Mexico #11 + US #1

No summer in Mexico City is complete without a dose of Diego Rivera. The last touristy things we did—besides shopping for artesania and going to see Harry Potter (in English with Spanish subtitles)— were to go to Anahuacalli, which Rivera built for his collection of pre-Hispanic art and artifacts, and the little museum downtown where his 1947 mural, Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central, or Dream of a Sunday Afternoon on the Alameda, is housed. I remain impressed and a little disturbed by the sweep of his vision across history and into the future. These pieces are more on the impressive side, for sure. Anahuacalli is a work of art in itself, with some interesting mosaics by Rivera and great attention to Mayan and Mexica myths and architecture (mixed in with hammer-and-sickle motifs, of course). The collection Rivera established there includes a wide array of objects, some everyday and some ceremonial, in excellent condition for being 500 years old and older.

I'm now back in the US, still adjusting to speaking English to strangers. The weather in Michigan has been lovely so far (and very similar to Mexico City's), with highs in the upper 70s and some rain. I'm staying with friends who found the egg of a monarch butterfly 15 days ago, and we are now engaged in a vigil to see the resulting caterpillar break out of his skin and make his chrysalis. (I think caterpillars don't actually have a gender—it develops as part of their metamorphosis—but it doesn't seem right to call him “It.” Sarah has raised him from an egg and is even considering saving his surprisingly abundant poop for his Baby Book.) He's been hanging in J-formation since last night. It's very exciting yet also somewhat like watching paint dry. A strange paradox. Aaahh, he's wiggling all around and it looks like his head is going to pop off any minute!! Oh, he's still again. Poor guy. It must be so exhausting to try and burst out of your own skin. AAAHHH, it happened! I saw this!!


(Thank you, Evanson Art, for really detailed information and great photos on the life cycle of the monarch butterfly.)

The skin over his head split and he wiggled and wiggled it off of his three-centimeter body. It was SO CRAZY. His little legs wiggled off! Well, probably it was just leg-shaped skin. But what happened to his legs? How did he cover himself in a jade-green case under his stripey black and yellow skin? What went on in the 15.5 hours between letting go of the top of the jar and bursting like this? He's so little! Will he be a little butterfly? Do butterflies grow after they emerge? Wowowowow!!

Another friend started what he is calling his “America List,” of things he likes about America. I'm all for such a project; though it runs the risk of promoting American exceptionalism, I think it's important for us to constantly exhibit—and remember—our pride in America, as well as our most just criticisms. So it got me thinking, what would be on my list?

1. Stability of government. I am fascinated by the Supreme Court, and by many of the presidents we have had, but what I really appreciate is the structure that has been flexible enough to accommodate so much change in material realities as well as values. Political movements don't need to be revolutionary—in the sense of revolution that involves overthrowing the government—in order to affect change. I am very, very thankful for this. It may be easy for college students discovering radicalism to quote Che, but so many revolutions (and certainly Ernesto 'Che' Guevara's) are violent and come with so much loss—and bring only questionable gains. Thank you, America, for the Constitution and its amendments, for the Supreme Court, for George Washington and the peaceful transfer of power.


2. American music. Most of the things I like about America are not things that I feel need to be justified as uniquely American; they can be true about other countries and still be things I like about his one. I guess this is true about music as well, but honestly, who can compete? The blues, jazz, soul, hip hop ... I was shopping in a market in Mexico City and purchased a picture frame. As she wrapped it for me, the attendant pulled out the photo of Angelina Jolie. I jokingly said, “I don't get to keep it??” She went on to question Angelina's capacity to be a good mother, then to raise a lament for Michael Jackson's children. American pop culture is not only everywhere, it's dominant in most countries I can think of (at least in urban areas). I'm not proud of High School Musical, and especially after watching his memorial, I feel at best ambivalent about MJ as a person. But he was an incredible artist, and I'm proud to be proud of the musical tradition that he is part of.


3. Diversity. It is awesome to be part of a culture that has attracted people with so many different backgrounds, and even though it hasn't always welcomed these people, it has incorporated their beliefs, customs, and cuisines to the point where the mixture itself is what defines it. This encourages a kind of constant cultural renewal and rethinking. And it tastes good.


4. Natural resources. The sheer size of the US, with coasts on two oceans and all kinds of prairie, plains, and mountains in between makes it beautiful—and an economic powerhouse that is pretty darn pleasant to live in. We get to have things like water fountains. It is fantastic.


5. Barack Obama and his entire multi-continental family. I feel like this is my country in a way that I never have before, for so many reasons. Thank you, America—and the Bush Administration—for giving me this chance.

The caterpillar/chrysalis shrank! The top half got all smushed, and now it's only 1.5 cm! Wow little guy. You are amazing.

Yale Bologna Fest, here we come!