Pink Elephant (Oaxaca, Mexico)

Claimed Object #16

You are my writing mentor. I traveled with you to Nepal where many, culturally, hold elephants in high esteem, consider them auspicious. Plus I love elephants and the color pink! Comes full circle because I started studying Spanish in 1999 in San Francisco, as an adult, at a fantastic school in SF (Weekend en Espanol, the Director, Ronda Calef, is incredible). Bueno, I took weekly classes there, as well as weekend workshops, as well as doing her immersion program in Oaxaca twice.

The first time I went I was a medium-high beginner Spanish speaker, the second time I was an advanced speaker who by that time had moved to Mexico. The Director, Ronda, knows all the artisans in the Oaxaca valley. We went to a pueblo where they paint the animals where she thinks this certain cooperative or family does wonderful work. We saw all their work and painted some animals ourselves. I painted a mouse and something else I can’t remember that broke. My mouse along with the other small pieces I bought there are in the guest room of my house.

I decided to move to Mexico in 2004 after the Nepalese man I loved died in a landslide. See how it all intertwines? Moving to Mexico was the best decision I ever made. I have been to Oaxaca twice with the immersion program and also traveled all over the state on my own after one of the programs. Love Oaxaca, love Mexico, love Nepal, love elephants, love pink and love you, Jeff ji. Thus, I wanted the pink painted elephant. It will be in my bedroom next to a Buddha.

                                                                                                             Jennifer R., Mexico