Time flies...

Boasting Internationality.

What a lucky strike for my university that the photographer got aim at no less than three blondies at a time... What an international institute!

Me with J. and A. (Source: UDLAP)

But enough blond beguiling... Right now it's time for some totally unglamorous, geeky regression stuff. As I'm going to do my final presentation on my research on microfinance in Mexico on Monday, I'm running some more linear regressions on macroeconomic indicators to challenge various hypothesis...

Running a linear regression on branches per capita vs. gross loan portfolio of microfinance instituions

But fortunately there's some divertissement, namely...

Going crazy for Cinnamon.

Indeed I do. My cinnamon consumption is vast beyond healthy doses. But who wonders, considered that 1 kilogram of the ground stuff (which is totally fresh and tasty here) sets you back some ridiculously cheap 20 pesos (slightly more than a euro). Might be the lower quality Chinese Cassia variant but honestly, who cares - the stuff is awesome! It goes perfectly with refried beans, quark, grated coconut, pure, or with... Homemade hummus!

Hummus Mexican style with some chipotle chili peppers blended in.

I really like my idea to blend in some chipotle chili peppers, which give the hummus a nice smokey flavour component. Yet, I somehwat had to laugh when I sorted the photos and noticed how "mexicanized" I already am.

Know why?

Well, back in Germany I didn't necessarily consider a tortilla to be topped with all the other stuff. For example, this is how my tortilla-and-hummus combinations looked like back then:

My hummus-and-tortilla creations back in Germany...

Ah ya, apart from the fact of stuffing everything inside and on top, I'm also eating everything like this...

Plate? What for?!

... and you can also see that my decoration skills have "mexicanized", i.e. they obviously have deteriorated. It's sad to say, but Mexican chefs more often than don't give a **** about nice visual preparation and presentation.

On the other hand they do care to bury everything with tons of Salsa Valentina. As dutifully mexicanized apprentice, of course I did the same with my hummus. Salsa Valentina is an ever-present Chili sauce available in two versions: normal and extra spicy. When you ask Mexicans, they will tell you that the normal version will already be enough to send you directly to afterlife. Erm, believe me: It's totally not. So funny how global stereotypes (Mexican food = spicy) do not fit the actual situation (Mexican food = Oversalted and plain at the same time - incredible that they achieve both... but sadly true). All of my seven(!) Mexican roomies are real wimps when it comes to chilis... But then again they go bold on (salt and)...

Water Consumption.

Not too long ago (22/03), there was World Water Day. I still can't believe how people here handle tap water. Turning the shower on, going back to the room for some minutes and then taking a shower for at least 30 minutes; Letting the tap run while brushing teeth; Washing up by letting run the tap for some 10 minutes so that the water can wash away the "worst"; Washing single pairs of socks in the washing machine for 45 minutes; Not turning off the tap completely...

While for my US-American roomie such a behaviour seems to be totally normal, it really causes me physical pain to see this. In this respect I'm still totally not mexicanized. Otherwise I would do eveything to avoid confrontations, right along the lines of "live and let live". Well, I don't kill my roomies, but I do turn off the tap. And the lights. And the TV, when there is nobody. And know what?

The situation has improved considerably! This really makes me kind of happy, as it shows that the previous behaviour obviously didn't arise from a "I don't care at all about environment protection" attitude, but rather from unconsciousness. At least to some extent. I still can't believe that I honestly had to explain my US roomie the connection between turning the light off and saving energy. Yes, dear A., "light" is also "produced" in power plants, which damage nature for various reasons...

Time flies.......

Ok, enough on that, now it's time to indulge in some of my favourite local salads: Cactus with cilantro...

Cactus-and-cilantro salad

... and fava beans with vegetables and chilis:

Fava-bean-and-veggie salad

So, apart from running linear regressions I also have a lot of fun cooking, eating, mucking around with my roomies - and having dinner with many international friends who will soon leave the country... Time flies...