Agua y Cacao

Agua - For a week Karyn has been trying to get a large jug of water for our apartment. She told me that the lady wouldn’t let her buy it. I thought that was ridiculous so finally I decided to go with her. Sure enough, we get the large jug up to the counter and the cashier tells us we cannot buy the water. “Queremos comprar la agua por favor.” I tell her. She rattles something off at me in Spanish. So I say “Donde podemos comprar agua?” She rattles something off again and points to the street. “No entiendo.” She looks to other people behind her and asks (in Spanish) how do you say truck in English? Ah. I tell her,
“Podemos comprar la agua de el coche de agua?”
“Si, si.”
“Perfecto.”
“En la manana.”
“Ah, a que hora?”
“No se.”
“Okay. Esta bien, muchas gracias.”
We leave the store only to remember we NEED water. We race back and are able to buy a few bottles before the store closes. Oh the wonders of language and cultural barriers. I love it though. Both of us, and the cashier need to put so much effort into the encounter but we both get so much out of it. At the very least a few laughs and smiles. I love Mexico. In Canada if you don’t speak English many people will just ignore you if you need something and can’t say it. Here most everyone tries to communicate. It is very good for us.

Right now Heather and I are sitting in the Casa de Cacao. The time has stopped here. This place, just discovered today, is one of the many treasures of San C. Here you can drink a cup of chocolate. Not any chocolate either – this chocolate is from raw cacoa beans grown locally. This chocolate comes in many types of drinks. Do you want yours with honey and vanilla? Chai? Maize and honey? Chile and cinnamon? Or a variety of other ways? This place is amazing. They have La Escuela de Cacoa here, aka. School of Chocolate. Heaven. There is also an organic store here – I am right at home. Plus the woman who runs the store is going to put us in contact with local organic farmers which not only be for our own interest and curiosity and health but will also help us to write our final paper for Political Science in three weeks.