Leslie Limon of Motherhood in Mexico has challenged the blog community to show her our Mexico.
I always thought that was what I was doing.
But I know what she means. She would like us to introduce her to our daily lives.
So, I will. Let me start by introducing you to my laundress, Anita.
OK. "Laundress" is not a Spanish word. It is a good old Norman term that gives a worthy title to people who do real work -- and do it well. Like butcher. Or wheelwright.
A long-time friend criticized me recently for taking my dirty clothes to a laundry. "I find it odd when any healthy man cannot do his own household chores."
I could easily wash my clothes. The duplex has a very good washing machine. And a sunshine-drenched line for drying.
It is the latter part of the paragraph that drives me to Anita. Sun-dried is great for tomatoes. But not for clothes. The process makes them too stiff for me.
I am not certain what Anita does to my clothes, but she always returns them to me soft, sweet-smelling, and folded as if a retired Marine works in her back room.
All of that for twelve pesos a kilogram. That is about 45 cents (US) for each pound of wash.
There will undoubtedly be some reader in Mexico who will point out that I am being robbed -- that his laundress pays him to do his wash. But, for me, it is a bargain. Simply to avoid stiff shorts.
By now you should be asking, "So, where is Anita's photograph?" The answer is simple. She is a craftsman, not a model.
When I asked if I could take her photograph, her answer was as clear in Spanish as it would have been in English: "No." But she allowed me to shoot her machines.
All of that for twelve pesos a kilogram. That is about 45 cents (US) for each pound of wash.
There will undoubtedly be some reader in Mexico who will point out that I am being robbed -- that his laundress pays him to do his wash. But, for me, it is a bargain. Simply to avoid stiff shorts.
By now you should be asking, "So, where is Anita's photograph?" The answer is simple. She is a craftsman, not a model.
When I asked if I could take her photograph, her answer was as clear in Spanish as it would have been in English: "No." But she allowed me to shoot her machines.
I told her what I was doing, and she rolled her eyes while shaking her head. I can only imagine what she was thinking.
So, Leslie, that is a start of what my Mexico looks like.
It is skilled. Humble. And bemused by her expatriate customers.
Do you want more? I have plenty of neighbors. And most of them love the camera.
So, Leslie, that is a start of what my Mexico looks like.
It is skilled. Humble. And bemused by her expatriate customers.
Do you want more? I have plenty of neighbors. And most of them love the camera.
21 comments:
Loco Gringo......
Guilty.
Doña Cuevas does our laundry in a semi automatic top loader machine, located in our garage. El Sol does the drying. It's good for her to get out of the house and get some fresh air.
Meanwhile, I do the cooking.
Saludos,
Don Cuevas
My first two years in Mexico, I did what you do and even then found it absurdly expensive. But then I got a washing machine and a clothesline. I don't find sun-dried clothes too stiff.
Laundress has a vaguely Victorian sound to it, like governess, or antimacassar. It does not bring to mind Mexican seaside villages.
So the combination of that, with Anita's stout refusal to enter the limelight of your blog was very funny.
And I hope we're not starting off this theme with the more glamorous aspects of your vida Mexicana.
Saludos,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Where, unfortunately, we do most of our own laundry. In fact, some is waiting right now.
At 45 cents a pound I'm thinking about mailing my laundry to you and having your "laundress" do mine too.
Leslie had a good idea. An enjoyable stroll around the pedestrian in your day.
That she wouldn't let you take her picture......priceless.
I get all of my laundry washed, dried, and folded for the cost of washing rwo dress shirts in Salem. And Anita makes a living wage doing it.
I have a lady who vacuums my floors. I consider her priceless, as you apparently do your laundry lady. Some cultures do not like pictures taken..
Perhaps there is some wash-day secret I am missing. But my towels come off the line feeling like cardboard. I doubt I could blame the humidity for that.
I actually like using the washing machine. If I could figure out how to avoid the stiff clothing, I might consider abanoning my laundress habit.
My experience is that most Mexicans enjoy the camera (painting my stereotype broad). My guess is that Anita could not figure out why I wanted a photograph of her business -- and her in it. My neighbors seem to get a good deal of amusement out of we north of the border types.
What no one has ever heard of a gas drier? We have months that we could not use a clothesline, they are only a couple of hundred bucks at Costco and really don't use up that much gas...everything is nice and soft too!
Please be careful about those broad, sweeping statements that most Mexicans enjoy the camera. Do you enjoy having some foreigner take your photo back in your home country, like you're part of the wildlife? Your human photographic subjects are only trying to be polite by humoring you. You might be surprised to know what they really think.
I don't see anything wrong with helping the local economy. You have clean, soft clothes. Anita makes an honest living. Everyone wins.
Worse than that, I may be projecting my own feelings about cameras. On the other hand, there is not a kid around here who does not fight to get within aim of my camera.
My thoughts exactly. And, as you know, I certainly have no problems with doing my own laundry.
Another thought on 45 cents (US). At the price of 45 cents it would take over 440 times of paying Anita to equal the cost of a $200. dryer. Then add the price of the gas to run it. Repairs and maintence is not figured in. Anita is a bargain.
Gyess who kept the books at our house?
I LOVE IT! I especially love the word laundress. I wish I had one. Of course, I'm sure laundry for 6 would be quite expensive.
Thank you so much for indulging my curiosity. And thank you for the mention. :)
More anon. After I complete my bout with navel-gazing.
Post a Comment