BY GUSTAVO ARELLANO
MUY CALIENTE SUMMER EDITION
Dear Readers: The Mexican has previously published only one Best of column in his nearly four years living under his cousin’s identity in this country, but I must pull this week’s first pregunta out of the archives because ustedes keep asking it — obviously, not enough of you bought my paperback since it’s on Page 192! The second question, on the other hand, is brand-new. Now, back to smuggling more illegals across the Arizona desert …
Dear Mexican: Why do Mexicans swim in the ocean with their clothes on? I mean, denim?!
Vicente Fox’s Mustache
I know this might be a seasonal question, but why do Mexicans like swimming in their clothes? Is it a Catholic thing? I remember as a child growing up in the San Fernando Valley in California that my pocho Catholic cousin even bathed at home in his T-shirt and underwear through his adolescence. He claims the nuns told him it was a sin to be naked.
Huntington Beach Baboso
I am half-Mexican myself but just don’t understand — why do Mexicans wear their clothes when swimming? They are the only people at a beach or public swimming spot who do it. Very bizarre — please explain!
Half-Mexican
Dear Pochos: This is by far the most-asked question in ¡Ask a Mexican! history. So, to todos ustedes, I have my own question: Are you all brown chubby chasers? Like gabachos, an alarming number of Mexicans are out of shape. According to a 2003 study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 24 percent of Mexico’s population is overweight. That’s the second-highest obesity rate in the world following — wait for it — ¡los Estados Unidos! ((The Mexican’s present-day note: a 2008 study found the same results. I’d cite the exact survey, but here comes la migra — gotta run!) Unlike gabachos, Mexicans respect the public when it comes to flashing our flabby chichis, pompis and cerveza guts — so when we’re out near the pool or by the beach, we cover up. It ain’t Catholicism, machismo or an homage to our swim across the Rio Grande. It’s good manners.
We’ve noticed that there are lots of ice cream trucks driven by Mexicans that seem patronized almost exclusively by Mexicans. We’ve come to the conclusion that Mexicans love ice cream even more than white women. Why do Mexicans love ice cream so much?
Nice Dreams
Dear Gabachos: The easy answer is that ice cream is muy bueno; the easier respuesta is that Mexican ice cream is better than the stuff sold by gabachos. In addition to the tried-and-verdadero flavors stocked at Baskin-Robbins, Mexicans concoct wonders drawn from our many indigenous fruits — mango, papaya, tamarind, the football-shaped mamey, prickly pear frui and the crazily named soursop (guanábana in Spanish) are just the tastiest. Then there are the choices that reflect unique Mexican sensibilities — rompope (eggnog, which is much better frozen than sipped), chongos zamoranos (curdled milk and cinnamon) is our Rocky Road, spicy chocolate. But we don’t content ourselves with just soft serve; even better are our paletas, rectangular ice pops made from either aguas frescas like watermelon and lemonade or de leche: creamy, luscious, milked-based joys. And the best Mexican frozen delight is actually the raspado, our version of shaved ice, except our syrup is natural and won’t kill you with preservatives. Gabachos: instead of spending this coming long, hot summer stewing over the Mexicans amongst you, join them in waving down the local paletero — and make sure to feed them one iced treat a day lest their natural caliente-ness cause further global warming.
Get your Mexican needs at youtube.com/askamexicano, myspace.com/ocwab, and themexican@askamexican.net!
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519