el 20 de noviembre

The 20th of November celebrates the beginning of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.  The ideals of the revolution were based on Zapata and other's beliefs in land rights (land for those who work it) and free education for all.  It was recently pointed out to me that every 100 years Mexico has a revolution (the independence movement started in 1810), so watch out travelers in 2010! 

      In my school we got the Monday off, and spent a few hours ensayando (practicing) the paso doble (a marching - and dancing- step), and the "at ease" and "at attention" required for the parade. Sounds like the military?  It did indeed sound like the military, especially with the PE instructor using his megaphone to shout out commands.  But having seen the same thing in Ecuador, I wasn't shocked (I definitely was shocked to see the kindergartners  in Ecuador marching military-style), and since I had a group to manage, I practiced my own pasos dobles... most of the time.  Mostly I busied myself to making sure they were in straight lines and that E.H. didn't throw rocks at M.P. and A.R. didn't keep switching lines.  I also kept thinking how getting kids in the US to do the same thing would be like herding cats - here the kids have been doing the same thing for years, so they're used to it.  

            On Thursday, Nov. 20th all primeros (first year, first semester prepa kids) lined up and marched out of the school to town, where we were joined by all the other schools (K-9).  We marched through town, turned around, and marched back, and at about 10 am we were done and the kids all had the day off.  Yes, another day off- but what a sight to see all the students marching through town with community watching proudly.  We could use a little civic pride like that.