Table of Contents
Preface 1
Section 1 One Wild and Precious Life
Where We Wake Up to the Revolution and Meet El Circo Más Grande y Muy Famoso 7
Every Country Has Its Cold Remedies 16
Section 2 There Is Welcome Here
"Let Us Be Joyous, Friends…" 27
Learning to Love Imperfection 33
Where La Patrona Gets a Cook and Gives Up Her Fantasy of Domestic Bliss 41
Saving My Breath 51
Where the Doctor Looks Like Antonio Banderas and Comes to Your House When You Are Sick 56
Risk Is Relative 65
Announcing the Winner of My Personal Travel Contest, Called "The Best Undiscovered Beach Spot Ever" 72
Where We Purchase Diego's Freedom for 140 Pesos 79
Semana Santa 83
Section 3 The Face of Poverty
The Face of Poverty 95
Small Things Make Big Differences, or How Juan Pablo Got Hot Water 101
Change We Don't Want 111
Hard Work 120
Where the Bank Meets the Tanda 129
We Need Burros and Bricks 131
Section 4 Culture and Other Complications
We Are Not the World? 147
There Are Rules That State… 157
A Conversational Fugue in Three Parts, No Harmony 167
Ser, Estar, and the Charms of Living in Spanish 178
Protection Against Colds and Flu 186
The Rhythm of Religion 191
How I Learned to Love Fiestas 202
The Envelopes Are Made with Love but Have No Glue 211
Section 5 Deeper into Mexico
How Some Things Make No Difference, or How La Señora Got Hot Water 225
