La Fiebre Porcina

"It is advising all member states to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations -particularly among young healthy adults, who seem to be the most affected in Mexico. Officials said most of those killed so far were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly."Great. Nothing like a purported pandemic right in my backyard that is more dangerous for young and healthy adults. As I read this quote from today's BBC cover story out loud over a cup of coffee to my colleague, who was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, he jokingly tells me, " so those who are of reproducing age are going to die? It is the Apocalypse. It will just be a bunch of young and old fuckers".

Will this blow over like killer African bees or SARS? The media is exaggerating, true, but following the events from Northern Mexico mights as well be China. I have spoken with no friends in the area and imagine it is borderline manic right about now. The Heath Minister said to avoid contact with others. In Mexico City's central district, population 8,836,045? How is that even possible, especially for metro riders, who during peak hours fight their way into female and male designated cars where they resemble the population inside a can of sardines?

I wonder what the usually bustling streets of Texcoco, located about 40 km from D.F., look like on this Saturday afternoon. Are people in masks? Out at all? Tomorrow, will the elderly couples hold each other like courting teenagers as they slowly dance in the Texcoco Zocalo? I finish my coffee, pack for my trip to the Sierra Madre Mountains and hope life is not too different when I return South in less than a weeks time.

Filming in Obregon

Obregon makes me love Texcoco. I know I am already Texcoco's one and only international fan, but Obregon would make any sane person pine for the city.

First: Obregon is JUST LIKE FLORIDA and that is not a complement. Its four lane streets are lined by one story strip mall-like buildings, most of them cheesy bars or fast food joints, and the car of choice is a large, expensive truck.

Second: Food. Yes, I have eaten sushi for the three days in a row, which is great, but there are no tacos al pastor stands or cheap restaurant on every block. I have formed a somewhat unhealthy addiction to this delicious, insalubrious food and am actually quite worried about my fate once I leave Mexico and cannot get my fix. I went for my old standby last night at, as far as I can tell, the only place in the city that serves the tacos indigenous to D.F. and the surrounding area. They were tasty but cost 3 times as much as they should.

Third: It is hot. Too hot. Why people build cities in the middle of the desert I will never know.

Fourth: It is eternally daylight outside of my hotel window, which is located in the prime spot of what can best be described as tangential to a carport that is very well lit. At all hours.

So there are some good parts too.

First: I am getting paid to run around with an eclectic group of scientists and film their classes and lectures and field visits.Second: One of my good friends is here and we have had good fun, meaning we sit around and discuss philosophy, ethics, life, etc.. In a group of four we shall venture to the mountains this weekend. It should be noted, however, that when I asked Matthew about cartels in the area and if the city had seen better days he responded with, "well a cop car was blown up with a bazooka the other day but things are pretty quiet here because all of the narcos are in the mountains, actually where we are going this weekend, baby." I think/hope he is kidding.

Third: I am seeing a new part of Mexico, no matter how crappy Obregon may be. And I am viewing it from the back of pickup trucks (which I think is illegal in the States) and leads the scientists to believe I am insane. I guess I am not old enough to turn down the dusty and hot and uncomfortable bed of the truck for the cushy front seat (which was literally the case. No one even sat in the front because they did not think I was serious about jumping in the back).

Should I include learning? I am unsure for I have heard many of these lectures before but maybe not. Bram had an interesting anecdote about how all of the D.F. surrounding states have sold their water to the city and so no irrigating is allowed in the area unless it is done with black water aka sewage. Yummy.

Sympathy:

The fact or power of sharing the feelings of another, esp. in sorrow or trouble; fellow feeling, compassion, or commiseration.

Sympathy is beautiful but so odd to me. Upon hearing of the death of a woman I am not sure I ever even met I cried. Why? Because I know her children. Thinking of these kind young men that I have had the pleasure of knowing the greater part of my life, thinking of their pain as they were told the unexpected news, shivered my bones and pinched my heart. 

I know and have accepted death as a part of life, but I find my ability to sympathize waxes and wane, varying event from event. This inconsistency is possibly due to the fact that I have never suffered a devastating loss, being instead the spectator of other's pain. Perhaps it is the nature of the hardship that hurts me so. I am always shattered by the truly tragic occurrences: the ones that belong on the pages of a Shakespearean tale.

As I feel this pain and compassion, I am fascinated by my own ability and by its evolution and by humanity.