will not be clearly visible to everyone, so switching from one party to another will be the norm. A country's prosperity might not depend so much on which type of politician is in power, but in the honesty and capability he or she possesses. Choosing someone who is neither in the far right or far left might be a good start, however, the future of a country will also depend on how socially conservative families stay. I meant to say conservative, not very conservative. 

While we must not live in a world full of discrimination because of age, race, martial status, and religion, a true family should always begin with the marriage between a man and a woman. This does not mean that single mothers should be penalized or that unplanned babies should be aborted, but having two fathers or two mothers would be an awful experience for a child. We must respect others' opinions, beliefs, and likes, as long as they do not trespass others' rights. For instance, an unborn child has the right to live, if you do not want the baby, give it to someone who does, if you like to hang around with someone who does not like opposite sex people, don't have an innocent child deal with it. As this becomes more common, hopefully the moment of the truth will reveal that those couples' kids are better off living without the so called "family".

Cuando te mantienes solo

Cuando te mantienes solo te das cuenta que el queso y la carne se compran en gramos, no en kilos, y aun así, puede que sobre. Vas al super y se te antoja todo. Que si esta semana quiero hacer un picadillo con papas, acompañarlo con arroz, este día pasta, este día verduras, que si quiero ensalada… Y aun la lechuga se te echa a perder aunque la compres en bolsas chicas donde ya viene partida. Vas a la joyería H-E-B (con eso de que en EU la fruta y verdura tienen precio de joyas) y se ven deliciosas las canastas que tienen uvas verdes, rojas y negras sin semillas, pero te das cuenta que no te has acabado las manzanas. Buscando hacer que rinda mas el dinero buscas ir a Sam’s y ves que a pesar de que la comida es más barata, las cantidades abundantes hacen que pueda haber más desperdicio. Vamos a ver qué tal nos va congelando la comida, y a ver qué tal queda un licuado de fresas que esas no las congelo.

Por increíble que parezca, es la comida “chatarra” (ah, pero İqué rica esta!) la más barata.  Medio galón de nieve Blue Bell, marca H-E-B o Dreyer’s te sale en unos 5 o 6 dólares, lo que te rinde más que 6 yogurts que cuestan el doble. El cereal, los dulces, las galletas rinden más como comida chatarra que la comida nutritiva. 

Fall 2013

According to meteorologists, this is the first day of fall. Heat advisories are in place about 5 hours away from here (in the Metroplex), but I know it is just a matter of weeks or even days until it begins to cool down. We might be shivering by the end of this month. Regardless of that, no later than next month it will feel COLD.

With all of this, the real work has begun, and I am looking forward to make this job a rewarding one, and no, this is not about money, it is about results.

Chasing the Sun: Odd Things Happening in Odessa, Texas

Or perhaps not really. It is just different. Having lunch at 11:15 or 11:30 AM in the US, when we usually eat around 2:00 PM in Mexico is just different. This is something we Mexicans have in common with Spanish colleagues, however, my Spanish roommates have refused to eat dinner until 10:00 PM, despite eating lunch around noon. Once school starts, I guess it'll be like having our recess lunch and early dinner (perhaps at 7:00 PM, not 6:00 PM as Americans seem to do) due to the fact that waking up early will be a must, and being awake for 10 hours without any food is too much.

You can feel the sun burning you in Odessa as soon as you walk out the door, even if your skin doesn't really burn. I have been used to winter sun in northeastern Mexico, when it is cool, dry, and you feel the cold sun slowly burning you. Contrariwise, summer sun in Monterrey makes you feel sticky, hot, and humid, but not as much as Houston or South Padre Island.

People are warm and seem to be friendly too. I don't mean to say that people in big cities in Texas are mean, but I would say that Odessans' kindness outperforms other peoples' kindness in places like San Antonio, Houston, or Dallas (Austin is a different story with which I need further observation to reach a possible conclusion). Would it be perhaps that unlike previous shopping trips, now I'm really having the opportunity to interact with people north of the border? 

Being invited to dinner or for a drink on an almost daily basis is cool, however, I will be on a budget until my first paycheck. Hopefully as we start school this will start to be something that will be done mainly on weekends so that we can all save money to travel, to cover unforeseen costs, and simply save for the sake of doing it. Odd is not bad, it's just different. I am looking forward to this life I live.

La Escuela y la Comida Mexicana en Odessa, Texas

Es bien sabido que es difícil encontrar comida mexicana autentica en Estados Unidos (de esa sin queso cheddar), pero también es difícil conseguir los ingredientes reales para prepararla. Encontré una tienda que se llama “El Rancho” en la 8th ST. Encuentras casi todos los productos LALA (menos la crema que no es ácida), galletas Gamesa (la más importante, las saladas), crema la Lechera, todos los polvos Knorr, fritos Barcel, algo de Sabritas, algo de pan Bimbo, nopales, chorizo (hasta de soya) y varios quesos mexicanos como el panela y el fresco además de los que se derriten (asadero, oaxaca y manchego y simplemente queso mexicano que quien sabe de qué sea). No hay salchichas San Rafael, y de la leche LALA de tetra brik no había de la que buscaba, y hace falta porque uno tiene que andar comprando galones de leche que no duran… Si me sobra tiempo, mas delante checo las galletas Marías para hacer un pay de queso con fresas. Curiosamente no hay arroz Diamante del impegable, y eso que lo hacen acá. Falta ver si los arroces son impegables por default.

La escuela es un edificio enorme. Son solo dos pisos, pero puede tener la misma cantidad de metros cuadrados que una colonia entera. Hay alberca de unos 4 metros de profundidad y al parecer semiolímpica, y esto no es nada. Hay un “gym” chico, de un tamaño parecido a la cancha de basket del TEC, y el “gym” grande, que es mucho más grande, hay un “salón” para practicar golf, salón de teatro, un auditorio grande, gimnasio, salón de baile, salón de arte, salón de piano, salón de arpas, salón de guitarras, salón de orquesta, salón de música, salón de coro… y los pasillos enormes. Como casi todas las luces estaban apagadas, parecía ya escenario de una película de Scooby Doo, aunque todavía no descubro los pasadizos secretos. Literalmente me perdí. Ah! Falto la cancha de tenis  afuera y la cafetería de adentro más grande que un restaurant, dos salas de maestros, un montón de oficinas… Se me hace que si le sigo no acabo nunca, a lo mejor terminaría de calificar a los 1,400 alumnos antes de terminar de explicar todo lo que vi. 

El Lugar que voy a Extrañar

Decir apurado con todo lo que falta por hacer antes de salir mañana en la madrugada es poco, pero irme sin decir esto haría que sienta que me faltó hacer algo.

A la familia y amigos, ya saben que voy a extrañarlos, y también a esta Tierra de Osos, de las Hamburguesas del Río, de las Enchiladas Rossy, de las Pizzas La Stazione y de la Nieve Sultana. Esta tierra donde el desierto y el bosque se juntan. Ahora, a seguirle con lo que falta. 

Cuando la Vida parece un Electrocardiograma

Cuando la vida tiene altibajos como un electrocardiograma, si la tendencia es positiva, es bueno.

Opinion about Snowden and his Leaks, an Ethical Dilemma

Many of us have heard about 1984, the book written by George Orwell. I confess that this was one of the few books which I refused to read in high school, but with Sparknotes summaries, I did figure out what the book was about. What many of us have learned is that we are being watched. We are being watched, in a similar way as in the book, but at the same time we are hidden.

As it was initially published in the media, only telephone records within the US, as well as the calls to and from the US were being monitored, looking for specific patterns that may arise suspicious terrorist activities. Now we are being told that the US is spying other countries, but other countries are doing the same to their citizens, and countries have been sharing this secret information. We are perhaps way too many people to be spied upon, as it would require a great amount of people for us to be monitored all the time. If this has been going on for so long, how could this be kept secret all this time? If too many people had been involved, we would've known this, but even so, it is too much work for one single mind to keep an eye on another all the time.

Do I mind being spied upon? Well it depends. I would compare this information as going with a doctor. I certainly would let the doctor know and see everything as needed if that would do me good, but it would be incorrect and impolite to share and let others see what they shouldn't. You trust a doctor, knowing that your information will be kept secret. The question here is, if your information and activities are found to be suspicious and once they look further into this they find out that you have nothing to hide, will they simply move on or will they put a trace on you for purpose that has nothing to do with the safety of others? You trust that a doctor will not publish or share pictures to bad reputation magazines just as a psychologist will not share your issues or a Catholic priest will not tell anyone about your sins.

What you (a regular person just like me) CAN do is see others' information that is made publicly available. If you are thinking about hiring someone, and that someone allows you to see his or her information thorough a social network, what you want to do is to get as many references as you can in order to see if it is the best match for you or not. 

It certainly feels uncomfortable to know that someone is watching you if it is information that you do not wish to share, but if doing this prevents terrible things from taking place, well, what do we do? I strongly agree that the end DOES NOT justify the means, but when we have to choose between privacy and security, we apparently can't have both at the same time. When we have to choose between two or more bad choices, we get an ethical dilemma. The right answer MIGHT be an equilibrium between the two options. If 100% privacy means 100% insecurity, I certainly don't want it, but I also don't wants strangers to know everything about me, being able to hide only what I dream at night. The real dilemma is: how far should we go between one way or the other? As I do not have an answer for that, I am glad this decision is out of my hands.

In regards to Snowden, I really wonder whether he is really in Moscow's airport or not. Just imagine going to the airport for two weeks. You may have plenty of money in your debit card, but will you stay two weeks without a shower? People don't just stay there and take a bath where people wash their hands, as Tom Hanks probably suggested in the Terminal movie. Regular people should have seen him by now unless the airport has a place where people can actually live normally. I guess these places actually exist, but not for regular passengers. 

As for Julian Assange, I don't know if he is guilty of what he is being accused of other than Wikileaks, but hiding in a small, known, untouchable place for over a year must be terrible. I certainly wouldn't handle that, especially knowing that you're either stuck there forever doing what you want to do or being stuck elsewhere, possibly forever without being able to do what you want to do. This makes me wonder if people like him or Alex are immune to thins that make most other people suffer. Series like 24 and Prison break, even though they exaggerated and surpassed any possible survival chances for many of the main characters, they may not have exaggerated people's resistance to pain so much. People fighting for good or bad causes often behaved like martyrs. 

La Canícula Parte 3

Empezaba el mes de marzo, justo después de haber visto un trailer de lo que sigue, cuando el pasillo se puso más oscuro que antes, solo que en mi bolsa traje desde entonces las llaves del futuro exitoso.  Legué a pensar que esto fue así “invitándome” a dejar de trabajar para quienes solamente ven a los empleados como si fueran naranjas a las que hay que exprimirles dinero a toda costa sin importarles nada más. Esto además de tener que lidiar con los gusanos de clientes que buscan podrirte, normalmente no dejando contentos ni a los gusanos ni a los exprimidores.

Era tanta ya la oscuridad que aún sabiendo que pronto amanecería decidí prender la luz. Esto si esta constando caro, porque pensé en renunciar para acabar la tesina. No contaba con que la asesora se iba a atravesar a lo mucho una vez por semana en el camino. Esto me ha atorado un poquito y no voy a poder tener la tesina presentada este mes como pensaba. Pude haber aguantado unas dos semanas más en el trabajo de antes.

Desde que conseguí esas llaves a finales de febrero el amanecer se programó y este no se va a esperar a que tenga yo más para recibirlo, aunque esos 35mil pesos extras al año no habrían estado nada mal por terminar la maestría. Ahora en vez de dejar que me expriman, mi trabajo va a ser el pulir diamantes, que va a ser divertido. No hay nada mejor que trabajar en lo que te gusta y que te paguen un sueldo justo. Voy a estar satisfecho en la medida en que les guste mi trabajo. Se acerca con esta nueva oportunidad la hora de cambiarme de casa. Ahora la pregunta aquí es: ¿Qué me llevo y qué dejo?