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When I really felt like an outsider

I thought I knew Mexico and wanted to show my wife something different. There was this International Folklore festival in Guadalajara in the early 70s.

We found this large teepee-like structure under the auspices of the Huichol Indians, a native Mexican Indian group known for their antisocial attitudes. It was about 8:30 at night. We entered the teepee and there were about 30-40 people (mostly Huichol Indians but with a few Europeans/Americans mixed in here and there)seated around the inner edge of the teepee. My wife and I sat down and watched to see what was going on. Nobody said anything. Nobody did anything. We didn't know what was going on or even whether it was public or private. We waited a very uncomfortable 25 minutes and finally we got up and left.

I never found out about what was going on - but this much I do know, I never felt more like an outsider in all my life.

Val Fargo, North Dakota


 

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