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
{ Previous Letter
| This Week's Index |
Next Letter }
{ Main Letters Page }
