jerga mexicana
Jo Marie, the American woman (pardon my incorrect language) I met when I went to the U.S. embassy, told me something that deepens daily in truth. Peruvians tend to blame the individual:
Just now I tried to have a light, non-invested political discussion with my work mate, Miluska. I assumed that she would be pretty leftist, working at a place like Racimos, but she herself admitted that she’s not. But more interestingly, when I tried to talk politics-which I tend to view as a systemic issue-she kept bringing it back to the personal. For example she would say she thought education was a good way to affect change, and, excitedly, I would await her elaboration on this topic, only to find that she’s referring to educating indigenous people about not building their houses so close to rivers. That’s not the kind of education I was thinking about. I countered with the kind of education of that creates independent thinkers and skilled people who then have the ability and motivation to envision and create an economy not based on dependence. She said that takes to long. I said development that doesn’t take a long time is the wrong kind. That long-term is where the value lies, and that having a long-term strategy with some short-term bones along the way would be a good developmental direction. Again I was excited when she agreed, but my crest fell when she produced another example about how a farmer could grow two different kinds of crops, one for security and one for risk, do achieve this kind of development. I wanted to shout out, “ES EL PINCHE SISTEMA!!!!” but instead I said “EL SISTEMA ESTA CHINGADO.” (fyi, this means about the same thing) This proclamation on my part led her to make fun of me for my Mexican slang (of which pinche is also an esteemed member).
May I please take this moment to praise Mexican slang? I love it. Peruvians hate it. Probably everywhere but Mexico it is scorned and spat upon. But I have never-not even in English-felt such coitus between my thoughts and feelings and my words as when I speak in Mexican.
Just now I tried to have a light, non-invested political discussion with my work mate, Miluska. I assumed that she would be pretty leftist, working at a place like Racimos, but she herself admitted that she’s not. But more interestingly, when I tried to talk politics-which I tend to view as a systemic issue-she kept bringing it back to the personal. For example she would say she thought education was a good way to affect change, and, excitedly, I would await her elaboration on this topic, only to find that she’s referring to educating indigenous people about not building their houses so close to rivers. That’s not the kind of education I was thinking about. I countered with the kind of education of that creates independent thinkers and skilled people who then have the ability and motivation to envision and create an economy not based on dependence. She said that takes to long. I said development that doesn’t take a long time is the wrong kind. That long-term is where the value lies, and that having a long-term strategy with some short-term bones along the way would be a good developmental direction. Again I was excited when she agreed, but my crest fell when she produced another example about how a farmer could grow two different kinds of crops, one for security and one for risk, do achieve this kind of development. I wanted to shout out, “ES EL PINCHE SISTEMA!!!!” but instead I said “EL SISTEMA ESTA CHINGADO.” (fyi, this means about the same thing) This proclamation on my part led her to make fun of me for my Mexican slang (of which pinche is also an esteemed member).
May I please take this moment to praise Mexican slang? I love it. Peruvians hate it. Probably everywhere but Mexico it is scorned and spat upon. But I have never-not even in English-felt such coitus between my thoughts and feelings and my words as when I speak in Mexican.